Jim Jones – “The Fall Before the Rise” review

The Bronx, New York rapper Jim Jones dropping a brand new extended play a few days succeeding it’s announcement. A member of The Diplomats in the 2000s, his first 5 full-lengths from 2004-2011 had some highlights in them even if they were all average at best as whole albums. However it wouldn’t be until 2018 after dropping Wasted Talent where he would really start putting out his best material ever & then came out with his magnum opus the following year El Capo. El Capo 2 & the Harry Fraud-produced The Fraud Department continued the acclaim up until the Hitmaka-produced Back in My Prime proved to be disappointing & At the Church Steps was ok, coming off Pusha T dissing him on the Clipse single “Ace Trumpets” to present The Fall Before the Rise.

The intro opens up with a genuinely decent instrumental telling the God’s honest truth until “I’m the Best” butchers a sample of “You’re the Best” by Joe Esposito for a little over a minute to stroke his ego after having Fivio Foreign do so not too long ago. The usage of sampling on “Rich Water” isn’t done any better having something for everyone who did him wrong leading into “Move ‘Em” talking about having the city under control like a PlayStaion over some 808s.

“Friday” thunderously speaks of formerly making money by putting yay on the highway just before “Eat Tonight” with an uncredited feature comes through with a mediocre Bonnie & Clyde ballad. “Revolution” talks about us getting increasingly closer to a rebellion of sorts while “Summer Where You Been At?” flips “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince to address a lost love interest. We’re then treated to a freestyle spit during the 3rd annual Mafiathon, which was merely ok.

Wasted Talent marked a huge turning point in Jim Jones’ career putting out some of his greatest material over the course of the late 2010s/early 2020s but since Back in My Prime, the quality of his music is continuing to steeply decline the bigger his head grows. We still would’ve gotten a better product if you kept both tracks from At the Church Steps (deluxe included), whereas The Fall Before the Risecontains worse production & reminds us all he’s not even close to surpassing Nas as an MC.

Score: 1.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Jim Jones – “At the Church Steps” review

Here we have the 10th studio LP from Bronx, New York rapper Jim Jones. A member of The Diplomats in the 2000s, his first 5 full-lengths from 2004-2011 had some highlights in them even if they were all average at best as whole albums. However it wouldn’t be until 2018 after dropping Wasted Talent where he would really start putting out his best material ever & then came out with his magnum opus the following year El Capo. El Capo 2 & the Harry Fraud-produced The Fraud Department continued the acclaim up until the Hitmaka-produced Back in My Prime proved to be disappointing. Over 2 decades after his debut, he’s arrived At the Church Steps.

“Jomo” produced by 1982 is actually a great sample-driven opener to get us started reminding everyone who he is 21 years later whereas “Genesis” fuses gospel & trap courtesy of Jim himself talking about half these dudes out here being broke to the point where they can’t pay their debts. “Seen It All” discusses getting it all in & never falling because of his shoes being tied, but then “Make It Out” maintains a trap vibe thanks to Hitmaka talking about him & Cam’ron falling out with each other again a month ago.

Conway the Machine & Keen Streetz join Jimmy for “Walking on Business” working in a boom bap instrumental to follow through with their actions & sticking to their values just before “White Lines” talks about being obsessed with spending money & refusing to back down for anybody. “Call on Me” goes for a solemn trap vibe again with the help of Smatt Sertified feeling like the world’s falling on him leading into “Opp Thot” featuring Fabolous talks about the L only being a loss if you’ve learned your lesson.

“This Shit Still in Harlem” embraces the Brooklyn drill sound representing the Manhattan neighborhood further proving Cam’s point that he isn’t from Harlem at all while “Dope Boy” featuring Keen Streetz ominously suggests to let them do their dance. “Cinema” featuring Fivio Foreign & Keen Streetz takes another shot at the New York Drill sound missing the landing even harder than previously & after the “Ray Ray” skit, “Back in My Bag” returns to the boom bap getting in the mix again.

Dave East appears with Jim on “What’s Going On?” so both of them can break down shit being different nowadays while “Back in the Day” by The Lobby Boyz keeps the traditional boom bap sound in tact getting reflective. “End of Summer” atmospherically asks God to make space in heaven for him & “Church Steps” ends with a gospel-inspired closer that The Heatmakerz cooked up talking about arriving at the steps of a place of worship.

“Outside” starts the deluxe run with Ron Browz going sample drill behind the boards talking about being out here with that shit on while “Shop” offers a weak take on cloud rap pointing out that some like to take out fires & others letting them burn. “Walk with Me” featuring Keen Streetz cavernously talks about their street mentality & legitimacy while the industrial hip hop joint “Fashion Killa” shows off his taste in drip.

Keen Streetz links back up with Jimmy on “Hoodie Season” providing an average anthem for that specific time of year when it starts to get cold out while “Hustlers” featuring Keen Streetz jazzily talks about being go-getters. “Swerv” featuring G Herbo takes another jab at sample drill doing it just as good as “Outside” did earlier while the trap rock hybrid “Civil Rights” shows a more conscious side to the Vamplife Records founder.

“Ring” slickly pleads for someone to call him while the underwhelming “Skin” fails in terms of an attempt at sexy drill. “Deep End” featuring Rick Ross intriguingly shows off their riches while “No Love” featuring YG shows absolutely 0 affection for these bitches while “Vamp Ooter’s” featuring Dilla illa & 34Zeussy doesn’t represent the VL label that well personally. The final bonus track “Flu Game” featuring Trinidad Jame$ is only slightly better, soulfully talking about being ok.

Some of the singles building up to At the Church Steps including the feature-heavy tracklist truly had me a bit torn on the sequel to the ByrdGang leader’s solo debut unlike the high praise I gave to El Capo, El Capo 2 & The Fraud Department. Now that I’ve actually heard the whole entire thing, I’m still a little iffy on it. Jim’s growth in the past 2 decades is there, except a lot of the hooks are cringe & some of the production tends to falter occasionally.

Score: 2.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Jim Jones – “The Fraud Department” review

Jim Jones is a 44 year old rapper from The Bronx, New York who came up in as a member of The Diplomats in the 2000s. His first 5 full-lengths from 2004-2011 had some highlights in them, but they were all average at best as whole albums. However it wouldn’t be until 2018 after dropping Wasted Talent where he would really start putting out his best material ever & then came out with his magnum opus the following year El Capo. But just 3 months after putting out the sequel El Capo 2, we’re already being treated to Jimmy’s 9th full-length album produced entirely by Harry Fraud.

The opener “Laps Around the Sun” talks about being grateful over a bare flute instrumental whereas the next song “Fucked Up” is about a lil bitch who got her perception of Jimmy wrong over some harmonizing & a saxophone. The track “Aunt Viola” with Dave East finds the duo talking waiting your turn & then turning tables over an airy trap beat while the song “Lose Lose” talks about his success over a soul sample & some snares.

The track “Bada Bing” with French Montana sees the 2 on their gangsta shit over a rubbery beat while the song “Barry White” talks about turning the hood into a paradise over a ghostly instrumental. The track “Say a Prayer” with Curren$y & Jay Worthy finds the trio talking about hustling on the block over a triumphant beat while “The People” with Conway the Machine sees the 2 talking about George Floyd’s murder over a boom bap instrumental with a haunting vocal sample.

The track “Luxury Lies” shows his doubters what he can do over a jubilant beat while song “3 Cuts” with Maino finds the duo on their fly shit over some exuberant horns. The album finishes off with “Make It Home”, where Jimmy talks about his fallen homies over a boom bap beat with some dour keys.

It’s very rare for artists to be putting out their best material later in their careers, but this puts Jimmy on a 3-peat because I like The Fraud Department almost as much as El Capo & El Capo 2. Harry Fraud comes correct on the production as he usually does & when it comes to Jimmy’s lyrics, it seems like this isn’t even his final form.

Score: 4/5

Jim Jones – “El Capo 2” review

This is the surprise 8th full-length album from Bronx veteran Jim Jones. Coming up as a member of The Diplomats in the 2000s. He’s released a total of 7 solo efforts since, with the last one prior El Capo going on to become his magnum opus. But after much anticipation, Jim is reuniting with The Heatmakerz for El Capo 2.

The album kicks off with “Election”, where Jim & Juelz Santana get political over a suspenseful beat. The next song “Anybody” is an R&B-flavored duet with Sandra Conte that goes over better than I originally anticipated it to be while the track “Chasing the Feeling” gets introspective over a lush boom bap beat. The song “M.M.T.C. (Mink Matching the Coupe)” with Vado sees the 2 getting braggadocious over some popping drums while the track “Father Forgive Us” with Maino finds the 2 talking about how the ghetto made then sin over a soulful instrumental.

The song “For the Better” talks about living like it’s no tomorrow now over a piano & gorgeous vocal harmonies while the track “Pardon My Thoughts” with Dave East sees the 2 painting some vivid street imagery over an amazing Evanescence sample. The song “Everything” talks about wanting it all over a savory instrumental while the track “Try Again” with Conway the Machine finds the 2 coming with some grown man bars over a beat with an old school Kanye feel to it.

The song “Been Like That” talks about coming back from any L over a heavenly loop while the track “Bad Boyz” with Nino Man & the late Fred the Godson sees the trio talking about being up to no good over an amazing EPMD sample. “A Monster Made It” talks about how it’s hard for him to leave the game over a hypnotic beat while the song “Finito” reunites with Fred the Godson to talk about slanging over a prominent organ. the penultimate song “Gospel” talks about preaching facts over a legimate gospel sample & then “I’m Alive” is uplifting positivity anthem to send the album off.

If you enjoyed the first El Capo as much as I did, then I don’t see why you wouldn’t enjoy this follow-up. Once again, Jimmy’s lyricism in comparison to his previous efforts continue to be a night & day difference as The Heatmakerz continue to bring the best out of him with the soundscapes they deliver to the table.

Score: 4.5/5

Jim Jones – “El Capo” review

Jim Jones is a legendary rapper from the Bronx who came up as a member of The Diplomats at the beginning of the decade. He released a few albums throughout the 2000s, but he went off the radar after 2011’s Capo. It wasn’t until last year’s Wasted Talent that he would make his comeback & now a year later, he’s delivering his 7th full-length album with The Heatmakerz producing it in it’s entirety.

The album kicks off with “Cristal Ocassions”, where he talks about his rise from nothing to fame over a soulful boom bap beat. The next track “Love of the Hustle” minimalistically recalls his drug dealing deals whereas “Make No Issues of It” brushes off ignorance over some harmonious background vocals. The track “NYC” with Fat Joe pays tribute to their hometown referencing WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson over a joyous beat while the song “Good Die Young” is a tribute to all of the homies he lost over a beautiful soul sample.

The track “State of the Union” with Rick Ross sees the 2 getting conscious over a mellow beat while the song “Pity in the Summer” with Cam’ron & Fred the Godson is a decent club banger. The track “My Era” with Maino reflects on their pasts over some prominent drums with a soul sample in the background while the song “Nothing Lasts” with Fabolous vents on some life issues over an infectious beat.

The track “Cocaine Dreamin'” with Dave East talks about how their lives a like a movie over a boom bap beat with a sped-up vocal sample. The track “Mama I Made It” with Cam is of course a triumphant success anthem with a nice church choir while the song “To Whom It May Concern” is a fantastic Dipset/Griselda posse cut.

The track “Sports Cars” is all about just that with a decent beat & a perfect Curren$y verse & while “Song Boxing” is short, it’s very cutthroat. The penultimate track “Bread Right” boasts about his money over a dreamy beat & then the album finishes with “Don’t Know What They Took Him For”, where Jim gets with Jadakiss & Philthy Rich to talk about death over a soulful beat.

Overall, this is easily Jim’s best work yet & really the album that I’ve always wanted to hear from him. There are way too many features, but a good chunk of them do their thing. And on top of that, Jim steps his pen-game up continuing the elevation shown on Wasted Talent & The Heatmakerz as Dipset’s in-house production team show why they’re one of the most underrated producers ever.

Score: 4.5/5

The Diplomats – “Diplomatic Ties” review

The Diplomats are a legendary hip hop crew from Harlem, New York consisting of Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana & Freekey Zekey. They landed a deal with Roc-A-Fella Records & Def Jam Recordings in 2001, dropping their classic double disc debut Diplomatic Immunity in 2003. Eventually, they went to E1 Music & released a mediocre sequel the following year. Since then, they’ve had a lot of ups & downs but they’re finally dropping their very 1st EP.

After talking street shit & dissing Kanye West over an organ & a vocal sample on the intro, we go into the next song “Live Forever”. Here, the crew talk about their return over a triumphant instrumental from none other than the Heatmakerz. However, I much prefer the Kanye produced song with the same name off of Cam’s classic 4th album Purple Haze. The track “On God” talks about loyalty over a dark trap instrumental from Murda Beatz while the song “Sauce Boyz” is a club banger over a soulful beat from the Heatmakeraz. The track “Dipset / Lox” is a lyrical onslaught by both parties over a gritty instrumental from Cool & Dre while the song “Uptown” is another club banger except with a somewhat jazzier beat.

The track “No Sleep” is a sex tune over a trap beat with some horns & a mediocre Tory Lanez hook while the group’s last song on the entire EP “By Any Means” gets confrontational over a chaotic trap beat. The closer performed by none other than Un Casa has some devilish choir vocals with some snares as well, but the performance from Un Casa himself just doesn’t do anything for me.

For the 14 year wait, this was well worth it. Despite running at only 33 minutes in length, the production is mostly fun & all 4 members sound happy to be back together. If they ever drop anything bigger in the future, then I’m all for it.

Score: 3.5/5