TRAPPii

The reflective critiques and recriminations that open *TRAPPii*’s title track may lead some to wonder: Is this the same Jay Wheeler? Having built both a discography and a reputation as a romantic reggaetonero, the Puerto Rican star appears to have taken a different path than on earlier projects like *De Mí Para Ti* and *El Amor Y Yo*—at least at first. After all, those who’ve paid close attention to his career will recall the singer’s trap bona fides, both as a guest of other traperos as well as on his own albums. But soon enough, it becomes clear that *TRAPPii* serves to enhance what he has embodied to date, effectively solidifying his role as an R&B singer confidently balancing on a razor’s edge. From the explicitly sexual appeals of “GANGSTA LUV” and “THROWBACK” to the tough talk of “COMPLICADO” with Luar La L and BM, Wheeler eases into that thuggish loverman mode. Elsewhere, he updates 2023’s *Emociones 1.5* highlight “PACTO” with a remix that adds heavy hitters Anuel AA and Bryant Myers to complement features by Dei V and Hades66. Later, he shifts gears considerably, providing an ever-stronger link with his previous records. Another English-language entry in his growing catalog, “WALK MY WAY” takes an overtly pop approach, a formula repeated on “JUMPING OUT THE WINDOW.” These softer tracks contrast in a good way with the harder cuts, not unlike what some of the best R&B singers in hip-hop spaces have done over the decades.