Jaidyn - Heaven Beyond the Streets

PHILADELPHIA - Oct. 14, 2015 - PRLog -- Jose Gonzalez, better known as Jaidyn, grew up in North Philadelphia, an area known for its rough and crime-ridden streets. Rather than only focus on the negative aspects of his hometown and upbringing, he paints a full picture by highlighting the good and the bad.

In his younger years, he was exposed to rap through his cousin, who describes as more of a battle rapper. “I took [his] energy with me when I started battling people in high school and began writing songs,” he says, adding that the then-recently released 8 Mile was also a huge inspiration.

Making music was never a hobby for the Philly rapper. He always took it seriously, even when he was starting out and felt a bit lost not knowing how to navigate the scene. He gained insight from a friend who produced music, and realized the work he needed to do to turn his passion into a career. Even though it got difficult at times, Jaidyn persevered. “Anyone who knows me understands that I’m not the type to dabble. I’ll stick through it, regardless of how hard I have to work.” During these years, he infused his battle-rap background with influences like Kanye West, Drake and Rick Ross. It was also when Jaidyn came to find his name. A huge Will Smith fan, he was reading his bio one day and learned Will had a son named Jaden. This was well before he blew up and made a name for himself. Deciding his name was important for him as a point of expression and versatility, as he didn’t want his name attached to a single genre, and so it stuck.

All of these events culminated in the release of his debut project, Enjoy, in 2012. The mixtape was Jaidyn’s foray into new territory, and credits Drake for having a huge impact on his sound and writing while making Enjoy, but experience has allowed Jaidyn to find a style of his own.

He further honed his craft by listing his songwriting services online, which led to him connecting with his manager, Khari. They began working together to fine-tune his sound and develop Jaidyn into an artist. “[Khari] helped me in telling my own story and the best way to go about doing it,” he says. And it’s his story that’s at the center of his upcoming mixtape, Heaven Beyond the Streets. No surprise, then, that Jaidyn sees Heaven as a proper re-introduction following Enjoy, which he calls “a warm up.”

“Although I talk about what I’ve been through, you don’t have to be a street guy to relate to what I’m saying,” he says of Heaven’s content. With Heaven Beyond the Streets, Jaidyn’s goal is to create music that allows listeners to pause and reflect on their own situation. The project’s 12 tracks encapsulate Jaidyn’s own experiences while having strong ties to his home, both through the subject matter and his choice of features. “All The Way,” for example, features fellow Philly artist Dark-Lo (who’s affiliated with a popular rapper name-dropped during the Drake-Meek Mill beef). Jaidyn also teamed with Espy and Midwest, two producers whose connection was only possible as a result of the Internet era. They actually found him through listening to Enjoy and kept in touch over the years, and Jaidyn credits them for providing Heaven with its diverse sound.

“My style is straightforward with some clever lines, but it isn’t cryptic,” he says. To that point, Heaven blends hard-hitting, introspective raps with music that's smooth, atmospheric, and altogether well-produced. There’s a style for every music fan on here, from personal reflections like the opening track “Ain’t Taking It Back,” to a bar-after-bar freestyle like “My Way to Heaven,” which highlights his battle rap past.

Jaidyn may have plenty of experience behind him, but this Philly artist shows no signs of slowing down. Although an exact release date has yet to be determined, be on the lookout for more announcements pertaining to the release of, Heaven Beyond the Streets.

Tracklist:
01. Ain't Taking it Back (prod. by Midwest)
02. The Power (prod. by Espy)
03.  My City (feat. Donnell Shawn) (prod. by Midwest)
04. In the Game (prod. by SRF)
05. Show Ya Right (prod. by Espy)
06. In the Streets (feat. Donnell Shawn) [prod. by Donnell Shawn]
07. Bout the Money (prod. by Espy)
08. No Place Like Home (prod. by illmeel)
09. My Way to Heaven (Freestyle) [prod. by Hucci]
10. All the Way (feat. Dark Lo) [prod. by Midwest]

"The Power" (Stream): http://www.audiomack.com/song/diamond-media-360/the-power