(Jacked For The City)

And they say art is dead. It’s projects like these that make me feel secure in the artwork we call ‘Hip Hop’ because this thing right here is a modern-day masterpiece.

The latest project by rap veteran Jay Royale featuring 9 tracks and various producers such as 

-Ray Sosa

-Anibal Beats

-Pete Twist

And features on mic the likes of 

-Big Noyd

-Tek 

-Havoc

And cuts from DJ Grazzhopa.

This record is a concept album inspired by the movie ‘New Jack City’ and as stated it’s ‘The G Money Wells Perspective’.

This whole project is like cinema come to life. The kind of album you listen to with your mind and imagination first, ears second. Because Jay doesn’t simply make a rap record but a theatrical experience of a re imagining of a classic film. The way he arranges the production to the film samples to the rhymes and features is absolutely genius.

Similar in context to ‘Liquid Swords’ by GZA, how all us fans were listening and hanging on every film sample dialogue and forgetting this was even a hip hop to begin with.

This is exactly the same situation; upon my many listens of this project, back it wasn’t until the beats started playing again that I remembered this was a rap record because I was so infused and invested in the samples played.

The way Jay was able to make everything work in perfect harmony is the definition of a ‘work of art’. 

When he is rapping, as usual, Jay is untouchable. His flow is impeccable, his lyricism is second to none, and his penmanship is legendary. Considering he’s on this record with a few legendary heavy hitters such as Havoc of Mobb Deep and Tek of Smif N Wessun, he holds his own with no trouble at all. When you’ve earned the respect of the peers and legends like you become one with the greats, and this is the perfect example of that right here!

I couldn’t be more impressed with this record than I already am. The storytelling was flawless, and I’m not even sure we will get another album like this anytime soon or ever!

https://jayroyale.bandcamp.com/album/jacked-for-the-city-2