A Written Testimony by Jay Electronica
It’s been over a decade since Jay Electronica burst onto the scene. Promising tracks like “Eternal Sunshine,” and “Exhibit C,” gave fans a lot to be excited about. Signing with Roc Nation in 2010, his debut album was highly anticipated. It took almost 10 full years, but it finally arrived last month. Not only that, but we’re blessed with a heavy dose of JAY-Z on what’s essentially a collaboration album.
A Written Testimony is definitely more “Eternal Sunshine,” than “Exhibit C,” with a variety of rich melodies over hip-hop beats. @jayelectronica’s raps are laced with Afrocentrism and theological references, with some of the ladder creating controversy. As he pulls from scripture and polarizing leader Louis Farrakhan, he’s clearly a very well read MC with a very intelligent album, and the softer vibe Electronica chose for the project definitely lends itself to the listener experiencing the lyrics. As the producer of six of the 10 tracks, Electronica had significant control and deserves serious credit for the end results as he put his talents on full display. It really makes you wonder if his career was held back by his own greatness and perfection. It’s hard to imagine being able to whip up such intricate verses, packed with so much meaning and pop culture references.
Jay Electronica’s sound, in general, is noteworthy. He’s a New Orleans rapper on a New York label, yet A Written Testimony doesn’t sound particularly southern or New York. He’s a unique voice in rap, as he’s been since 2007, and it really makes you wonder why there were so many starts, stops, and cancellations over the last 10 years. There are already people speculating that Jay Z made this a collaboration album as a means of getting something tangible out of Electronica. The decision to include “Shiny Suit Theory,” a track circulating the internet since November 2010, lends itself to speculation. Context aside, this is a great album to put on and vibe to. Allow yourself to plug-in and experience Jay Electronica’s musical genius.