With The Transition, CJ $immon$ has delivered a really nice album to help end the year with- pristine, positive, intelligent but accessible it is some grown folks hip-hop but that doesn't mean boring by any stretch. In fact the straightforwardness of the album is refreshing- smooth 21st century style hip-hop production from the always outdoing himself OhGoshLeotus and pockets and flows and musings on life for days from Simmons. He uses his team well but still knows how to seize center stage. His voice is at once husky and young, his energy is a delight to follow.
K.I.T. provides the artwork as well as some lovely choruses on several song. Leotus gives the album a consistent sound while still showing off his eclectic arsenal of funk, melody and bass. Cam Archer and Young Sincere are used to great effect on their appearances. Both singles, "Pina Colada" and "Be Free" are effective and fun ads for this life-affirming album.
It's hard for me to find anything to not really dig about the record- it's musicality, it's set of good melodies, its repping of the IE to the 9s (pun intended), its celebration of working class grit and the prioritizing of family. Simmons' verses on love and his hopes for the future generation show a focus that shines in a way that demands ones' attention. Some say this may be Simmons' last project, I suspect it isn't. This album doesn't sound like an ending but quite the opposite.
Tristan "Tanjint Wiggy" Acker is a staff writer for JooseBoxx, youth hip-hop writing instructor with CHORDS Enrichment Youth program (chordseyp.org) and member of the Inland Empire nerdcore hip-hop group the West Coast Avengers. Catch more of their work at westcoastavengers.com, follow Tristan on Twitter @Tanjint or e-mail him at tristanacker@gmail.com
This week a lot of new videos, songs and albums came out so we had to share a few of them with our fine readers, check it:
NOA JAMES produced by ELIAS & AYE BROOK- KEEP THAT SHITTY ENERGY TO YOURSELF
Noa James' new single is an aggressive banger that shows the flip side to the philosophy he's been espousing on records like his latest E.P. "Peace of Cake". Over a face-stompingly hard beat, Noa implores his listeners to only come with that pleasantness, ya dig? "Be Majestic" magazine coming soon, stay tuned to all things BTYF for the latest!
VIDEO by MIGHTY MUDS ONE
Muds changes it up for a stylish L.A. visual to accompany the bonus track from Kiddo's debut album. The chorus here is undefeated as EOTR's march to L.A. supremacy continues! Peep it!
REAL JOY - ITAL SANTOS
VIDEO BY ITAL SANTOS & GEORGE BURNS
Ital Santos' new single, video and album dropped this week so peep part 1 of a day in the life of the artist formerly known as Jynxx! This chapter depicts a father and daughter adventure that should warm any hip-hop head's heart!
The artist formerly known as Jig is back with a message about being free while you are on earth! Armed with wisdom and airtight flow, his new album just dropped so be sure to hear his new jams!
A gritty yet silly LA area hip-hop duo, Altered Change are thinkers who don't take themselves too seriously. Peep their new record and find out why they are ya mamma's new favorite!
Tristan "Tanjint Wiggy" Acker is a staff writer for JooseBoxx, youth hip-hop writing instructor with CHORDS Enrichment Youth program (chordseyp.org) and member of the Inland Empire nerdcore hip-hop group the West Coast Avengers. Catch more of their work at westcoastavengers.com, follow Tristan on Twitter @Tanjint or e-mail him at tristanacker@gmail.com
