This is probably my favorite track on the album. The combination of drums, beats, jingles and appropriate pauses makes for an entertaining ride through Jai Paul’s musical universe. Something about this track stuck out to me more than anything else on the album. At just a little over three minutes, Jai Paul birthed a whole new breed of swag. This is absolutely electronic, but I feel like it warrants the invention of a new genre title. It’s kind of a funktronic blend of spacey vocals, where you can just hardly make out the words that the vocals form. I love that element of mystery, when the vocals are there but they’re used more as instruments, a way of experimenting with different sounds. A lot of this album is the same way, with the exception of a couple of tracks.
This track comes to you on a day of transition. My life has been in flux for a while, and I think that it’s finally all starting to paint a bigger picture. There’s something about the uncertainty of it that reminds me of this track. It has something to do with the pauses, so appropriate but also so unconventional and unexpected.
Also here’s a cool thing: I graduated yesterday! It’s all very exciting, so if you have any reason to celebrate on this long weekend, let this song make its way onto your playlist if it’s not already on there.
Just who exactly is Jai Paul and what planet did he come from? Seriously, who is he? He’s one of the most enigmatic artists out there today aside from Bon Iver when Bon Iver was still Bon Iver (you feel me?). His sounds are out of this world. They spin, twirl, mix, and mash up whatever genre you think he’s falling into. One moment he’s R&B, then he’s funk, then he’s pop, then he’s indie — there is no box that can contain the full breadth of Jai Paul, and he hasn’t “officially” released his first LP. I use “officially” lightly here because the internet went bonkers over what’s been rumored to the album leak, but Paul denies it — although after reading this article, all indications say yes, it’s the real thing. Official or not, a lil’ bird dropped it in my mailbox a few weeks back and it’s been crazy ride ever since.
All of the tracks are untitled, but some have had titles attached to them. “BTSTU,” for instance, is Track 16. His effortlessly sexy “Jasmine” is Track 09, and this cover is Track 07. I had honestly forgot about this song until it resurfaced itself under Jai Paul’s name and frankly, I still don’t remember the original. I’ve listened to it since hearing this cover, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the work Paul’s done. The tension and release of the synths gives the song life while quick keyboard chord blasts give you something to flip your hair to. Paul’s voice had a tinge of sleaziness to it, which in this author’s humble opinion, is a lot more convincing than Jennifer Paige’s breathy delivery. You be the judge, though.
If “BTSTU” didn’t win you over, this track will. Get into Jai Paul. Get down to him. Get lifted by him. Get real with him.
Chances, people tell you not to take chances When they tell you there aren’t any answers And I was starting to agree But I awoke suddenly in the path of a lightning bolt”
They want us to define ourselves, to pick a side, choose a lane, walk around proud of those beliefs, confident and unwavering – safe & comfortable. But whose beliefs are those anyway? Most of us are products of our upbringing, our beliefs are those of our environment – our parents, television, marketing, music and so on. Why? Well, it’s easy to sell to, control and manipulate a predictable person. Think about your old ass grand parents. You ever hear them say some retarded sexist, racist or generally moronic stone age shit that makes you wonder how people in the past could have been so ignorant? We all have. Back in the day when information wasn’t as freely accessible that’s how effective the old ways were.
But say goodbye to olden times and welcome to EMPT, home of the Space Age. Open to everything and bound by nothing, we represent the futuristic being. Rebels of routine, patterns and blind tradition…
Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee
An open mind gives us the full capacity to love, appreciate and understand the fact that we are truly limitless. As we move into spring let’s use that to remember that the world is always in movement, change is the only thing that is constant. Thus, there’s no point to lock off your mind, move with the world forever.
I’m so proud that EMPT is the home of Le Miel du Mois and every time I hear Stephs work I get all worked up like this because her music is 100% aligned with everything that inspired my to start this site. I mean listen any LMDM and pretend like you know what’s next. This is no Pandora or Netflix bs algorithm. We have no preference for anything but the best, nothing here is a cheap random song you might like because you liked the last one. This 100% human expression with the single purpose of sharing our lives, taste and journey in the most honest way we can. This isn’t conformity, we answer to no one when brining you what we love. This is the Space Age. Press play, enjoy.
Now this is a collaboration I can get down to. None of the three artists spinning on this track are strangers to EMPT and having them come together is a bit of a dream I wish I dreamed just to say “Hey, I thought of this before it happened.” Here we are however and Big Boi has beat me to the punch. I will admit that when this single dropped early in December I wasn’t fangirling as much as I thought I would, but like most good things – it’s an acquired taste.
A sharp snare drum knits the track together and provides a solid beat to dance to if you’re not feeling too adventurous in getting down to Jai Paul’s schizophrenic 808 bumps and wobbling bass line. This track is Justin Timberlake and 50 Cent’s “Ayo Technology” re-vamped for the HD age. Jai Paul on the hook blatantly tells us he just wants to get it on in higher res, to “see it on the sick screen.” Big Boi’s verse is scattered spoken virtual innuendo over a sharp production. There are moments in the track where it feels like we’re in the studio listening to these three artists jamming. The vibes they’re bouncing off one another are genuine and you can hear them get in their zones. While the track is distinctly Jai Paul, Big Boi and Little Dragon’s Yukimi’s styles aren’t lost. Rather, they’re amplified by the minimalist production. Yukimi has never sounded sexier than she does here with her seductive verse.
Don’t take this track for one spin. Spin it again and again. It’s hypnotizing and a real gem off Big Boi’s new album that leaves you wanting more.
Niia’s breathy echo captures you upon literally, the first 2 seconds of Jai Paul’s track, not only that but these may be some of the best lyrics I have heard in a while from Jai Paul and Niia couldn’t have complimented it more beautifully and effortlessly. The symbolism is so beautiful, some times I get too wrapped up in these two things, but I guess when you are a romantic you just can’t help yourself, you see the beauty in ways that others cannot, or choose not too. I am really big on being able to come up with lyrics that capture a great metaphor/symbolism that isn’t hard for any one person to pick up on. These lyrics in particular are about being lost, maybe even hitting rock bottom, being so torn by past events and forgetting the magnificent person you once were. Maybe this is because of love, maybe this is because of traumatic events, in any case you’ve “been gone along time”, but everyone is able to find themselves again, bounce back to reality and back to what things once were. Everyone is capable of bouncing back from anything, I know this from personal life experiences, but its about wanting it, because the human mind can be lost out at sea forever if it doesn’t learn how to surface and swim.
Don’t fuck with me, Don’t fuck with me Since you shipped my eyes off to sea I never knew where i was going I went where the water was flowing
I know I’ve been gone a long time, but I’m back and I want what is mine I know I’ve been gone a long time, but I’m back and I want what is mine.”
Jai Paul’s writing and production abilities are a “mind F*&c” I say this in the most positive way possible. I completely loose myself in his production, the way the drums and bass kick in is so damn sexy that you just want to melt. Hailing all the way from the UK this musician has all the talents of a great musician up his sleeve. I have no idea what everyone is doing today but I think I might put this track on repeat on some damn good speakers because wow, the bass just bumps with a vibration that is unreal and just lie around in my underwear all day with some candles lit. I gave you some good ideas for the rest of your day didn’t I, enjoy!
I’ve gotten a few email and seen a couple of comments from people asking why we didn’t do a best of 2010 list. Steph finally sent me an answer to that question in the form of a mixtape because we no speak best of 2010 list, we speak music over here. We’re getting a lot of new visitors these days so if you’re not familiar with LMDM I couldn’t think of a better way to get acquainted with the queen of style.
Steph was hitting home runs in 2010, brining us something completely fresh and new for 12 months straight. I’m certainly the biggest LMDM fan and if anyone thinks different we can take this outside and see whose boss! Seriously though, I think I speak for all fans in saying that we appreciate the work Steph puts into these tapes. There’s no question in my mind that LMDM is a labor of love, there’s so much thought and feeling put into it and it translates to everyone that hears it. We appreciate it Steph and look forward to another year of magic…
Yes, this is about mid month 15ish days late…but still, its here. The list below is a special mix for the New Year/wrap-up of the beloved 2010. Instead of choosing my favorite tracks of 2010, I chose special tracks and artists I featured throughout Le Miel du Mois’ this past year. Most blogs did their ‘best of ‘lists and I think a lot of us agree on what was amazing and what stood out, so rather than echo a round-up list, we thought we would do it a bit different – with a LMDM montage for you to download and here we are…
They say time flies when you’re having fun, I guess that why it wasn’t till last week that I realized it’s been a whole year since Steph started the Le Miel du Mois series, wow. We’re getting a lot of new visitors lately so if you’re new to EMPT I recommend you to to the LMDM page and start right back at the very first installment of this series and work your way up to this months. Every tape has stands on it’s own and till this day I’ve never been able to pick a favorite and this month is no different. I know this is my site but I’m probably the biggest fan of this mixtape and since this is a big occasion and all I’d like to thank Steph for gracing us with such great music and taste.
You are appreciated” – Tupac
We’ll be announcing the official LMDM one year anniversary party soon so stay tuned…
Le Miel du Mois: Mai
This months LMDM is particularly special because it marks the one year anniversary for LMDM. The numbers of listeners streaming and downloading keeps growing each month and we hope every mixtape is like a special little present you cant wait to open every first of the month. This month’s tape is mostly dance tracks, my favorite. I like anything fast and loud that I can dance to and I hope you will agree that most of these get that job done. It finally feels like spring, and LMDM’s summer ahead looks danceably and rockingly amazing. Enjoy.
