By Will Mossa
Headlining extremely experimental and EDM influenced instrumentals and a captivating vocal style reminiscent to Tory Lanez, JELEEL! dropped his new project Generation Z! on July 8. The Rhode Island native infuses his exploratory and fascinating melodic rap style with clear influences of EDM, trap, caribbean sounds, and hints of rock. At first listen Generation Z! may not be an incredibly appealing sound, but the more you listen to it the more you feel its head bobbing vibe and this off-brand hip/hop genre will easily draw listeners in. Clearly an exceptionally talented vocalist, JALEEL! flashes his range in every track, his stacked harmonies and the hint of autotune generates an irresistible sound that will have you listening to track after track.
Throughout the project we see many stylistic and artistic switches from track to track, one standout track being “Scream!” a song undoubtedly fit for mosh pits and live performances. Starting with a voice over of “honey are you fucking kidding me?” followed by an eerie siren out of a Purge movie and an intense bass drop, the quick paced instrumental and a yelling/singing vocal style creates visions of crazy concerts and crowds immediately. This song might be simple at full view, but it’s one of those songs every artist has, perfect for a live show and fans screaming every word; nothing special lyrically but absolutely a song to bump to.
Later in the EP, JELEEL! hits a complete 180 on the vibe and sound with “Hotshot! which gives off strong Weeknd vibes. With an EDM influenced instrumental, JELEEL! shows off his true vocal range while also incorporating afro-rap into the verse. This track seems to encapsulate the entire sound he has built around the project as it truly does display every style and sound he can bring to the table. Lyrically, “Hotshot!” is an extremely light hearted and fun song on the topic of asking a girl what it feels like to be with a celebrity; again, nothing profound lyrically but a track anyone can feel the pop style groove on.
As a whole, JELEEL! proves avoid being put in a box of any genre as the influences and styles he shows his true versatility as an artist. His new EP Generation Z although with a short listening time, is effortless to get through consisting of no skips as every track is different and engaging.
Photos Courtesy of JELEEL! Instagram