Jon Connor – “24” review

Flint, Michigan emcee/producer Jon Connor enlisting KLC of the No Limit Records in-house production team Beats by the Pound to produce his 7th studio LP. Someone who’s steadily been holding it down for the last 2 decades including The Calling, Vinnie Chase & S.O.S. trilogies along with the Best in the World series paying homage to some of Jon’s influences, Salvation, While You Were Sleeping & Unconscious State. He was even signed to Aftermath Entertainment for 6 years before departing after Vehicle City wound up being shelved, returning nearly 6 months since providing Food for the Soul to drop 24.

“1 Time” was an aggressive opener talking about it rappers who’ve got caught up in the clout & forgot to live life putting it up for the real ones whereas “Where You From?” featuring Lil Wyte finds the 2 linking up to tell us what it’s like in Flint & Memphis respectively. “Nothin’ Gon’ Change That” featuring Fiend & Mac throws it back to the No Limit days with it’s horn instrumental separating the real from the fake leading into the funky “Get Right” asking how you were poppin’ bottles if your money ain’t right.

We get a sequel to “Story to Tell” off S.O.S. II: The Road to Legendary produced by MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 recalling a time where he was 13 & KLC giving it a jazzier feel as opposed to the trap sound of the original while “Work” featuring DJ Paul finds the 2 linking up to talk about getting that money over some dirty south shit. “Kings & Queens” featuring Jay Allure reminds me of those collabs Mia X used to do for No Limit just before “Motivated” incorporates these pianos & strings to talk about always staying inspired even when he’s been knocked down.

“Wake Up, Go Hard” featuring Mr. Serv-On gets the final leg of 24 with a dirty south anthem in ode to the everlasting hustle while “The Biggest Flex” featuring Dee-1 gets together for a lead single tryin’ to figure out who you’re frontin’ for. “Black Magic” featuring Enjoy Melody hits us with more No Limit nostalgia reminiscent of Mercedes in this particular instance & “Story Time” closin’ down shop by telling a tale of tragedy ending in gunfire after the opps caught him by surprise.

It’s been no kept secret that Jon has always been heavily influenced by the late 90s run No Limit Records was so to have KLC fully produce an entire body of work from him could more than likely appeal to those who look back fondly during that time period where No Limit was popular enough to have their own faction in WCW when WWE was in the Attitude Era. All that aside: KLC’s production feels like a mix of old & new ideas with Jon’s dream since he was 14 finally coming to fruition as a full circle moment in his career.

Score: 4.5/5

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

Jon Connor – “Food for the Soul” review

This is the 6th full-length studio LP from Flint, Michigan emcee/producer Jon Connor. Someone who’s steadily been holding it down for the last 2 decades including The Calling, Vinnie Chase & S.O.S. trilogies along with the Best in the World series paying homage to some of Jon’s influences, Salvation, While You Were Sleeping & Unconscious State. He was even signed to Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records for 6 years before departing after Vehicle City wound up being shelved & is coming off III by giving Food for the Soul.

“We’re Gonna Be Okay” starts with a soulful trap opener providing optimism for everyone feeling uncertain ahead of Donald Trump’s 2nd inauguration a few weeks from now whereas “413” takes it to the basement thanks to DJ Silk talking about refusing to stop until he gets exactly what he came for. “I’m Tryin’” victoriously expands on the themes of the previous joint making it an effort & after the “Nikell for the Soul” interlude, “Everyday” featuring Daylyt finds them both over kicks & snares shouting out their people.

Jag links up with Jon on “Evolution of Amazing” bringing a trap flare back to the table as they talk about their greatness gradually evolving the way it is just before “Red Velvet” featuring Stalley links the pair together on top of this calming beat talking about leading the fakes where they at without even speaking. “Take Flight” celebrates the jealousy & hate that motivated him to step his game up leading into the jazzy “New Day” talks seeing how far we can go taking it day by day.

After the titular interlude, “The Vibes” featuring Dizzy Wright heads for a groovier boom bap direction tackling the familiar theme of love going further staying with their respective partners while “They Wonder” featuring Locksmith talks about going through everything. “Over & Over” maintains the raw beats reminding that there ain’t nothing new under the sun, but then “Double Murda” featuring Termanology shows a hardcore side to them getting ready for war referencing WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE world champion & WWE Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage.

“So Much Pressure” calls for everyone to help each other since we’re all heading rough in addition to being stuck in our ways the older that we get & after the “Nights” interlude, “The Great Design (Key Elements of Love)” talks about people taking in the time to recognize the other side of God’s greatest design of them all. “Something Dope About You” soulfully tells his romantic interest that he wants to make her smile & “Heaven on Earth” featuring MRK SX calmly talks making their own paradise.

The track “Blind Eye View” pushes further towards the final leg of Food for the Soul dabbling with trap again refusing to go backwards revealing that he doesn’t know the exact reason why that he sees the world the way that he does & the outro ties it all up in the form of this jazz rap closer advising listeners to stay in control along with acting now in regards of wanting to chase one’s dreams believing half of what you’ve seen & question half of what you’ve been told in life.

Rather than refusing to try to being anything more than what it is still rewarding listeners with something that wasn’t too hard to digest like he did on III last year, he takes everyone back musically & helps you to push forward by laying out the thought-provoking lyrics Jon Connor is known backed by a batch of infectious instrumentals & a powerful message that nourishes the soul. If he still plans on putting out 24 produced by Beats by the Pound member KLC as announced 3 years ago, I’m certain it’ll be the most essential material of his career.

Score: 3.5/5

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

Jon Connor – “III” review

Jon Connor is a 38 year old MC/producer from Flint, Michigan who’s released a dozen mixtapes & his previous 4 LPs over the course of nearly 2 decades. This includes the first 2 installments of The Calling, Vinnie Chase & S.O.S. respectively which III here serves as a continuation of along with the Best in the World series paying homage to some of Jon’s influences, Salvation, While You Were Sleeping & Unconscious State. He was even signed to Aftermath Entertainment for 6 years before departing after Vehicle City wound up being shelved. However, he’s been growing his All Varsity Music imprint since & is back for his 5th album.

“The Gospel According to Ron” begins by cavernously taking y’all to church in order to balance what the serpents say to you whereas the luxurious “Dreams” encourages one not to cry their dreams away. “Connor for the Win” is this fiery tribute to the late DJ Kay Slay accompanied by this glamorous instrumental just before “Homecoming” gives off symphonic trap vibe talking about wanting to run away & never losing faith.

Stretch Money joins The People’s Rapper on “On God (The Sauce)” takes a more rugged approach confidentially giving the secret to the sauce & staying optimistic until their goals become realistic leading into the emotional trap ballad “Forever” advising to never give up all your secrets due to then taking it as a sign of weakness. “The Addiction” featuring Flawless goes for a somber trap approach acknowledging that addiction itself is a Hell of a drug, but then the cloudy “Paper Soldiers” featuring Caas Swift & Khujo talking about being soldiers when it comes to the money.

“Subtle/Rose (The Gospel According to Chyna)” starts the LP’s next chapter with a 2-parter asking this woman who she’s loyal to & even wanting to spoil her while “Double Standard” has to be a highlight for me from the key-driven Focus… beat to Keke Palmer on the hook & the subject matter admitting that she be all in the crib where he be laying. “I’m Sorry/You Deserve It” is a more vulnerable 2-parter balancing karma has feels every heartbreak that he was ever a part of while the melodic “Bulletproof/Tryna Get There” talks about not being designed for perfection.

My favorite track here “Worst Day Ever” has this crazy sample flip from Middle Finger Music co-founder & in-house producer Foul Mouth describing a day where he woke up feeling like shit & rather be sleeping again when in this particular mood but after the “This Jon Connor Interview” skit, “We Gon See Then (The Gospel According to Nana)” featuring Mr. Nuby shifts back into trap turf talking about not fucking around. “Generation Gap/Heaven Sent Evidence” is the most heartfelt 2-part song throughout the album describing memories that’ll eternally carry on while “The Greatest Show on Earth/Bid You Adieu” eerily calling out those who haven’t been to the circus lately if you don’t think this is spectacular.

“Harvey/2-Face” pushes near the end of III heartbreakingly explaining how villains are made while the song “The Dame Theory/We Won (One)” hops over these strings boasting about putting in work & that you’re either strong or weak. The penultimate track “Celebrate” comes through with this groovily commemorative ode & the appropriately titled “Last Laugh” rounds out the album using the same sample as “B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)” by Killah Priest saying that he’s gon’ let it shine.

I know this has been in the works for quite some time & anyone who’s familiar with Jon up to this point should come away from III as a solid conclusion to a few trilogies on his catalog. component of the album individually accumulates the magic that The Calling, Vinnie Chase & S.O.S. individually brought to close out every saga out by displaying his musical roots mixed with how much he’s grown artistically in the last 19 years.

Score: 3.5/5

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