Jay-A unveils new project

Rising dancehall star Jay-A has spent years studying the genre from the best seats in the house.

Now, armed with hard-earned lessons, international experience and a spiritually charged new EP, the Miami-based Jamaican artiste is ready to move from promising contender to centre stage. Born Tarik Morris, Jay-A has the EP, Quick7 — a project in which the title captures both his sense of urgency and the deeper beliefs guiding his career.

“The ‘Quick’ represents the urgency. It means I’m ready right now,” he explained. The number seven carries even greater significance.

“Seven is my favourite number because I believe it describes me as a person,” Jay-A said. “It often symbolises completeness, perfection and divine fulfilment. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh.”

For the artiste, seven also represents wisdom, intuition, deep thought, learning and spiritual growth — qualities woven into the fabric of his music.

“Seven describes me and my music,” he added.

Quick7 is powered by Ambition, an inspirational collaboration with Dexta Daps that captures the hunger and determination fuelling Jay-A’s latest chapter. Their chemistry is rooted in a bond that stretches beyond the recording booth.

“It’s always an amazing learning experience and a pleasure working with the family,” Jay-A said. “Trust me, Dexta is one of the best to work with. Dem man deh a teacher.”

Jay-A’s education in dancehall is vast. As part of the Gullyside movement alongside Mavado, he gained a front-row view of the discipline, sacrifice and strategy required to build a lasting career. That apprenticeship delivered a major payoff with Pain, his collaboration with Mavado and Dexta Daps. The emotionally charged single has accumulated more than 15 million Vevo views, introducing Jay-A’s blend of gritty storytelling, haunting melodies and raw emotion to an international audience.

Now based in Miami, the artiste is positioning himself as a bridge between authentic Jamaican dancehall and the wider global marketplace.