Jai Paul: The Return of Pop’s Most Mysterious Artist
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- Опубліковано 11 кві 2023
- Who is Jai Paul? And why is he so revered despite so little output? Our latest video essay traces his journey from the early 2010s to Coachella 2023.
He's only released a handful of tracks, but Jai Paul is considered by fans to be one of the greatest artists of our time. His music has been sampled by the likes of Beyoncé and Drake. Releases such as "BTSTU" and "Jasmine," welding neo-soul with electronica basslines and layered, distorted vocals, captured the musical zeitgeist of the early 2010s, sitting perfectly in between the indie underground and the mainstream. Despite this, Paul shied away from the limelight and after an unauthorised leak of his debut album in 2013, he retreated even further.
But Paul's performance at this year's Coachella, alongside the vinyl release of Bait Ones, has the world watching and asking: is pop's most mysterious artist making a comeback?
Music in order of appearance:
Jai Paul - Str8 Outta Mumbai (Original Mix)
Jai Paul - All Night (Unfinished)
Jai Paul - BTSTU (Demo)
Drake - Dreams Money Can Buy (Music Video)
Jai Paul - Jasmine (Demo)
Prince & The Revolution - Kiss
Jai Paul - 100,000 (Unfinished)
Jai Paul - Desert River (Unfinished)
Jai Paul - Baby Beats
Jai Paul - All Night (Unfinished)
Jai Paul - raw beat (Unfinished)
Jai Paul - Vibin (Unfinished)
Ruthven -
A.K. Paul - Landcruisin’
Jai Paul - Do You Love Her Now_(Original Mix)
Jai Paul - He (Original Mix)
Jai Paul - Crush (Unfinished)
Extra footage:
Where is Jai Paul? Facebook Page
John Gripenholm Photography
Solsea.io
Pitchfork Playlist
MMG
Coachella
Webarchive.org
TEJS15
ACO
RockieFresh
Enhanced Music Videos
Pitchfork
Fact Mag - Paul Institute Presents Ruthven, Live at 180 Studios
We Needed This UA-cam
Writer - Andrew Ryce
Producer, Editor - Sophie Misrahi
Narrator - Moxie
Motion Graphics - Tommy Palasz
Sound Mix - James Hall [Obodo]
He deserves every success coming to him. Can't imagine how much the album leak shattered him back then. Happy to see him back
I went to school with him. Was in his class for a year too. Was always artistically ahead of absolutely everyone in the whole school. Fantastic to witness his slow global rise what we all knew as teenagers
Was your school in West London? Was he self-taught? Agreed, dude is uber talented.
@@jacksonfury6031 pretty sure he had innate talent, though had some drum lessons early on.
Real quiet guy? or extrovert?
@@suckmynose000 introverted but not shy
i don't believe you. ❤
Copping the vinyl that dropped today has been one of the most fulfilling experiences I've had in a while and I literally dodged cancer this year
Damn bro big ups for giving the finger to cancer like that. Glad you were able to nab the vinyl! Can’t wait ‘til it arrives.
@@blueflamet29 thx mate!
From an oncology nurse, congrats brother. With that said, f you, I couldn't cop.
W mindset you are strong as fuck bro hope you enjoyed him im shaking in bed listening to this genius live for the first time. He’s just fucking brilliant
@@rockoutkids heavy is the crown tbh (ty tho)
Finished or not, Bait Ones truly is one of the best albums of the 2010’s
Jai Paul is my hero...I made it through my teen years in highschool with him in my ear. His an absolute amazing artist, truly one of the bredrins and I hope he gets everything he wants in this lifetime.
Same bro my whole highschool nostalgia is this gods music.
he's back and he's coming for what is his!
lyrics are all too true man.and deserved!
Hearing that 2013 leak changed my life. I was writing guitar based music at the time and was just getting into producing my own music and those sounds just blew me away and gave me so many of my own ideas on where I could take things. I really hope we get more music from him. He is a legend for sure.
Return of the king.
i can't believe this is going to happen. i am on edge since i first found out he was playing live for the first time. this man is one of the greatest artists of our time. its unbelievable!
We were so excited to see him last Sunday at Coachella, his set was packed! Everybody was waiting to see his greatness and he was just so incredible and emotional, we could tell he was very happy to be there and shocked at the same time because of everybody’s response we were all roaring for him. Thank you Jai Paul that was so special!!!
I was privileged to be at the show last saturday, I've seen a handful of wonderful shows in my life but I have never ever experienced something like Jai Paul live, it was such a divine energy from start to end and it was the first crowd in years where I could barely see phones on stage, everyone was so in shock and processing what was going on, I was so overwhelmed by how amazing the show was I had to leave to my camping tent lol I didn´t want to hear anymore music I had enough. I got to witness a fenix rise from the ashes, one of the most special moments of my life
That's my Coachella lineup reaction vid 😭😭 TY for including it. Can't overstate just how excited we all are for his set
what did you think of the performance?!
@@srduncanbyu I'm going this weekend! But i did spoil myself and watch the set livestreamed with a bunch of the community on Discord. I thought it was incredible, emotional, euphoric, and human. The moments when he would just laugh, crack a smile, or show a state of shock felt so good to see given how many years in the making this set was. And oh my god hearing the crowd ROARING warmed my heart so much - I was tearing up during All Night. He sounded GREAT! I've been speculating that the stream was delayed so that it could maybe have some post-set mixing, but regardless hats off to the mixing team. I love how they were able to replicate that same stereo effect as heard in the streaming versions. The band all fuckin killed it. Fabi with the DYLHN performance.. AK doing magic to that funky lil guitar, Isaac was a machine, Rocco had the groove on lock from start to finish. Also holy fuck those songs still sound like they're from the future. Seeing the crowd lighting up during Mumbai gives me chills even just remembering it. i am SO EXCITED FOR SATURDAY!!!
@@WeNeededThis literal beta
@@WestCoastCultured you missed his set huh 😭
really nice tribute to jai. here's hoping he comes out with some new tunes soon. regardless, he is forever a legend in my mind
Love love love Jai Paul. When I saw his cameo in the show Atlanta I knew that he was getting ready for a public appearance. Big loves to Jai Paul the goat.
So happy he’s finally returning into the scene, saw him at Coachella and was blown away, felt like I was at a Jai Paul concert rather than Coachella, he deserves all the success, can’t wait for what future holds for him!
Loved the video. Saw his set at Coachella and it was the highlight of my weekend. Despite everything that has happened to this man, he showed up with calm and powerful stage presence. He played almost all of his catalogue in a raw, but revamped way that showed what it could have been. Jai Paul is back and better than ever.
This video made me cry a little bit thinking about 2013-14 when i discovered him
And those times and innocence
How much music has changed for better and for worse
How special things like Jai Paul are hard to finder now
It's like a withdrawal. I miss that high i got from discovering special music like this for myself. It's so different now. I feel like I'm chasing that high but i can't reach there.
almost crying in joy after seeing this and a video of his coachella performance. his music has the power to change others perception of what is possible
So glad yall are covering the goat
I'm just so excited about of what's going to happen and I'm so glad he's gaining back control of his own narrative by now, what a year
So proud of him and glad that he’s being recognised once again and appreciated. We love you Jai Paul! Welcome back!
Im 28 I heard this album out of highschool, still brings me goosebumps when I hear every single song.. LEGEND!
I’ve always heard Peter Gabriel influence in Paul’s music. Hoping he comes back in a huge way soon.
Jai's music gives is one of those rare feelings, when you somehow know its genius. I still don't understand why couldn't he finish the tracks and publish it as a release apart from psychological reasons. Kanye presented Donda three times, each time iterating over this raw material and no one died. Really waiting for the performance and new material though!
Nicely put together. Truly an extraordinary artist.
goosebumps right here
This makes me happy. I was a huge fan back in the day and I still am. I won’t be able to see him perform at coachella but i’m so excited for the future!
Jai Paul is the Current Prince Of Pop nobody knows. Sunday in California is going to be a special moment in musical history akin to Daft Punk at Coachella.
Really enjoyed this mini doco. More like this pleae RA
I’m so excited for the future of music with his return
I think Flume is the greatest music producer of this generation, and it always seems crazy to me how the guy that kind of inspired him is such an enigma. I can't wait for Jai's proper return so they can release something together.
flume bit his whole style lol
I remember him tweeting about jai Paul way back…was such a crazy thing haha
Flume? Soulless, ignorant taste 🤣😭❄️
He needs more recognition
I’m here to brag that I saw him. Didn’t know the whole background of his music. I thought he was new so could probably bum rush it to the front row.
Yeah that didn’t happen. It was the most crowded set I experienced the whole weekend like a can of sardines. It started late. I was getting a little panicky but talked my way to staying.
I was also baffled, wondering if he was wearing a wig like he was in disguise. Like who the hell is this dude really? Lol
Hands down my favorite Saturday performance. I didn’t know what to expect. Whole thing had Thom Yorke energy.
This is so well done.
Loved this
I remember listening to BTSTU the first time on Myspace. I spent ages on internet forums talking about it. Then I remember someone on the forum posting a link to the leaked album minutes after it was leaked. I debated buying it and did. I remember exactly where I was and my first impressions. Like... he is a special, special talent for things like that to be so memorable. Glad I got to go to the London show.
he's back to save the universe
I dont blame Jai, this is really an issue with society...humans cant just let artist BE and exist as humans. The fact he went into hiding should've made ppl ask "damn what did we do to cause this." instead it made ppl go into a hunt to find him...wild! We have an obsession with putting ppl on a pedestal as long as it validates our existence. toxic. Im glad Jai is coming back but at HIS OWN TERMS, not ours.
this gave me chills!
LMAO my reddit post appears at the beginning of the video let's gooo. Jai is back to save the universe babyy!!!
Great work RA.
Legend.
Good to have the king back.
That was sooo good
4:34 is a great visual representation of compression too
This dude more mysterious than that legendary bloke from Drexciya.
Good for him landing that gig. I'd be terrified if my first gig was Coachella. Feels a bit off though as such a London oriented artist, you'd expect his first gig at least to be in the UK, or even India with how he wears his influences on his sleeve.
Name one person who made such a unique genius sound in this recent era nobody jai shows levels and nobody comes close
Sophie, Flume, Arca, not the same style but heavy based on Jai😊
I mean I think yung lean comes close but that’s a very divisive opinion i guess
@@temmuller9909 he did create a new genre but he is no way near as talented as jai please don’t put a multi talented producer and instrumentalist and vocalist in the same hierarchy as a auto tune artist 😂
@@aaronencinas6307 they are dopeee as you said ‘based on’ which proves my point people try to replicate his sound but nobody can really show levels like he is last person who was on his level obviously better was prince but nobody since
Jai Paul is an actual monumental icon. I’m just hoping he finally gets the recognition he deserves.
Copped the bait ones vinyl today baybeeee
NO ONE considered Jai Paul pop in 2011. The production of BTSTU was heavily influenced by J Dilla. He even mentioned Dilla as an influence on his MySpace.
just finished watching the Jai Paul. wow
just minutes away from watching the broadcast!!
Best pop contemporary pop producer
Coming back at the right time, hyper pop is all the rave now adays
we still need Burial x Jai Paul
watching this while waiting for his coachella set which is in less than 24 hours
im so sorry...
@@username-1999 im cri
Saw him at Coachella and I was mindblown. Hands down one of my favorite sets, I’m still mesmerized and it seems like he enjoyed himself up on stage and the crowd was into it. I hope he goes on tour and releases more music
have been fascinated by jai and his story since the Kanyetothe forum days. 😅
crine
dine
I will see him in Berlin I am so happy at november!!!
Yes yes yes!!!!!!!
♥♥
Hah that’s one my designs in the intro 😄
A few inconsistencies in this, off the top of my head; his performance is on April 16th while the 10 year anniversary of the leak was actually today (April 13th) hence the title "04-13".
Second, to the best of my knowledge the two songs that Jai Paul released in 2019 were leftover songs from the same era as the leak instead of brand new compositions. That means that Jai has potentially over a decade's worth of unheard material to premiere in his live debut on Sun. Whoever gets to attend will be at the most important show of the century thus far.
The leaks were released on the 16th of April 2013. In the U.K we arrange the date differently with the day first for example: 16-04-13 as opposed to 04-16-13.
❤
People forget the head of xl anr tweeted “surprise”when the leak dropped
yess.. some people were definitely trying to ruin his career.
@@LynesMind nah it was on Bandcamp for two days and linked to his email address
@@thewheelchairone but why would he do this on purpose? It makes no sense. We didn’t hear from him for years after that.
@@LynesMind It’s good pr. He is now about to play the whole thing at a festival. And launch a “comeback” and there is more mystery, hype and excitement than ever before.
The perfect storm.
And the theft narrative gets fans off his back.
@@thewheelchairone B.s. we live in a world were it is all about the money, for XL to leak it on purpose would be a HUGE fail from a monetary point of view, your view doesn't hold weight
Happy to see that he has the status of a cult artist and it's going to keep growing even more now.
Wow
issa london ting
I found jai Paul over 10 years ago on tumblr. I swear I found a page that had like 42 tracks that were all him. Don’t know what happened to any of that music. I still wonder what any of it was, like was it a producer of his that leaked stuff, was it jai Paul himself. Or was it all bullshit. I really have no idea 😂
GOAT
I've never listened to any of his stuff, but can't wait to see him at Coachella! Hoping he lives up to the hype!!
wow biggest what ifs in music history
coachella is terrible for not live streaming his first set of all time :|
he did things people didn't know were allowed in pop music
I KNOW IVE BEEN GONE A LONG TIME, IM BACK AND I WANT WHAT IS MINE
Me being 20 yrs old and listening to jai paul in middle school lmao
well i guess I need a ticket to USA asap lol
Back when a "leak" could mess up your whole operation - now people try and fake leaks all the time because all along it could've been a good thing. Also, I dunno, my cynical self sees this as an industry plant I can't help it - but I guess that makes him more interesting; not necessarily a bad thing
This feels like Shiloh Dynasty
the ultimate collab
Where is that Ed Sheeran studio clip from?
The person who leaked his music thought he was giving us new music but he robbed us from an emerging artist
My son’s name is Jai and that’s all you have to know 😂❤
as a producer i rlly think musicians rllyyyy overreact about leaks. if you release an official version people will listen if they liked the leak. if anything it is great promotion
oh I went the other way- as a producer I'm an obsessive perfectionist about the details and what I put out. so I get why having your drafts leaked before they're cooked, not your whole vision, and then held to the standard of finished tracks is rough.
@@kyleyrumohr997 i mean, you can always just release the finish tracks. people knew they were leaks from the beginning and the reception was overwhelmingly positive. people weren’t really giving him shit as if they were finished products
@@MrJoosebawkz I wasn't saying your perspective on having your own work leaked is wrong I just have the other side. there are comments on some of the new videos being like "this isn't as fresh as people act like it was" like it wasn't 10+ years ago. People will dig! Sitting around on the internet being hypercritical of people's work instead of making anything is a hobby. but more it's an internal PRIDE thing from my perspetive- I want to say something and I want the right to brew it up and say it how I think it's best. Having someone leak a draft like it's the full statement is a blow.
Majid jordan definitely copped his sound a bit
Billie Eilish and Afroman rolled into one 😎🖤🙌 enjoy Coachella ya freaks 🤩
Jai Paul is a genius. Billie Eilish is an insect. Any comparison of the two is not only misguided but quite frankly embarrassing.
@@Space_Ache awe, hugs friend, big hugs 😎🙌🖤
why didn't he play any instruments live? 🔎🤔 that doesn't make any sense to me...
2:29 whats on his face?
Indians have a lot to give to this world
I don’t really get the “under the age of 25” comment at the start
Gen z is so slow
im gonna off myself for coachella deciding not to stream it
THEY STREAMED IT
@@zynel413 i'll have to wake up at 4:45 am to watch it
@@gamingwithnicko1942 wym they ran jai Paul's set on stream like 2 hours ago. Besides you can rewind the stream by 12 hours. His set was great you should watch it
@@zynel413 oh shit. gonna watch it now
@@gamingwithnicko1942 do, it was acc great. New sing, new arrangements, great backing band and all around just a really good performance. Hope he tours soon.
you gotta put on your poopy pants to believe this 😭😖
under the age of 25?? um I was 15 and bumping this shit smh
ye how old are you now? over 25?
Jai-k Paul
but still big L to Coachella for no streaming of his live at their festival
They did
@@jefmardo9 show me
@@johnfax2783 it was on the live stream yesterday. Theres no official clips jus one live recorded from a phone.
6:19 f leakers
industry plant
How does BTSTU exactly have an oddly placed kick? Are you kidding me? It is literally placed on the 1 and the 3 and maybe a tad of grid... I swear some music channels just want to sound knowledgeable.
is this RA or Mixmag?
for real