This is the 4th full-length album from Chicago, Illinois emcee Mick Jenkins. Getting his start as a member of the YCA collective, he would eventually breakout in 2014 with the release of his GoodTalk Records-backed 3rd mixtape The Water(s) followed by his debut EP Wave(s) & the commercial debut The Healing Component. His next 2 albums Pieces of a Man & Elephant in the Room were both released to more mild reception, but I still went into Mick’s official RBC Records debut The Patience hoping it would become the strongest LP in his catalog.
“Michelin Star” is a lavish opener to the album by Mick providing genuine words of wisdom whereas “Show & Tell” featuring Freddie Gibbs dives straight into boom bap territory with a string sample talking about how they had to proving the doubters wrong in front of their very eyes. “Sitting Ducks” featuring Benny the Butcher works in an uncanny loop with more kicks & snares saying they keep that flame with them sans the propane leading into the calming lead single “Smoke-Break-Dance” featuring J.I.D talking about puffing on that good shit.
Meanwhile, we have Mick returning to the boom bap on “007” making it clear that he fucked around & found a way out just before “2004” works in some heavy synths talking about being around the same people as he was 2 decades ago. “Roy G. Biv” produced by Beat Butcha psychedelically puts a unique spin on the concept of the acronym for the sequence of hues commonly described as making up a rainbow, but then “Pasta” takes a more atmospheric route talking about how all he sees is imposters.
The song “Farm to Table” featuring Vic Mensa goes for a mellow boom bap vibe finding both Chi-Town natives boasting that they keep baddies on their arms & they’re not bitches at all while the penultimate track “Guapanese” is a jazzy drumless crossover pointing out how money talks in a distinctive fashion. “Mop” ends the album by endless mopping his flows over a crooning loop & a bass guitar courtesy of FNZ.
I’ll admit that it’s been a few years since I’ve covered Mick’s music, but The Patience is quite possibly the most mature LP in his catalog thus far. The production is rooted in the stylistic jazz rap sounds that we’ve come to know him for, the features all have perform more consistently than Elephant in the Room & you can genuinely hear the frustration with the process of progression in his voice for the half hour duration.
Score: 4/5
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