A little later than promised, but my review for Jay Rock's 2018 album Redemption is here:
His 3rd studio album, following up 90059 in 2015, released in June last year, competing for sales and listens with the likes of Kanye, Kids See Ghosts, Pusha T and Drake to name a few. To build up the hype for the album, he released WIN and The Bloodiest as singles, with the latter being the first in the track-list, so let's start there.
The Bloodiest
Jay Rock, who is a former Blood member, fills this track with detail about his days cruising around Watts looking to get into as much trouble as possible. While the hook is admittedly fairly weak, he is able to paint a vivid picture of life in the streets over a co-produced beat from Jake One & Allen Ritter. It is more of call back to his older music, which were heavily influenced by his time as a gang member, except this time his rhymes are sharper, his delivery hits harder and he shows how he can switch up his flow across the two verse. Good track, one of my personal favourite's on the album.
For What It's Worth
Track 2 begins with a atmospheric hook from ORI, which sets up the verses from Rock that lets him explore whether the actions he was used to doing in his gang life was really worth it, highlighting the consequences of what he and/or his fellow members are doing. It is supposed to show the internal struggle that people in the same situation in the past and currently face, making it a relatable track for a lot of listeners, to an extent.
Knock It Off
Knock It Off is third in the listing, being one of the weaker songs from the album in my opinion. It follows the same themes as the previous songs that start the album just in a way that is just less successfully executed. The hook is catchy it must be said, and a new flow for Rock that is refreshing to hear, essential in not making the album too repetitive in it's opening few songs. However, overall quite meh.
ES Tales
This one might be my favourite track on the project. The altered voice of Kendrick starts the song off before the rhythmic bridge comes in over a gritty, bassy beat that perfectly represents the sound of East Side (hence the title) gang culture, with the verses being layed down by Rock acting as him reliving a memory he has of one particular day in Nickerson Garden Projects that was his childhood home. Big womp beat, so much energy in his delivery and some COLD lyrics, one of his best songs ever for me to be honest.
112th Rotation
One of the catchiest songs he has ever put out, combined with yet another new flow and multi-syllable rhymes layered over Hykeem Carter's fast paced, trappy production. As catchy as the hook is, some may find it too repetitive, but a fun listen nonetheless. It is even credited as one his own personal favourite's from the album.
Tap Out
Not a fan of Jeremih at all, so weren't anticipating this track too much. It is the closest thing you'll hear Rock put out to a "love song" with its RnB elements. Verse's are quite soft lyrics wise as it explores slidin' into Insta DM's and some absolutely cliche innuendos. Seemed to be a song for ladies more than anything. Surprised this wasn't released as a single before the album dropped.
OSOM
BIG song this. Self-proclaimed By Rock as the best verses he's ever written (apart from Money Trees) and calls on Cole to deliver a great feature. It is a song about the fear of being seen as irrelevant by important people and others around you, something Jay Rock relates to due to him being the first member on the TDE label, yet in terms of success he has been overtaken but a lot of the other TDE artists who noticeably came after him. He also covers topics such as drug abuse, paranoia, money worries and the day to day struggles that he and his family have experienced themselves. The video is also well worth checking out: Jay Rock - OSOM ft. J. Cole
King's Dead
A big hit months before the album release, with it being part of the Black Panther soundtrack. This version doesn't contain the additional vocals by James Blake, before the beat switch into a Kendrick verse, which was cut due to it being purposely for the BP soundtrack only, with a lot of references to it in the lyrics. Mike WiLL Made-It does a great job on production, but it is hard to talk about this track without it being overshadowed by the fuckery Future provided with his infamous La Di Da Di Da verse. I would pay money to see a reaction from everyone in the studio and I find it absolutely mental that Kendrick, Rock and Top Dawg all agreed to keep it in the song. Good song and spawned many a good meme.
Oh, and it won a Grammy. Nice.
Troopers
This is a song that emphasises the importance of having the right people around you for the task in hand, whether it be a job or day to day life within friendships, highlighting how much he values loyalty. Some awkward singing on this in parts from Rock, but his ability to chop flows on this cut makes up for it. Quite a short and sweet song, but enjoyable.
Broke +-
Perhaps the deepest song on the entire album, Broke contains lines about political systems that have caused damage over time, and the domino effect that it has had on people in communities all over America, like the communities Jay Rock was apart of. A reference to Harriet Tubman, questioning whether her being responsible for freeing slaves in the 1850's should be considered as such an achievement in the grand scheme of things. He also lists the vices that those suffering turn to in order to deal with their situations. Solid verses, good track.
Wow Freestyle
The easiest bop on the album, and finally serves as an actual Kendrick feature, after he had appeared on most of the tracks prior to this in either additional vocals, intros or adlibs. It is a playful track, that sees the two of them going back and fourth bragging about the success that the years of hard work and establishing themselves and TDE has rewarded them with. Both of them stick to similar flows, which further demonstrates the natural chemistry that the two of them have, making the back and fourth nature of the song effortlessly easy to listen to. Shame it is one of the shorter cuts from the album.
Another one with a good video: Jay Rock - Wow Freestyle ft. Kendrick Lamar
Redemption
The titular song that summarises the whole concept and meaning within the album, is a story about the severe motorcycle accident that Jay Rock was in in 2016. He was very very lucky to avoid being killed, and this is song is the journey of the day of the crash and the reflective thoughts that Rock had laying in the hospital bed. SZA nails the hook with her mega vocals and it serves as a good conclusion to the creative process behind making this album. Whilst it is the penultimate song on the original release of the album, it acts as a bookend between the story of Jay Rock's inspiration to make the album.
WIN
WIN acts almost as an epilogue to the album. Following on from his reflective thinking mentioned in the previous song, Rock sums up his position as a win, especially considering he was in a serious accident that could've taken it all away from him. Whilst I didn't really take a shine to it when it was first released as a single, it has massively grown on me going back and re-listening multiple time, and I think achieves it's goal of being a summary of the artist and his work.
Shit Real/The Other Side
These two song were retrospectively added well after the release of the album. Whether even more will be added remains to be seen. Shit Real has a smooth production with some melodic synth layers, which both Rock and the feature from Tee Grizzley do justice to, with both rapping about the mutual respect between them as artists as well as gang members, as a way of promoting the success that could be achieved away from the streets.
The Other Side is quite a forgettable addition to Redemption, with it not really adding anything that hasn't already been said prior to it. It seems mainly to be a rehash on the themes already covered in the album with the exception of features from Mozzy and DCMBR.
A big year for Jay Rock last year, which culminated in him picking up a deserved Grammy. Redemption was one of my most listened too projects last year, with many of the songs making into my most played. Whilst I do think his previous album 90059 has more of an edge than Redemption, it isn't quite as consistent as the latter. Still a solid entry in the discography, and with some better features and less songs, it would've been an even bigger success.
7.9 Orange Beanie's out of 10.
His 3rd studio album, following up 90059 in 2015, released in June last year, competing for sales and listens with the likes of Kanye, Kids See Ghosts, Pusha T and Drake to name a few. To build up the hype for the album, he released WIN and The Bloodiest as singles, with the latter being the first in the track-list, so let's start there.
The Bloodiest
Jay Rock, who is a former Blood member, fills this track with detail about his days cruising around Watts looking to get into as much trouble as possible. While the hook is admittedly fairly weak, he is able to paint a vivid picture of life in the streets over a co-produced beat from Jake One & Allen Ritter. It is more of call back to his older music, which were heavily influenced by his time as a gang member, except this time his rhymes are sharper, his delivery hits harder and he shows how he can switch up his flow across the two verse. Good track, one of my personal favourite's on the album.
For What It's Worth
Track 2 begins with a atmospheric hook from ORI, which sets up the verses from Rock that lets him explore whether the actions he was used to doing in his gang life was really worth it, highlighting the consequences of what he and/or his fellow members are doing. It is supposed to show the internal struggle that people in the same situation in the past and currently face, making it a relatable track for a lot of listeners, to an extent.
Knock It Off
Knock It Off is third in the listing, being one of the weaker songs from the album in my opinion. It follows the same themes as the previous songs that start the album just in a way that is just less successfully executed. The hook is catchy it must be said, and a new flow for Rock that is refreshing to hear, essential in not making the album too repetitive in it's opening few songs. However, overall quite meh.
ES Tales
This one might be my favourite track on the project. The altered voice of Kendrick starts the song off before the rhythmic bridge comes in over a gritty, bassy beat that perfectly represents the sound of East Side (hence the title) gang culture, with the verses being layed down by Rock acting as him reliving a memory he has of one particular day in Nickerson Garden Projects that was his childhood home. Big womp beat, so much energy in his delivery and some COLD lyrics, one of his best songs ever for me to be honest.
112th Rotation
One of the catchiest songs he has ever put out, combined with yet another new flow and multi-syllable rhymes layered over Hykeem Carter's fast paced, trappy production. As catchy as the hook is, some may find it too repetitive, but a fun listen nonetheless. It is even credited as one his own personal favourite's from the album.
Tap Out
Not a fan of Jeremih at all, so weren't anticipating this track too much. It is the closest thing you'll hear Rock put out to a "love song" with its RnB elements. Verse's are quite soft lyrics wise as it explores slidin' into Insta DM's and some absolutely cliche innuendos. Seemed to be a song for ladies more than anything. Surprised this wasn't released as a single before the album dropped.
OSOM
BIG song this. Self-proclaimed By Rock as the best verses he's ever written (apart from Money Trees) and calls on Cole to deliver a great feature. It is a song about the fear of being seen as irrelevant by important people and others around you, something Jay Rock relates to due to him being the first member on the TDE label, yet in terms of success he has been overtaken but a lot of the other TDE artists who noticeably came after him. He also covers topics such as drug abuse, paranoia, money worries and the day to day struggles that he and his family have experienced themselves. The video is also well worth checking out: Jay Rock - OSOM ft. J. Cole
King's Dead
A big hit months before the album release, with it being part of the Black Panther soundtrack. This version doesn't contain the additional vocals by James Blake, before the beat switch into a Kendrick verse, which was cut due to it being purposely for the BP soundtrack only, with a lot of references to it in the lyrics. Mike WiLL Made-It does a great job on production, but it is hard to talk about this track without it being overshadowed by the fuckery Future provided with his infamous La Di Da Di Da verse. I would pay money to see a reaction from everyone in the studio and I find it absolutely mental that Kendrick, Rock and Top Dawg all agreed to keep it in the song. Good song and spawned many a good meme.
Oh, and it won a Grammy. Nice.
Troopers
This is a song that emphasises the importance of having the right people around you for the task in hand, whether it be a job or day to day life within friendships, highlighting how much he values loyalty. Some awkward singing on this in parts from Rock, but his ability to chop flows on this cut makes up for it. Quite a short and sweet song, but enjoyable.
Broke +-
Perhaps the deepest song on the entire album, Broke contains lines about political systems that have caused damage over time, and the domino effect that it has had on people in communities all over America, like the communities Jay Rock was apart of. A reference to Harriet Tubman, questioning whether her being responsible for freeing slaves in the 1850's should be considered as such an achievement in the grand scheme of things. He also lists the vices that those suffering turn to in order to deal with their situations. Solid verses, good track.
Wow Freestyle
The easiest bop on the album, and finally serves as an actual Kendrick feature, after he had appeared on most of the tracks prior to this in either additional vocals, intros or adlibs. It is a playful track, that sees the two of them going back and fourth bragging about the success that the years of hard work and establishing themselves and TDE has rewarded them with. Both of them stick to similar flows, which further demonstrates the natural chemistry that the two of them have, making the back and fourth nature of the song effortlessly easy to listen to. Shame it is one of the shorter cuts from the album.
Another one with a good video: Jay Rock - Wow Freestyle ft. Kendrick Lamar
Redemption
The titular song that summarises the whole concept and meaning within the album, is a story about the severe motorcycle accident that Jay Rock was in in 2016. He was very very lucky to avoid being killed, and this is song is the journey of the day of the crash and the reflective thoughts that Rock had laying in the hospital bed. SZA nails the hook with her mega vocals and it serves as a good conclusion to the creative process behind making this album. Whilst it is the penultimate song on the original release of the album, it acts as a bookend between the story of Jay Rock's inspiration to make the album.
WIN
WIN acts almost as an epilogue to the album. Following on from his reflective thinking mentioned in the previous song, Rock sums up his position as a win, especially considering he was in a serious accident that could've taken it all away from him. Whilst I didn't really take a shine to it when it was first released as a single, it has massively grown on me going back and re-listening multiple time, and I think achieves it's goal of being a summary of the artist and his work.
Shit Real/The Other Side
These two song were retrospectively added well after the release of the album. Whether even more will be added remains to be seen. Shit Real has a smooth production with some melodic synth layers, which both Rock and the feature from Tee Grizzley do justice to, with both rapping about the mutual respect between them as artists as well as gang members, as a way of promoting the success that could be achieved away from the streets.
The Other Side is quite a forgettable addition to Redemption, with it not really adding anything that hasn't already been said prior to it. It seems mainly to be a rehash on the themes already covered in the album with the exception of features from Mozzy and DCMBR.
A big year for Jay Rock last year, which culminated in him picking up a deserved Grammy. Redemption was one of my most listened too projects last year, with many of the songs making into my most played. Whilst I do think his previous album 90059 has more of an edge than Redemption, it isn't quite as consistent as the latter. Still a solid entry in the discography, and with some better features and less songs, it would've been an even bigger success.
7.9 Orange Beanie's out of 10.
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