Clarke Central High School senior Jay Kelly raps in his recording space at his house. Kelly has had a passion for rapping and making music since middle school, and it has since had a significant impact on his life. “(Rapping has) opened my eyes to everything. If people saying you trash, like you gotta learn how to take that in at a young age. So that kind of helped me out. Now, when people say, ‘Your music ain’t good’, like that’s what I heard in middle school.” Kelly said. Photo by Audrey Enghauser
The ODYSSEY Media Group will provide viewers with stylized profiles that center on people in the Athens community telling their own stories.
Clarke Central High School senior Jay Kelly’s passion for rapping has allowed him to connect to his community despite his reserved nature.
Jay Kelly, known by his stage name as QYB Thrill, spends his time weaving sounds, words and emotions into raps.
QYB stands for quiet young boss — a combination of who Jay is now, and who he wants to be.
“The ‘thrill’ part came to me in a dream. I know that might sound cliche, but it did,” Jay said.
When Jay gets inspiration for a song, he heads straight to his microphone. He waits for the song to write itself, melodies and emotions pouring out of him as he records.
His studio is his happy place, a corner of his basement decorated with various inspirational items: a picture of him and his mom, a “home sweet home” poster and a colorful photo of himself from a photoshoot. Surrounded by these keepsakes, he is ready to record.
Jay’s journey with music began in middle school, but his lyrics have changed since then.
“(When) I was young, I was writing stupid stuff. Then when I got older, I was like, ‘Man, you can’t rap about that stuff no more, cause it ain’t true. It ain’t real, it ain’t emotional,” Jay said.
Since he’s shy around others, people don’t know the real Jay until they listen to his lyrics.
Rapping has allowed Jay to transform his inner self into catchy songs that anyone can relate to and enjoy.
Through assembling rhymes and rhythms, he can stay at home and record his songs rather than socialize while QYB Thrill’s raps can inspire his community.
“When people come up to me, and they’re like, ‘Man, I heard your song. That was hard.’ I’m like, ‘dang, you listened to my song?’ They’re like ‘Yeah, you (are) QYB!’ I just start smiling,” Jay said.
His rapping persona has taught Jay to express himself in a way that works for him; like the quiet young boss he was meant to be.
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