One of my favourite parts about doing the reviews that I do is that I can regularly discover new talent from all different walks and genres, and today’s could be one of the most exciting and memorable releases I’ve heard this year! So let’s talk about it!
This is a June B Side release by MC JASZ OFFICIAL and produced by the likes of
-RENAISSANCE J & RENAISSANCE TONE & REAZON and Old Souly and this click dropped seven tracks that have the list of
-NYEUSI LOE
-STICKY BANGER as the MC’s responsible for leaving up and building up the atmosphere of the record, and you couldn’t ask for a stronger duo for that!
Now, I’ll be honest. I haven’t heard the original production of the record, so I don’t have that to compare to, but based on just this alone, I have to say I was blown away. Very rarely do I put a record on, and I immediately find myself vanishing into a trance-like state where I’m absorbing the instrumentation and letting my mind wonder because the music on here is so fucking soulful and harmonic that I found it hard to write this because I was completely hypnotised by it!
From the opening track ‘WALKED OUT’ and those initial distorted vocal harmonies that set the tone for the rest of the record with those plucked bass strings and methodical drums!
I wasn’t expecting this level of graceful production, and it only gets stronger as the record continues!
You’ve got tracks like ‘WORKIN 4 DA $’ that have these beautiful violin strings and more usage of blissful vocal harmonies with some more light drums! This record follows a specific pattern that maintains an overall fluent sound that runs elegantly and thoroughly!
If I had to describe what this reminds me of, it’s the hip hop version of SADE: LOVE DELUXE in the way that the record remains constructed and fluent from start to end! I love records that are able to do that!
Again, I haven’t heard what this original record is meant to sound like, but I can’t imagine the production being better than what this one had to offer in its masterful melodies and angelic presentation!
As far as the MC work goes, and considering this is the first time I’ve heard JASZ, I had high hopes after seeing who was featured on here, and not only did he do well, but he outshined any expectations I had!
What makes him stand out across this record is the way he presents himself with his writing, charisma, cadence, and overall style that makes him stand out from the rest. This man is telling mini visual stories with every verse he spits that teleports you to a different world with every bar he spits.
Add that to the immaculate production, and you have a recipe for a classic. It’s not just the way he writes either; it’s his actual enunciations, his pronunciation of the words, the way he bends the beats to his liking, and utilising his rhythm to create a certain atmosphere that makes him a MC you have no choice but to focus on!
He’s smooth and yet powerful. Like a hip-hop MLK, soft-spoken but intricate in every single aspect of his speech. You can tell he’s the kind of man where once he speaks, the world listens.
The fact he brought with him the calibre of talent in those two to help with the track is evidence of his strive for mastery and his confidence in himself to be able to rap alongside arguably two of the best in the underground right now!
Overall, a fantastic effort (especially for a B-side record), this is on the same quality level as a Kendrick ‘Untitled/Unmastered’ release. Fantastic performances all around!
https://jo2024.bandcamp.com/album/b-side-my-offering-to-hip-hop-the-soul
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