Blog Post

JayQ The Legend, The Man of the People & Music Genre Crusader

Lorraine O'Connor • Sep 29, 2021
Ever since JayQ The Legend released “Body Talk,” he’s become a mainstay with a heavy presence on the Billboard charts and a stronghold on YouTube viewership. It’s true, not only did his Dancehall collaboration with Hood Celebrityy reach number one on the Billboard Reggae Charts, it also launched JayQ The Legend’s career into the upper echelon of brand-new artists back in 2019. Since then, he has expanded upon his discography by adding contemporary R&B to his repertoire. His latest drop, “Be Mine” has already become his most streamed hit to date. 

It’s a rhythmic banger that has helped the crooner from St. Croix drawn early comparisons to solo artists like Akon, Wyclef Jean and Mark Morrison. The music video for this Summer classic was created by the woman for whom he co-founded his record label with. 

“The director for this video was Miriam Bavly (the BreakOut Music LLC Co-CEO). Her vision was to have an authenticity in the ‘Be Mine’ video setting that could transport the viewer to a reality worthy of popcorn and movie night,” said JayQ The Legend. “The genre concept was hatched by Miriam with urban elements weaved in by J-Tweezy--who was one of the associate producers of the video.” The music video was published on August 17th 2021. 

The group’s rollout plan for ‘Be Mine’ set a nice precedence for a follow-up single. But when Hurricane Ida stuck the West Indies and Louisiana on August 26th, JayQ The Legend knew that he would have to pivot in order to help bring hurricane relief to the people from both of the communities for which he belongs. JayQ The Legend hails from New Orleans, but he’s rooted in the West Indian community. Therefore, a vast majority of his charitable work, in late August, focused primarily on New Orleans and Caribbean-American communities throughout Alabama and Florida. 

“After hurricane Ida, my label allowed me to take some time to buy several really good generators, water, and gasoline to donate in New Orleans. I chose to give support to people who would amplify the relief in the community, like churches and community leaders. We drove to Alabama and Florida to purchase these items several times. We loaded up the truck and drove around for 400 miles in total to make deliveries. In the initial gap between disaster impact and government relief I like to say: We all we got,” said JayQ The Legend. 

 “My job is done. My spiritual commitment was fulfilled. My music, movies and life are always focused on uplifting myself, my family, my community. Anyone who identifies with the things I had to overcome such as child abuse can take ownership in my success as an artist. Any child who survived abusive parents can take ownership in my success. Africans all across the world were robbed of a legacy and dispersed by slavery, as far back as 500 years ago. I go hard for them in all that I do.”

Indeed, the month of August was truly a time of triumph and trials for JayQ The Legend, but sometimes going through an emotional rollercoaster can help create the best lyrical content in music. If his next single is just as sincere as his charitable initiative during the Summer, our ears are in for a real treat and so are our hearts.

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