Pick of the Week: Rapper, Jeiko Bradford Delivers a Message and Hype Bars on New Single, 'Youngblood'


Jeiko Bradford is a rapper from California who makes music with a message. As an artist, he seeks to connect, uplift, and inspire listeners with his hard hitting rap rhymes. "I was a loner as a kid, and I came from an abusive home, so whenever things got turbulent in the household, I would always immerse myself into my music." On that note, he recently dropped a new single that I thought would be laid back (like most folks from Cali I know), but on the song, he draws energy from his core as gets hyped up with every beat. It's original and unexpected. I loved it. Entitled, Youngblood, its a complex, introspective backpack-rap style track. He sonically channels Kendrick Lamar as his lyrics are juxtaposed in a battle against sophistication and ignorance.

"I come hard on the beat like I busted a nut..."

Jeiko (pronounced jay’co) "grew up in the hood," he says. But luckily the 28 year old was “scared” away from thug life by his step dad. Coming up, it was hard for the rapper in Sacramento having family members who were active gang bangers. But there's more to  Jeiko Bradford than meets the eye (or ear). "I was someone who got good grades in school, mostly A’s and B’s," he explained. "And despite my “tough guy” image, the rapper says, he's "a really big nerd." Musically, his sound and style have been influenced by Logic, Kendrick Lamar, Joe Budden, Immortal Technique, Jay Z, Eminem, Nas, Drake, Kanye West and Big L.

Listening to his new song, you can hear almost immediately its out of the box. You are met with a lofi, static, and there's alternative allure that meets his hard hitting bars. I love when he raps, "keep it fluid cuz I know I gotta stay smooth." His experimental innovative approach to hip hop is probably due in part to some of his musical influence outside of rap.

Jeiko listens to a bit of an eclectic collection of music, but I enjoy his curated taste. "Outside of rap/hip hop my influences are Lana Del Rey, Linkin Park, Utada Hikaru, Sade Adu, Bob Marley, Steelpulse, Selena Quintanilla Pérez, Hans Zimmer, Lake Street Dive, Bruce Faulconer, Nao Yoshioka, Nujabes, Bootsy Collins and Frank Sinatra", he explained.



Bradford says he doesn’t make music for self validation; rather, its "for people to see worth and value within themselves." On Youngblood, he's an introspective storyteller. This song came to him when was at a low point in his life. "I was tired, frustrated and anxious... and I was dealing with the stress of finances as well as depression. I wanted to make a song where I can be both sophisticated and ignorant, almost like a contradiction. For those who are tired of feeling empty, numb or even being the 'bigger man' this song is for you, cuz I know how that feels."

It's that genuine desire to send a message to others and his ability to communicate that in a way that is musically pleasing that makes Jeiko Bradford our pick of the week. I'm sure this is not the last I'll hear of him. You can stream his new single, Youngblood now on all major streaming platforms.


SOCIAL + STREAMING

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeikobradford/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeikobradford

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jeikobradford

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkzDQzp80F9VnGUGyZDnZ2A

Artist Page: https://untd.io/a/jeikobradford

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