PlayThatBoiZay has been fairly inactive aside from a few live features and loose singles. However, there is a harrowing/valid reason for why this happens. According to Clash Music, the Florida product nearly died in a car accident in 2021, which was so serious that he “was unable to walk and suffered from amnesia for several months.” It won’t be until around June 2022 that PlayThatBoiZay can resume his “normal” life. He was the opening act for Loma Vista Recordings labelmate Denzel Curry when he toured with Melt My Eyez See Your Future. Also during that slow period of reintegration, PlayThatBoiZay would go back to work on the album that’s before us this weekend, VIP .
Knowing this, it’s obvious that he’s been through a lot, both physically and mentally, to get to this point. That’s why Zay recently wrote on IG, “I’ve been through so much and I’ve never let my problems define me. I’ve always put myself first. That’s what ‘VIP’ is about. It acknowledges you It’s important to exist and put yourself first without anyone’s approval.” This reasonable “selfishness” is very common in the 14-song 32-minute performance and instrumental program. A mix of industrial, trap metal, rage and horrorcore is something he’s been doing for years.
Some people will say that he copied JPEGMAFIA and Denzel Curry to some extent. We think he’s using his mentor’s advice to create something that’s still his own. It’s kind of like the South of Mischief, but somehow dirtier and more aggressive. As Zai said, “I have never let my problems define me.” While he has a lot to juggle, he uses all of that time to get things done, which allows him to create his best work to date.
