Personal Profile: Justin Chalfant
While most Hoban students were struggling to keep up with their summer assignments over the hot, humid break, senior Justin Chalfant (known to the music community as Jay Shay) was in the stu’ cookin’ up. Chalfant released four singles in the the span of two months during the dog days of the year. With the release of his latest song, “Bsoc,” the young lyricist is turning heads in a big way.
Jay Shay and his partner in crime, Lil Bake (senior Liam Baker), released their first three songs last year, all of which were well-received. The tandem’s biggest hit “gameday,” was released in December of 2017 and has now racked up over 4,000 listens on SoundCloud.
“I’m proud of it (gameday), but I didn’t like, really work on it. That was just me and Bake having fun. But then we realized that we weren’t that bad so we went hard in the studio,” Chalfant said. “I think we were just messing around with ‘gameday.’ We weren’t even rappers then. Now I feel like I’m actually a rapper. Bake and I have just come so far.”
In the past year, Chalfant has shown a progression in both pace and flow, impressing listeners more and more with every new release. In all nine of his tracks, some aspect of Hoban is referenced and paid homage.
“Hoban influences my music a lot. More the people of Hoban and the people who want me to keep making stuff and less the actual traditions and literal building. I do it for the fans.”
Despite the content of his lyrics, some compare his flow to the likes of NBA Young Boy and Macklemore. Chalfant said these comparisons are some of the greatest compliments he has ever recieved.
“I personally compare myself to Young Boy, too, but I know he’s ten times better than me. Really, I aspire to flow like him,” he said.
Chalfant didn’t give NBA Young Boy all of the credit. He also gave credit to his partner Lil Bake for introducing him to the rap game.
“Liam and I had study hall together last year and we decided that it was about time we stepped into the rap game. He actually gave me the name Jay Shay. We were just freestyling in his Civic and he just said ‘Jay Shay take it away.’ We also did ‘gameday’ in his basement, so I owe him my career,” Jay Shay joked.
His future in the rap game certainly holds promise.
“I have some more songs cookin’ and I might have a feature with Mrs. Sees coming up,” he said. “Hoban wants me to craft some songs for their upcoming school events and stuff too, so that’ll be pretty cool.”
The biggest announcement Jay Shay made came in reference to what will be his first album saying:
“My EP ‘GUAP SZN’ is coming out soon, be patient. And if Tyris ever reads this, I want to feature with you, per per per.”