Lyrics & The Lab: TayJamm

Rap artist and entertainer, DeVonte “TayJamm” Collins

Bust a GROOVE- Jam with Tay on the PLAY.

At the Kre8 Place, an art community hub in south St. Louis, you can run across such a variety of personalities. When I had the opportunity to sit and chat with the charismatic northside rapper/entertainer, I could easily sense a destiny for the stage. Performing lyrics. Serving laughs. Dishing LIFE. TayJamm most definitely owns the mic and speakers…now AND next.

“I’m from the northside…and NO I don’t know Sexyy Red!”, jokes the 29 yr. old artist. DeVonte “TayJamm” Collins most definitely knows how to “mark his territory”. “I’ve been on my own since I was 11, so I really had to learn a lot of things on my own.” As a partaker of the “hard knocks of life”, TayJamm says that’s exactly what inspires his music…LIFE and the lessons thereof.

Tay grew up listening to a variety of music. “I love music from all kinds of people. Old school, the Luther (Vandross), the Brian (McKnight)–to my new school, Ed Sheeran, AJR, to Mac Miller, Chance The Rapper, Lil’ Uzi…all kinds.”, he says. “I’m not really into like the drill scene, but I mess with it. It comes with the territory.” Tay says his personal inspiration as far as “expressing realness” through lyrics would be the late rapper, Juice WRLD. “He really reached people with different problems, like anxiety, depression, and feeling alone.”, Tay explains. He says he could relate closely to his lyrics. “As for me, I’ve used drugs as an escape, but I never did THOSE drugs…I just stick to the Mary J.”

TayJamm began recording music with his cousin Styles, and is currently working on his debut EP. “I got a few unreleased tracks I did. I got my rap, pop, and R&B to venture off.”, he confirms. In January 2023, Tay released his first single, “Go Hard or Go Home (GHGH)” on streaming platforms. He then followed up with single, “At Yo Head” in September, and dual singles, “Groove” and “I Be Lit” in October 2023.

TayJamm- “I Be Lit”

TayJamm is currently focused on creating quality music, performing and promoting locally, increasing his fanbase, and preparing to travel. “I’m an entertainer before anything. So, I eventually want to reach Hollywood, you know. For my daughter, Mackenzie (MYkenzie)…she keeps me going.”