Mick Jenkins – “The Patience” review

This is the 4th full-length album from Chicago, Illinois emcee Mick Jenkins. Getting his start as a member of the YCA collective, he would eventually breakout in 2014 with the release of his GoodTalk Records-backed 3rd mixtape The Water(s) followed by his debut EP Wave(s) & the commercial debut The Healing Component. His next 2 albums Pieces of a Man & Elephant in the Room were both released to more mild reception, but I still went into Mick’s official RBC Records debut The Patience hoping it would become the strongest LP in his catalog.

“Michelin Star” is a lavish opener to the album by Mick providing genuine words of wisdom whereas “Show & Tell” featuring Freddie Gibbs dives straight into boom bap territory with a string sample talking about how they had to proving the doubters wrong in front of their very eyes. “Sitting Ducks” featuring Benny the Butcher works in an uncanny loop with more kicks & snares saying they keep that flame with them sans the propane leading into the calming lead single “Smoke-Break-Dance” featuring J.I.D talking about puffing on that good shit.

Meanwhile, we have Mick returning to the boom bap on “007” making it clear that he fucked around & found a way out just before “2004” works in some heavy synths talking about being around the same people as he was 2 decades ago. “Roy G. Biv” produced by Beat Butcha psychedelically puts a unique spin on the concept of the acronym for the sequence of hues commonly described as making up a rainbow, but then “Pasta” takes a more atmospheric route talking about how all he sees is imposters.

The song “Farm to Table” featuring Vic Mensa goes for a mellow boom bap vibe finding both Chi-Town natives boasting that they keep baddies on their arms & they’re not bitches at all while the penultimate track “Guapanese” is a jazzy drumless crossover pointing out how money talks in a distinctive fashion. “Mop” ends the album by endless mopping his flows over a crooning loop & a bass guitar courtesy of FNZ.

I’ll admit that it’s been a few years since I’ve covered Mick’s music, but The Patience is quite possibly the most mature LP in his catalog thus far. The production is rooted in the stylistic jazz rap sounds that we’ve come to know him for, the features all have perform more consistently than Elephant in the Room & you can genuinely hear the frustration with the process of progression in his voice for the half hour duration.

Score: 4/5

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Mick Jenkins – “The Circus” review

This is the 4th EP from Chicago, Illinois emcee Mick Jenkins. Who rose to fame in 2014 with the release of his 3rd mixtape The Water[s]. He then released his debut album The Healing Component & now just a little over a year after his sophomore album Pieces of a Man, he’s taking listeners on a trip to The Circus.

The anti-industry anthem “Same Ol’” still slaps as hard as it did when it first appeared on Mick’s 2018 EP or more…The Frustration & then the next song “Carefree” talks about enjoying life over a smooth Black Milk beat. “The Light” with EARTHGANG talks about taking time & not rushing things over a cloudy beat while the track “Flaunt” of course sees Mick flexing over a druggy beat. “The Fit” gets more insightful over an intoxicating whereas the song “I’m Convinced” talks about how “people know the feelings” over a woozy instrumental. The EP then finishes with “Different Scales”, where Mick continues to show off his smart pen game over a somber boom bap instrumental.

As much as I enjoyed Mick’s last album, this EP was just ok. The rapping is fine, but the beats are hit or miss with me personally. Whenever his next album is coming, I hope the production choices are a lot better.

Score: 3/5

Mick Jenkins – “Pieces of a Man”

Mick Jenkins is a 27 year old rapper from Chicago, Illinois who blew up in 2014 with the release of his 3rd mixtape The Waters. He then released his debut album The Healing Component & after the release of a couple EPs since then, he’s ready to deliver his long-awaited sophomore album.

The intro “Heron Flow” starts off as a spoken word piece, but then a funky ass instrumental kicks in halfway through. The first actual song “Stress Fracture” tackles his inner demons over a mellow Black Milk instrumental while the track “Gwendolynn’s Apprehension” is about this person who isn’t on the same page as Mick another Black Milk instrumental albeit with a heavy J Dilla influence to it. The song “Soft Porn” is a decently slow sex jam while the track “Grace & Mary” is about how he wakes up praising the higher power over a bass-heavy beat with some keyboards & synths. However, it’s way too short.

The song “Barcelona” is a shot at lyrical cliches over a gritty beat & after the Percy interlude, the next song “Reginald” is essentially about not letting your partner count up your drug money over a relaxing instrumental. The track “Padded Locks” with Ghostface Killah sees the 2 wildin’ out over a KAYTRANADA instrumental with a prominent BADBADNOTGOOD sample while the song “Ghost” talks about his rise to success is over an instrumental with some jazzy keyboards.

The track “Heron Flow 2” is pretty much a reprise of the opener & the song “Plain Clothes” is an awkward attempt at going materialistic over a blissful trap beat. The track “Pull Up” vividly talks about a friend of his over gloomy boom bap beat while the song “Consensual Seduction” is another romantic slow jam. The track “U Turn” is about wanting to smack people who think they know him over another slow instrumental albeit with a prominent organ while the funkily KAYTRANADA produced “Understood” follows it up perfectly. The “Smoking Song” that finishes the album of course is about marijuana over some live bass playing.

For all the hype, this was totally worth it. I’d shave off a couple tracks, but it’s a lot more focused & the concept is more consistent than that of The Healing Component as is the jazz-influenced production that one can catch on Mick’s work in the past.

Score: 4/5