Jae Stephens releases “Sellout II” EP
Jae Stephens isn’t ready for permission anymore. With the discharge of SELLOUT II, she’s stepping totally into her pop star period—and he or she’s doing it on her personal phrases. The EP, launched by way of Def Jam and Raedio, builds on the success of final summer time’s SELLOUT however takes the sound and power to a brand new stage. The undertaking is smooth, playful, and unflinchingly assured. Each beat, each line, each shift in tone factors towards an artist who is aware of precisely who she is and what she desires listeners to really feel.
Clocking in at six songs, SELLOUT II is a decent, targeted assortment that trades slow-burning ballads for physique language and rhythm. That is pop music made for motion, soaked in character and bursting with infectious hooks. Jae’s sound is horny and guaranteed, mixing R&B textures with digital components, nostalgia, and a powerful lyrical identification.
A Sound Constructed for Now and Later
From the very first monitor, SELLOUT II publicizes itself with power and appeal. “SMH” opens the EP with light-footed swagger. Constructed round a minimalist beat, the monitor provides Jae room to weave intelligent one-liners by way of vocal runs that really feel effortlessly fluid. It’s a monitor made for summer time playlists however catchy sufficient to return to all 12 months lengthy. It units the tone: that is an artist who’s having enjoyable, however doing so with precision and imaginative and prescient.
“That’s My Child” continues the vibe however slows the tempo simply sufficient to provide the manufacturing some house to shimmer. Constructed on fluttering harps and bouncy percussion, the music captures the candy spot between R&B intimacy and pop accessibility. Jae slips between rhythmic vocal supply and breathy falsetto with ease, showcasing her dynamic vary and management.
Furthermore, “Kiss It” ups the nostalgia with a cool bassline and an unmistakable 8-bit synth riff that evokes early-2000s power. There’s one thing distinctly retro in regards to the music’s aesthetic—echoes of Fergie, Nelly Furtado, and Britney Spears—however it by no means feels caught up to now. Jae modernizes the sound with crisp manufacturing and a lyrical narrative rooted in long-distance longing. “Seven days that you simply’ve been gone… come and repair it, kiss it such as you miss it,” she sings, and it’s each flirtatious and emotionally charged.
Then comes “Afterbody,” arguably the steamiest monitor on the EP. It leans closely into 80s-inspired electro-funk with slinky synths and a pulsing beat. It’s a monitor that belongs on a dance ground beneath dim lights—gradual, sensual, and filled with pressure. Jae’s vocals drift out and in of the beat like a whispered dialog. It’s a second of temper and motion that stands out as a profession excessive.
“Picky” provides much more texture to the undertaking. With its sharp drums and chilled-out electrical keys, it faucets into basic Neptunes manufacturing with out feeling by-product. There’s an icy coolness to the monitor, and Jae rides the groove with laid-back confidence. It’s an excellent instance of how she will carry a monitor with delicate vocal selections relatively than flashy overproduction.
Closing the EP is “10/10,” and it could be essentially the most direct declaration of self-assurance. Over a crisp beat, Jae delivers one in every of her most quotable strains but: “I received an actual sixth sense for a success. I ain’t no rookie, this can be a 7-year inch.” It’s a intelligent nod to her personal journey—years within the recreation, typically ignored—and a promise that she’s solely simply starting to faucet into her full potential.
A Story Years within the Making
Whereas SELLOUT II seems like a breakout, it’s removed from Jae’s first second. Her profession has been slowly and steadily rising for a number of years. She first gained consideration along with her debut EP, f**okay it I’ll do it myself, a self-produced assortment that blended R&B storytelling with genre-blurring manufacturing. That early work established her as somebody with a transparent perspective—and the ability to again it up.
Over time, she constructed a web-based following, dropped singles, and made strategic collaborations with acts like THEY., Xavier Omar, and VanJess. Her 2023 EP Excessive My Title Is marked a sonic evolution, leaning extra into various pop whereas sustaining her lyrical honesty. Every launch added layers to her artistry, increasing her vary with out ever shedding her core voice.
In consequence, with Raedio and Def Jam in 2024 marked a brand new section. That very same 12 months, she launched SELLOUT, an EP that acquired vital popularity of its tight manufacturing and danceable pop moments like “Physique Favors,” “Ladies Don’t Cheat,” and “WET.” With SELLOUT II, she’s not simply persevering with the story—she’s turning the web page totally.
The Worth of Sound, Timing, and Technique
Moreover, there’s extra to SELLOUT II than catchy beats and quotable lyrics. It additionally displays a wise understanding of timing and sound. Releasing the EP in late August positions it completely to trip out summer time hype and transition easily into fall listening. Tracks like “Afterbody” and “Picky” really feel like autumnal night time drives. “Kiss It” and “SMH” can simply carry by way of end-of-year playlists.
Sonically, the EP is constructed to final. The manufacturing selections—funky basslines, ethereal harps, classic synths—really feel each fashionable and timeless. These components have lengthy histories in pop and R&B. Artists and producers return to them as a result of they work. Jae’s use of them feels pure, not nostalgic for nostalgia’s sake.
Furthermore, the choice to maintain the EP quick however targeted enhances replay worth. Every monitor has its personal identification, however in addition they circulate seamlessly. That sort of cohesion isn’t unintended. It displays cautious curation and an understanding of how listeners interact with music right this moment.
From Opening Act to Headliner Vitality
Earlier this 12 months, Jae opened for British lady group FLO on their “AAA Tour.” That sort of publicity is priceless. Touring has at all times been one of the efficient instruments for constructing a loyal fanbase. It creates face-to-face connections. It provides emotional weight to songs. It transforms a stream right into a reminiscence.
Now, with SELLOUT II, she’s able to take heart stage. The EP has headliner power. It speaks with readability. It entertains with out attempting too exhausting. It performs to her strengths—intimacy, rhythm, management—and amplifies them in sensible, fashionable methods.
Why This Launch Is Evergreen
Past the instant pleasure, SELLOUT II has the potential to stay. That’s thanks partially to the way it faucets into evergreen themes and buildings. Pop songs with clear, emotional narratives final. So do tracks constructed on basic musical foundations like funk, R&B, and retro synths. The mix of previous and new provides the EP legs—it may be rediscovered months or years from now and nonetheless really feel related.
It additionally speaks to a technology of listeners who’re bored with style guidelines and formulaic rollouts. Jae’s confidence doesn’t really feel marketed; it feels earned. That authenticity is uncommon—and beneficial.
Jae Stephens has spent years laying the inspiration for a second like this. With SELLOUT II, she delivers. The undertaking is brief however impactful, playful however purposeful. It blends style and tone with the convenience of somebody who’s frolicked honing their sound. It strikes quick, hits exhausting, and lingers within the thoughts lengthy after the ultimate notice.
Whether or not you’re a longtime fan or discovering her for the primary time, this EP provides an entry level into one in every of pop’s most fun rising voices. With the precise momentum, SELLOUT II won’t simply mark a brand new period for Jae—it’d assist form the sound of pop’s subsequent chapter.
