Canadian rapper, Jimmy Yitty, releases his new single, “Bleach,” the second track off his upcoming album, It Feels Like Hell.
“‘Bleach’ was inspired by the situation I was in. I was in an intimate relationship, out doing my own thing, making sure we were both able to continue living the lifestyle we were living and paying bills,” shares Yitty of the inspiration behind his song. “She thought I was lying and doing other things like cheating on her. I went away and when I came back, I found out she was the one who was dishonest with what she was doing. Just like (the show) Maury, it was all a lie.”
While the relationship gone wrong was a driving force for the record, it was also inspired by the loss of a friend to gun violence a year prior. “This song mixes those two themes together,” adds Yitty. “It represents me taking back the power I lost during that relationship and honors a friend I lost.”
Jimmy Yitty produced the single, putting together several inspirations from metal, hard rock, and grunge. “I was specifically looking for industrial sounds to produce this instrumental.” To achieve the grunge sound in mind, Yitty began with a synth bass. “The first thing I laid down was the synth bass at the beginning. I wasn’t angry but pointing to some kind of rage inside me. It’s what you would feel when you listen to metal / some hard rock and grunge.” From there, the musician found industrial sounds that complemented trap music.
Writing the song was a more emotional process. “I was thinking about what I went through, being pissed off that time. That she was lying about the situation. So, I freestyled the vibe.” He hopes listeners can take away one message from the song: don’t lose yourself. Jimmy Yitty reminds listeners that no matter what is going on in life, staying true to yourself is key.
Jimmy Yitty believes in “work over clout.” He carries this mantra to his music making and everyday life. The “Yitty” of Jimmy Yitty is a reference to York, as in East York, from which the rapper hails. Drawing from real-life experiences, Yitty creates music that is both authentic and relatable.
The versatile rapper cites his diverse influences and musical taste for his ability to span across genres. Mobb Deep, Nas, Raekwon, Kool G Rap and Big L are among the major influences on his musical development. “I grew up around a lot of guys that were older than me, including my brother. So, I listened to what they listened to, what they would call ‘boom bap’ these days.”
From spitting bars to crooning harmonies, Jimmy Yitty delivers in all aspects of his performance. “Growing up was about the music. I freestyled with the homies. They thought I was good, so we went to record a song. But the moment I took it serious was in high school. A lady I wouldn’t expect to listen to what I made back then was walking down the hallway, listening and rapping to my lyrics. If somebody I wouldn’t expect liked my songs, then maybe I was on to something.”
It was then that the rapper ventured to downtown Toronto, bumping into artists with different sounds, genres, and stories to tell. In 2015, Yitty performed a total of 103 shows across Toronto, Hamilton, and Montreal. He went on to release several songs that gained recognition locally and online.
These days, Jimmy Yitty is in the process of finalizing the album, It Feels Like Hell, with a planned release at the end of September. “It’s a pretty introspective album,” shares Yitty. “I’ve been working on the idea of this project since 2018. I had a friend pass away due to gun violence and was going down a dark, destructive path. I would’ve been dead or in jail. It starts there and goes through the relationship that also made me feel like hell. I felt like I was going through hell, so the themes are on/off relationships, missing loved ones (exes or dead friends), and cheating/lying/mental health. It also touches on conspiracy and paranoia/death/betrayal and seeking acceptance and guidance. Other themes include triumph and redemption along the lines of “it feels like hell—for now.” It’s all what’s happening in real life for me. It’s good now, but I had to add those triumphant themes at the end of the album.”
Jimmy Yitty is excited to share his new merchandise in addition to the single. “I have a lot of merch pieces that are tied into the record. The designs are related to the music. My upcoming single, “Going Through Hell,” will be released through Empire on September 8 and has merch related to the single as well. If people love the records, they can buy the merch to go with it.”
Make sure to stay connected to Jimmy Yitty on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
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