[4] Dayes formed the band United Vibrations with brothers Ahmad on trombone, Kareem on bass, and their friend saxophonist Wayne Francis II where they played "Afro-beat stylings with forward-looking jazz and rock".

[13] In March 2017, shortly before the band's scheduled performance at the SXSW music festival, Yussef Kamaal were refused entry to the United States after Dayes' visa was revoked in accordance with an executive immigration order implemented by the Trump administration.

[5][14] On 4 May 2017, they issued a statement that "for private and unforeseen reasons the original line up of Yussef Kamaal will no longer perform together".

Charlotte Krol of NME considered the album "a smooth, intuitive coagulation of sounds spanning acid jazz, hip-hop and electronica.

[18] On 8 September 2023, Dayes released his debut solo album Black Classical Music on Brownswood, and Nonesuch Records in the United States.

[19][20] Uncut called it "an expansive, soulful set that embraces modern West Coast fusion, Hancock-style funk, psychedelic soul-jazz and more",[21] while Robin Murray of Clash considered the album as a "musical autobiography of a musician central to the ongoing development of UK jazz".

He additionally found inspiration growing up listening to grime and hip-hop: "That same energy and those different flows, I put into my drums.