Tay-K Starts Road to New Album With “PYD” Music Video
Encouraging Kids to Put Down Their Straps and Settle Their Problems the Old-Fashioned Way, the New Song is a Showcase For Tay-K’s Sharp Lyricism, Cracking Jokes Even As He Urges Today’s Youth to Not Make the Same Mistakes He Did
“I’ve grown, I’ve evolved. I was a 15-year-old kid in f*cked up circumstances. The streets had my mind trapped. I’ve been blessed with the time and opportunity to find myself away from the streets, to realize that I was more than just a kid trying to survive in a hostile environment. I’ve matured in every way–I’ve always had potential to grow, and now, without the distractions of street life and rap fame, I’ve learned so much about myself. Then again, I’m still me, the same person as that 15-year-old, but with a wealth of experience and still more to learn. I want my art to reflect my new perspective, and I want to make sure that kids who were in my circumstances realize that there are other ways forward, and there is so much more to them than they might realize now. But I still want to speak in a language that will resonate in the streets. I’m still a thug, but I’m a lot more, too.” – Tay- K
10 years after causing a sensation in the rap game as a teenager with his Platinum smash hit “The Race,” Tay-K is ready to start a new chapter. Now 26-years-old, the artist has spent nearly half his life incarcerated, living through the consequences of choices he made before he could legally drive. During his time, Tay-K has grown and matured, and is passionate about making sure other kids don’t make the same mistakes that he did. But as his new song, “PYD,” proves, the young artist is still as lyrically sharp as ever, and hasn’t lost his irreverent sense of humor.
Short for “Punch You Down,” the bass-heavy single features the same snapping energy and clipped cadences that made Tay-K a sensation. The young rapper turns his aggressive style into a vector for positivity like only he can: kids, put down your guns and settle your problems with your fists like men. Throughout “PYD,” produced by Warpstr, Tay-K makes it clear that blicks are for those too scared to go blow for blow with their rivals: “So meet me in the blend/We can settle this sh*t like men/We gon’ get this sh*t out the way/After that, n**** we can be friends/Unless you scared n****, like a b*tch/You don’t wanna put down that blick/I’m not Deebo f*ck a brick/You don’t wanna use just fists/Cuz you know I’ll punch you down.”
“Punch You Down” arrives with a kinetic new music video, which Tay-K says was inspired by “The Apple of Discord,” a Greek myth. In Greek Mythology, Eris, the Goddess of Strife, fomented a fight between three goddesses, Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena, when she tossed a golden apple among them, saying it was for the “fairest goddess of all.” The fight between the goddesses was the spark the led to the tragic and destructive Trojan War. The video brings that myth to a school yard, where the animated visage of Tay-K throws an apple at a kid during recess, sparking an all-out playground brawl. By the time the teachers come and break it up, the kids have suffered bumps and bruises, but everyone lives to fight another day.
“I learned about the myth of the Apple of Discord after coming up with the concept for the video,” says Tay-K. “My manager and I came up with the idea of the playground riot, but when I learned about the myth, the idea that such a small action could spiral out into an all-out war resonated with me. I noticed my generation taking pride in using weapons instead of hashing things out like men. The older generations used to be able to fight, then talk things out, and handle things on some G sh*t. In the song, I’ve decided to call it what it is: cowardice. When you start thinking like that, you start making scared decisions, and that leads to mistakes you can’t take back. You gotta be mindful of the fruit your choices bear.”
Tay-K’s release of “PYD” points the way towards his first new full-length album since 2017’s Santana World. The rapper hopes the record will change public perceptions about his artistry, and reclaim his right to artistic expression that was manipulated by the justice system.
“There are two sides to each artist: their artistic persona and the person who makes the art,” explains Tay-K. “I can make people happy with my artwork, but art alone won’t bring me redemption. I can only redeem myself by striving to be righteous and make the world a better place however I can.”
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