US-raised hip-hop storyteller, Pacifique Jabiro, commonly known as Jay Pac, and Kigali-based singer Long Jay are two Rwandan rappers creating a musical bond which is already showing signs of brilliance. The duo recently brought a cross-continental project to life with their latest Five-track EP, KGL 2 ATL,” now drawing attention of the rap community. Jay Pac’s vision extends beyond his own experience to capture the resilience required to thrive between cultures. He describes wanting to showcase the resilience and the drive of a dreamer, the vibrancy of Kigali's culture and the grit of Atlanta's hustle. For the rapper, KGL 2 ATL is far more than a musical project but a deeply personal manifesto. This EP represents my life journey from Kigali, Rwanda, where I was born, to Atlanta, USA, where I was raised and shaped as an artist and a man. This EP is my tribute to the past that raised me and the present that fuels me,” Jay Pac explains. It's this tension between belonging to two worlds while sometimes feeling fully seen in neither that drives the EP's emotional core.” The EP speaks directly to what Jay Pac calls the kids caught between cultures trying to find their identity. In crafting these songs, he had a specific audience in mind which are the dreamers in Kigali, the hustlers in Atlanta, and the people in-between. Anyone who's ever had to grind harder just to get a foot in the door. This dedication to representing the overlooked and the striving gives the EP its urgency and authenticity. It is music made for third-culture kids, and anyone who has had to create their own lane when existing paths didn't fit their story. The musical foundation of KGL 2 ATL reflects its cross-cultural mission through different genera brought together. With standout production primarily handled by Kina Beat across four tracks, plus a special contribution from Dr Nganji, the EP weaves together Afro rhythms and trap soul. The five-track journey moves through different emotional landscapes, from the triumphant energy of opening track Magic City to the haunting beauty of Ijoro Rikakaye. The tracklist also includes Murikira, Kanira, and Victory Season. What makes KGL 2 ATL particularly powerful, the artist says, is how it positions music as a bridge between not just places, but experiences and communities. Long Jay's melodic contributions bring the contemporary Kigali sound into conversation with Jay Pac's Atlanta-influenced storytelling, creating something that belongs fully to both worlds while pointing toward new possibilities. Jay Pac's declaration that he carved his own lane after finding himself not fully seen in either of his two worlds speaks to a generation of artists and individuals who refuse to be limited by traditional categories or expectations, instead creating space for their full, complex identities. This is for my people. This is for my family. This is for those who come from where I come from and for those on their way, says Jay Pac. The EP is now available on all major streaming platforms.
