Jermaine Dupri is 53 year old songwriter, producer, rapper, DJ, entrepreneur & music executive from Atlanta, Georgia notable for founding So So Def Recordings mentoring the likes of Kris Kross & Da Brat. He also released his full-length debut Life in 1472 in the summer of ‘98 & later Instructions on Devil’s Night 2001, both under a distraction deal with Columbia Records at the time. Neither of which were received favorably, but is returning now that So So Def has gone independent for his 3rd studio LP. Not only his first in a quarter of a century, but also over 3 & a half years after introducing former 2-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Jade Cargill during her reign as inaugural AEW tbs Champion.
“Tryna Beat the Thrill” by Skooly starts JD’s comeback with a rich trap instrumental representing Atlanta & after the “Conversation with Big Meech” skit, “This or That” by the late Rich Homie Quan has to be one of the best songs of his career from his bittersweetly catchy performances to the infectious beat. “She’s a Freak” by Bow Wow & Travis Porter talks about their preference in women while “Magic Money City” by Bankroll N!, BunnaB, J Money & Sean P East shouts out the ATL strip club the album is named after.
Cee-Lo Green’s appearance on “Atlanna” gives off a trap soul vibe that I really enjoy to it propping up the city that he, the Goodie Mob & the rest of [the Dungeon Family hail from leading into “Ass Shake” by Ludacris & Quavo sampling “Mercy” by Big Sean, Pusha T, Ye or the Nazi formerly known as Kanye West & 2 Chainz for another club anthem. “Pussy Got Me” by Akeem Ali, T.I. & Young Dro co-produced by BoogzDaBeast & FNZ blends soul & trap to get sexual while “Get It” by Rocko talks about letting in those who stay paid.
“Turn Around” by T.I., Young Dro, 2 Chainz and 8Ball & MJG was an outstanding choice of a single from the dirty south instrumental to the killer verses from all 5 performers while “I Wanna” by K CAMP & YFN Lucci doesn’t really captivate me the same way many other tracks do despite the glamorous beat. “More Than Me” by Belly Gang Kushington & Swavay throws it back to the snap era almost 2 decades ago while “Married to the Game” by Killer Mike & Jagged Edge meshes pop rap & R&B well.
Hollywood YC, Lil Scrappy & Skooly all team up on “The Kids from the Neighborhood” to talk about knocking on doors for the purposes of shopping people & stopping them while “We da Shit” by Lil Jon, Pastor Troy & Princess of the Crime Mob finishes our tour of Magic City with the trio throwing it back to when crunk was all over the airwaves in the early/mid 2000s hyping themselves up thematically with some simplistic keyboard melodies all over the instrumental.
Not too much of a fan of either Life in 1472 or Instructions as full-lengths outside a handful of songs from each of them, but Magic City switches it up entirely by focusing more on Jermaine Dupri’s production talents & that works out greatly in the long-run of his comeback. Recruiting a bunch of Atlanta artists, the So So Def founder’s beats here rival Metro Boomin’s on A Futuristic Summa with the exception of this being a love letter to the 770’s most famous strip club as opposed to the futuristic swag era in general.
Score: 3.5/5
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Legends Will Never Die 
Criminal not to have Da Brat on a JD record
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Was shocked that she wasn’t on it
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