Jaecyn Bayne
If you aren’t familiar with the South Carolina Hip-Hop scene, you may not be familiar with emcee Jaecyn Bayne. Hailing from Charleston, South Carolina, Bayne hopes to be a beacon of hope for a state that isn’t exactly known for its contributions to rap. His debut album, Audio Therapy, displays the uneven quality that many artists do when first entering the rap game; some decent beats--some hot beats--and some less than spectacular lyrics. Audio Therapy has its moments, but there is a glaring lack of consistency.
This isn’t to say that Mr. Bayne is a horrible rapper, however...the album definitely has its moments. On “It Ain’t All Bad”, Jaecyn explores the upside of life’s trials and tribulations, such as losing friends and loved ones and is a pleasure to listen to in terms of both the production and lyrical content. “Mic Check” is another standout, a nice summertime cut to be listened to while riding around town with the top down, if you are privy to such a luxury.
“Phrases,” on the other hand, is a song that almost gets it right. The instrumental is great and the lyrics are solid, but the chorus mars an otherwise great song. Similar instances can be found throughout. This is what takes Audio Therapy from a solid or good album to an OK one. Even though this is Bayne’s debut, it contains some impressive features for a newcomer; Fred Da Godson and Keith Murray contribute their vocals to the project.
With several solid features and a variety of instrumentals, Audio Therapy warrants a listen, but not much else. Inconsistent lyrics and cohesion with instrumentals stop this album from reaching its full potential.
- M. Antonio Silas
