Well, I have a rather interesting predicament on my hands. After covering the B-Side Remix edition, I’m going back to cover the original instead of the other way around! Every day is an opportunity to learn something new, and today this is mine! But to be honest, any reason to cover this artist again makes it worth it! Let’s talk about it!
This is the original 28th January release that is an extraordinary pieced effort between by MC Jasz Official and Renaissance Tone! that acts as the original side of the same project I covered on his B-side instrumental remix! With the producers being
Renaissance Tone
-Old Souly
-Renaissance J
– Reazon
Especially now that I’ve heard the original layout for the beats and the fact that he was able to wow me and maintain a strong presence in both darker and lighter instrumentation across the two sides is incredible!
It’s common that MC’s can normally sound great in one area but not the other; a gritty boom-bap rapper shines in the mud but would struggle under happy and smooth production, and vice versa.
But not Jasz! This man says, lanes? Fuck ‘ em. He somehow pulls off strong performances, and that gives me goosebumps 10x fold after listening to his verses across this project!
Now, this is wild (because I very rarely feel this way with projects), but after hearing this one, I strongly prefer the sounds of ‘Side B’, and that’s no knock on the original production, but I can see the ‘mass appeal’ for the remix version, and let me describe why.
Across this project, I feel a lot more somber, slower, methodically paced in comparison to the other. One thing I can say is that using this production, the lyricism and vocal performances provided do pop out more and deliver a stronger impact of emotions and heartfelt reactions due to the deep and powerful music on display here.
Right from the opening track, I felt those heavy sequences of instruments rain down on the listener and fill the audience with in-depth reflections, mind-bending thoughts, and elements of ambient soundscapes that capture your brain until the very last second of the album’s length.
Again, by no means is this music bad! I can definitely see myself in the future when I’m in a more introspectively focused mood to gravitate towards these sounds more than the remix; it’s just after listening to both, and I guess I’m in a more groovy mood currently. I’m choosing the other, but the original production is still a masterclass of how to inherently bring out certain feelings and emotions using just the sounds, which is definitely not an easy feat to accomplish!
Compared to the latter, this record feels like a long walk in the rain with headphones on and the world shut off. The type of record you listen to when you want time to yourself to think and contemplate your life thus far and plan your next move!
I appreciate the intentions and approach of this record as it is a uniquely crafted atmosphere that I don’t hear many other rappers or producers utilising in the underground, so shoutout to the team for that!
As for the lyricism, the actual lyrics haven’t changed from side A to B, so if you read my B review, you’ll hear my stance on the main man and his features.
But I will say this: re-listening to his bars makes me appreciate all over again the man’s skill and talent behind the mic; he truly is remarkable!
As he was on side B, he has that direct type of flow, that engaging, rhythmic delivery packed with charisma and a strong vocabulary to match! The type of guy who could verbally massacre anyone in front of him but make it sound like the most graceful thing you’ve ever heard!
Fantastic chemistry between him and the features and an overall strong character across this album that makes his voice stand out, his conviction felt, and his skills shine!
If you loved Side B, then there’s no reason you can’t at least appreciate the original (regardless of which style you prefer socially); go check it out now below!
https://jo2024.bandcamp.com/album/my-offering-the-soul-2
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