Much like kung fu, rap requires discipline.

Wordplay expands through practice, melodies levitate via concentration, and rhymes sharpen with repetition. As if practicing a martial art, Day Lee consistently puts in the work. After posting up three million streams independently and receiving plugs from gatekeepers such as Lyrical Lemonade, WorldStarHipHop, Karen Civil, and more, the New York rapper and singer perfects a scorching style on his new EP WAY OF VOL. 2 [Republic Records]. “The Way of the Dragon is my favorite Bruce Lee movie,” he exclaims. “He’s like a superhero. I always thought his philosophy was dope. It’s all about focus. Music is similar. In everything I do, I want to show my growth and how serious I am.” Born in the Bronx, he became serious about music as a kid. He went from listening to Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer, and Jason Mraz to discovering the likes of Juice WRLD, Lil Uzi Vert, Tory Lanez, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Drake. Living in a crowded housing project apartment with his mother and extended family, Day Lee’s uncle heard him singing and encouraged him to pursue it professionally. In between dedicating countless hours to honing his voice, he simultaneously developed his talents as a visual artist. He initially sketched drawings and created portraiture as a hobby before gaining acceptance into a prestigious art and design high school where he majored in illustration. As evidence of his commitment, he took a 75-minute train ride from his grandmother’s house in Brooklyn to Manhattan daily in order to attend classes. Even though he finished high school in Harlem (where he “became cool”), he always repped the lower East Side through and through. Additionally, he began recording in a friend’s D.I.Y. studio and uploading music to Soundcloud.

During 2017, “Mattress” caught the attention of multiplatinum phenomenon PnB Rock who paved the way for Day Lee to sign to Republic Records a year later. In the aftermath, he popped off with “Two” [feat. OhGeesy] and “Right There” [feat. PnB Rock], drumming up millions of streams between them. Along the way, he pushed himself to bend and break boundaries.“I like to call what I do ‘Smooth hip-hop’,” he says. “It’s fresh, and there are some R&B flavors. You can put me in this space." His 2020 single “Bad Vibes” remains as smooth as it gets. Centered around a “Nelly flip,” skittering cymbals and a simmering beat give way to magnetically melodic verses and a hypnotic hook, “I don’t want you round me with them bad vibes.” “Lyrically, it’s something a lot of guys and girls can empathize with,” he explains. “You’re getting a bad feeling in a relationship. You have those butterflies in your chest and need to move on.” “I’m talking about real things I’ve experienced,” he says. “I’m showing my audience what I’m going through. I’m growing and giving a clear vision.” In the end, Day Lee continues to master hip-hop by connecting with more music to come. “When you listen to my music, I hope you feel tapped in to the point you’re able to relate,” he leaves off. “In my opinion, that makes a song enjoyable. It reflects an experience you’ve been through and lets you know you’re not alone.” Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.