Jayo Cortez Released The Best Album Of 2020

Before I pressed play on Jayo Cortez‘s new album It’s Just Different, I knew it would be a fantastic body of work because he has talent on a whole other level. I also know the year isn’t over but I just don’t believe anybody can top this project, it’s the Best Album Of 2020. His most recent EP, 3 Peat provided a sample of what was to come and he delivered past expectations. You will have this album on repeat for the rest of the year and beyond.

The project opens up strong with a message from West Coast rapper The Game as we get ready to dive into the Jayo Cortez experience which leads into the next track properly titled, “I’m Back.” He comes out the gate spitting bars like, “This year I told yall ni**as I was gone live so lavish / and now it’s coming to fruition / Know they been wishin’ that I fell off but ni**a I’m well off.” An indication that he isn’t going anywhere and he’s coming for that number one spot.

For 48 minutes, Jayo smooth sails through soulful and groovy production featuring producers like Chris Fuego, Siddiq, J.Smith, West Killin It, and Taj On Da Beat. They provided the blueprint for Jayo to express his thoughts in the booth. This is not just a rap album, it’s an wide-ranging body of work with fast pace bangers like “Do or Die” and “Out Of Style,” and slow jams like “More & More” or “The One.”

One by one, each track follows the next. Perhaps the core of the project is “Victory” featuring Anavi. Featuring a soulful sample, the head-nodding record is a passionate performance from Jayo. The vibe I get from the song is, I put in so much work, and while it’s still more work to be done, we made it, let’s celebrate. It’s up from here, Jayo’s talent is incomparable.