Review Summary: Jay Rock has "more K's than the Ku Klux Klan."
Blood Love Overcomes Our Depression is not a sentiment many American citizens would agree with. As the dangerous street gang – which claims over 15,000 members spread across 32 states and 115 cities specializes in murder, extortion, robbery, and drug trafficking – strikes fear into the heart of many people. But, Jay Rock isn’t ‘many people.’ Following several incarcerations for gang injunction, Jay Rock had a wakeup call and decided to pursue a career in rap. His debut mixtape from 2006,
Watts Finest Vol. 1, was only a testament to the brightness the future held for him.
Of course, he had to start somewhere, and that somewhere was swiping beats. Jay Rock ‘borrowed’ beats that were popular at the time, and unlike most rappers who insult the productions, Jay Rock improved them. Not limiting to his originating region, Jay Rock scrounges beats from all over the land and instrumentals like Slim Thug’s “3 Kings,” Nelly’s “Grillz,” Lil Wayne’s “Fireman,” 50 Cent’s “Window Shopper” and the Boyz n Da Hood’s “Dem Boyz” are successfully remixed to a greater effect than the original songs made by their owners. With his asthmatic, heartless voice and this-is-a-robbery authority on the mic, Jay Rock serves up some piping hot lyrics. Delivering gangsta punchlines like “
I got more shells than a taco stand,” and “
I hold more bass than a speakerbox” he successfully combines an undying street mentality with witty writing.
The west has been dead for quite some time now. Even promising mainstream rappers like The Game failed to revive it. I can’t predict how or when the west will be on top again, but when it is, Jay Rock will be one who is charging at the forefront. After all, he
is Watts’ finest.
