Houston’s J.a.y. Young has been crafting raw and sincere hip hop tracks since 2010, bringing in his words the compelling desire for connection that unites us all as humans. In his latest release, ‘Love.hate’, he tackles what follows when you grow apart from someone who you had always regarded as a true brother.
Over an emphatic beat, the narrator of ‘Love.hate’ is struggling with the reality of life after having broken bonds with a person who was once their ride-or-die. The feelings of coldness that overcome him, now that they’re apart, are powerful and daunting. He reflects, “It was you and me”, but “now we’re all grown up”. While Young could easily illustrate the bitterness of betrayal in his words, he instead shows the them speaking directly to the long-lost friend, and wishing them well, despite their diverging paths in life. Underlining this with a soaring chorus, we are made to feel the emotional weight of his reflection, and come to the realisation that while it’s okay to feel conflicted, it’s important to recognise that people come and people go, and life moves on for everyone.
The music video for ‘Love.hate’, directed by DJ Young Samm, sees Young telling the story, as an older, wiser person, returned to his hometown. Opening on two young boys, inseparable as they shoot hoops at Milton Park, we have a fly on the wall glimpse of their lives, growing up side by side, and chasing the same dreams. However, as time passes, the bond they once shared breaks, as they inevitably grow and change. It’s only natural that they should experience grief, after all they’ve lost a friendship that saw them through many years; but still, their memories remain, untouched, a reminder that what they shared was real, and despite the directions their lives may take them, if it’s meant to be, they’ll come back together.
Watch the music video for ‘Love.hate’ below, and find out more about J.a.y. Young and his music online on YouTube, and Instagram.
