New York City has long been a breeding ground for artists whose work reflects the grit, struggle, and resilience of those navigating the streets. Among this new generation of voices is CDBJAYY, an artist who channels his personal experiences, mental health struggles, and the lessons learned from a challenging upbringing into his music. His latest single, Codes, showcases his unique style, blending raw honesty with an introspective approach, all while riding the wave of R&B Drill or Smooth Trap—a genre he’s carving his name into.
Codes: Finding Clarity Through Music
Codes is more than just a song for CDBJAYY; it represents a turning point in his life. When he began writing the track, he was emerging from a period of mental health struggles and self-discovery. In his own words, “It felt like I broke the matrix,” symbolizing his newfound clarity and understanding of the world around him. The title, Codes, speaks to this process—unlocking the internal and external realities that had been keeping him trapped. He found healing in creating the track, allowing the broken child within him to find peace.
This journey of self-realization and healing is a theme that runs throughout Codes, making it a deeply personal track. As CDBJAYY explains, his “rap ego” provides a therapeutic outlet, allowing him to vocalize things that he needs to hear himself. The song became a form of therapy, a way for him to remind himself that despite the challenges he’s faced, he will be okay.
Inspirations and Influences
While crafting Codes, CDBJAYY drew inspiration from some of the artists he admires most, including Sleepy Hollow, Neek Bucks, and Richie Rozay. He likens their music to “street poetry,” a style that resonates deeply with him. These artists’ ability to convey powerful messages through their music has influenced his writing, particularly in Codes, where CDBJAYY aims to do the same. He refers to the track as “motivational and relatable,” designed to be the kind of song listeners turn to on their daily commutes or during moments of reflection.
For CDBJAYY, it’s about much more than just making music that sounds good—it’s about creating tracks that speak to people on a deeper level, helping them navigate their own lives as they listen.
Overcoming Adversity
Like many artists, CDBJAYY’s music is a reflection of his personal experiences, and Codes was born out of one such experience: heartbreak. But rather than dwelling on the pain, he used it as an opportunity to confront deeper issues and work through them. He explains that the song allowed him to speak on personal problems that he hadn’t fully addressed, offering him mental clarity and peace of mind.
Recording Codes wasn’t just a creative process; it was a method of self-reassurance. “I recorded it to listen to myself, mainly to let myself know we’re going to be good regardless,” CDBJAYY explains. The process of alternating between rapping and freestyling helped him stay in the zone, even when faced with the inevitable writer’s block that sometimes plagues artists. For him, the process of creating Codes was fluid, with ideas coming to him naturally as he juggled between writing and freestyling.
However, he does admit that there are days when he might sit on a song for two to three days before completing it, giving his ideas time to fully develop.
The Message Behind the Music
One of the standout lines from Codes is: “Every day, momma praying that her son makes it home. I understand why she would panic when I ain’t pick up that phone.” This lyric reveals CDBJAYY’s growing understanding of the fears and concerns that weighed on his mother as he navigated a world where danger lurked around every corner. “As a kid, you just think it’s annoying,” he says. “But no, it’s kids out here getting killed, kidnapped. And as a mother, she was worried for her son.”
Through Codes, CDBJAYY channels these emotions and his growing awareness of the world around him. He wants listeners to understand where he’s coming from and know that they’re not alone in their struggles. His goal with the music video for Codes is to showcase the gritty reality of life in the Bronx, offering a visual representation of the same struggles he raps about in the song. The video, set in the trenches, captures the raw, unpolished backdrop of his everyday life. This choice was intentional—CDBJAYY wanted to show the audience that he’s coming from the same place they are and that they, too, can overcome their challenges.
What’s Next for CDBJAYY?
Though Codes is a single, CDBJAYY views it as a pivotal moment in his musical career. It serves as his second introduction to the music scene, offering a clear representation of who he is as an artist and what his flow is all about. He’s committed to releasing the song on all major platforms, ensuring that as many people as possible have access to his music.
As he continues to build momentum, CDBJAYY is working on accompanying visuals to help bring his music to life. The upcoming music video for Codes promises to give listeners a deeper insight into his world, further solidifying his place as a rising artist in the NYC music scene.
With Codes, CDBJAYY has crafted a track that is both motivational and relatable—a song that captures the essence of someone who’s emotionally drained but is beginning to realize their worth. The smooth, laid-back vibe of the song makes it perfect for a morning commute or a reflective drive, and it’s sure to resonate with anyone who’s dealt with hardship and come out stronger on the other side.
To stay updated on CDBJAYY’s music and upcoming projects, you can follow him on Instagram, stream his music on Spotify, watch the latest videos on YouTube, and listen to his tracks on Apple Music.
CDBJAYY is an artist on the rise, and with Codes, he’s breaking through not just in the music scene, but also in his personal journey. Keep an eye out—this is only the beginning for him.
