Ejai has it down to a letter
THE music industry is rife with tragic stories of artistes falling on hard times, usually due to their ignorance of its business side. Rapper-singer Ejai took steps early to avoid a similar fate.
His latest song, Letter From Me, is a commitment to his two sons, assuring them that he is aware of his personal and professional responsibilities.
“The song is, in fact, very personal. I go into detail on what my current and past situations are and the plans I have for my children and legacy, and what I’m doing in order to secure that for them,” Ejai told the Jamaica Observer.
A performer since his pre-teens, he added that making music is more than a song and dance. “Yes! It’s a big deal. The music industry is 90 per cent business,” he stated.
Letter From Me and Magician, another new song, are scheduled for release on January 6. Both are produced by Iconix Beatz.
They are follow-ups to Fast, a rocking hip hop track released in early 2021. Ejai counts it as his most successful effort to date, based on response to its visual on social media.
Born in New York to Jamaican parents, Ejai was raised in Hanover where he developed his skills as a vocalist, drummer and keyboardist in church and competitions organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC).
“My JCDC days were an experience, I had fun and we gained medals. I was a child celebrity, singing at town events, singing the national anthem for building openings and more,” Ejai recalled.
Citing Shaggy and Vybz Kartel as his biggest musical influences, he began writing songs at age 17, at which time he relocated to the United States.
Fast’s popularity peaked last summer, prompting Ejai to record Letter From Me and Magician in a bid to maintain momentum in 2023.