Jay Park: Hip-Hop’s Underrated Mogul

Some artists, despite being uber-talented and possessing the skill set to shake the music industry, are simply “slept on.” It’s a clichéd phrase nowadays, but the truth is, in modern music, some musicians aren’t given enough credit for their craft, nor are their works treated with the attention and courtesy they deserve. Sure, the artist or band may be able to sell-out festivals on their own, but there’s still the lingering feeling that the mainstream media doesn’t quite give them the respect they deserve. However, despite this, they still manage to carve out their own legacy, and become trailblazers of their own movement, inspiring generations to come.

The perfect example? Jay Park.

An Asian-American hip-hop tycoon, the 31-year-old is one of the most polished artists of the 21st century. The owner of two successful and well-renowned record labels; accolades attributed to the musician are just as plentiful as the tattoos on his body, and despite the perceived pressure of being the first Asian signee to Roc Nation, his first EP under the label’s name was a blistering success. It highlighted the creative prowess that Park possesses, and showcased his versatile talents to a wider audience, with the quality never faltering.

It hasn’t all been plain-sailing, though, and the Seattle-born superstar has had to face his fair share of hardships during the course of his now over-decade long career. Whether it was the controversy surrounding his 2009 departure from South-Korean group 2PM, or a recent debate over cultural appropriation, the singer has still managed to come through it all with his head held high, and has handled each and every obstacle with a dignified class hard to find in this current climate. There has never been a cowering away and surrendering to the conforming opinion when it comes to Jay Park, but rather a refreshing and bold outlook that may challenge what the masses believe. Despite the bubbly and care-free personality you see on social media, there’s clearly a thoughtful and respectful man behind the on-screen persona.

In turn, this energy-filled yet tactful personality seeps into the music too, with Park never shying away from getting serious, and never truly expelling or separating from less colourful topics. For every uplifting track like “Sexy 4 Eva,” there’s an “FSU.” Sure, there’s vibrancy and a tantalising colour to most of his efforts, but sections like: “I'm the holy one (one)/ Never pay yo' price/ I do R&B but they want me to rap/ You rappers ain't doin' your job right/ The Roc called me in to come up and just pick up your slack” in the aforementioned “FSU” show tremendous confidence, and authentically portray a person’s potential when the world is at his feet with unmatched conviction.

Despite occasionally being treated as an outsider upon his entry into the US market, the singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, model, dancer, actor, and choreographer is starting to excel at a rapid pace across the globe. A once-in-a-generation talent, his work ethic and consistent quality in output already puts the 31-year-old levels above most of his peers, but to develop a growing, loyal legion of fans without the help of the international mainstream media is something unrivalled in music today. Jay Park doesn’t need or seek the attention of the masses, but if his career trajectory continues its upward momentum, there’s no doubt his already expanding fanbase will inflate further.

To help familiarise you with the hip-hop mogul taking international waters by storm, you can find some of his best tracks below. Truthfully, though, whether through this article or your own accord, this Washington-raised artist is quintessential listening for any rap fan.

Thanks to the masterful production courtesy of Gray, this smooth and sexy anthem has aged like fine wine. Still just as infectiously catchy and sonically alluring as it was almost four years ago, “MOMMAE” is the perfect mood-raiser, and undeniably brilliant.

The earworm of a chorus drives this song forward and carries the bulk of its quality, but the fascinating verses provided by Jay Park, Hoody, and Loco add extra layers to an already intrinsically complex number. In addition, Cha Cha Malone provides the perfect beats to go along with the slick and polished vocals, ensuring this track earns its stars and more.

A more relaxed effort than the two mentioned prior, “Dank” centres around a simple chord progression and a trap beat common in modern hip-hop. The refined vocals show-off Jay Park’s immense talents, and lyrically it’s a lot more solid than a lot of his earlier material. All in all, it’s a song that you can’t help but bop along to, and well worth a listen.

Ending this list with one of the best dance tracks of the past decade, “Forever” is true perfection. The track’s climax is euphoric and invigorating, the vocals (including Cha Cha Malone’s) are flawless, and the drop is unparalleled in terms of its quality. It’s a song you can easily run out of superlatives when describing, making it a key listen in an already stacked discography.