There’s no debating that Joyner Lucas is a gifted technical lyricist. Whether or not or not you discover him partaking, assume he’s corny, imagine he’s the G.O.A.T., or really feel he conjures up nothing greater than ambivalence is irrelevant. On a pure degree of rap mechanics, he’s extremely proficient.
Whether or not he’s shit-talking, going after wack MCs within the sport (principally all of them, in his opinion), lamenting dissolved relationships, or railing towards the phony aesthetics that he views as a plague of modernity, he does so eloquently and cleverly — particularly on his new album, Not Now I’m Busy.
On his second studio LP, Lucas is hellbent on proving that he’s each one of the best and wildly neglected. He’s been betrayed, however he perseveres. He’s harder, stronger, smarter and happier than everybody else, however man, does he have lots to complain about. Regardless of the Massachusetts rapper’s lyrical pyrotechnics, that is an album that turns the world into his personal vacuum, relegating everybody else to supporting actors at greatest. It’s hole, and when it’s not, it’s actively vindictive. The bars could also be scorching, however Not Now I’m Busy will not be a lot enjoyable in any respect.
The second that greatest exemplifies that is the sprawling, nearly-operatic “Broski.” It tells the story of an expensive good friend of Joyner’s, one who’s been by his aspect for the reason that MC was six years previous. He spells out their relationship throughout the observe’s starting: “Immediately, I had a dialog with one among my bros/ My homie, he’s been near me since we had been six years previous/ He calls my mama, ‘Mother,’ he seen all of my highs and lows.”
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Joyner Lucas outlines the evolution of their relationship, earlier than his supposed good friend begins asking for issues. He remembers his pal saying: “I give up my job ’trigger I don’t wanna work for no different n-ggas/ What possibly works for some, don’t work for another n-ggas/ Yeah, they pay good, however I’m a cussed n-gga/ Plus, I do know you bought my again, proper?” It’s annoying, and it looks as if Lucas’ good friend is benefiting from him, however this slight makes Lucas so mad it fuels all the album.
On “Sticks & Stones,” which options Conway The Machine and finds Joyner Lucas spitting over a Griselda sort beat — one of many extra spectacular chameleonic efforts on the LP — the latter continues to rail towards perceived enemies. He spits: “I’ve seen my circle of relatives stab my again, I ought to’ve recognized/ They are saying sticks and stones’ll break your bones, I’m sticks and stones/ I want I might choose up telephones, however…”
Holding a grudge may be satisfying, however simply choose up the telephone, man. The ache isn’t price it.
RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2024
RECORD LABEL: Twenty 9 Music Group
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