Milwaukee has had a thriving Hip Hop scene for a long time, but it has gotten even better recently. The city is full of underground artists full of creativity waiting for their chance to shine. A very cool underground Milwaukee artist who has been putting in work the last few years is IKJai. He is an artist who has been grinding and expanding his sound for a while and is now taking the next step with his music and career. IKJai has been developing his sound for a while, having been releasing music online for years. I actually covered him last year when he released a couple of experimental Trap songs I really enjoyed. After working hard and culminating his sound, IKJai recently dropped a new album called Jai In 5. Below, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite tracks from IKJai’s Jai In 5, as well as give some overall thoughts on the project to close things out. Please let me know in the comments how you feel about IKJAI and Jai in 5, and also comment any other new music I should check out!

JAI N5

IKJai gets the project started. with the brash and in-your-face title track ‘JAI N5.’ This is a very cool opener for this project, as it starts things off on a bright and interesting note. The melody that drives this one is pretty groovy. The synths that provide this melody are cold yet invigorating, and they add a bit of funkiness to the mix. The beat for this track has a hard Trap sound to it with a very methodical tempo. This instrumental has a decent amount of distortion, which gives the song an analog feeling. IKJai ‘s vocals on ‘Jai N5’ somehow sound raspy and clean at the same time, giving the song a tone that stands out. At some points, IKJai hits some high notes that add even more life to the track. ‘ JAI N5’ begins this album on an intriguing note. 

SWEET BANANA (FEAT. EF AY) 

When I first tapped into this album, ‘Sweet Banana’ is a song that I was immediately attracted to. One big reason is because of the feature from Ef Ay. If you follow this blog at all, you probably have seen me mention multiple times how dope I think Ef Ay is. Instrumentally, this song feels pretty harsh and dark. The melody that drives this one is pretty foreboding. There are some twinkling sound effects that come in that lighten things up, but for the most part, this track feels pretty menacing. That menacing feeling is added to by how big and heavy the beat for this track is. The vocals from IKJai and Ef Ay are definitely what make ‘Sweet Banana.’ Both artists ride this beat with their flows. I really like how the lower tone of IKJai contrasts with the higher and quirkier pitch of Ef Ay. Both IKJai and Ef Ay show why they can pop as vocalists on ‘Sweet Banana.’ 

RATCHET AND CLANK 

‘Ratchet and Clank’ is a song with a much different sound and feeling than the first few songs of the record. This track is very bright and vibrant, which is a nice switch-up after the darker sound of the songs that precede it. The melody for this song has a bit of a nostalgic element that I really enjoy. The videogame-eque sound of this melody reminds me of the Swag Era Trap music of the early 2010s. This melody is so warm and has a super analog element to it. The beat is tough and has a modern Hardcore Trap sound, which contrasts with the melody. It almost gives that early 2010s sound a new twist. IKJai delivers a really solid rap performance on this one. He slides on the beat, and his tone goes with the melody really well. ‘Ratchet and Clank’ gives me memories of early Trap music while still sounding current. 

BUDA 

‘BUDA’ has a pretty similar feeling to the song that precedes it. Like ‘Ratchet and Clank,’ this track has a sweeter and lighter feeling than the rest of the project. The melody that drives this one is so pleasant, and it has a retro R&B Trap feeling to it. This melody is mainly provided by a groovy and warm piano riff, and it is complemented by some saturated synths that vary in emphasis throughout the track. The beat on this one is more laid back than a lot of the rest of the project, and it really goes well with the melody. IKJai’s vocals on ‘BUDA’ are also a bit more low-key than most of the rest of the songs. His flow is fast, but his tone is pretty soft, fitting this R&B-tinted instrumental well. If you are into R&B Trap that makes you want to turn up, ‘BUDA’ is a song for your playlist. 

SUM TO SAY (FEAT. DJ MEGADON & SUPERSTAR SEL) 

Out of all the music on this project, ‘Sum to Say’ is the one that feels most like Milwaukee Slap music. It still does have that distorted Hardcore Trap element that the rest of the songs have, but the pacing and overall energy of this one are very turned up. The melody for this track is very high-key and kind of dizzying(in the best way). It feels like an extra turned-up and overstimulating version of a Lil Uzi Vert kind of melody. The beat, as I said, sits right in between Slap music and Trap music. This is a cool fusion that really makes ‘Sum To Say’ stand out. DJ Megadon delivers a high-octane introduction to this track, while IKJai and Superstar Sel take care of the actual rapping of the track. IKJai and Superstar Sel play off of each other very well, and they more than match the energy of the instrumental. ‘Sum To Say’ is a Trap/Slap banger that could get any function jumping.  

PARTY!

I know I said there are elements of the last track that remind me of Lil Uzi Vert, but ‘Party! ’takes that sentiment to the next level. This track truly feels like an extra-saturated and stimulating version of a classic Lil Uzi Vert track. The melody for this track is so vivid and high-octane. It reminds me of a bright sunny day, and will probably lift anyone’s mood who loves this kind of Trap music. The beat is just as energetic as the instrumental, and really adds to the larger-than-life feeling of ‘Party!’ On the chorus of this track, IKJai states that he is off the molly, and honestly, listening to this track makes me feel like I am on molly. IKJai’s vocals on this track are very versatile and rangey. The husky tone he sings with creates a cool juxtaposition with the instrumental. ‘Party!’ Is a track with an intense and blazing sound that fans of Lil Uzi Vert would dig. 

IKJai is someone who certainly sets himself apart from the other Hip Hop artists that are big in Milwaukee right now. His sound has always had a very heavy and brash element to it. IKJai’s music makes an impact and gets a reaction. On Jai In 5, it feels like he is really coming into his own and honing down his typical sound into a concise and succinct way. One of the best things about this record is how well it flows. Every song seems like it is connected sonically to the last one. Although there are a variety of influences and elements that come in throughout the record, it feels like every song has its place. I like how some of the songs bring a bit of nostalgia into the mix; as you can see, some of the songs that I really enjoyed brought back elements of the early to mid-2010s. Even though these songs do have nostalgic elements, they still feel fresh; in fact, a lot of this album almost feels futuristic. Jai In 5 is completely an album that stands out for its eccentricity and its willingness to push boundaries. Some of the instrumentals are pretty bold, but that is what makes them hit hard. IKJai’s flow and overall delivery are better than ever on this record. It is an extremely energetic record, and it is bound to get anyone’s heart pumping when they listen to it. I feel like he pushed himself vocally throughout the record and showed off how impactful a vocalist he can be. Overall, this album not only stands out amongst the other music being made in Milwaukee, but just with other Hip Hop music being made right now in general. IKJai really knows how to push boundaries, and he does so in a successful manner on this record. If you wanted a new highkey Trap album that has a very individualistic and ultramodern style and feeling, Jai In 5 is an album you should dig.