Jinx is back, and he’s looking inside while reaching out on a new single from a forthcoming album out on November 17.
This clip for “Heaven Is Close” comes from the new, 16-track album, I Am JahSon. It’s Jinx’s first release since a 2016 beat tape built around TV show samples (The Recovery), and his debut full-length, The Gem In I released in 2013. Jinx told CL that finally having JahSon ready to share is a sigh of relief after so many life changes over the last few years.
READ MORE
Tampa emcee Jinx taps Prince Golden for powerful new track "Dream" — listen
"This album is like a culmination of thoughts and ideas that I've had, but just haven't gotten out because I'm so busy with life," he said. "Now I feel like that stress is off my back, and I can start building on the new thoughts and ideas that I have."
According to a release, the record is a conceptual project that takes listeners on a journey through the trials of social issues, by way of a fictional story named JahSon (Jinx’s real name is Jason Smith). Locally-loved artists — including Demi Nova, Rude 100, Eliana B and Might Jai — appear on tracks from the nearly hour-long album, and Ron Marks, can be seen (and heard), in the Jemaine Browne-directed clip for Jah Son’s lead single, “Heaven Is Close.”
READ MORE
Super Nova: Get to know Tampa Bay's newest rising soul artist, Demi Nova
In the video, Jinx also spends time talking to the homeless people in downtown Tampa's Lykes Gaslight Square. It's a nod at a lyric in the song where he expresses guilt about rapping about money while people don't have roofs over their heads.
"I did not want it to seem like I was exploiting the people there for the sake of a scene. I also genuinely care and have interest in people's story. So we actually talked to quite a few people and got a good understanding of how they reached the predicament that they are currently in," he said. "It was truly sad yet humbling at the same time."
The album will be available immediately on Tidal and iTunes with a release on Spotify on the way. A release party is set for December 16 at Lot 1901 in Ybor City. Details on the show are available via local.cltampa.com.
Watch the video below.
This article appears in Nov 16-23, 2017.