1000 Nights

Don Jaykae links up with everyones favourite soulstress Jorja Smith for introspective garage-infused single ‘1000 Nights’. 

A rapper whose crops continues to grow, Jaykae has flowered into one of the countries best lyricists over the past 5 years. Having made his name with rampaging grime tracks like ‘Toothache’ and ‘Moscow’, Jaykae has collaborate with hugely popular mainstream artists like Ed Sheeran and Nathan Dawe. Alongside recent single ‘Chop (Henry the 8th)’, the Brum frontrunner has been expanding his style and experimenting with genre; here enlisting one of the UK’s brightest sparks in R&B superstar Jorja Smith. 

The pair go back-to-back on the stirring garage instrumental produced by @1ezrah, with the two Jay’s highlighting their lyrical prowess. Both artists have been acclaimed for stark and honest vulnerability in their writing, and this is only furthered by the gritty and retrospective tales that the pair spin on this new cut. Touching on crime, family and loss, the narrative is relative, subtle and heart-rending. 

The accompanying video sees several characters on the streets of Digbeth going through similar situations to the lyrical stories, as we see Jaykae and Jorja at their expressive, absorbing best. 

Speaking on the track, Jaykae said:

“The track was written and recorded with me and jorja in the studio together, not sending across vocal takes between studios and I think you can hear that - there’s a different energy about it. It’s got that classic garage sound but the storyline is so relevant to today.”

One of the best collabs of the year, this is another prime example of UK artists transcending genre and sound, with a refreshing synergy of different styles right at the forefront of our current scene. 

Album please, Jay.