Detroit, Michigan veteran Boldy James staying busy with his 19th studio LP. Breaking out in the fall of 2013 off his Alchemist produced debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set), there was a point where Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records had them on their roster for a little while before getting locked up. Once coming home, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there once getting out by dropping the Boldface EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album The Price of Tea in China. Manger on McNichols produced by Sterling Toles was as equally fantastic & the Griselda Records-backed Versace Tape EP was a tad bit disappointing given it was rushed. Bo Jackson though would become his most critically acclaimed work to date & Super Tecmo Bo was almost as great for an EP. Fair Exchange No Robbery produced by Nicholas Craven, Penalty of Leadership, Mr. 10-08 produced by Futurewave, the Conductor Williams-produced Across the Tracks, the Harry Fraud-produced The Bricktionary & the Carlo Anthony-produced Hidden in Plain Sight were all welcomed to warm reception additionally. Token of Appreciation produced by Chuck Strangers was much better than both Murder During Drug Traffic & Permanent Ink, the Antt Beatz produced Hommage left people divided although I didn’t mind it, although the V Don-produced Alphabet Highway along with the Killing Nothing sequel Conversational Pieces & Late to My Own Funeral were more positively received. Coming off his Roc Nation Records debut Criminally Attached along with Trapper’s Alley 3: Hell or High Water & Strobelight, he’s tapping into the Detroit sound for Bentayga Genesis.
“Love Me Now” makes for a cloudy trap opener with some bells advising to try not waiting until it’s too late whereas “Disc Jockey” embraces the Detroit sound talking about being a mob fiend his whole life. “Only You” featuring Payroll Giovanni declares themselves to be the real Slim Thug over a cloudy boom bap beat just before “Doberman Pincerman” featuring Dave Hill finds the pair decently trading the mic back-&-forth with each other.
G.T. appears during the soulful “New Boston” refusing to stop balling because they’re not gonna appreciate him until he passes leading into “Joshua” featuring Chip$ asking how anyone needs a co-sign past the age of adulthood. “50 Summers” featuring Icewear Vezzo & Sada Baby kicks off the 2nd half having all 3 of them uniting for a Detroit trap heater while “Father Like Son” featuring 218bojay shares a moment with his son over a bell-woven instrumental.
“Controlled Substances” kicks off the 4th quarter talking about not knowing there was a pot of gold at the end of the dirt road he took until he discovered it while “Hard to Fathom” soulfully discusses his success being difficult for him to understand. “Mr. DeVille” winds down the last leg of the album talking about the people he rolls with shooting to kill & “Sunshine” concludes Bentayga Genesis in the form of a boom bap outro dedicated to the light of his life.
This dude will rarely drop something that I won’t find myself enjoying more than others & Bentayga Genesis joins likes of Murder During Drug Traffic, Permanent Ink and Hook, Line Sinker to become one of the more mild entries in Boldy James’ lengthy discography. The production incorporates more elements trap & the Detroit sound despite the jazzier boom bap influences staying in tact to accompany the gangsta/mafioso themes, although The Pop Catcher produced by Futurewave & Glass Tables produced by Info56 will each make up for it. Maybe the mythical Drug Dilla produced by the late, great J Dilla if we’re lucky.
Score: 3/5
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