Jamil Honesty – “M.E.M.O.I.R.S. (Music Evokes Memories Offering Inspiration, Radiating thru Sound)” review

Here is the 5th studio LP from Staten Island, New York born albeit Baltimore, Maryland based emcee/producer Jamil Honesty. Getting his footing in off the strength of his debut mixtape Verses, he would go on to build a name for himself but putting out 3 EPs & a full-length debut serving as a sequel to one of the EPs that Hobgoblin produced. He would later release the Harbor Kidz’ self-titled debut, the Krazyfingaz-produced The God Honest Truth, the Machacha-produced Give Us Our Daily Bread, the final installment of the Martyr Musik trilogy & more recently Shots from the Soviet produced by Giallo Point. Almost 10 months later, JR Swiftz is getting brought in to fully produce M.E.M.O.I.R.S. (Music Evokes Memories Offering Inspiration, Radiating thru Sound).

After the “Foreword” intro, the first song “Chakra’s Cuts” refuses to worry about the future since what’s for everyone else is in the cards whereas “Follow Me” works in a boom bap instrumental to talk about being the living truth others speak of. “Real Rap” suggests that it’s carry-on if others aren’t carrying the culture & being out for legacy & wanting to be remembered as a lyrical paragon just before “‘94 Nas (The Chip Tooth Era)” featuring Jay Royale finds the 2 outclassing their competition like they’re substitutes.

“4evaNyce” starts the 2nd half with a jazzy boom bap beat talking about being nice with for all eternity leading into “Gold Teeth & Beepers” dustily advises to speak truthfully & giving fanatics what they’ve been craving. The title track works in a piano sample to tell ghetto stories with a plot twist while “Tennis Filas” featuring Awon, Blu, Kev Brown & Griot Noy turns the jazz influences back up for a 4 minute cypher. “Summer 90’s” finishes up by reflecting on what summer felt like to him 3 decades earlier.

Similarly to how Shots from the Soviet has already cemented itself as Jamil Honesty’s finest EP, M.E.M.O.I.R.S. (Music Evokes Memories Offering Inspiration, Radiating thru Sound) has officially taken over the spot of the predecessor 10 months ago & I’d strongly recommend both if you’re still sleeping on him. JR Swiftz’ cinematic production matched with Jamil’s precise lyrics make the album feel more like a time capsule of an era that we all miss crafted with precision & soul for fans of uncompromising hip hop rooted in sincerity.

Score: 4.5/5

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Jamil Honesty – “Shots from the Soviet” review

Staten Island, New York born albeit Baltimore, Maryland based emcee/producer Jamil Honesty linking up with Giallo Point for his 4th EP. Getting his footing in off the strength of his debut mixtape Verses, he would go on to build a name for himself but putting out 3 EPs & a full-length debut serving as a sequel to one of the EPs that Hobgoblin produced. Coming off the Harbor Kidz’ self-titled debut alongside the Krazyfingaz-produced The God Honest Truth or the Machacha-produced Give Us Our Daily Bread & the final installment of the Martyr Musik trilogy, Jamil’s firing Shots from the Soviet.

After the intro, the first song “Bolshevik Bullets” is this piano-driven boom bap opener comparing the bars to Russian strays whereas “The Hit” strips the drums completely talking about everyone in the streets knowing the name. After an interlude, “Double Barrel” featuring Substance810 hooks the kick & snares back up, spitting that gun talk while the solemn boom bap joint “DNA” talks getting your life in a cypher if you’re made for it.

“Makarov Murders” starts the final leg of the EP dropping bodies with the titular semi-automatic pistol that the Soviet Union has made their standard military sidearm for over 7 decades leading into “Gun Pen” grittily comparing his pen-game to that of a firearm, which is pretty accurate. The final song “No Evidence” prior to the outro ends the EP mixing some sampling with kicks & snares talking about leaving the murder scene clean.

After producing Big Trip’s most acclaimed EPs to date Honestly Filthy & it’s sequel, Jamil taps in one of the UK hip hop scene’s most prolific producers in recent memory to make an EP that surpasses the Martyr Musik trilogy as the most essential offering in his discography. I have no complaints regarding Giallo Point’s boom bap production during the 21 minute run nor is there any regarding Jamil’s performances.

Score: 4.5/5

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Big Trip – “Honestly Filthy 2” review

Detroit, Michigan emcee Big Trip reuniting with Jamil Honesty for his 4th EP. A member of The Umbrella collective, he introduced himself in 2021 off his first EP Bullet Tooth Tony followed by another one Crasseux & of course the full-length debut album Filth Be Thy Name. All of which showed the underground what Big Trip was capable of doing on his own, but Honestly Filthy would elevate him & the sequel here is shaping to maintain the classic caliber they reached over 4 months ago.

The piano-driven boom bap intro talking about everyone else being unable to come outside until they say so whereas “Wave Runners” featuring Jamil Honesty & Snotty finds the trio aggressively referring to themselves as trendsetters. “Kenny Lofton” takes the soulful boom bap route instrumentally to write pain with a golden glove prior to “Ice Wood” featuring Mvck Nyce paying homage to the late, great Blade Icewood.

“Clout Chasers” hops over a vocal sample observing a drought in real ones out here this day and age while “In the Filth We Trust” returns to the boom bap talking about getting it out the mud with no luck. “Gold Mouth” featuring Mickey Diamond maintains a dusty edge getting on their street shit together, but then the outro brings back the exact same beat as the intro so Trip can body it again talking about being destined to shine.

What made Honestly Filthy the best entry in Big Trip’s whole discography for me personally was the fact that it excellently refined everything that you’ve heard from him previously & the sequel here takes that to a whole new level. His hardcore lyricism & Jamil Honesty’s boom bap production from the predecessor carry their way onto the follow-up, except their chemistry is being elevated.

Score: 4.5/5

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Big Trip – “Honestly Filthy” review

This is the 3rd EP from Detroit, Michigan emcee Big Trip. A member of The Umbrella collective, he introduced himself in 2021 off his first EP Bullet Tooth Tony followed by another one Crasseux of course the full-length debut album Filth Be Thy Name. All of which showed the underground what Big Trip was capable of doing on his own, but felt Honestly Filthy would elevate since Maryland emcee/producer Jamil Honesty was hopping behind the boards for it.

“And Now You Know” starts off ruggedly introducing y’all to his sound refined whereas “Death Wish” takes the boom bap route instrumentally talking about everyone out there who want him dead. “Serenade” works in a pleasant soul sample encouraging to get rich by being real ones doing real shit prior to “Underplays & Overlays” featuring Ty Farris hooking the kicks & snares back up talking about making plays.

Starting the EP’s latter half, “Major League” gives it to them ice cold over a jazzy boom bap beat while “Gillie & Wallo” featuring Jamil Honesty likens themselves to the $1M Worth of Game hosts of the same names. “Filthy Cabaray” gives a middle finger to the fame & the imposters only wanting the money & finally, “Life’s a Gamble” ends Honestly Filthy talking about on some cutthroat shit likening his squad to gorillas & whipping up in the tank like Master P.

Being the 4th project that Big Trip has released of his own in the span of 3 years since beginning to make waves in the underground, it now zips past everything that he’s done previously to quickly take the #1 spot as the crown jewel of his entire discography so far. The production that Jamil Honesty’s cooks up is an excellent refinement of what you’ve heard from Trip in the past & the Detroit emcee jots down some of the hardest bars of his career yet.

Score: 4.5/5

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Jamil Honesty – “The God’s Honest Truth” review

This is the sophomore full-length album from Staten Island born albeit Baltimore based emcee/producer Jamil Honesty. Getting his footing in off the strength of his debut mixtape Verses, he would go on to build a name for himself but putting out 3 EPs & a full-length debut serving as a sequel to one of the EPs that Hobgoblin produced. However, he’s coming fresh off the Harbor Kidz’ self-titled debut by enlisting Krazyfingaz to produce The God Honest Truth.

After the intro, “Better Days” starts off the album on a solemn boom bap note taking his mom’s word on her telling him when he was younger that brighter times would be ahead whereas “Empower” goes into soulful turf talking about how it’s crazy that a conversation can emancipate somebody. After the first “Conversing” interlude, “Pray” featuring Ke Turner works in another soul sample so both of them can make it clear that’s all you need to do just before “Unknown” brings back the kicks & snares pondering if anyone really knows the truth or if they like to have it presented to them in a fabricated manner.

After another “Conversing” interlude, “Reflections” featuring Josiah the Gift gives off a bit of a jazzy boom bap flare to the instrumental this time around to reminisce leading into “Wake Up (Spread Love)” shifts gears with a more delicate beat talking about having to do it ourselves. “Self Condemnation” featuring Sistah D has a grimier edge hoping everyone’s listening to their message & the final “Conversing” interlude, the song “Running Out of Problems” talks about how’s feeling over a smooth loop with some kicks & snares. The penultimate track “Blessings” featuring Cayoz da MC has a bassier groove discussing their benedictions & “Stair of Echoes” featuring eLZhi ties up the album on a dustier note tackling depression.

It’s been a minute since Jamil’s dropped a solo effort & I genuinely believe The God Honest Truth ranks amongst the strongest in his discography behind Martyr Musik alongside Martyr Musik 2: The Kingdom. He demonstrates his range & depth more by being more personal on the lyrical end of things as Krazyfingaz cooks up what could possibly be his rawest batch of beats yet.

Score: 3.5/5

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