New Orleans-based vocalist JayQ the Legend merged pop production, R&B sensibilities, and dancehall undercurrents on his first string of lurid, summery singles. While working on a debut EP, he first shared his hybrid sound with the public in 2019 with tracks like the minimal and bouncy "Body Talk." JayQ the Legend was born in New Orleans and started singing at a young age as part of his church choir. In adulthood he spent many years as a Marine, discovering Afro-Caribbean sounds as he traveled the world in service to his country. In June of 2019, he debuted his first proper single, "Body Talk," complete with a video that recalled the mysterious swagger of Michael Jackson's early aesthetic. The video quickly accumulated millions of views and JayQ spent the rest of the summer steadily releasing new music. Singles "Spend the Night" and "It Could Be You" followed, and in August of 2019 a remix version of "Body Talk" materialized, featuring a cameo from trap dancehall artist Hoodcelebrityy. All of this happened as JayQ the Legend was readying his first proper release, an EP titled JayQ 4 U which was slated for release later in 2019. ~ Fred Thomas