Charlie J and Ree$ Release New Jazz-Rap Single Loving You: A Love Letter to Your Younger Self

“I think we forget what younger us wanted sometimes. This track was a reminder not to.” – Charlie J

Charlie J and Ree$ dropped their collab Loving You on July 11th, and 11 days later, we’re still thinking about it. It’s one of those tracks that lingers, in your ears, your mind, and maybe even your heart if you let it. Soft, smooth, and full of soul, it’s the kind of song you play during a late-night drive or when you need to feel something real again.

The sound is mellow and jazz-infused, built on a warm beat produced by Flipper., with both Charlie and Ree$ delivering verses that feel like quiet conversations. It’s not just rap, it’s storytelling, and not the kind that screams for attention either. This is low-key, windows-down, head-nodding music that speaks directly to you.

Charlie says the song is about self-love and giving yourself grace. “We’re so used to pushing ourselves forward all the time,” he says, “but sometimes you just need to stop and ask, ‘Would the younger me be proud?’ That’s where this song came from.” That message comes through in every line, and even more in the music video, which dropped the same day as the track. Shot and edited by Charlie in Chalford — where Ree$ grew up the video follows them around spots from Ree$’ childhood. While filming, he told stories about each place. “There was something really grounding about being back in those places,” Ree$ adds. “It reminded me why I started making music in the first place.”

Charlie J has been making music since he was 14, using it as an escape after being bullied. Now 23, he’s built something real. He’s released over 50 tracks, five EPs, and managed to book his own UK tour in 2023, performing in cities like Cardiff, London, and Morecambe. His most recent project, We’re All Lost, came out last summer, supported by Help Musicians, and he’s now part of the BBC Horizons class of 2025. His music has been featured on BBC 1XTRA, Kiss FM, and in blogs like Wordplay and Buzz Magazine Wales. He’s also worked with big names like Kodak, Listerine, and Kyle Beats, and has over 4 million YouTube views under his belt.

Ree$, based in Stroud, brings a different kind of energy, playful but intentional. His music shifts between chilled-out jazz rap and more high-energy sounds like drum and bass, but it always comes back to emotion. “I don’t make music to impress anyone,” Ree$ says. “I make it because I have something I need to say.” His mixtape Comfort in the Chaos came out in 2024, and it’s exactly what it sounds like, a soundtrack for the messy, beautiful parts of life. His festival performances have gotten loads of attention, especially his set at Chalfest, where he was called “the most energetic and exciting act” of the festival. He’s got more music on the way later this year, and we’ll be watching closely.

Together, Charlie and Ree$ just work. Their styles blend in a way that feels totally effortless. And the result is a track that feels like love, not romantic love, but something more personal. The kind that reminds you to be kind to yourself, to keep going, to reconnect with what younger you would’ve been proud of.

“We were going around places Ree$ had been growing up while we recorded the video, and he was telling stories of those places as we rapped along,” Charlie says. “It gave the whole thing a deeper meaning.”

People are already showing love. SINUSOIDAL Music says Charlie is part of a new wave of rappers blending vocals and storytelling. Rapstar News compared his style to Loyle Carner. And Ree$’ live shows are becoming known for their energy and honesty. This track brings all of that together — the bars, the warmth, the realness — into one three-minute moment you’ll want to relive again and again.

Loving You is out now everywhere. Add it to your Chill Vibes, Jazz Rap, or late-night reflection playlist. Play it when you need a moment. Or when you’re trying to remember where you came from. Either way, it hits.

Listen to Loving You

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Written by Angel Joanne Okonkwo

Watch the music video here