Review: Joell Ortiz’s ”Monday” Is A Full Week’s Worth Of Bars

    There is something incredibly beautiful about watching Hip Hop mature. However, artists don’t always embrace their longevity in the same way. Mainstream is a young man’s game, and for some looking to stay relevant, it’s tempting to attempt to keep up, so to speak.

    Upper echelon wordsmith Joell Ortiz is not one of those artists.

    His previous release, Mona Lisa, was an eloquent slice of realism, accepting that he himself had undoubtedly reached his commercial peak, and no longer clung to dreams of the ”next level.” Though that was far from giving up, but rather a rejection of making music for any other reason than the love of what he’s doing.

    His latest release, Monday, is a continuation of this mantra; with only brief refrains from heartfelt tracks amid incredible production from the likes of J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Nottz, Big K.R.I.T. and Heatmakerz.

    Some of the most insightful gems are “Learn You” — a letter to his teenaged children, whom he admittedly neglected in his earlier days — and the emotionally charged “Momma.” There’s also “Anxiety, another personal track, revealing his battle with anxiety with the chorus detailing a debilitating panic attack.

    There is a bit of a contradiction. Though he seems to not be concerned with opinions — as he is obviously living much better than most of us (see “Grammy”) — he does try to reinforce it quite a bit. Also, “Screens,” although really tastefully done, feels like an obligatory old head rant, as does harping on how much better he is than the current crop of ”mumble rappers.”

    To his credit (with a skillset and track record like his), watching a new breed of artists whose bars take a back seat to charisma hit heights he wasn’t able to grasp would be frustrating.

    Still, this album is well balanced, sequenced beautifully and packed with enough depth to warrant really sitting with it for multiple listens. As evidenced by the song “Captain,” in which he sympathizes and relates to artists one step away from a breakthrough who hang it up, his career is far from over.

    As he notes, Hip Hop is like that one girl he can’t quit. For our sake, let’s hope he holds fast to that passion.

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    38 thoughts on “Review: Joell Ortiz’s ”Monday” Is A Full Week’s Worth Of Bars

    1. I hope it’s better than the project he did with Fred da Godson earlier this year. That was such generic gangster rap trash. Since this is on Mello I’ll check it out later today and post a rating.

    2. Imagine accidental dropping music the same day Tool dropped new music in 13 years. Gotta feel for all the battlers this week, because everyone’s standards just went way up

      1. Numbers are saying that’s a lie lmao take yo old ass back to bed haha this dude is boring as they come

      1. Lmao his album ain’t doing no numbers to be called the “greatest” homie haha delusional clown

    3. This is much better than his joint with Salam Remi and I put that on the producer as the beats didn’t suit old boy. Monday however has more gems than not. The man is one of my fave emcees. Nice return to action.

    4. Lmao he got all them “bars” and won’t outsell blueface lmaooo won’t even come close to outselling young thug either haha you old heads music choices are so weak. Dude here is sorry as idk what lmao “bars”

      1. Sales don’t matter for shit. Who gives a fuck how much an album sells, especially when mainstream buys into garbage.

      2. That shit only matters to lame fuck losers like you. Joell gets plenty of love and money. You should probably take a page out his book instead of being a lame bitch online.

    5. Thank god for rappers like Ortiz who continue to feed their fanbase with incredible and lyrical hip-hop music

    6. Arguably better, or as good, as Mona Lisa. It will take a minute to examine this for a true comparison. Dude is on a roll – Mona Lisa, Heatmakers & Fred, Salaam Remi, and now this, all within 24 months.
      #BrooklynUSA

    7. “There’s something incredible about watching HipHop mature.” Classic opening line, you need to extend this sentiment to your fellow staff writer Dana Scott. I believe Common’s “Let Love” flew over her head.

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