Zay Jackson Levels Up His R&B Storytelling On The Emotion Filled EP Cheat Code

Zay Jackson is entering a new chapter with his latest EP Cheat Code, and it feels like the point where all his strengths click into place. The Virginia artist has been steadily growing a reputation for clean vocal runs, a smooth falsetto, and lyrics that cut to the core without trying too hard. This project doubles down on all of that. It is a six track experience built around a relationship that should have never started, and Zay takes listeners through every high, mistake, and unraveling moment with impressive clarity. Nothing about the EP feels rushed. Instead, it plays like a carefully curated short film told through airy synths and thoughtful vocal layering.

One of the strongest examples of Zay’s growth shows up in “Parts Of Me,” a track that carries the emotional weight of the entire project. The song captures the sting of realising that a person who once felt essential is gone for good. When he sings, “At first we felt incredible, but the things we would do to each other would damage our souls,” it is raw in a way that immediately slows the listener down. The image he paints is vivid and painfully relatable. The track sits on a soft, almost weightless production that lets his voice do all the heavy lifting, and it becomes clear why he structured the EP around a linear story. Each track flows into the next chapter of the same emotional spiral. The title track, “Cheat Code,” adds another layer to the narrative as he unpacks temptation, impulsive decisions, and the fallout that comes with them.

Sonically, the EP leans into a modern R&B palette filled with sparse drums, silky vocals, and warm pads that make the entire project feel like a late night confession. Zay’s tone is gentle but controlled, and his harmonies glide so easily that the project feels bigger than its short tracklist. What sets Cheat Code apart is how intentional every detail feels. Even the quieter moments add to the atmosphere. Zay never oversings, never overcrowds the production, and never loses sight of the story he is telling.

By the time the final track fades, Cheat Code feels like a breakthrough. It shows Zay Jackson sharpening his vision, trusting his instincts, and embracing vulnerability in a way that suits him perfectly. This is the kind of project that builds a genuine connection with listeners because it is honest, unpolished in emotion, and confident in sound. If Zay keeps moving in this direction, he will not just be part of the conversation around rising R&B talent. He will be helping shape it.