A large part of Los Angeles producer Exile’s impressive repertoire to date furthers the groundwork laid by duos including Gang Starr Pete Rock & CL Smooth, having built his name as a one man beat factory responsible for complete albums for artists in his Dirty Science camp. Though it’s worth examining his past work with Aloe Blacc under the Emanon banner, most notably Blu’s Below The Heavens and Fashawn’s Boy Meets World were distinct semi-autobiographical works tailor made for their subjects, proving Exile’s versatile chemistry within his chosen circle. Sticking to this script, he has combined forces with Johaz to form Dag Savage, a team effort that takes a no nonsense approach to creating honest and traditional Hip Hop that is in touch with today’s times. E&J is the latest chapter in Dag Savage’s saga that has garnered respect in just a little over a year’s time.
Much like the brandy liquor commonly associated with its acronym, E&J is an acquired taste due to its initially strong and bitter character. The self-proclaimed West coast Reflection Eternal, Dag Savage’s aesthetic matches the group’s edgy name, with Exile giving his protege an unfiltered platform to speak on personal plights and struggles along with society’s greater issues. Hurdling out of the gate, “The Beginning” attacks systematic injustice as the LP’s very first verse pulls no punches. While he can’t be neatly categorized as a conscious emcee, here Johaz seeks to spark a proactive revolution barking, “These niggas is full of shit like the Zimmerman trial / How you gon’ stand behind the murder of a innocent child / In a all white hoodie blowing smoke to the clouds…” “Twilight” continues this righteous battle, drawing parallels between slavery, the conditions of disenfranchised black youth, commercial Rap’s lack of civilization and the famed execution of gang leader Stanley “Tookie” Williams. This confrontational manner is but an example of why the San Diego native has quickly stood out in an underground scene that risks the same complacency suffered by the opposing mainstream.
Mindful of the need for balance, E&J makes certain to offer alternative lanes for anyone who isn’t held captive by its rage driven moments. A brave feat considering he’s still a relative newcomer, Johaz goes into painstaking detail looking back at his dreams to pursue music as a career and his family’s skeletons on the introspective memoir “For Old Time’s Sake.” Letting the audience look deeper into his innermost complexities, the soulful and bluesy “When It Rains” could potentially gain traction given the harmonies of Aloe Blacc, who has increasingly become a staple of modern pop culture. On a lighter note, the jazzy and playful “LL Cool J” allows Exile to flex his sporadic passion for rhyming and “Wine & Cheese” is a classy ode to romance, fueled by the vocal stylings of songstress Jimetta Rose.
Dag Savage’s E&J is another of Exile’s cohesive soundtracks highlighted by his trademark penchant for melodic loops and hard drums, with intermittent difficulties and inspirational lessons derived from life’s joy’s and pains better understood after successive plays. A likely explanation of Johaz’s aggression is the byproduct of a burning desire to be recognized amongst the future elite, a commendable trait of ambition that could be mistaken as unfriendly since this is a formal introduction for many.
never liked blu’s production
Probably because he isnt a producer.
Good thing Exile did all the beats on this one.
well then I meant exile. not really too familiar with these artists but from what i’ve heard i didn’t care for it.
and I know for a fact that blu is a producer, he has several instrumental albums
you’re “not too familiar” with the artists yet you have a decisively strong opinion on their production. fuck outta here, man.
haha this guy… you don’t have too great of reading comprehension skills, do you?
all I said was I “never liked” the production. how is that a strong opinion? all I did was make an opinion based off of what I have heard. it’s not like I said “they’re production fucking sucks”
read some books man…
Hey “P”, I think I know where you’re coming from. Exile CAN and DOES makes dope beats sometimes. But then he’ll make these wack ass, like lo-fi beats or some shit that just sound terrible. I know what you mean. He has made some serious garbage in the past. Who knows how this will turn out.
Just so you know Blu is a producer but he is more popular for his rap. Exile produced this project though and you can have an immediate opinion about someone without knowing much about them. He said he wasn’t a fan not that he hates the guy. To be honest it took me awhile to get use to Exile and I am a huge fan of his.
before I looked at the bank draft which had said $8617 , I did not believe that…my… brother woz actually earning money in their spare time on their computer. . there mums best friend started doing this for only 8 months and a short time ago paid for the morgage on their house and bought themselves a Lancia . try this web-site… http://www.Fb39.com
it had to be publicized that he did that. Makes anyone with half a brain question the motive.
fuego
Get A Bottle Of E&J
& Bang That E&J !!! ^_^
RAWWWw Shit !
Dope dope album!
never heard of them before, gonna have to check it out
nice album…johaz rhymes gets 5/5…exile beats 3.5/5…as a whole i give the album a 3 because it was not very cohesive . its like exile made the beats for someone else or was not in the studio when johaz was putting his verses down…johaz verses were very serious in content, gritty, raw,with heavy lyricism but the beats where very light and flowery …like johaz was at war battlin some heavy shit and exile was riding down the coast of california with flip flops on thinking about an old girlfriend..it did not blend very well….i love both and exile is top 5 producer but the beats did not reflect the emcee very well taking away from the tone of the album..would love to hear johaz over alchemist beats.
Sometimes contrast is the intent
Dope album definitely worth getting
Great Album Johaz lyrics are on point and Exile beats just keep getting better
Always been a fan of Exile production he came hard on a lot these
This is that innovative ish other people will wish they thought about it first!
Dope album – long live hip hop#%^**>
That’s four for four, with the Ecology up next. Great year for music.
Good old hip hop at it’s finest
The mix tape was dope and this was even better
Really dope album with decent production.
Great album Exile rocks it and never listened to Johaz before but he delivers deff a great album that needs a listen!
This is a good listen, I’m stilling waiting on another classic from the DS crew, despite the fact that their masterpeices I have gotten pretty bored of Above the Heavens and Boy Meets World. When is Fash gna drop Th Ecology!?
Awesome album. Don’t sleep
Exile is one of the top 3 best hip hop producers ever…..I put Preemo and Just Blaze up there with him
Substiute Oh No for Blaze and I’m with you…
how do u put just blaze before alchemist??? lol vvv
Love this album
I haven’t said this since the early defJux era. . . but on a serious, serious note: ONE SOLID ALBUM.
Going to have to check this one out.
Very solid listen. Second best to Lord Steppington this year so far imo. Production and rhymes are on point, couple of songs are in constant rotation.
dope
lvoe this