Uprising NY-born and raised Puerto Rican rapper Joel Jungle delivers his brand new project The Classic, a 17-track body of work that explores his love for the hip-hop culture, life’s experiences and a display of pure lyricism. Over 17 tracks, he employs a vast array of soundscapes that range from soulful, dark and haunting that all blend with his unique songwriting and expressive lyricism.
“No Days Off (The Sun Will Shine Again)” is a solid opening track as it breaks down Joel Jungle’s journey and his work ethic. Backed by a laidback and somewhat moody backdrop, Joel takes time to run through some of his experiences and how he weaves through the concrete jungle with his eyes on the price. Lines like “This old head told me I got him inspired, he heard the raps & now he wants to stack the elegance on every flyer/Gotta be ready to make side money until you hired” set the tone with precision and a display of a go-getter mindset. Next is “Thinking about the Next Move”, a chilled reflective tune made up of soft boombap drums and soulful texture underpinned by Joel’s reflective lyricism that hinges on self-determination under a system that tries to keep his people down. This is followed by “Set It Off!” a display of lyrical prowess as he flows seamlessly over a jazz-soul backdrop. tracks like “Villain music 3” and “How I get Down (So Much On My Mind)” are testament to the rapper’s stylish flow and expressive songwriting that blend traditional hip-hop with his distinct twist. His storytelling style is quite layered and his calm collected flow takes precedence on the scenic “Toledo (Delivery Gone Bad)” and moody jazzy “Invaders (If Zim Could Rap)” which explores the concept of having a work ethic and focusing on one’s goals with the various obstacles.
In “The Right Way”, he reflects on the cycle of life and the never-ending struggles that bog his mind down while in “Rhyme & Trade” he flexes his lyrical biceps with lines like“Cop bricks, rinse and repeat, we don’t cook dead beef/It’s dead heat,-like a new baby with an old deadbeat/You should call it quits before you’re fit with the whole bedsheet/My team drop atomic bombs that leave the whole leg sleep”. He continues his lyrical showcase with tracks like“How It Goes (Lyrical)”, a dark and haunting tune that is littered with vivid lyrical schemes and the introspective “Villain Music 5” which explores the dynamics of street life, making decisions and more. Joel Jungle holds down the fort for the most part with a few exceptions when he teamed up with Bredd Phox on “For the Culture”, a soulful piece that pays homage to the foundation of hip-hop and its success in being the globally dominant genre or the Johnny Merk assisted “40 Below”, a hard-hitting menacing track that is underpinned by street savvy bars.
In a nutshell The Classic, packs quite a punch with its extensive lyrical display, choice of topics that the rapper is versed in and his ability to completely hold his own from start to finish sans a few guest features.
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