"Goddamn, this record feels good," says Dartmouth rapper, skateboarder and ECMA nominee Jay Mayne. He's dropping his 15th mixtape this week, #StillChopTrees, and like all of his mixtapes, it shows his wide range of musical interests and an enviable work ethic. Mixed by T.K. Thorpe, this is his most fun release to date, with a strong focus on upbeat hooks and so much club-banging potential. "It's a breath of fresh air for me," says the chronic weed smoker, who performs this Saturday at The Seahorse. Here, Mayne picks his faves from the upcoming album.
"Still Chop Trees"
From his 2012 mixtape, Chop Trees Over Everything, Mayne has pretty much created a #choptrees movement. He went a different way with 2013's Fkit, "So I had to let people know it ain't over yet."
"Be Me"
"This is just a feel-good recording that touches on real-life events," says Mayne of this ultra-chill jam with chorus backup vocals and a strong R&B vibe. It features slick bars by
PsycThaPrince and Earl B.
"Have a Party" feat. Thrillah and Pimpbull
"This is just a fun song to turn up to," says Mayne. "Fun in the club." With long-time collaborator Thrillah, this jam is all about hitting up the telly: "We gonna have a party!"
"Blazin"
"This is just a long verse going over a beat with multiple changes," he says. "No specific direction, I just really liked the production and it just flowed." Rhymes like: "Chop trees for the motherfuckers / All I do is beast on these motherfuckers / I'm from the east, all you motherfuckers" make this the hardest track.
"You Lyin"
"I heard them talk shit / just be the shit, don't cop shit," Mayne raps, calling out all the phonies in the game. "This one also features Nixx and we're just letting all these lying rappers know we see them."
"Need One"
"This is probably my favourite song on this project," he says with a chorus of shoutouts to Martin Luther King Jr. on top of a scrambled hi-tech beat. "It's super-fun and super-catchy. Shit is banging."
"Lasers"
A video game-inspired throwback to the future. "It's what I think would happen if I did drugs. Kids, don't do drugs. I'm not sure how people will take this record but I think it's live and paints the picture."
"On My Mind"
Full of spaceships, diamonds, penthouses, Rolexes and money, money, money. This one features very tight Thrillah verses and, "It's pretty much just that dream of getting rich, and why it's always a life goal."
"Don't Wait for Me"
"I miss a lot of things due to working on music and that's what the hook means," he says of this track featuring The IV League's Al Boogie and Joon Jukx. "Chasing that paper, doing whatever your hustle is."
"Ask for Much" feat. A'drian Scott
"This is kind of a song for the ladies but at the same time it's kinda like a relationship anthem," says Mayne. "Everyone wants the relationship but no one wants the problems that go with it."
Jay Mayne
w/Aux Jennings, Matty Boh, Woadie
Friday, June 26, 10pm
The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen Street
www.jaymayne.com
