After going almost a year without releasing any music, and four years without releasing a full album, Jay 1:40 has come back with “324.”
The album has eight songs for a total run-time of 23 minutes. The first thing Jay 1:40 does on the album is acknowledge his absence.
“I’ve been gone for a while and honestly I can say that I have missed it,” are the opening words of “True to Me.” The song also includes the line, “324 days is how long I went without music.” This song reflects on why he hasn’t been working on music, how much music means to him and how difficult it was to not make anything.
The next song, “Been That Man,” is a message to listeners about how Jay 1:40 only wants real fans that’ll support his dream. The line “You’re gonna have to wait awhile, watch me play around, get my fame to ground,” and the chorus specifically states that he only wants fans willing to stay for the long haul.
“Everyone seems to like let go the most,” Jay 1:40 said.
“Let Go” is the first of two non-explicit songs and a fan favorite. This song is about growth, friends, families and relationships. After covering self-growth, Jay 1:40 moves to friendship and the difficulties with them, “Friendships coming and going, most of them ended. Even now I still struggle with what a friend is.”
He then goes into his family, “We never had a lot, but always had enough to go around the family. Can’t thank mom and dad enough for those things they sacrificed to make sure we were fed and clothed.”
The final person he mentions is a significant other. “Girl, I promise I’m trying to be a better me, but for now let me tell you my love will never leave.”
The midpoint of the album is “Way Back.” This song tells how Jay 1:40 has always wanted to get big off music. Although the want has always been there, he didn’t feel as if destiny was on his side.
“Destined for the life of a bum, but now hold on look what I found. Destiny can go f— itself ‘cause I learned to swim; I won’t drown. You ain’t gotta be born great, you can learn to become profound.”
“I’m glad the stuff I create can have that same effect on others,” was Jay 1:40’s response to an Instagram message telling him how helpful his music has been during difficult times. That was two years ago, and he’s still making music that listeners that have struggled with their mental health can relate to. “Bring Me Down” is that song on this album, with mentions of suicidal thoughts.
“Right by You” is the other non-explicit song on the album. On top of writing music about mental health, Jay 1:40 has written a lot about his personal growth in relationships. The chorus, which repeats “I just wanna get right for something, I just wanna do right by you,” and the line “If I give it my all and I don’t play, and you’re patient with me then I’m hoping that I could become better for a person I don’t deserve” both show that he truly wants to get better for the person he loves.
Of the eight songs on this album, the beat and lyrics of “Since A Youngin’ (feat. He With No Face)” make it the most hype. Jay 1:40 has this song tied with “Let Go” and “Bring Me Down” for his favorites on the album.
“Until They Can” is the last song on the album. It’s about one of the biggest reasons Jay 1:40 makes music: family. “Ain’t no way that I’m letting my folks have rough lives. They’re the ones I be thinkin’ ‘bout during those tough nights” is just one of the lines in the song that shows the love he has for his family.
It’s not often someone can say they found an artist before they got big, but people have that opportunity with Jay 1:40. On top of “324,” he has three albums and multiple singles across all streaming platforms.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected]