Elujay

Elujay cemented his place among the Bay Area underground's leading independents through the 2016 album Jentrify. Oakland's native delivers a laid-back yet invigorating fusion of hip-hop and R&B shaped by the influence of Kendrick Lamar and Musiq Soulchild. Once absorbed in multiple visual art forms, the singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer turned his focus exclusively to music after graffiti drew felony vandalism penalties. Launching his own One Time imprint that same year, he put out tracks such as the Saba collaboration "Soul Food" and "Flagrant" with YMTK, alongside the full-length Jentrify, whose title nods to the gentrification reshaping his hometown. His profile kept rising across 2017 and 2018, highlighted by the brisk single "Golden," the groove-driven "Streamin'" featuring Chris McClenney, and the dreamy "Starchild."