Jai Paul - Do You Love Her Now/He

June 1, 2019 - XL Recordings

The enigma Jai Paul returns in funk-forward splendor, emphasis on the theatrics of splendor; for its effect is not one of splendor, but one of a shadow hoping to surpass that thing from which it is cast. The man has really pigeonholed himself, and his latest single has not gathered the musical velocity to escape the legend that is ‘BTSTU.’ One hopes and hopes to see Jai Paul produce something that proves he’s bigger than ‘BTSTU,’ though if that song were all he was to leave behind it would still be a successful career.

Though gratitude is paramount, it does in this situation little to solve our consuming imperative. Given his obvious efforts and the near-decade of an unmatched first cut, a body of enthusiasts such as ourselves must not shrink away from the possibility the man has made an uncommon agreement, one that may break many religious treatises. And this in mind, a time may come that we must match Jai Paul’s gamble if we are to receive anything matching (let alone exceeding) ‘BTSTU’ from Jai and his giant bunned-up mohawk. I am suggesting a massive unholy union.

For now, he thinks that with twinkling production and light vocal mystique he can misdirect the ears of a patient audience a little longer. As Paulo Cuelho says, “When you really want something, the entire universe conspires to help you get it.” This enduring principle of achievement underpins everything from beginner’s luck (‘BTSTU’) to the tough, destructive, alternately hopeful and instructive, and ultimately restorative journey of the hero.

Battling the deflation that came with the huge leak of much of his work after the initial release of ‘BTSTU,’ Jai Paul found yet another summit in ‘Jasmine’ on his album Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones). The album was both retaliation, answer to, and conciliation to the frustration an artist feels when her or his creations are Robin-Hooded (without the social attributed to Robin Hood) from their laptops.

But let’s backtrack a little. Jai Paul’s latest “single” which includes two tracks, ‘Do You Love Her Now,’ and ‘He,’ is a soulful trek down the R&B road. The artist has dug out a little niche in the genre with his signature distorted production, turning sexy crash cymbals into rackety sound-waves making no smooth entry. For whatever reason ‘He,’ has seen more popularity on Apple Music. On paper, the elements of ‘He’ go a lot further than in practice. The track neutralizes itself by stretching thin between traditional R&B vocals with sparse instrumentation and house-oriented percussive breaks. The result is nothing terrible—a song that would not be missed if left off a list of many things that are not terrible.

Personally, I am no more tide over from the release of these singles than I would be from a new byte letting me know Jai Paul is still alive and therefore may one day match his original magnum opus. They’re a fine couple of songs, and if they were students in my class, I would give them A’s and B’s but wistfully I would stare over their heads thinking of the glory of their eldest sibling ‘BTSTU’ and their resentment would grow and I’d have damaged two perfectly healthy youths. A damage, which hopefully, pushes them (for the metaphor is breaking down here) to encourage their parent to make something better, but looking onward and not backward. ⛰️

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