Grammy-nominated rapper J A Y E L E C T R O N I C A (pronounced Jay Electronica; you don’t have to spell it out), finally released his long-awaited debut album, A Written Testimony, in March 2020, almost 13 years after his debut mixtape bought him widespread acclaim and attention. The album was promptly nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2021 Grammys. Electronica wasted little time in releasing his sophomore album, Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn), which came out just seven months after A Written Testimony.
Electronica hails from New Orleans. He released his first mixtape, Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) in July 2007. It was released through MySpace and became a hit on the website, being downloaded over 50,000 times in a month and gaining status as a modern classic. Electronica released further singles and signed with Roc Nation.
However, despite teasing a release date for the follow-up, it wouldn’t be until 2020 that Electronica released another album or mixtape. When he did, it became talked about for its eclectic guest appearances (Jay-Z, James Blake, Travis Blake, Louis Farrakhan) and its lyrical subject matter, which was heavily inspired by teachings of The Nation of Islam. It reached 12 on the Billboard 200 and was featured in many Album of the Year polls. Act II, which followed that October, received similar acclaim.
