Massachusetts-based artist Jay Jay Jr’s “Decided” reminds me a bit of a Rod Wave song. It’s hood emo R&B down to its very essence. That’s not a bad thing here, though, because Jay’s sing-rap vocals’ muted state contrast well with the high-energy of the beat. This contrast does well to create an atmosphere of darkness and triumph at the same time, showing that while things may not be the best for Jay Jay, he’s not going to stop striving for his own slice of greatness.

The Rod Wave comparisons come back up during the chorus. The chorus is a high point for the song. Essentially, it’s done in a way that reminds me a tiny bit of Wave’s work on “Tombstone”–minus the choir. Add that in with a high-energy beat that still has some emotional heaviness to it and you’ve got a hood emo R&B hit on your hands (please don’t take that offensively, folks; the song bangs and bangs hard). Since Rod Wave’s one of my favorite new-era R&B cats, this one got my attention and kept my attention with its approach. Check out “Decided” below and remember to support dope music in all its forms.