JID is a rapper who I feel does not get as much credit as he deserves, and with his fifth studio album, he has certainly earned my respect. The Atlanta-born rapper is truly casting a light on his city.
Enjoyment of each song:
YouUgly – 9
Glory – 9
WRK – 9
Community – 8
Gz – 9
VCRs – 9
Sk8 – 9
What We On – 8
Wholeheartedly – 9
No Boo – 8
On McAfee – 7
Of Blue – 9
K-World – 8
For Keeps – 9
WRK is one of my personal favourites on the album, with a grand chorus of backing vocals continuously chanting 'work' between JID's discussion of the motivation to get back into the studio and produce. Thankfully, he did, and this conflict over finding the motivation to do so is perfect for the album.
VCR's is another one worth pointing out, with an interesting monologue at the beginning, leading into a smooth, classic-sounding instrumental, which JID calmly rides for half the song until Vince Staples continues to follow JID. The song's primary focus is life in Atlanta, with JID's final lines being "Battlin' deamons, addiction, and adversity, balancin' dreams internally, it's my eternity." Then the instrumental continues for another 30 seconds, a beautiful way to end a song and hammer home the struggles JID has faced.
JID's talks on self-reflection and moving closer to god create a personal element as he poetically rides whatever beat is thrown his way. There is no denying his rapping ability and technical skill on this album, and the emotions he feels from his past are clearly echoed throughout, with no real negatives or issues upon listening.
Final thoughts
Wow, what an album from JID. At the end of my first listen to this album, I wrote five words: "Effortless flow and contagious style", a genuine contender for album of the year. If you are a fan of Hip-Hop, listen to this album!