South African rapper Jay Jody is celebrating two years since the release of his debut solo album, SHINE O’ CLOCK, a project that marked a significant milestone in his career as a solo artist. Released independently through Revenge Club Records on 26 July 2024, the album represented a new chapter after years of building his reputation as one-half of B3nchMarQ and through collaborations with A-Reece and other members of The Wrecking Crew and Revenge Club Records.
To commemorate the anniversary, Jay Jody took to social media to reflect on the journey behind the project, revealing that it has now been two years since he independently released SHINE O’ CLOCK through Revenge Club Records. Looking back on that period, he described it as “what a time… what a moment,” before explaining that the making of the album “really tested the authenticity” of his dreams and goals. He went on to thank everyone who played a role in bringing his vision to life, adding that they had helped validate “the things I saw in my head,” before concluding that “what we’ve created will outlive us.”
The rapper also used the moment to acknowledge the fans who have supported him throughout his solo journey. Addressing his “Tr!be,” Jay Jody thanked listeners for streaming the music, watching the visuals, attending his shows, purchasing merchandise and supporting him in different ways over the past two years. He closed his heartfelt message with the words, “Kea le rata,” while sharing a carousel of memories from the SHINE O’ CLOCK era, including behind-the-scenes moments, promotional content and performances that captured the excitement surrounding the album’s release.
Before embarking on his solo career, Jay Jody established himself alongside PJay as one-half of the acclaimed hip hop duo B3nchMarQ. Together, they released projects including Aspen, We Had Hope and Power Trip, helping cement their place within South African hip hop. He also became widely recognised through collaborations with A-Reece, his younger brother, and appearances on several projects associated with The Wrecking Crew.
Prior to SHINE O’ CLOCK, Jay Jody laid the foundation for his solo catalogue with heaveN caN waiT: thE narroW dooR, vol. 1 in 2021, followed by the collaborative mixtape Sunset Stories with A-Reece in 2022. He later released Release Form before unveiling SHINE O’ CLOCK as his official debut solo studio album. Since then, he has continued expanding his catalogue with releases including Confused Admiration and The People Are Burning, further building on the momentum created by the album that marked the beginning of his solo era.
