Backflipping Hyperpop Rapper JELEEL! Is Just Built Different
In the music industry landscape of the present day, it's either learn to self-market or have your talents go unnoticed. Innumerable talented musicians never realize their full potential because of their lack of an online presence. JELEEL! is the antithesis of those artists. Carved from stone and with a sense of personal branding gifted from the gods, JELEEL! is unmistakable – see him once and you’ll never forget it. With dancing, backflipping, and raging antics he’s already amassed over 1.1M followers on TikTok, a huge feat for any content creator to achieve.
One of the first things to know about JELEEL! is that he has a cult following of skating, moshing Gen z-ers who show loyalty to the rapper thru meme-ing him and endlessly stanning him in the comment section of his socials. He’s not just a rapper, he’s an influencer and an exceptionally likable personality. Backflipping from the tops of skate bowls and screaming his own name as a tagline before he starts his songs, he self-generates his own hype. His commitment to the bit goes beyond your average method actor, as JELEEL! creates video after video showing off his physique and replying to comments poking fun at him good-naturedly.
Although his antics may at first be dismissed as a publicity gimmick, his music can’t be. Amassing almost 2 million monthly Spotify listeners, JELEEL!’s sound is a unique mix of hyperpop and rap. In line with his name, even his lyrics seem to be exclaimed in capitals. “Why is he so angry” a friend commented as I played his music over my car speakers. Upon further listening, JELEEL! doesn’t seem to be angry at all, but he is definitely juiced up. Look no further than his hit single “JELEEL JUICE” for confirmation.
Not to mention, his new song “RAIN ON YOU!” is a bop that’s fit to be sponsored by energy drinks like Monster and RedBull. Starting the song on a high note, JELEEL! exclaims;
“RAIN AIN'T BAD, FINNA GO OFF (HUH)/
SHE A BAD THING, TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF/
BLAZING, YEAH, I'M 'BOUT TO BLOW UP (HUH)/
IT'S A RAD THING WHEN I SHOW OFF”/
The aggressive opening beats progress and reverb like the shaking of a walking giant. The static and pitched-up autotune in JELEEL!’s voice adds a jarring, unsettling edge into his cadence.
JELEEL! is dually a superstar innovator and creator in the making. Videos of JELEEL’s unhinged live performances circulating the internet prove that seeing him in person this year is absolutely necessary. Lookout for his new music and his promised workout routine coming to social media. The JELEEL! tour starts this June.
