Former Dipset associate J.R. Writer never reached the level of notoriety of his fellow soldiers such as Hell Rell or 40 Cal but the Harlem diplomat did earn stripes within the same mixtape circuit that eventually led to artists embracing a more independent hustle.
That being said, that era of bare-bones bars and snippet-laden mixtapes peaked over a decade ago and the so-called mumble rappers du jour have since taken over the yard. A quick stint in prison didn’t help the visibility of his post-Dipset career but the old age beef route recently put the adept rhymer back in today’s current rap wave news cycle.
For his latest project #IREALLYRAP, Writer literally asked the people to judge a book by its cover by plastering the likes of Lil Pump, Bhad Bhabie, Chance The Ugly God and a misplaced Danny Brown among other current marquee players within Hip Hop on his album cover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsI8uA236vw
“When I first got on, the landscape was gritty, grimy, similar to the projects. Shit look like Candyland now!” a confident Writer recently told HipHopDX and he looks to show and prove that his trusty lyricism can cut through the alleged mediocrity.
Even at the risk of sounding like a dusty old head, Writer does deliver a sturdy body of work that will attract those existing fans who rocked with him during his mid-00s heyday. The album’s contents never matches the brazenness of cover art (i.e. he doesn’t name names à la Joyner Lucas) but joints like “Grown Man Bars” (“I so much of a legend/ Lonzo Ball never played me”) and “Extravagant” (“DJ Khaled know I’m great with the bars/ Son couldn’t hang with me if his name was Asahd”) showcase skills where well-constructed bars facilitate a Hip Hop song right along without crooning or studio enhanced vocalization crutching a torn talent ACL. And while no singular lo-fi beat touches the golden standard, the minimalist sample loops and two-step kick ‘n snare drums never overpower Writer’s endless barrage of metaphors and make for a comprehensible listen.
By track number two, Writer all but exhausts his topical diversity arsenal and showing love to fellow NYC spitters Dave East and Don Q doesn’t exactly boost the variation but their appearances are stellar nonetheless. It’s his own brother Fred Money who steals the show on all three (“Fuckin’ wit a killer, not a poet, nigga/ Jets to a villa, did you know this nigga?/ Flower bomb blunts in a lotus, nigga/ Word to L-E-P you’s a bogus nigga” he superbly fumes on the sinisterly catchy “On Tilt”). The subsequent record, simply titled “Right” also manages to squeeze a bit of melody out of Writer’s battle bars and serves as glimmer the 33-year-old MC can possibly assimilate in today’s climate.
As long as kids (kids, as in minors) can continue to blow worldwide within the confines of their own closet, the days where quality control on mean 16s will likely stay in a memory’s time capsule. Writer’s ideology on what constitutes as real Hip Hop won’t change the escalating focus on aesthetic and social celebrity but if he stays in this zone, he’ll develop himself a niche audience to keep his career being labeled, well, a career.
“never reached the level of notoriety as Hell Rell or 40 Cal”
That’s not how I remember it, I think he was definitely more famous than 40, maybe about the same as Hell Rell. He want as big as the main 3 guys (cam, Jim, Juelz) but I always thought he was the best rapper in the whole group bar wise.
Regardless, I’m glad to see that he released new material and it’s getting some attention. He was one of the lyrical guys from NY that got screwed when the whole industry stopped rewarding dopeness and started marketing “swag”. Haven’t heard the album yet, but I plan on checking it out very soon.
Hhdx, let’s be clear: I’m not gonna troll your site, never have. That being said, you guys are sorta bent on classifying and categorizing old and new school. Rappers who moan and groan on tracks are given passes. Rappers who came out in the 90s or early 2000s are considered old heads. Without calling him a “dusty old head,” the review called him that with the disclaimer of “at the risk of calling him a…” I get it. Covering your asses. It’s all good. I’m not agreeing or disagreeing with the review, just noticing your site’s penchant to stay in line with industry norms. But who set the norm? This is coming from a Nas fan who hated Dipset back in the day but still acknowledged their talent for writing rhymes. I actually agree with the score you gave Writer’s album/mixtape; just uncomfortable with the subtle shade thrown. I have a B.A., been published in newspapers. Let me write the reviews. Sheesh. Peace.
Eff it. Another comment deleted just for disagreeing with the reviewer. The El, At Least I Tried. Best album in the last 10 years, imo, although I’m biased. Peep it on sound cloud. Thanks for the censorship.
I’ll keep it real, hhdx: I don’t listen to too much new ish. Not because of At Least I Tried. It’s a dope album, period. But that’s not the reason. The reason is this: I have seven albums, never been big on promoting myself…. But the three on my sound cloud plus one ep are all doped than whatever comes out. That’s all. Peace.
Doper*
Bouncer said you cant wear your hat in here and the shit match your gear…
So yall are really tryna make reviewing albums after 1 listen a thing huh
Mixing on this was horrible the sound is fucked did you not notice this? Ruined it for me. Yeah it got bars but i couldn’t listen much cuz the obvious fuckin up in the mixing / production.
Compared to the trap shit this is good, compared to Cam or even say Lupe this album was a let down. last and first song is the direction the album should have taken
Shoutout to my clone and shot. I see you putting in that work, baby. Not quite the best impersonation. But I feel you, baby, I feel you.
Shit…. Years later, still haven’t turned off autospell
YEAH THOSE BARS WERE DOPE WHERE HE RHYMED “NIGG@” 4 TIMES IN A ROW LOL WHAT IS WRONG W PEOPLE IF THOSE ARE STANDOUT BARS ON A PROJECT
What’s up with the sub-par mastering on this project? No money to have a professional do it? Shit is killing me and my HD800S’s, for the fucks sake.
Crazy bars. Beats could be better. The mixing/production is no good.
He should remake the whole project to up the overall quality a couple notches. And maybe get the dips on a couple tracks for old times sake.
JR will always be that dude though. His always been and still is creative and entertaining with his lyrics “D12 dont even know the name of my band.”
Good bars but the beat could be better