In the midst of the social media tactics of some artists and the high profile lifestyles of others, Top Dawg Entertainment has quietly rand 2018 as a staff, label and crew. Kicking off 2018 with the Kendrick Lamar curated soundtrack for Black Panther and a memorable performance at the Grammy’s from SZA, TDE has been as consistent any crew in rap.
Next up in the constant cycle of TDE music is Jay Rock’s Redemption. In May, Rock returned to his solo career with the release of his second single, “Win“. Shortly thereafter, Rock announced that a full album would soon follow. Last week, Rock put out his second single for Redemption called “The Bloodiest“. Today, Jay Rock delivered the full length project. The thirteen track project features production from Boi-1da, Mike Will Made It, Terrace Martin, Vinylz and Hit-Boy paired with guest appearances from the likes of SiR, Brent Faiyaz, Jeremih, SZA, Future, J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar. Executive produced by Top Dawg himself, the album paints a picture of Jay Rock as a complete human being.
Early favorites from the album include the previously released “King’s Dead”, “Win”, “For What It’s Worth” and “OSOM”. On records like “OSOM”, Jay Rock and J. Cole talk about serious topics like stress induced drug use. Jay Rock kicked off the conversation by rapping, “The cars go re-poed, the bills they add up/My b*tch done left me, I smoked my last one/I’m high with no sleep, I pray a bag come/I just might grab one, I just might blast one of you/’Cause I ain’t got nothin’ to lose/But I got these wins to gain/And I don’t feel comfortable/One thing that I’ve learnt all these years to block devils off of my ears. J. Cole responds on the record by asking, “Fantasies of grabbin’ the heat and burnin’ my nose off/N*ggas might not now, but I’m slightly thawed off/And I might need zoloff
But for now these xannies are due/Hear the sound, a manic depressive that ain’t be prescript-ed, what can he do?”
Check out the full album above and keep up to date with The Championship Tour
