Jay Deru’s Skyscrapers is an unhurried introduction to an artist who sounds increasingly comfortable in his own lane, and we feature it here at Music Crowns.
Drawing on years spent writing, performing and refining his voice, the rapper and singer moves through the record with an easy confidence, allowing its ideas to develop without ever forcing the moment. It is a project rooted in hip-hop, but one that leaves plenty of room for melody, soul and introspection.
That versatility comes through in the production. “Cashout humor” sets the tone with warm strings, airy percussion and a deep low end, while “Sunbathe” shifts towards brighter keys and a more buoyant rhythm. “Heavy Tinted Civic”, featuring Dontay Jacob, brings a tougher edge, its heavier production matched by a more forceful delivery from Deru. The changes in texture keep the album moving, but there is a clear continuity running through it, with Deru’s relaxed vocal presence acting as the thread between each track.
By the time “Hurt Nobody” arrives, Skyscrapers has settled into its most reflective space. Fluid bass and open keyboards give the track a sense of room, allowing Deru’s more personal side to come forward without losing the album’s understated character. What ultimately makes the record work is its restraint: there is ambition here, but no sense of overstatement. Skyscrapers sounds like the work of an artist who has spent years figuring out what he wants to say and, more importantly, how he wants to say it.
