Embodying a rock-star spirit with a jet-setter’s itinerary, Jhayco embarks on a new chapter with the release of his fourth studio album, Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X), due out Friday, Sept 6. Wearing the quintessential rockstar attire — leather pants, sleek black boots, a fitted white T-shirt and shades — Jhayco reveals how his extensive travels and personal evolution have deeply shaped this ambitious new endeavor.
His most involved project to date, he not only co-wrote but also took a hands-on approach in co-producing the album with industry heavyweights such as Tainy, Haze and El Arma Secreta, among others, and shared that “Le Clique” embodies a larger, more personal concept. “I have a phrase that says, ‘Vida Rockstar is the movement, and Le Clique is my family, my people, my company,’” he explains to Billboard. “It’s a new step in my career, a new chapter. I felt it was crucial to present this to the world, and what better way than to name the album after it.”
After a three-year hiatus following his 2021 album Timelezz, the 31-year-old Puerto Rican ventured globally to record, making stops in Paris, Madrid, Puerto Rico, Miami and Los Angeles. The essence of these diverse cultural capitals is captured throughout the album’s 29 tracks. “The album has a lot of influence from many places,” he notes. “It was very important because in other parts of the world, you can see other kinds of music and other things that people listen to. That’s why it has a lot of diversity of sound. Obviously, all my music has always [been] centered more in the sound of Puerto Rico, but traveling to other places I was inspired by different things, different moments and for me, it was something very special.”
Spanning from skater-leaning pop-punk to reggaetón and trap, the album features a mix of collaborations with both legendary figures and exciting newcomers such as Yandel, Kapo, Dei V, Omar Courtz, DJ Khaled, Eladio Carrión, Peso Pluma, Bryant Myers, Luar La L and Yovngchimi.
Reflecting on his artistic journey, Jhayco expressed his personal connection and satisfaction with the final product. “I’ve gotten to the place where I feel comfortable in every area of my artistry: from the composition, to the production, to the projection, to the energy, and everything I’m doing. That’s why I’ve been working so hard,” he says. “I felt like one year wasn’t enough to really fill every space. You go through so much, and I feel like [the process of making] this album has gone through so much with me, sentimentally, the ups and downs. I’ve put my heart into it, and it’s gonna show in the creativeness.”
Formerly known as Jhay Cortez, the artist has released and featured in one of the most successful singles in pop, such as Bad Bunny’s “Dakiti” and his own hit “No Me Conoce (Remix)” with J Balvin and Bunny.
Watch Jhayco’s interview with Billboard in the video above, and find out about his foray into defining his rock-star persona and novel soundscapes with Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X).
