When your debut album gets stolen and leaked

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This video is sponsored by Audible
Written, voiced & edited by Frank Furtado

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You ever hear of Jai Paul?

So in 2010, Jai Paul releases his demo BTSTU on MySpace. And at the time, this was some cutting-edge stuff. It was dubstep and indie rock and r&b all in one song and it -- it just worked! He was taking a lot of elements from various scenes and putting them all into one accessible pop song. I mean you really had to hear this in 2011 to get it. But It just sounded like "this is what the future of music is gonna sound like," ya know?

Anyways, it blows up. Music blogs begin to write good things -- gets called best new track and what not. UK radio stations start throwing it into rotation. THEN record labels catch wind of the single and start a bidding war to sign this guy. He eventually signs to XL Recordings. Things are happening for the kid. And as if that wasn’t enough, Drake drops a track that samples the song [Drake - Dreams Can Buy Money]. Beyonce drops a track that samples the song [Beyonce - End of Time].

It was a huge deal for someone coming out of the indie scene. Not even a year later, Jai Paul drops another demo called Jasmine. And by now, people are calling this guy the second coming of Prince. Like musically. Things go quiet for a bit and then BAM -- April 13, 2013, his album goes up on Bandcamp. But with no name and everything’s untitled. His label starts denying the release, pretty much saying they didn’t authorize this thing to go on sale much less be released. So what happened?

The guys laptop got stolen. And whoever had it uploaded his unfinished album online...
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Disclaimer:
I do not own any of the videos, photos or music used in this video. They are used for education and discussion purposes under fair use law.

[Middle]

Re-uploaded due to copyright issues. Thanks for watching or re-watching again <3

[bdhd]

BTSTU prophesied the future of Jai Paul. “I know I’ve been gone a long time, but I’m back and i want what is mine.” Basically what happened.

[peterziolkowski]

its crazy that when his album was leaked macklemore's thrift shop was number 1 on billboard, he was definitely ahead of his time

[lu.smoove]

Jai Paul, Frank Ocean, James Blake & Sampha. They all have this spark that is so rare to find in todays climate of music. Their artistry is unmatched

[pmbu]

I respect Jai a lot. He probably makes 20-30 tracks a year but only really likes one or two. Just because you’re absent to other people doesn’t mean you aren’t working hard. Imagine your 6 year project getting stolen. The worst part is losing the DAW file. He probably never made the changes he wanted

[mrashwinu]

Str8 outta Mumbai is a straight up banger

[papichefitup]

The pain he went through when he had his album leaked shows the depth of his creativity

[TheBasslinekilla]

Oh.my.GOD. I LITERALLY don't know anyone who knows jai Paul, this makes me so happy that you made this video my friend! You have a new supporter for life

[wasindeedafalseflag]

His laptop wasn’t stolen. It was ripped from a burned CD that was misplaced. And the 2 people who leaked it on bandcamp were traced and arrested.

[zelllzelllzelll]

Jai Paul is legit so good lol, which he'd drop again, but he moves at his own pace.

[nicksim]

Next title: What happened to [DEMONETIZED]

[arc]

Well first of all. BTSTU stands for “Back in time to Save the Universe”, also when it fades to orange that’s a picture of his brother AK Paul, not Jai. His brother also appears on the cover of the leaked album and in other photo shoots

The Paul brothers have started the Paul institute of music and have tons of artists making music in their genre, they bought an old night club in London and are doing the projects there. AK Paul also had a ton of low key underground music out. Also collabs with a female artist named NAO. They also produced a song for Miguel’s album.

He’s still producing, still writing.

There’s lots you missed here.

[kewdo]

The fact he had this sound in his productions in 2013 is insane, so beyond his time

[Srirachatabasco]

Jai Paul feels like was an important inspiration in the Euphoria OST...

[stanleyzalewski]

This dude is straight fire. Discovered this album about six months ago and I think glass animals suck ass now

[canadey]

No one gave him permission to go as hard as he did with his cover of Crush but he went there anyway

[notemiIy]

BTSTU was a banger when it blew up again in 2015-16

[adin]

I heard BTSTU for the first time a few days ago. It completely blew me away, so I’m super excited to check out what else Jai Paul has coming.

[victoriaknight]

I heard his song in Grand Army during a party seen and fell in love

[thomasslynch]

I remember this period of music and hearing BTSTU with the same feeling and sentiment as you. BTSTU just came up on shuffle, first time hearing it in years, like being reunited with an old friend.