Collaborative album between Bronx rapper Jim Jones and Brooklyn producer Harry Fraud, on their eighth and fifth studio albums respectively. It was practically impossible to think that the leading MC of Dipset, not only would be able to do a record of this level, but would have such a strong comeback in the rap game: over the past three years, Jim Jones has managed to improve and renew himself amid the constant change of hip-hop, showing a condition of enviable form and a precision in the execution worthy of the best performers of the scene. Here he makes no mistake, aided by dozen guests, and practically no one disappoints: personally, "Bada Bing" is the weakest cut, due to a deeply annoying snare drum and a hard-to-pass trap rhythm, but the rest of the record is superb.
The rapper mainly deals with gangsta lyrics, also giving a conscious performance in "The People (Remix)", together with Conway the Machine, over an impeccable rhythm by Harry Fraud: soulful sample from Birdy's "People Help the People", jazzy boom bap, hard and regular drum, Jim Jones confident, smooth and determined delivery, in one of his most powerful and best songs ever. Harry Fraud restarts Birdy's melodic soulful loop for Jim Jones' last bars to give more weight and does the same with Conway's verse, which closes the track with a hardcore and flowing style, before Marc Scibilia's soulful outro. Jim Jones conscious. I think it will be difficult to review these words again: there are basically only two conscious cuts, but it's... Jim Jones, I mean, Jim Jones. Conscious.
Harry Fraud wisely mixes trap elements with jazzy and soul samples, creating excellent melodic rhythms: he opens with a divine rhythm, heavenly, on the first piece, downtempo drum with perfect horn samples, while Jim Jones drops bars with an unstoppable, smooth, dope delivery. The beatmaker continues to deliver great musical carpets, culminating in the second part. Jim Jones performs velvety and regular on a relaxed jazzy boom bap in "Say a Prayer": calm and slow drum taking its time, wonderful horn sample, Jay Worthy's effortless chorus, then Currensy, always fantastic on la musica de Harry Frayd, smooth, effortless, unstoppable, kills the cut.
"The People (Remix)" was succeeded by "Luxury Lies": jazzy boom bap, guitar riffs, amazing samples, hard slow drum, Big Body Bes intro and outro, Jim Jones destroys the joint with a single hardcore verse, smoothness and a clean, fantastic, dope flow, one of his best performances. Maino is the only guest on "Three Cuts", spitting thug bars over a relaxed jazzy boom bap rhythm from Harry Fraud and a Jay-Z sample from "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)"; Jim Jones is still inspired, still confident. The album is closed by "Make It Home": sad and heavy piano looped in the background, soul hook by Kenny Sway, slow delivery by the MC.
Jim Jones surprises positively and is the co-author of one of the best hip-hop albums of the year, alongside Harry Fraud: 11 tunes, half an hour of listening, gives it sensational replay value. At the time of writing it's still totally ignored by critics and most of the public, but it will have to be rediscovered soon, it's a must listen: both artists are at their best and the final result is an extraordinary effort, possibly Jim Jones' best work and certainly one of the best hip-hop albums of the season.
Highlights: "Lap Around the Sun", "Fucked Up", "Say a Prayer", "The People (Remix)", "Luxury Lies", "Three Cuts", "Make It Home".
Rating: 8.5/10.
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