Why JayDon & Jae Stephens Are the Popstars Worth Betting On
The Cultural Reset: Why JayDon & Jae Stephens Are the Black Popstars We Need Right Now
For too long, pop music has borrowed from Black culture while sidelining Black artists in the genre’s mainstream conversations. In 2025, two young stars are rewriting that narrative: JayDon and Jae Stephens. Together, they’re proving that Black pop is not just alive—it’s thriving, innovative, and global.
JayDon, a prodigy with a résumé that reads like a veteran’s, is bringing back the polished triple-threat star. At 18, his singles (“The Way You Move” and “Lullaby”) prove he can own both the club and the charts overseas. He’s not just chasing trends—he’s carving out a lane where pop-R&B hybrids feel fresh again, where the joy of dance collides with soulful vocal precision. JayDon’s work ethic and international reach are restoring the Black male pop archetype once occupied by legends like Usher and Chris Brown.
JayDon’s “The Way You Move” is a declaration. Built on Blaq Tuxedo’s scaffolding of insistent snares and deep 808s, the track feels like an adrenaline shot for the dancefloor. Where some young artists rely on gimmicks, JayDon’s high tenor cuts through the production with ease, flirtatious but never try-hard. The choreography-heavy video reinforces the point: JayDon isn’t chasing TikTok trends, he’s setting them. His lane here is pop as performance art, a reminder that charisma and stage presence can be as important as the melody.
Jae Stephens, meanwhile, is dismantling boxes placed on Black women in pop. With SELLOUT II, she’s cheeky, feminine, experimental—and fully herself. Songs like “SMH” and “Afterbody” showcase her ability to flirt with pop conventions while bending them to her will. Where JayDon leans into spectacle, Jae thrives in intimacy, creating songs that feel like inside jokes with her listeners. She’s proving Black women can dominate pop on their own terms—unapologetically fun, quirky, and global without ever diluting their identity.
Arguably the centerpiece of SELLOUT II, “Afterbody” blends 80s electrofunk synths with 00s R&B rhythms, creating a kaleidoscopic club experience. The lyrics are heat-soaked and urgent, narrating attraction in technicolor. The accompanying video—equal parts athleticism and sensual choreography—cements Jae as not just a singer, but a full-body performer. This is Stephens’s lane as a visionary: pop that looks and feels cinematic.
Together, JayDon and Jae Stephens represent a cultural reset: Black pop stars who aren’t just part of the conversation—they are the conversation.