Jay Prince releases ‘How Far’, featuring Sam Wise, alongside new music video

Newham-bred singer-rapper-producer Jay Prince has dropped his latest single, ‘How Far’, featuring London-based rapper Sam Wise. An artist whose sonical identity lies in a mixture of  hip-hop, neo-soul, jazz, electronic, and funk, Jay gained significant international notoriety through hit single ‘U Say’,  a collaboration between himself, Tyler The Creator, GoldLink, and Juls, which featured on Goldlinks’ 2019 album Diaspora. 

‘How Far’ reflects the struggle to balance the weight of expectations - those that come from within, and are confronted through introspection, and those that come from outside and exist within our world and are harder to tackle. The single explores what it means to learn your limits on every level - physically, spiritually, and mentally. Co-produced by Jay Prince and German-Afghan beatmaker AgaJon (Giggs, Naomi Scott, Selah Sue), ‘How Far’ perfectly encapsulates mounting tension that can come from within through sharp synths and powerful, epic breakdowns.

The lyrics are a vulnerable insight into the topic of reputation ;  ‘What's your name, what's your legacy?’. Against a beat that stimulates a high level of  energy,  Prince and Wise question the difficult reality of our morality as humans - ‘I'm from a city where they let it be, bodies dropping every week’. A switch in production at the end of the track sees Prince and Wise exploring their sonic ability, displaying the result of their collaborative synergy. 

The visualiser for ‘How Far’ Is a beautiful piece of imagery that contrasts stills with blurry shots - depicting the pressure that all types of expectations that burden us can bring. Prince and Wise share a space, surrounded by a red wall, and visually explore the headspace that we have to navigate in order to deal with exterior oppression. With a fresh and realistic perspective that doesn't shy away from the reality of the human experience, this visualiser is a culmination of close up shots   The visualiser  for the single was directed by  Brian Salcedo and overseen by Prince’s creative director, friend and frequent collaborator Filwami Efrem, who also shot the single cover artwork. 

Sam Wise has been a leading voice in the new resurgence of rap music in the UK. Keeping his fan base eager, the South London born artist has driven forward on originality since his debut. Originally making his name with his notable rap collective House of Pharaohs, Wise’s musical influences range between jazz, grime, and trap, making the experience of listening to his discography a perspective opening one. After experiencing a creative reset during the pandemic, Wise is even more determined and anchored on his creative ambitions than he has ever been. With previous collaborations with; SG Lewis, Knucks, P-rallel and Len, Wise is an expert in collaboration. With his adding his own element to ‘How Far’, it's clear that the London based  musician is a trailblazer in his own right. 

Born in East London, Jay's musical journey started in the heart of the church, where he learned first how to be an  instrumentalist - learning the piano, bass, and guitar, all of which he has played since. By his mid-teens,  his passion for poetry and crafting beats joined with his lyrical ability with production skills that led to the signature touch of authenticity that still defines his art today. Performing at the London Jazz festival in November of this year, he is no stranger to the art of live shows, having supported various artists such as  Chance The Rapper and Mick Jenkins, and performing at venues such as Coachella. With co-signs from various publications, such as , Billboard, Wonderland, Clash Magazine, Prince  has made himself known as a multi hyphenate in the creative space. He is the founder of an art and culture platform called Bnetic Media, and is also the founder of Loungeinsounds, his own record label and creative platform that honours and celebrates real music and culture. After a brief hiatus from music for Prince, this track serves as a memorable return for the rapper and sees both Prince and Wise engaging in their musical synergy, eager to share the next chapter of their respective stories and creative visions with the world, reminding listeners why they are artists that we should pay attention to.