I summarize the Forever Story with the one line he used in the album: "agitate the white guilt; explain the black burden". I also agree the theme of poverty is also present. His dad kicking him out the house after losing his football scholarship, tatting himself, and trying to be a rapper hit this home in the album.
Denzel and JID's albuns are to me mirrors of each other. Both based on the previous legends (Lots of Ye, BIG, Jay, Pac references), both writting with brutal honesty, inteligence and hunger for change. Both have cohesive themes, are kind of conscious and storytelling at the same time, pushing the genre to a space where they are able to express their thoughts and feelings. Both amazingly deep and at the same time acessive albuns, full of personality and references (both mention the Celtics, let that sink in). They can be clever and make you cry at the same time. As a brazilian teenager who is eager for new inventive art, they've been inspiring me so much, and I know things aren't the best in the world rn, but art like this makes me feel glad I am born contemporany to this guys, and in an age where music like this is avaliable everywhere, and also videos that make me enjoy art even more like yours, Prof. Thank you for preaching so much knowledge in this reviews, awesome as always.
I come back here kinda sad, because both of these albums were snubbed on the Grammys... We still got a looooong way to go before important pieces of art like these albums gain the recognition that they deserve
the first Lauder has the most technically impressive verses he's ever done, the whole album is great but that track is a must listen. I love the momentum he carries through each verse until the climax at the end.
Something I haven't seen anyone mention about this album is that on a few of the tracks, at least the ones where JID is singing, you can hear the low battery chirp of a carbon monoxide detector left in the recording, and as subtle as it is it really aids in rooting the whole album in the themes of poverty he talks about on Money. It's a sound you can only grow comfortable in hearing if you didn't grow up with the luxury of being able to change that battery right away.
Sky will you review 2007, it was the actual ending of the album, but couldn't get cleared for samples. Its a masterful track, 7 minutes long, tons of amazing rapping, great beat switches, tells an amazing story.
The F.D Signifier shout-out was surprising but honestly shouldn’t have been to me lol. This album is currently on repeat for me and I just keep enjoying it more and more. The build of the beat on Stars sent me flying the first time I heard it
I think you're really on to something with the Head, Heat, Heart break down of Hip-Hop. Great analytical tool, reminds of something somebody like KRS-One or Killer Mike or Questlove or DJ Clark Kent would've came up with.
It took me all day of playing and pausing this video while moving into my new apartment, but I really appreciate your analysis on this album. Please keep doing what you do. I'm sure so many people appreciate this.
Fantastic album, really great breakdown. At risk of offending some old-heads, I'd say JID has the best flow and vocal ability of any rapper period. Does need a bit of a bigger discography, but this along with his 2018 album DiCaprio 2 I'd say he's well on his way there. And as a newer hiphop fan, yes JID is absolutely in my top5 newer artists, and in different fandoms I see he's getting quite a bit of respect.
Great review, One thing that I haven’t seen anyone mention is the track 2007 it is the official end to the album but couldn’t be added due to issues with sample clearances. I highly suggest you listen to it on TH-cam as it is a phenomenal closer with spoken word pieces from J.Cole and JIDs father
2007 is a great track, but i wonder if it ends up falling into some of the capitalistic/meritocracy type ideas that skye mentions in this video? in particular when jcole talks about the difference between the people who make it and who don't.
Great vid! So in-depth and well thought out, it was like I was sitting through a very engaging college lecture lol. Love everything you said about Money, and it makes me appreciate the song a whole lot more than I did before I’ll say the one thing I disagree on is your take on the Lil Durk and Lil Wayne verse. Durk’s verse was great but personally, I wouldn’t even put it over the 21 Savage verse, and I thought Lil Wayne’s verse was dope asl. I feel like he’s gotten out of a slump and has been on a run these last few years
You'd be right about the name if this was not essentially a sequel album to his debut album which was called the Never Story. Together they actually make the bologna sandwich to me. It's a full embodiment really of what you're describing. I think if you listen to the Never Story and then listen to this album again you'll really see it. (Also checking out his second album Dicaprio 2 his second studio album and a sequel to one of his old albums before he was with dreamville I think) I think at least the pair of the Never Story and the Forever Story are necessary to get the full picture, and Dicaprio 2 adds good songs and flavor but not as much to the picture the other two albums paint.
This album is a sequel, I say sequel because JID has gone on to say he is a fan of cinema, to his album "The Never Story". You should give it a listen, though I don't know if its necessary for further context to this album. Never the less, it's a great album. I would say "Never" is the song that encapulates the essecnce of that album.
great video. don't agree with everything, but a lot of eye opening points. I feel the head, heat, heart naming is a bit unintuitive though: I would associate head with things like emotional honesty and "consciousness" more, and heat more with technical skill ("that beat/flow is fire"). Popularity would be smth else altogether. Though I understand concessions have to be made to get a catchy set of names.
31:05 funny thing is that a rapper would be praised for being rich and making it out the hood while Rock musicians (especially Punk) attacks you for being successful
Amazing review as alwasys prof ! Really loved the point u made about how Jay Z is often thought to be what people should aspire to be instead of realising that its sad that he HAD to struggle like that to make it to even a fraction of where he is today (I know that was at the beginning of the video haha but it really stuck with me). It just really highlighted how this "Pick yourself up by your bootstraps" rhetoric isn't something perpetuated by only racist people who view black people as non hard working but also by black communities who look towards these people who were Lucky enough and made it out of their situation as a reflection of how it could be for them when in realistic terms the system itself is fighting against that chance of luck even existing. Also loved the point on how every person in jail has been Failed by the American system, some powerful stuff right there. And it's so true as well while also not being as the American system is in many ways formed to make sure those people end up in jail as the country directly benefits from the prison system being as robust as it is. Just such a layered take and opinion to just drop in an already extremely layered 1 hour video haha. The exact type of content I love :))) Just curious if you checked out "2007" by JID. It was originally planned to be the closer track for the album but wasn't put on streaming because of sample clearance issues. The full song can be heard on the Dreamville youtube channel I would definitely recommend checking it out it closes all the themes of the album really well and has some amazing story telling alongside it. Hope you enjoy !
Hey Skye! Yet another great video! Random question, what do you keep your CDs in? I've been getting back into CDs to disconnect from screens and such. Just need a better way to keep em.
Wild that you prefer Roc’s new album to me. I find his style redundant and have for years but, to each their own. Insightful points as always, Professor! Thanks for the insight on the value of spam in Korea. If I visit I’ll be sure to have some on hand.
I went on a rant with a friend of mine recently. I was talking for about 30 minutes, of how much I despise the lyrics of rappers like j.cole and the likes. Too keep it short. Allot of rappers are victim blaming their community for issues outside of their control, without realizing the sociological or institutional problems surrounding it. J.Cole has a verse where he describes going back too his hook and trying too get his gang out of their hole by just giving them money. It fails and he blames all kinds of stuff (sometimes breaking into the black racisms towards white "cookies"), sometimes blaming the correct people, sometimes blaming his hood. JID isnt one of those rappers (yet and hopefully forever). He manages too always be sympathetic and compassionate towards the groups he cares for. Off da Zoinks is a major example of how he works compassion into his songs, where other rapers, talking about the same issues, are not. Even Aesop, with his criticism of society, Jazz Hands revolutionary aspects (well the entirety of Garbology kinda) even when talking down too people not knowing "the revolution will be bloody", he still doesn't blame them for their naivety. Really happy for the mainstreamed artists having more compassion too give nowadays.
This is also an interesting addition too your heart aspect of the theory. Hip hop has allot of love too give. The love for music (seen in sampling and collabing with artists), the love for your social circle and group, the love for your passion, the love for the musical generations before and after you.
“Thought that I could change it all if I had change But the niggas that I came up with way back is still the same I be tryna give 'em *game* like Santa did when Christmas came They be listenin' but it's clear to me they did not *hear a thing* *It go in one ear and out the other* like a bullet out the muzzle of a pistol shot by brothers standin' point-blank range”
i disagree heavily with your take on the wayne feature. it might not fit perfectly into the album’s overarching theme but it fits so perfectly into the song’s theme, with a jaw dropping show of flow and lyricism. his best feature verse of this year by far, and the best rap feature on the album (ari lennox has the best feature overall). but jid does kinda show him up on the last verse lol
Did you just crate the music review version of "Time Cube?" Because it looks like you created the Hip Hop review version of "Time Cube." "I am wiser than any Melon or TH-camr, for I have squared the circle and cubed Hip Hop's sphere, thus I have created 4 simultaneous separate 24 point scales within a 4-corner (as in a 4-corner classroom) rotation of a hip hop record. See for yourself the absolute proof." -Professor Gene Skye Ray
@@professorskye thanks I’m sure it’ll help because I literally can’t even copy and paste it on mobile TH-cam app it’s too small between the other links .
There's already not enough hours in the day to listen to all the great new HipHop albums this year... then add hour long episodes of Prof. Skye?!? An embarrassment of riches! Great album from JID... _amazing,_ really! PS. Hope the baby's healthy & happy!!! 😁 Edit: _Fear Of A Black Planet_ sighting! 🥰🥰🥰 The album that made me fall in love with P.E., with HipHop (and music, in general) _and_ with language. Edit 2: Conway The Machine's music has A LOT of heart, I'd argue... you still haven't heard "The Cow"... and _God Don't Make Mistakes_ is filled with it!
Wow yeah if he hasn't heard the cow yet hes missed out on Conway's most legendary,deep and personal verse by far. Then WSG jumps in with a completely different style with the "Pull da mac out in stoney islanddd"" after Conway's pours his heart and soul out but they're both so dope in their own rights. World needs another griselda tape all 3 of em w/ alot of boldy james,rome steeetz,stove god features etcetc but dont know if we'll ever get that sadly
I summarize the Forever Story with the one line he used in the album: "agitate the white guilt; explain the black burden". I also agree the theme of poverty is also present. His dad kicking him out the house after losing his football scholarship, tatting himself, and trying to be a rapper hit this home in the album.
_White guilt_ needs to be agitated as much as possible... of course, it doesn't take much! 🤣
When I heard that line on my first play through, I had to pause it for a good 10 minutes and really let it sink in.
all right joker!!
@Hasan Piker "In America being black is not particularly difficult" a part of my soul died reading that.
Denzel and JID's albuns are to me mirrors of each other. Both based on the previous legends (Lots of Ye, BIG, Jay, Pac references), both writting with brutal honesty, inteligence and hunger for change. Both have cohesive themes, are kind of conscious and storytelling at the same time, pushing the genre to a space where they are able to express their thoughts and feelings. Both amazingly deep and at the same time acessive albuns, full of personality and references (both mention the Celtics, let that sink in). They can be clever and make you cry at the same time. As a brazilian teenager who is eager for new inventive art, they've been inspiring me so much, and I know things aren't the best in the world rn, but art like this makes me feel glad I am born contemporany to this guys, and in an age where music like this is avaliable everywhere, and also videos that make me enjoy art even more like yours, Prof. Thank you for preaching so much knowledge in this reviews, awesome as always.
I come back here kinda sad, because both of these albums were snubbed on the Grammys... We still got a looooong way to go before important pieces of art like these albums gain the recognition that they deserve
avaa. One of my favorite albums ever. I really enjoy the Heart, Heat, and Head scale and I’m going to apply that to other albums in the future
the first Lauder has the most technically impressive verses he's ever done, the whole album is great but that track is a must listen. I love the momentum he carries through each verse until the climax at the end.
I be on my knees praying to my onomatopoeias, packing the coliseum “ain’t no parking, I gotta see JID”
Something I haven't seen anyone mention about this album is that on a few of the tracks, at least the ones where JID is singing, you can hear the low battery chirp of a carbon monoxide detector left in the recording, and as subtle as it is it really aids in rooting the whole album in the themes of poverty he talks about on Money. It's a sound you can only grow comfortable in hearing if you didn't grow up with the luxury of being able to change that battery right away.
oh my god so THAT'S what that was!! i had no clue
i don't hear it can you tell me where it is
@@CONWAYCAPS it's pretty clear at the beginning of bruddanem 8 seconds in and then you can listen for it a couple more times throughout the song
yeeees I've been waiting for this!
Sky will you review 2007, it was the actual ending of the album, but couldn't get cleared for samples.
Its a masterful track, 7 minutes long, tons of amazing rapping, great beat switches, tells an amazing story.
YOU GOTTA LISTEN TO 2007 THAT'S HOW HE MENT TO END THE ALBUM, BUT THE SAMPLE WASN'T CLEARED.
I have had olive loaf, I can’t say I enjoyed it tho. Also the head, heat and heart theory is brilliant.
Man I really hope you have a nice day you seem like such a great guy
The F.D Signifier shout-out was surprising but honestly shouldn’t have been to me lol. This album is currently on repeat for me and I just keep enjoying it more and more. The build of the beat on Stars sent me flying the first time I heard it
Congrats on the baby!!
I know im 2 years late, but AVAA, one of my fave albums of all time reviewed by one of my fave reviewers of all time!
Still only 20 minutes in but wanted to say thank you for the review and congratulations/ good luck with the new baby.
JID is seriously one of the best rappers doing it. and it’s so apparent that the best is still to come.
FINALLY THANK YOU PROFESSOR!
AWESOME REVIEW!
Had me dying at “SKIP!”
I think you're really on to something with the Head, Heat, Heart break down of Hip-Hop. Great analytical tool, reminds of something somebody like KRS-One or Killer Mike or Questlove or DJ Clark Kent would've came up with.
That’s pretty high praise and good company!
I actually watched your review before listening to the album, difficult but necessary. Thanks. Great album and great review!
It took me all day of playing and pausing this video while moving into my new apartment, but I really appreciate your analysis on this album. Please keep doing what you do. I'm sure so many people appreciate this.
Listening to this in full before the album in full
Respect
Fantastic album, really great breakdown.
At risk of offending some old-heads, I'd say JID has the best flow and vocal ability of any rapper period. Does need a bit of a bigger discography, but this along with his 2018 album DiCaprio 2 I'd say he's well on his way there.
And as a newer hiphop fan, yes JID is absolutely in my top5 newer artists, and in different fandoms I see he's getting quite a bit of respect.
Great review, One thing that I haven’t seen anyone mention is the track 2007 it is the official end to the album but couldn’t be added due to issues with sample clearances. I highly suggest you listen to it on TH-cam as it is a phenomenal closer with spoken word pieces from J.Cole and JIDs father
2007 is a great track, but i wonder if it ends up falling into some of the capitalistic/meritocracy type ideas that skye mentions in this video? in particular when jcole talks about the difference between the people who make it and who don't.
Congrats on the baby Dr.!
Great vid! So in-depth and well thought out, it was like I was sitting through a very engaging college lecture lol. Love everything you said about Money, and it makes me appreciate the song a whole lot more than I did before
I’ll say the one thing I disagree on is your take on the Lil Durk and Lil Wayne verse. Durk’s verse was great but personally, I wouldn’t even put it over the 21 Savage verse, and I thought Lil Wayne’s verse was dope asl. I feel like he’s gotten out of a slump and has been on a run these last few years
I've indulged in the olive loaf from time to time
The Magic the Gathering reference at the beginning :0
You'd be right about the name if this was not essentially a sequel album to his debut album which was called the Never Story. Together they actually make the bologna sandwich to me. It's a full embodiment really of what you're describing. I think if you listen to the Never Story and then listen to this album again you'll really see it. (Also checking out his second album Dicaprio 2 his second studio album and a sequel to one of his old albums before he was with dreamville I think) I think at least the pair of the Never Story and the Forever Story are necessary to get the full picture, and Dicaprio 2 adds good songs and flavor but not as much to the picture the other two albums paint.
The never and forever stories are the slices of bread and DiCaprio 2 is the balogna
I used get groceries from the Gresham Rd Walmart when I first moved out 😂
I love the head, heat and heart way of thinking about rap albums!
speaking of jid being a top 5 active rappers. go watch him freestyle!! such a treat!!!
This album is a sequel, I say sequel because JID has gone on to say he is a fan of cinema, to his album "The Never Story". You should give it a listen, though I don't know if its necessary for further context to this album. Never the less, it's a great album. I would say "Never" is the song that encapulates the essecnce of that album.
great video. don't agree with everything, but a lot of eye opening points.
I feel the head, heat, heart naming is a bit unintuitive though: I would associate head with things like emotional honesty and "consciousness" more, and heat more with technical skill ("that beat/flow is fire"). Popularity would be smth else altogether. Though I understand concessions have to be made to get a catchy set of names.
I can’t believe sistanem was your least favorite beat. Best song on the album. Reminiscent of “vibrate” by Andre 3000
31:05 funny thing is that a rapper would be praised for being rich and making it out the hood while Rock musicians (especially Punk) attacks you for being successful
The Andy Warhol in the background never gets old. Well technically it does so I’m incorrect
Def one of the best albums of this year, id love to see your thoughts on some of kenny masons work
Bologna Sandwich Opera would be a GREAT band name!
Amazing review as alwasys prof !
Really loved the point u made about how Jay Z is often thought to be what people should aspire to be instead of realising that its sad that he HAD to struggle like that to make it to even a fraction of where he is today (I know that was at the beginning of the video haha but it really stuck with me). It just really highlighted how this "Pick yourself up by your bootstraps" rhetoric isn't something perpetuated by only racist people who view black people as non hard working but also by black communities who look towards these people who were Lucky enough and made it out of their situation as a reflection of how it could be for them when in realistic terms the system itself is fighting against that chance of luck even existing.
Also loved the point on how every person in jail has been Failed by the American system, some powerful stuff right there. And it's so true as well while also not being as the American system is in many ways formed to make sure those people end up in jail as the country directly benefits from the prison system being as robust as it is. Just such a layered take and opinion to just drop in an already extremely layered 1 hour video haha. The exact type of content I love :)))
Just curious if you checked out "2007" by JID. It was originally planned to be the closer track for the album but wasn't put on streaming because of sample clearance issues. The full song can be heard on the Dreamville youtube channel I would definitely recommend checking it out it closes all the themes of the album really well and has some amazing story telling alongside it. Hope you enjoy !
I bet your French classes are very interesting, educational, and hard AF.
The best reactor reaction ever
And shout out to The Last Poets. Thank you JID
JID is special.
Hey Skye! Yet another great video! Random question, what do you keep your CDs in? I've been getting back into CDs to disconnect from screens and such. Just need a better way to keep em.
I’m craving bologna sandwiches now
JIDs actual name is Destin. I think you can connect the dots 😉
Shoutout to Marcus Smart
Your first JID album? How dare you sleep on him for so long my friend.
Review HOT 97 Freestyle by Black Thought ASAP
Wild that you prefer Roc’s new album to me. I find his style redundant and have for years but, to each their own. Insightful points as always, Professor! Thanks for the insight on the value of spam in Korea. If I visit I’ll be sure to have some on hand.
I wonder how long after posting this did he realize he had the patreon page upside down lol
Just now!
I still like to eat balogna as an adult.
As someone who does come from the working class in this country, I so appreciate your acknowledgment that is the scam of Capitalism.
i love you professor but that smart take is wild💀
I went on a rant with a friend of mine recently. I was talking for about 30 minutes, of how much I despise the lyrics of rappers like j.cole and the likes. Too keep it short. Allot of rappers are victim blaming their community for issues outside of their control, without realizing the sociological or institutional problems surrounding it. J.Cole has a verse where he describes going back too his hook and trying too get his gang out of their hole by just giving them money. It fails and he blames all kinds of stuff (sometimes breaking into the black racisms towards white "cookies"), sometimes blaming the correct people, sometimes blaming his hood.
JID isnt one of those rappers (yet and hopefully forever). He manages too always be sympathetic and compassionate towards the groups he cares for. Off da Zoinks is a major example of how he works compassion into his songs, where other rapers, talking about the same issues, are not.
Even Aesop, with his criticism of society, Jazz Hands revolutionary aspects (well the entirety of Garbology kinda) even when talking down too people not knowing "the revolution will be bloody", he still doesn't blame them for their naivety.
Really happy for the mainstreamed artists having more compassion too give nowadays.
This is also an interesting addition too your heart aspect of the theory.
Hip hop has allot of love too give. The love for music (seen in sampling and collabing with artists), the love for your social circle and group, the love for your passion, the love for the musical generations before and after you.
which jcole verse are you referring to?
@@tienwang113 I haven't listened too the song in a while. I think it should be on the KOD Album.
@@tienwang113 Window Pain by J.Cole its in the beginning of the verse.
“Thought that I could change it all if I had change
But the niggas that I came up with way back is still the same
I be tryna give 'em *game* like Santa did when Christmas came
They be listenin' but it's clear to me they did not *hear a thing*
*It go in one ear and out the other* like a bullet out the muzzle of a pistol shot by brothers standin' point-blank range”
i disagree heavily with your take on the wayne feature. it might not fit perfectly into the album’s overarching theme but it fits so perfectly into the song’s theme, with a jaw dropping show of flow and lyricism. his best feature verse of this year by far, and the best rap feature on the album (ari lennox has the best feature overall). but jid does kinda show him up on the last verse lol
Did you just crate the music review version of "Time Cube?" Because it looks like you created the Hip Hop review version of "Time Cube."
"I am wiser than any Melon or TH-camr, for I have squared the circle and cubed Hip Hop's sphere, thus I have created 4 simultaneous separate 24 point scales within a 4-corner (as in a 4-corner classroom) rotation of a hip hop record. See for yourself the absolute proof."
-Professor Gene Skye Ray
The stray disrespect Andre 3000 just received about your comment on Wayne guest features pained me deeply
Sup skye, can you put the https in front of your patreon link so ppl could just click and go, instead of copy and paste the dry link ?
Good advice!
@@professorskye thanks I’m sure it’ll help because I literally can’t even copy and paste it on mobile TH-cam app it’s too small between the other links .
Think about how Lil' Wayne's verse ends on "Time". It is a relay pass / passing the torch to the next great generation of rappers.
There's already not enough hours in the day to listen to all the great new HipHop albums this year... then add hour long episodes of Prof. Skye?!? An embarrassment of riches! Great album from JID... _amazing,_ really!
PS. Hope the baby's healthy & happy!!! 😁
Edit: _Fear Of A Black Planet_ sighting! 🥰🥰🥰 The album that made me fall in love with P.E., with HipHop (and music, in general) _and_ with language.
Edit 2: Conway The Machine's music has A LOT of heart, I'd argue... you still haven't heard "The Cow"... and _God Don't Make Mistakes_ is filled with it!
Wow yeah if he hasn't heard the cow yet hes missed out on Conway's most legendary,deep and personal verse by far. Then WSG jumps in with a completely different style with the "Pull da mac out in stoney islanddd"" after Conway's pours his heart and soul out but they're both so dope in their own rights. World needs another griselda tape all 3 of em w/ alot of boldy james,rome steeetz,stove god features etcetc but dont know if we'll ever get that sadly
@@mattmedzzz6745 god I hope so
@@mattmedzzz6745 That would be incredible... especially with a bunch of features from those artists like Rome & Stove!
AOTY
You're right Marcus Smart is the greatest basketball player oat
Kyle Lowry
I like fried spam sammiches with cheese and tomato 🤷.. My wife thinks I'm white trash even tho I'm Hispanic 😂
Marcus Smart? Stop it now.