With ‘Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X),’ Jhayco’s releases his most ambitious album to date

As a seasoned music enthusiast with over three decades of listening under my belt, I must say that Jhayco’s latest album “Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X)” has certainly piqued my interest. His journey from behind-the-scenes hitmaker to solo artist is nothing short of impressive, and it’s fascinating to see him put himself front and center.

For the past 17 years, Jhayco has been recognized as a key writer for hits like Cardi B’s “I Like It” and the composer behind J Balvin’s Latin Grammy-winning album “Vibras, as well as a frequent collaborator with Bad Bunny. Now, with his latest release “Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X)” from last month, he steps into the limelight himself.

31-year-old artist, known for his keen sense of rhythmic sounds and a pen that often explores passionate themes, is recognized as a powerhouse in today’s reggaeton scene. He has gathered collaborations with some of the biggest names in Latin music such as Mora, Tainy, and Anuel AA. Living in Miami, this musician has honed a talent for evolving his style throughout his extensive career.

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New Jersey, this versatile artist had already started producing tracks for artists such as Zion & Lennox, Natti Natasha, and Tito el Bambino by the time he was 16. Once he became a fixture in the music industry, he embarked on a solo career under the name Jhay Cortez in 2017. However, everything took a turn for the artist with the release of “No Me Conoce,” which was the third single from his debut studio album “Famouz.” This casual yet catchy tune about a clandestine affair attracted the notice of reggaeton heavyweights Bad Bunny and J Balvin who joined in on a remix. To date, it has garnered over 1.4 billion streams on Spotify and expanded Jhayco’s fan base worldwide. In the years that followed, he solidified his position with popular collaborations like “Dakiti” with Bad Bunny and “512” with Mora.

On his third album, “Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X)”, Jhayco, a prominent figure in reggaeton music, balances his pursuit of success against his creative urge for art.

In an interview with The Times, the Puerto Rican singer shared that he had a chance to collaborate with a popular artist to boost sales, similar to his work with [Bad] Bunny. However, he emphasized that he prioritizes authenticity over popularity, stating that he wants the album to reflect his personal experiences and creative vision, not just what others expect it to be.

Speaking about his first project since 2021, the artist describes “Le Clique” as a kind of biographical work. Clocking in at approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes, this release is an ambitious endeavor split into three parts and featuring 29 tracks. Each section of this trilogy reflects a distinct aspect of his personality: “Le Clique” focuses on family, “Vida Rockstar” encapsulates his rock star phase, while “X” comprises songs he considers hits.

When adopting this idea, the self-styled “unique Latin rock star” claims that the album helped him uncover his distinctive stellar traits. However, unlike traditional musicians from the ’60s or ’70s, he didn’t draw inspiration from these periods; instead, he sought inspiration in his contemporaries such as The Weeknd and Post Malone, both of whom continue to build their enduring legacies.

[To be a rock star] isn’t just about the words and the music, it involves the perfect blend of sound, visuals, stagecraft, spirit, and emotion,” Jhayco explained.

The lead track on the album, titled “Vida Rockstar,” starts off with the sound of skateboards scraping against concrete and a sharp, echoing skater’s heel. A guitar’s feedback hum leads us into Jhayco’s initial foray into pop punk music. This tune is reminiscent of a catchy Spanish language song akin to Machine Gun Kelly’s style, making it the only track on the album that ventures into rock-influenced sounds. As soon as the lively electric guitar riff plays, it swiftly transitions into the bass-heavy hip-hop rhythm of “Grecia.

Despite having a restricted range of rock music on “Le Clique”, Jhayco manages to incorporate various aspects into his typically trap-centric style. He blends the distinctive strumming of Mexican music on “Ex-Special” with Peso Pluma, the thumping rhythms of deep house on “En La Bentley”, and a lively jersey club beat on “58”, all while demonstrating a firm grasp of reggaeton.

For approximately three years while working on “Le Clique,” the singer pushed himself to transcend the typical sounds of reggaeton beyond just a dance floor in nightclubs. He drew inspiration from Spanish beaches, as evidenced by tracks like “Passoa,” and the vibrant nights of Miami for “Le Clique.” These diverse settings enabled him to craft a captivating soundtrack that reflects his personal travels.

From the extensive playlist on the album, Jhayco points out that the song titled “Viene Basquiat…” stands out as it doesn’t align with the others. The track begins with an eerie echoing sound, followed by him singing lyrics like “Just like Basquiat, I’m crazy like Basquiat” over a basic trap beat. As the verses continue to celebrate his legacy, he frequently references the late Puerto Rican/Haitian artist throughout the subdued, brooding rhythm. The song also tells a story of sleeping with someone in a museum (“Baby, you’re art, we’re going to make it inside a museum”). He refers to this track as a hint of things to come.

Jhayco shared, ‘The song is a reflection of what I’ve gathered from Basquiat and my strong affinity towards his character and work.’ He added, ‘I admire how he communicates his ideas, it doesn’t seem like a pursuit for fame or to be the best. Instead, it’s about sharing art, and that’s my perspective on music.’

Following the “Rockstar Life” phase, Jhayco is set to launch a 10-venue North American tour in November. On November 21st, he’ll take the stage at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater.

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2024-10-02 02:01