--At 21, R&B/hip-hop artist Jai Kent has come a long way. Born and raised in Toronto, his family separated when he was only 9, and his teenage years were spent going back and forth between parents. Settling down was hard, and Jai attended six different high schools in just four years.
Jai turned to his music to express his hurt, his anger, and to get away from the troubles in his life.
"Not being with both parents at all times when I was young put me in a place that I didn't wanna be," he says. "I gave a lot of trouble when I was young, so you could say I didn't have a good childhood. I always wanted to be alone. So when I was 12, I stared to rap. As I got older, I got better. I'm a very soft-spoken person so instead of talking a lot and being social, I would just make a song about how I was feeling for that day.
"I was told that I was no good," he says. "Not just good in my music, but that I would just never amount to anything."
Now, Jai's poised to break out into the Canadian music scene with his original songs, and an album due for release in the summer of 2009. After receiving rejections from most Canadian record labels and Toronto's Flow 93.5, Jai's forging his own path through the music industry, distributing his music via the popular online networking site MySpace. With a popular online presence and four original songs available for streaming, Jai has managed to acquire fans all around the world.
Jai's trademark style, a twist of R&B and hip-hop, evokes a smooth sound – R&B vocals with a bit of rap, with a hip-hop backing that blends seamlessly.
"I have R&B vocals, but at the same time I can rap. I like to do both as a mix." he says of his music. "I feel that even if I do a hip-hop song, I still gotta put a little R&B twist to it. The music I make does not include any aggressive lyrics at all, it's not my style. It's the way I am. I try to keep myself clean, there's too much negativity already in the world."
Jai's songwriting has evolved from a pen-and-paper process to a personal freeform session.
"The music I do is on a different level for me, I feel free whenever I get on the mic," he says. "No pen, no paper. Just the thoughts in my mind. I no longer write my music down; I just create it all on the spot."
Growing up with a father who was a DJ, Jai was very much into the popular music scene, keeping up with the changes in the industry while gaining an appreciation for all kinds of music. Now, for Jai, inspiration comes from other artists – 2Pac, Busta Rhymes, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – and his personal life.
"When I make music, I get my inspiration from the feelings that come from my heart. If I'm feeling like I'm in love, I express it with music. I'm not making a love song, but just taking about how I feel about the issue.
"Also, before I get on the mic I pray. And when I pray I ask Jesus to please give me the strength to make all my emotions turn into a musical form. That way, I can express my story in full."
With his belief in God and the past as an example, Jai has overcome a lot of adversity and seeks to turn his music into a positive force:
"What I try to achieve first and foremost is to set myself free. When I make music, it puts me in a place where nothing could ever bother me. It doesn't matter what I'm going through in life, as long as I can create music every day, I believe I can make it through the crazy world we live in.
"I want to be able to reach out, to help others be everything they can be," he adds. "No matter what happens in life, no matter the journey you take, you are the future. I want to be able to tell our youth that, give them hope for the future. It's okay to be yourself, to be a leader, and to lead into the future."
As a high school graduate, Jai plans to attend seneca for Independent music production, where he can continue on his path in music.
Jai Kent ... :o) Hope all is good wit ya. Been crazy busy here.. and getting the award for Brevard County/321's Hottest R&B Artist is just the BEGINNING for me... Remember.. the sky ISN'T the limit... cause the universe is INFINITE!!! Keep doing ya thang aight...Grind HARD...do YOU... no matter what.. Keep yo head up!
We must speak out on major world issues, courageously, openly and honestly, and in blunt terms of morality. If We yeild to blandishment or theats, if We compromise when no hounourable compromise is possible, Our influence will be sadly diminished and Our prestige woefully prejudiced and weakened. Let Us not deny Our ideals or sacrifice Our right to stand as the champions of the poor, the ignorant, the oppressed everywhere.
When no one upholds the cause of morality and justice for thier own sake, when the small, still voice of conscience speaks no longer, immorality and lack of principle have triumphed, and in this hisstory all of humankind is the loser.
If We raise Our voices against injustice, wherever it is found, if We demand a stop to aggression wherever it occurs and under whatever guise and brand the aggressor as such, and if We do so on a wholly impartial basis, We can serve as the collective consience of the world.
Jai Kent what's up? It's official my website is up and running you're invited to check it out, give some feedback and if you like share it with your myspace friends. www.electriksexmusik.com
Yo whats good fam,.soon I'ma send ya our song totally finished man,. I'm sorry that it takes so damn long,. but realy had to find the right person to sing the chorous and plus had alot of things to take care off,. my appologize fam,. I'll get at ya with it a.s.a.p
I told you that we had a track in store for the world. OMG Jai if u think our other music was good, listen to that new track "Blast Off".. Hit me yo, Hillz High/Flyshade allday, lets take the top!!! 2propa
Thanks kid, this mixtape by far is gonna be one of the tops!! Yo speaking, we still need a track from you, for it. Matter fact hit me in a message, so we could talk details. 2propa
What Up What up, Whats good Jai? Came thru to let you know, that 2propa is back in action!! New Mixtape dropping July 1st, we just leaked 2new tracks! Hit up the myspace, add up the Searchin' track!! Till next time, stay blesssed!! Thank you for all your support, we highly appreciate it!!! 2propa
Hey Jai! Just passin through.... noticed you have a few new songs up... They sound awseome!! hope things are going well for ya... still doin what ya gotta do to make it to the top right? lol
I got a new song up.. Piano ballad.. a new day... check it out if u have time!!
Wherever there is African blood there is a basis for greater unity.
Our greatest asset is Our unity, and We must exploit it to the fullest.
People of a country who have fought incessantly for their independence understand that unity is the foundation of liberty.
The joining together in a unified effort to overcome the perils of nature and the dangers which beset man on all sides is the very basis of society and the way in which humanity, since the dawn of istory, has assured its survival.
When a solid foundation is laid, if the builder is able and his materials good, a strong house can be built.
Africa must speak with one voice ringing out in powerful, harmonious tones.
We are determined to create a union of Africans. In a very real sense, Our continent is unmade; it still awaits it creators. It is Our duty and privilege to rouse the slumbering giant of Africa, to the vision of a single African brotherhood guiding its united efforts toward the achievement of a greater and nobler goal.
Each of Us depends on the other, can learn from the other and in pursuing their own destiny will go further and reach success more quickly with others.
Influences abound which will not hesitate to divde Us, to pit Us one agaist the other and to stir up disharmony and suspicion where only brotherhood and confidence should be found.
HAILE SELLASSIE DA 1st RULES IRATION
HAIL LIFE MOTHER AN FATHER DAUGHTER AN SUN BROTHER AN SISTER AUNT AN UNCLE ONE FAMILY HUMAN
![esther lee. [new song!]](http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/131/s_58058e81c11f4836b36708f0a98b8494.jpg)
