Following JonwayneÔÇÖs first full length rap effort, ÔÇÿRap Album OneÔÇÖ, the producer-rapper-poet extraordinaireÔÇÖs future was somewhat ambiguous. Dropping from his label, cancelling tour dates and distancing himself from the scene completely all stemmed from the rapperÔÇÖs battle with alcoholism, worsened by the harshness of his new lifestyle and complemented further by a limiting fear of flying.
Fast forward to February 2017, ÔÇ£Rap Album TwoÔÇØ, JonwayneÔÇÖs second full-length rap project focuses on these struggles, acting both as an introspective view of JonwayneÔÇÖs fragility through self-critique, but also as a sobering view of the frailty of ÔÇ£the rap celebrityÔÇØ in general.
Rap Album Two is an existential masterpiece, and sees Jonwayne asking himself if a career in rap, although he knows he is good at it, is even worth it, expressed through the documentation of his own crises. Unlike Rap Album One, where the producerÔÇÖs rapping serves no real narrative purpose (rather just a loop of braggadocios and heady verses), Rap Album TwoÔÇÖs verses are weighed with purpose in each sentence, accented perfectly with smooth beats laden with minor piano chords and tones.
The intro track ÔÇÿTED TalkÔÇÖ features a spiralling melody which sets the atmosphere for the album. ÔÇÿLIVE From The Fuck YouÔÇÖ is a part-skit part-song that catalogues a conversation between a fan and Jonwayne on a night out, where the fan requests Jon to rap a few bars; which he reluctantly does, spitting cleverly crafted verses about people only wanting to be close to him because they want something from him.┬á Another part-song, part-skit, ÔÇÿThe SingleÔÇÖ, a song that Jonwayne attempts to finish multiple times before completely scrapping, perfectly highlights the message of the whole album; the punishing reality of chasing stardom. ÔÇÿAfraid Of UsÔÇÖ is a heart-warming ballad-type song as a tribute to his family and loved ones who have supported him when he couldnÔÇÖt do the same, with sung vocals from Zeroh who fits in perfectly.The last song, ÔÇÿThese Words are EverythingÔÇÖ leaves the album on a sobering message as the rapper ponders the influence he will leave when heÔÇÖs gone; ÔÇ£But when I die, I know my words will be my only thingÔÇØ.
Whilst Jonwayne isnÔÇÖt reinventing the wheel with ÔÇÿRap Album TwoÔÇÖ, the rapper perfects a sound made popular by his inspiration MF DOOM. Every verse is well crafted with purpose, and is quite clearly a cathartic and reinvigorating experience for the rapper himself as well as the listener, with the producer evolving into a rapper with newfound purpose.
Ben Jones
If you like the sound of that check out some more on our end of year playlist!