Album Review: The Forever Story - JID

Dreamville Records took the hip-hop community by storm in 2017 by signing both Atlanta native rapper JID and duo EARTHGANG within a span of six months. Dreamville’s founder J. Cole has already established himself as one of the most critically-acclaimed and commercially successful conscious rappers of his generation, but one of his underrated skills appears to be having an eye for young, undeveloped talent with limitless potential. JID, whose artist name references the nickname his grandmother gave him as a “jittery” child, has continually put out impressive feature performances as follow-ups to his debut albums The Never Story and DiCaprio 2. In the four long years since his most recent studio-length project, the hype and conversation regarding JID’s potential has continued to build, and the highly-anticipated third studio album The Forever Story quickly became one of the most looked forward to in 2022. Now that the project is here for us to unpack, the conversation needs to evolve from how JID could be a great artist one day to how he may already be one of the most talented rappers in the industry, especially out of those from Atlanta.

The opening track “Galaxy” quickly demonstrates that this project isn’t just a typical rap album; instead, this soulful and spacey intro track foreshadows a complexity and nuance that will be realized in greater depth later in the album’s tracklisting. That isn’t to say, however, that there will be no bangers on the project, because the hard-hitting songs here are some of the best in years in the hip-hop community. “Raydar” is our first example of this, with JID immediately dropping intricate and multi-layered bars over a relatively simple instrumental backing. A repetitive hi-hat drum is all JID needs as he weaves his verses, leading to a chorus that references his college football days by incorporating audio from a referee’s penalty call. Precisely halfway through the track signals a beat switch that allows JID to show off his ability to find a pocket on any beat, changing tempos and rhyme schemes impressively all while staying in connection to the track’s overall themes of systemic corruption and Black struggle in America. Next is “Dance Now (feat. Kenny Mason)”, an equally impressive banger that served as one of this project’s lead singles. A masterful example of the use of homophones, this project’s lyrical scheme is incredibly impressive, particularly the Ja Morant line found at the end of the first verse. Check out this track’s music video here.

“Crack Sandwich” is a detailed storytelling track that further demonstrates JID’s comfort and skill with writing compelling verses that flow together effortlessly. This is the first example of many references to familial bonding and generational trauma that JID and his siblings encountered in their youth. “Can’t Punk Me (feat. EARTHGANG)” incorporates both members of the Dreamville duo perfectly as this track outlines overcoming difficulties in Atlanta streets growing up. The Atlanta references continue on “Surround Sound (feat. 21 Savage & Baby Tate)”, a deceptively deep banger with one of 21 Savage’s best features in years. The variety referenced earlier first appears with the next track “Kody Blu 31”, a melodic and heartbreaking story about JID’s friend Kody’s son who died at a young age. His advice to continue to “swang on” serves as a beautiful reminder that life is worth living even in the darkest of times, especially with the right people around us.

“Bruddanem (feat. Lil Durk)” and “Sistanem” serve a duo package in the middle of the tracklisting that shows love and respect to JID’s siblings, a continuation of the family appreciate theme established earlier. “Sistanem” is a particularly insightful and introspective track outlining the timeline and evolution of JID’s relationship with his sister, while I found Lil Durk’s contributions to “Bruddanem” slightly underwhelming. Plus, who doesn’t love a surprise James Blake appearance? He fits perfectly on the chorus to “Sistanem”.

The back half of this project has unique and interesting deep cuts, such as “Can’t Make U Change (feat. Ari Lennox)” which uses her vocal abilities wonderfully on the bluesy instrumental backing track. This track allows JID to reflect on his stubbornness and inability to mature given his challenging upbringing, which is a sign in and of itself that he’s willing to put in the work to continue to grow. “Stars (feat. Yasiin Bey)” is an inspiring look at JID’s perspective of fame, especially before he made it as a success in the industry. This track also accomplishes getting these two artists together on the same track, which fans have been clamoring for for years.

“Just In Time (feat. Lil Wayne & Kenny Mason)” is a bit less substantive than its surrounding tracks, but both features contribute impressive verses, with Wayne’s effort standing out as particularly strong when compared to his recent guest appearances on different albums. “Money” discusses JID’s relationship with newfound money and pursuit of generational wealth, but this track’s dissonant tempo and choppy sample doesn’t stick the landing for me. “Better Days (feat. Johnta Austin” is a beautiful reflection on JID’s childhood friendship that reveals a friend whose path led to prison, while JID’s led to worldwide success and opulence. “Lauder Too (feat. Ravyn Lenae & Eryn Allen Kane)” serves as a sequel to one of his previous album’s tracks “Lauder”, as JID continues to question if the success he has achieved is enough, or how high his ceiling truly goes given that he is so young and talented at just 31 years old.

Because “2007”’s sample wasn’t cleared in time for the album’s official release and will likely appear on the deluxe, I will consider “Lauder Too” the closer on this review, which while isn’t JID’s vision, still fits very aptly in reflecting on JID’s sudden rise to prominence and questioning how much higher he can go from here. In my opinion, the sky’s the limit, as JID’s substance, skill, and authenticity on this project are up there with the best in the industry at the moment. “2007” is an incredible track, however, and serves this project beautifully as an epilogue that reflects on JID’s entire journey. You can listen to “2007” here. “The Forever Story” feels like the launchpad for JID to take his craft to the next level, rivaling the masters in his field and establishing his prominence as the king of Atlanta rap. I cannot wait to see where he goes from here - J. Cole found a special talent in JID.

Favorite tracks: “Raydar”, “Dance Now (feat. Kenny Mason)”, “Crack Sandwich”, “Can’t Punk Me (feat. EARTHGANG)”, “Surround Sound (feat. 21 Savage & Baby Tate)”, “Kody Blu 31”, “Sistanem”, “Stars (feat. Yasiin Bey)”, “Just In Time (feat. Lil Wayne & Kenny Mason)”, “Better Days (feat. Johnta Austin)”, “Lauder Too" (feat. Ravyn Lenae & Eryn Allen Kane)”, “2007”

SCORE: 9/10

Best Foot Forward: A Sneaker Series (Part 15)

August is finally here, which means cool breezes, fall outfits, and the end of blisteringly hot summer days are almost upon us. In 2022, I decided to focus on refining and maximizing my sneaker collection’s potential by placing an emphasis on quality over quantity when considering my next purchases. To do so, I’ve carefully considered how each pair corresponds to the rest of my collection and wardrobe, while also taking into considering Atlanta’s often unforgiving climate. Luckily, the hottest days of the year are now behind us, and each pair of sneakers highlighted in this post will be able to complement sweaters, coats, and jeans to create the best fits possible very soon. This has been a very fortunate year for my sneaker collection, and as always, I’m grateful to be able to share some of the highlights on “Best Foot Forward.”

Pair 1 (Upper Left): Rick Owens Ramones in Natural

After I initially purchased a black pair of this iconic Rick Owens silhouette, I assumed that I wouldn’t eventually add another pair of this model to the rotation. Objectively a bulky, unconventional pair of sneakers, the Ramone silhouette has always appealed to me because of how well it pairs with the oversized streetwear aesthetic. This pair’s cream colorway, pentagram accent logo, and slightly more structured materials than on my other pair made these a necessary pickup when I found them on sale on EndClothing.com.

Pair 2 (Lower Left): Birkenstock Boston in Taupe Suede

I’m always looking to add variety and practicality to my rotation, which is exactly why I recently purchased a pair of Birkenstock’s iconic Bostons. Extremely easy to slip on, this pair can be either dressed up or down and worn year round. They’ll primarily be used for everyday activities like walking the dog or taking out the trash for me, but I also have some fall outfits planned that center around this simple yet effective style.

Pair 3 (Upper Right) Maison Margiela GAT in Black Splatter

The Maison Margiela GAT has quickly become one of my favorite designer sneakers. Its simple design can easily be made eccentric via its artistic and eye-catching colorways, often channeling Jackson Pollock’s abstract paint-splatter techniques, which are some of the greatest pieces of all-time. This black pair serves as a canvas for vibrant red, blue, and yellow paint spatterings that pair perfectly with its brown gum sole. While not for everyone, I love this pair and often let this be the statement piece that defines whatever fit it’s in.

Pair 4 (Lower Right): Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 “Wave Runner”

Instantly recognizable, the Yeezy Boost 700 is one of the controversial artist’s most iconic pairs of sneakers released to date. Utilizing a unique color palette of neon orange and yellow with many shades of blue and gray, this pair really shouldn’t work on paper. But in practice, the “Wave Runner” 700 is an alluring and eclectic pair of sneakers, made only more appealing by their incredibly comfortable structure. Politics and controversies aside, Kanye West’s style and music will always have a special place in my heart, and these shoes are no exception.

I feel incredibly privileged to be able to explore an interest of mine while curating and building a collection of sneakers that allows me to express myself and connect with a community of people with the same passion for shoes that I have. Even though every pair can’t be worn as often as I’d like, owning pieces of history that help encompass the entire sneaker culture is such a fantastic feeling. With the hottest days of the year behind us, I’m looking forward to doing these pairs justice with proper outfits as soon as possible.

Album Review: Hellfire - black midi

Hellfire is the third studio album from British experimental rock band black midi. Following the release of their critically-acclaimed debut Schlagenheim and personal favorite sequel Cavalcade, the group needed to prove that their challenging, avant-prog aesthetics and sonics were sustainable and continually inventive statements that could keep evolving and growing alongside their skilled members. Recorded in just under a two-week period, Hellfire exceeds expectations by raising the group’s bar for storytelling, technical instrumentation, and thematic genius. This project proves just what’s possible when a youthful, enthusiastic, and sometimes demented trio of young talent abandons all outside expectations in the pursuit of a blazing, hellish, and cathartic piece of art, which is exactly what they’ve given us to gnaw on with their latest release.

The opening title track exemplifies lead vocalist Geordie Greep’s intense, unsettling deliveries over an urgent, manic instrumental. Brief in runtime but straight to the point, “Hellfire” captures the essence and energy that the group is exuding throughout this whole album, which, in many ways, is the logical conclusion of the intensity of Cavalcade that came before it. “Sugar/Tzu” tackles a difficult jazz fusion genre, oftentimes a roller coaster with melodic and calming lows that contrast with its spellbinding and disorienting highs. Seemingly nonsensical lyricism reveals an intricately woven and poetic narrative upon further inspection that I won’t discuss in-depth in this review - instead, I recommend trying to make sense of it all yourself. “Eat Men Eat” is next, and with its otherworldly dystopic narrative and slow-build anguish, justifies the album’s title. An intentionally uncomfortable listen, this semi-demonic track bellows and gnashes its way to the following “Welcome To Hell”, my favorite track on the album.

The heartbreaking, discomforting narrative of a soldier’s experiences with PTSD and navigating the atrocities of war is truly unforgettable. From the highlights of camaraderie and indulgence found in neon light, fornication, and excess to the depths of verbal abuse, guilt, and eventual discharge, the intensity and gravity of this track’s rock-inspired instrumentation is one of the most compelling yet deranged tracks I have ever heard. A reprieve from the potency of the previous track, “Still” is a more straightforward and accessible track that contemplates the fact that sometimes others are better off without you. Inherently depressing in content, this track’s sonics are as rhythmic, familiar, and comfortable as we find on Hellfire. The 26-second “Half Time” is next, an intermission style interlude that serves as a breather for the winded listener about to take another round of beating with “The Race Is About To Begin”.

Continuing the narrative found earlier in “Welcome To Hell”, we follow the discharged soldier as he free falls into the bottomless pit of gambling addiction. Greep’s vocal performance is nothing short of incredible here, reflecting the descent into madness of someone completely overtaken by the chase of another decent payout that will never come. The soldier metaphorically pursues that high for thirty years on this track, and instead of coming to his senses, eventually yet again justifies his shortcomings, despite giving up everything in the process. “Idiots are infinite / And thinking men are numbered / Don’t kid yourself / This isn’t news” are some of my favorite lyrics of the year so far.

“Dangerous Liaisons” offers us an encounter with the devil himself, as the song’s narrator is misled into committing a terrible act and eventually eternally damned even despite his eventual guilt and reform. This track is thematically captivating, but its instrumentation feels unexpectedly whelming in the shadows of the colossal songs around it in the tracklist. “The Defence” is a brilliantly written exposé and critique of the hypocrisy in organized religion, as the track’s Christian pimp narrator doesn’t realize that it isn’t his girls who are going to Hell, but instead, he is. This track, along with many others here, prove Hellfire the most intelligently written of all of black midi’s work so far. The album’s closing track “27 Questions”, channeling a similar intensity to the projects opening songs, wraps up this epic journey in a self-aware and concise manner, as Greep breaks the fourth wall through his character to address the audience directly with rhetorical questions and unfalsifiable assertions. The wide-ranging subject matter of these closing lines suggests that this is simply the beginning of the scope that the young black midi will go on to tackle, and for that, we should all be grateful.

Some creators naturally exist on a different level than others could dream of ever achieving. black midi’s radiant, lore-driven, technically masterful artistry is still in its early stages, but projects like Hellfire demonstrate that they are present here and now to deliver some of the best rock music in decades. Touring alongside Black Country, New Road in the fall, after the release of their perfect Ants From Up There earlier this year, black midi knows that keeping good company is the key to the upward, transcendent spiral that separates their music from the noise, and I hope that the mostly happy-go-lucky group can tap into whatever hellish muse they’ve discovered for years to come.

Favorite tracks: “Hellfire”, “Sugar/Tzu”, “Eat Men Eat”, “Welcome To Hell”, “Still”, “The Race Is About To Begin”, “The Defence”, “27 Questions”

SCORE: 9/10

Album Review: Ugly Season - Perfume Genius

Mike Hadreas, known best by his stage name Perfume Genius, is no stranger to the art of evolving. From Too Bright and No Shape to 2020’s standout album Set My Heart On Fire Immediately, Hadreas has come close to perfecting the skill of interweaving compelling storytelling with progressive, innovative pop sonics that help move the genre forward. It makes sense, then, that an artist so familiar and comfortable with change would yet again try a different approach, which is exactly what we’re given with Ugly Season. Accompanying the modern dance piece he co-directed called “The Sun Still Burns Here,” Ugly Season functions well as a score and as a standalone album. Leaning into the more challenging, chilling, and complex sounds that occasionally made appearances on his previous projects, Hadreas has proven again that he has nothing to prove, but instead, so much to share with the world.

Stripped back strings and minimal, ominous acoustics on the opening track “Just a Room” set a bleak and rather “ugly” tone for a project that isn’t afraid to pique morbid curiosity in its listening. At first, I was concerned that this contemporary style song was indicating what was to come on the rest of the project, which while perfect for the dance piece it scores, would not end up on my year-end playlists. These fears were quelled with the following “Herem”, which at over 7 minutes long, encourages patient listening that culminates in a cathartic finale after unsettling, dread-inducing tension. “Teeth” follows, and as one of my favorites on the project, proves that this avant-garde style can serve just as satisfying and pleasing as the pop Hadreas released previously, as swelling clarinets and falsetto vocals do the heavy-lifting on this chilling and hypnotizing track.

“Pop Song” is the closest thing we get to Hadreas’s old sound, before embracing post-pop, but still utilizes challenging and nonconventional instrumentation throughout. Glimmers of joy are few and far-between on this project, but when they do arise, they are welcomed with open arms. In direct contrast with this upbeat tone, though, lyrics such as “Our body is stretched, And holding one breath, Shoulder our pain, And bury what’s left” remind us that Hadreas is still exploring dark topics throughout here. The instrumental “Scherzo” uses keys and unsettling tempos to keep the listener on edge, almost setting the scene for a horror movie that would evoke feelings of disruption and uncertainty. The title track “Ugly Season” is another favorite, as Hadreas’s vocals are burdened with anguish and immense beauty at the same time. This project often celebrates moments of euphoria while addressing the many obstacles of difficult upbringings, reflected in its sublime yet unique production.

The album’s back half is truly a triumph, as tracks like “Eye in the Wall” catches me off-guard with its dizzying and pulsating rhythms - taking the listener on a journey during its almost 9-minute runtime. “Photograph” is another excellent track, with slightly more accessible sonics only juxtaposed by poetic and intense lyrics, a theatrical and sinister wonder that ends in beautiful instrumentation. The album’s penultimate track “Hellbent” is wildly exhilarating, featuring tormented and hellish guitar, drums, and vocals that serve as a climactic peak on this emotionally exhaustive and explorative project. “Cenote” is the true final track, echoing and mirroring the opening track’s instrumentation and serving as a bookend for this project.

The greatest artists aren’t deterred or intimidated by the idea of evolving or changing - they are drawn to it. Mike Hadreas’s persona Perfume Genius has proven yet again that feeding and encouraging artistic ambitions can lead to fresh ideas, elevated concepts, and beautiful projects, which is ironically just what Ugly Season is. Whether paired with its accompanying dance piece or not, Ugly Season is a superb, moving, and thought-provoking collection of songs from an incredibly skilled artist.

Favorite tracks: “Herem”, “Teeth”, “Pop Song”, “Ugly Season”, “Eye in the Wall”, “Photograph”, “Hellbent”

SCORE: 8/10

Book Review: James Clear's "Atomic Habits"

Improving upon an already well-established life, healthy relationships, and productive tendencies can be difficult when there are no easily-identifiable problems rising to the surface. The difference between goodness and greatness derives from the incremental changes, adaptations, and reassessments that help us refine our skills, proclivities, and habits. In James Clear’s best-selling self-help book “Atomic Habits”, the author offers a reliable, systematic approach to achieve reliable results, improve one’s daily life, and improve even just 1% every day, while emphasizing that small improvements avalanche into life-changing differences when practiced consistently.

This book resonated with me because it offered solutions to problems I didn’t even realize I was facing until Clear presented them so eloquently. Instead of frustratedly questioning why sometimes productivity seemed to come naturally while at other times it was so difficult to feel a spark, Clear presents the solution that our habits are a product of the environments we create for ourselves and the routines we choose to engage in or intentionally avoid. By making “good habits” and lifestyle changes attractive and easy, we inherently deny or ignore the vices that keep us from being our best selves. At the same time, making “bad habits” difficult, strenuous, or unattractive, we subconsciously train our minds to detach from self-destructive choices and instead gravitate toward our ideals.

The journey toward self-improvement, self-care, and self-actualization can be a daunting one. This is especially true under the misunderstanding that greatness can only be achieved through great acts. “Atomic Habits” teaches its readers that the opposite is true; instead, by identifying as the type of person we want to be and then taking acts in that direction, no matter how small, we will achieve our goals through consistency and goof faith attempts to do things the right way. Since reading “Atomic Habits”, I feel that the mental barriers that I had created to start productive activities or engage with healthy habits are easier to overcome by staying in the “steadily-improving” mindset. By focusing on process over results, we can all achieve great things and leave a positive impact on those around us. I highly recommend “Atomic Habits” to anyone looking to find the evasive spark that helps give their life meaning and purpose.