Jai Musiq’s ‘all4y’all’ Summons Communual Healing, Hubris and Hope in a Year of Loss
“Who going crazy like us? No comparison,” was a rap bar Bas used in reference to Dreamville and associates for their banging single “Down Bad” in 2019, but the lyric might be even more applicable towards Memphis artist Jai Musiq and his entire community coming together for Jai Musiq’s sophomore album, all4y’all. Speaking of the word “crazy”, this year has been a nightmarish debacle from start to finish from Kobe Bryant’s death, the scare of a potential WWIII legitimately starting, Australia on fire, a whole ass pandemic, and more inconceivable occurrences that verifies the theorem that God is indeed freestyling with the simulation. After letting the album marinate for roughly a week and a half, I began to pen this review but was dismayed in continuing following the untimely of the on-and-off screen hero, Chadwick Boseman. I began to ask myself questions that others may have found asking themselves multiple times this year: “How do we find hope? What is the ‘new normal’? How do we heal? How do we remain confident in a dying world?” As told throughout his powerful discography and equally powerful life story, Jai Musiq is no stranger to these types of questions. Memphis, if you aren’t hip, happens to be home to the most stunning musical acts — even beyond Hip Hop — of all time. The influence, potency, and innovation of Memphis Rap stretches deeper than many musicians can conceive. With the history of his city, a promising trajectory of his already established career, high-grade lyricism, a loving community, and perseverance through the world’s pressure, Jai Musiq ascends into a different energy with his sophomore album.
The first track, “Self-Affirmation”, is a brief history of everything — blood, sweat, tears, loss, love, glow-ups — that provided the base for this album, displaying Jai Musiq’s hunger more than ever. “Crazy Ain’t It”, even as just the second damn track, easily becomes one of Jai Musiq’s most mind-blowing verses, reminiscent of houstatlantavegas Drake’s greatest flows and Jay-Z’s greatest flows as it mozies its way into Jai Musiq’s Greatest Hits. “Ruthless” displays a savage side of Jai Musiq as sprinkled throughout his discography; an attitude not of choice, but by consequence given his romantic past and personal wars. The mood expressed in the song is not one necessarily of angst and carrying out wrath unprovoked, but rather the energy of the fresh Memphis junt not accepting horseshit from anyone given the state of his current life. The “Typical Memphis Nigga” skit afterwards is something uncommon attempted for the Memphis rapper, but he pulls it off splendidly and hilariously in the method of past southern rap greats such as Outkast and Big K.R.I.T.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuCif07IViI
Jai Musiq takes this sophomore project seriously, with industry level sagaciousness, as “It Is What It Is” obtains a clever placement within this project given its previous featuring on Jai Musiq’s 24u dual-single pack months ago. Although the marketing from months ago seems like yesterday, the bars are still mint-fresh with the correct oil to keep the axle of the project spinning in the cleanest fashion. Fitting into the context of the story, “It Is What It Is” provides a clean segway to “Funds Up Remix”, which unequivocally proves that the South will not only always have something to say, but they’re going to say it, spit it, and deliver it in the sauciest way possible. “Ja and Jaren” features Jai Musiq and longtime partnah Cash Keldry rapping their asses off back and forth, spoonfeeding a track suited for blasting in your car at the most ignant of levels. Their chemistry scores once more for this collaboration, going back to Jai Musiq’s “Vacation” smash single in 2018.
“Move” is a whole ass bop signifying that Jai Musiq might indeed be the rawest unsigned Southern rap talent in our current day, being a tour de force (hooks, verses, songwriting) that prompts a thought of how he would have dominated the 2000s mainstream rap dimension if this bop were to hit the radio in that time. Even today, this track could be used for a viral Tik Tok challenge and do numbers simply based off of its infectious orchestration. If the track alone doesn’t have you boppin’ along, the cleverly inserted live-club sampling of people screaming and reciting lyrics will. “Out the Way” displays Jai Musiq’s hook master skills once more whilst critiquing the drama of his hometown, how his life fits into the grand scheme of it all, and more whilst featuring a noteworthy verse by 30 no curry.
“Current Events”, although a skit, happened to be my favorite track cause it did not mince away from illuminating the dystopian conditions of 2020 alongside the rational defeatist/nihilist mindsets emerging from that. “Current Events” tackled the 2020 protests, COVID-19, hangings of Black bodies, and more, becoming a paramount musical time capsule in the future irregardless of Jai Musiq’s listener range. The young Memphis gawd might have to add screenwriter to his list of professions because the skit was written in a cogent manner that allowed for frustration to be expressed at our current conditions of 2020’s foolishness while also condemning defeatist/nihilist attitudes in times that need the power of community more than ever. Community is geared to promote healing and strength when one individual cannot do it all. “Lately”, the follow-up track, provides the reflective soul stemming from the “Current Events” skit, especially with the 2nd verse. Even with all of these elements, the instrumental steals the show with this track.
By this time, after expressing the power of community, Jai Musiq taps into his sappy jiunt, R&B-Hip Hop fusion bag. (My favorite!) “Lavish Baggage” describes a troubled bridge of a relationship as he simultaneously proves that every full-song track on this captivating album is single worthy.
“Put up with my baggage when you saw that it was Gucci.”
“How Do You Feel” was a lukewarm single when I first heard it, but the album placement + relisten made me realize I was wrong…very wrong. This track contains some of Jai Musiq’s best vocals, not just for the album, but across his discography chock-full of love ballads. “Wanna See You” is late night drunk-calls in song form; one thing for sure is that it’s not meant for young audiences. For the “Kush Coma” skit, the authentically comical Memphis humor is as great as the guitar attached to the tough instrumental. “Baby Oranges” contains one of the best beats and ballads of the album, with a resounding end for a hopeless romantic after all of these years.
“Cortez’s Outro” is the perfect track to finish the album off with. By this time, and throughout his entire artistry career at the least, Jai Musiq has already said everything that he can say. Cortez is able to supplement the gravity of Jai’s character. Cortex gets to preaching about community and what truly matters as we move forward in these times. “What good is it if you’re up but your whole team is starvin’?” Strength in the times of uncertainty rests in the community, and the community rests in the unspoken rule of truly being there for your people even with individual success. Cortez made sure to emphasize the fact, “Y’all gotta take a backseat to my nigga!” in regards to Jai. Mr.Joshua Johsnon has reached a new plateau, breaking past his own previous feats to deliver a rare, mature sophomore project.
The official press release from Jai Musiq’s camp regarding the project goes as follows:
“all4y’all is the culmination of Jai Musiq’s most recent works, 24u and 2more4u. This album is an introduction to Jai’s everyday life, capturing moments to put on record and giving a piece of himself to the world. Introverted in nature, it is hard to break through his seemingly quiet demeanor; music is the way in which Jai allows the world to get to know him.
Overall, all4y’all is also an introduction into a side of the Memphis music scene that isn’t often afforded light. Jai represents a much more laid back version of the city’s spirit and swag. Jai Musiq is as versatile as they come, being not only a rapper but an equally talented singer. The smooth and sensual beats and euphonious harmonies captivate the listener, while the content may reflect and remind them of their own life and relationships.
all4y’all is just that… for everyone from the friends, family, and fans who’ve supported thus far to the unsuspecting world that Jai’s plotting to take over. This is the beginning, and it’s all4y’all.”
You can stream the project everywhere on streaming sites, and follow him on his social media accounts @JaiMusiq on Twiitter/Instagram + Jai Musiq on Facebook for additional support.
