By: Mason Stoutamire
Photo from Iayze’s Spotify.
I first heard Iayze (pronounced “Jace”) after seeing “C’mere!," a single from his EP, “The Leek 4!" (2022) in my YouTube recommendations. As I went deeper into the rapper’s story, I found one of the most resilient, innovative, and bashful faces I’ve ever seen in the limelight. Based on the 19 year-old’s music videos and sudden TikTok fame, you would assume he’s just another rapper who discovered autotune and ran with it. But there’s a lot more to Iayze than meets the eye.
Iayze is a Fort Worth-based rapper that embraces his lifestyle as part of the 52 Hoover Crips (or the “5-Deuce Crips”), an active street gang involved in… y’know, street activities. Taking subject cues from Chief Keef, a rapper known for living what he raps, Iayze is The Batman to rappers faking raps for clout. Ka$hdami, YBN Nahmir, and Izaya Tiji have all felt Iayze’s Instagram-Live wrath for wearing appearances that aren’t theirs to wear. Considering how most listeners probably aren’t well-read in gang politics, it feels nice knowing there’s a rapper distinguishing the genuine rappers from the culture vultures.
Iayze’s story is exciting to watch because he wears those appearances with pride and condemns everyone who soils them. He's a teen father, a mental illness warrior, and a dedicated creative that puts everything into the music. The resulting collection of songs evict his counterparts from the scene while he reaches for fame and fortune. Underground rap beef aside, Iayze is a staple in the pluggnb scene that mixes the sinuous cadences of Duwap Kaine with the lyrical aggression of 50 Cent. Whether or not we see another Tay-K situation, you have to respect Iayze’s integrity in the digital age of overnight celebrities. As you stream hits like, “556 (Green Tip)” and “Cold Sweats!,” keep in mind that not every rapper is who they appear to be, but Iayze is.
Stream Iayze's latest album, "Virtuous" here.
Mason Stoutamire can be reached at mstoutamire6@gmail.com
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