Shapeshifting Jamaican artist Tessellated dropped a brand new single and official video for his “Moons Freestyle”, via Independent. The fresh track, is produced by Orlando-based Kaelin Ellis (credits include collaborations with Lupe Fiasco, as well as major brands like Apple and Mercedes Benz).
Flexing his lyrical dexterity over a jazzy piano-driven alternative hip hop beat that features a lush strings refrain, Tessellated takes aim with his pen and shoots for the moon:
Quick with my right me a write like a class
Look e pon swift di left cause a bad ting a pass
Last night it did nice when we wheel and pop off
All the dawg dem a shout out Free Worl Boss
Gyal you, have it, sekkle pon di tune
We fi make it, stack it, take it to the moon, mi say
“’Moons Freestyle’ is a change of pace for me, a moment to flex a bit more and dive deep lyrically,” said Tessellated. “When I heard the beat from Kaelin Ellis I was inspired to try and create a blend of smooth and energetic, carrying my Jamaican energy while bringing a hip-hop feel. 2008 MMG energy brought forward with a Caribbean twist.”
“Tessellated exemplifies the borderless creativity of Dancehall’s next generation” – Pitchfork
As he has done with previous videos, the Grammy and Emmy-nominated young talent also played the role of Director for the “Moons Freestyle” official video, which premiered today on Tessellated’s YouTube channel. Filmed on the beach in Bull Bay and at various locations in Kingston, the new visuals showcase the multi-talented lyricist confidently rattling off verses, with Jamaica’s colorful scenery serving as the backdrop.
“Tessellated transcends what you think Jamaican music can be” – Becca Dudley, presenter for Beats 1 and MTV
“Moons Freestyle” follows the release of Tessellated’s recent single “Contact (One Drop)” and the critically-acclaimed 2020 debut EP Tropics Vol. 1. Since the EP release, Tess has stayed busy writing and recording a string of upcoming singles, producing for the likes of international superstars Shaggy and Spice, and performing at major industry happenings like SXSW and Coachella.
“He blends all this stuff seamlessly” – Brooklyn Vegan
With influences that span from jazz to R&B to hip hop, and a foundation in his island’s native reggae and dancehall, Tessellated’s artistry reaches far beyond his Jamaican roots. His ear for music lends itself to experimentation with different soundscapes, and his releases so far attest to his worldwide appeal.
“Tessellated is breath of fresh air to music from the Caribbean” – The Voice
He made major waves in 2018 with “Pine and Ginger,” drumming up over 22 million total streams to date and landing on the pages of major media outlets like Pitchfork, The FADER, and High Snobiety, among others. Tess’ breakout 2019 hit “I Learnt Some Jazz Today” marched to the top of the Billboard Jazz charts and earned a major sync placement with tech giant Apple for their promotional film Bounce, eventually leading to Grammy and Emmy Award nominations.
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