Jai Winter | “MURDER”
Rooted in a saxophone and other jazz arrangements, Jai Winter‘s “MURDER” describes the dangers of being in the streets. As the lyrics escape Winter’s lips like pure poetry, messages of hope and change ruminate the air.
“MURDER” warns all walks of life to never resort to violence. Jai does his part by giving real-life examples through his rhyme schemes.
“We was playing tag/That’s a man down/They was playing tag and he dead now.”
Similarly, Jai Winter lists activities that might seem average but are potentially detrimental in his neighborhood.
“Schoolyard playing ball kid/That’s murder,” he spits. “In the kitchen, doing dishes kid/That’s murder.”
Next, Jai Winter recalls how he remained safe from this dangerous environment.
Admitting to “being in the house way before 7:30,” the rapper elaborates by saying he did this to dodge harm. “Get up under covers they gon’ spray the Lysol/That’s one way to start the night off/Especially when you had the night off.”
He reminisces about simpler, carefree times, yearning for these days to come back.
Worried about his fate at the hands of violence, he spits, “I don’t wanna die young/Playing tag/Body tag/Couple bullets through ya back.”
Confirming these facts about his hometown, he questions how he survived through it all.
Jai reflects on his upbringing in the next few lines,
“How’d I make it out?/Momma workin’ hard/Need a bigger house/Need a bigger yard/Let the dogs out/Went to therapy/Couldn’t let it out.”
Three minutes in, the beat takes on a commanding trap form. Jai describes a weapon assailants choose in most heated moments. Rather than engage in destructive activities, he keeps himself occupied with exercise and his craft.
“Tell them ni**as don’t invite me to no parties,” he raps. “Ni**as poppin’ pills/Ni**as sippin’ lean/Got ya kidney beggin’ you to keep it clean.”
He also raps, “If I can’t have it all what’s the point of dying?”
Instead of backpedaling, he continues to move on to better things.