One week after Lil Uzi Vert finally dropped Eternal Atake, Jay Electronica came out with something that had been anticipated for far longer: his first proper album. Though it hadn’t reached Detox-levels of speculation, it was like an Infinity Stone for Hip Hop fans.
Fittingly, said album has a Thanos reference.
It’s also well worth the wait, provided you weren’t holding it up to expectations of perfection. A Written Testimony, the first project Jay has released since his 15-minute 2007 mixtape Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge), is a colossal event, the homecoming of someone whose absence never led to irrelevance, a team-up that’s resulted in the third strong project in a row from another rapper, one who couldn’t be blamed for just counting money in his Bel-Air mansion, and most importantly, a damn solid album.
The majority of tracks here pair JAY-E with JAY-Z, as he and Roc Nation have stayed loyal to each other even since he signed to Hov’s label nearly a decade ago. While there are reminders of JAY-Z’s net worth, this isn’t Watch the Throne 1.5.
Both Jays are in their feelings and often quite humble, showing their gratitude to Allah as well as their ancestors who suffered so unjustly. “The prayers of the slaves are the wings that carry us/A field full of dreams is where they tried to bury us,” Electronica concludes solo track “Fruits of the Spirit,” beautifully produced by No I.D.
The first voice you hear on the record (not counting the Louis Farrakhan samples that open it), is JAY-Z’s, and his opening bars on “Ghost of Soulja Slim” strike at the heart of institutional racism and its imprint on society. Throughout the album, they’re Black and they’re proud. The only time they really get to trade verses is on the subwoofer-testing “The Blinding,” but spacing out the verses lets their words really sink in.
Despite its lean runtime, A Written Testimony covers a lot of ground. In its 39 minutes, the listener feel more satiated than one does with many albums that are twice as long. Jay Electronica’s versatility as a producer and sampling creativity keeps things moving at a great clip. At one point, he’s speeding up Rihanna samples on the chaotic “Flux Capacitor,” on another, he’s putting himself, JAY-Z and The-Dream against a beat that’s largely comprised of a Brian Eno and Robert Fripp sample.
That track, “Ezekiel’s Wheel,” creates an emotional fusion with closer “A.P.I.D.T.A (All Praise Is Due To Allah).” On the former, Jay Electronica talks about his absence in the first verse (“’Cause familiarity don’t breed gratitude, just contempt”) and gives a verse that could be spit with total “fuck the haters” energy but does something far more interesting by staying nearly as mellow as the beat.
On the latter, he and JAY-Z mourn those who have gone before them, including Jay Electronica’s mother. When he raps, “The day my mama died, I scrolled her texts all day long,” it’s hard not to empathize.
As an album and summation of why so many people have revered Jay Electronica for so long, A Written Testimony was absolutely worth the wait. Let’s just hope the next one arrives sometime this decade.
[apple_news_ad type=”standard”]
Dope album, some of Jay Electronica lyrics could’ve been a bit better. Thus the 4 stars
Not the Jay we elected lol
Totally agree with the journalists viewpoints. Especially the end. I need to have another Jay Elect album inside this decade.
Heavy on the Jay Z but it’s still a dope project.
Not the Jay we elected.
Decent joint. Lil Jay confused though. He’s a pro black Israelite Muslim that likes Rothschild women who are part of the Synagogue of Satan ?. Niggas are goofy and fake woke. West African Shango big Jay was cooking though. Definitely not even nearly a classic, though.
How you call Elec fake woke but call Jigger West African and Shango in the same sentence? Did you listen to the music? Jay raps about Orishas and says Inshallah in the same bar. This was the same dude who got on Nas for “what you trying to kick knowledge”. It’s like he’s overcompensating. Orishas, Santeria, 5 Percenter and Islam in one verse? Huh? Forget how “good it sounds”. That’s why you put faith in God and not man. The rapping is some of the best technical rapping you’ll hear and has it’s highlights lyrically, but no way I’m putting this on a pedestal.
Like everybody else I’ve loved Jay Electronica since we heard those songs he did with Just Blaze. As an MC, he is masterful. One of my favorite songs in life is Road to Perdition. This album tho, at best is ok. I’m glad to hear Jay-Z can still rhyme with anybody. Average album tho, by one of the dopest emcees of the last decade. It happens sometimes, then we move on.
This will be considered a classic in future, if we all survive to talk about it. Jay Z’s Blueprint also came out during a crisis.
This came out before anything bad started in America. Also, this crisis wouldn’t stop anyone from enjoying music they love. It simply isn’t what anyone expected. I expected exhibit A Jay. Didn’t get that. I think to say this will be a classic eventually is bogus, dick riding shit. Is it good? Of course, it’s not bad… But a classic? Cmon man… People jump to call EVERYTHING a classic nowadays, but very very few actually stand the test of time. Even with Kendrick, everyone calls every single album he drops a classic, but his only true classic is Section 80. Gkmc was a better album overall, and tpab was amazing. But section 80 was the vocie of a generation!
TPAB overhyped tbh
Please do me a favor and never compare, under any circumstances, Blueprint to this album.
Thank you kindly.
Wizzeak!
Just awful. There are a few dope Jay-Z verses. Most of the production is horrible, a few tracks are OK at best. All of that NOI bullshit is ridiculous. Homie is (was?) shacked up with some broad that is making vagina smelling incense, talking about god on some fake Muslim cosplay bulldog, whole Jay-Z is talking about violence and material shit? Very confusing and stupid, actually. The NOI is considered a hate group by most covil rights groups. Fuck this weirdo. Jay Z stole what little of a show was there.
For you to consider NOI a hate group means you’re white and HIGHLY uninformed. Matter of fact, NOI influences has always been present in hip-hop culture and has nothing to do with hate and everything to do with truth and self-awareness and self-love. It becomes a threat to uninformed white people for this very reason and makes them feel left out because it doesn’t speak to their privilege. It’s a perspective you choose to take. But the hip-hop culture is not and never was meant to be a divider. It is meant to share, heal and bring together a sense of community and insight into understanding that we are all one. And the love for this Hip-Hop culture we all share should be that communicative bridge to help us all understand that. Peace be unto you all.
Not even a average album should have trashed it and started over Would rather listen to Megan The Stallion
? album.. Exactly what’s needed content.
4/5
This was a 5/5 for me. I understand that most people that don’t like the album are non-believers and dummies that don’t catch on to the complex lyrics. This album isn’t for y’all purse carrying lean sippers.
I haven’t gone back to this and I doubt I ever will. Jay was the best part and elect raps too long for me to just keep skipping his parts for jay
Smh
This album was extremely hot as all hell. Jay Electronica and Jay-Z mesh together very well and definitely the perfect match for each other for this immaculate project.
Really didn’t like this at all, and I’m sad. Loved his old music, and used to love JayZ… But JayZ has been an annoying, full of himself, virtue signlaer for years now. This album IMO was a let down. It sounded too expirimental. Too “modern”… I assume the same people giving this a 5/5 are also the kind of people who foam at the mouth over a Donald Glover album. That fake woke pride crap. Just so over done and cheesy, and really tired of people so full of themselves. I like the more humble artists! Like dmx. Even in his prime, DMX was such a down to earth, understanding, and nice man. I ran in to him outside a chicken joint in buffalo NY a decade or so ago. Nice guy! The only rapper to get so high on the charts and popularity that would still just hang around like a normal person… No security around him, just a normal living man… Did dmx ever even live in a mansion? Dmx and Pac would’ve been friends I bet.
This has NOTHING to do with the album bro.
Niggaz always deflecting ?
I’m reading a lot of these comments and its sad when black people cant be proud of black people without some uncle tom comments. U stay in the state that you are while others adapt.
Gtfoh with that annunaki nation of islam bullshit.
I am loving this album the production and mixing is not polished which I was expecting
this album’s crack
Great project
10 years for 10 songs 36 min of music working hard I guess?????
This is a really good album. High level lyrics and the flows are crazy. The production was pretty solid for their rap style.
It’s refreshing to hear real Hip Hop and real Hip Hop enthusiast will appreciate this album.
Like Warm 3-5
Good album
There is no fucking way this shit is better than Jadakiss album.
I said the same thing but this website does not rate albums accurately so I wouldn’t put much thought into
They both were awful, so… maybe?
The fuck it aint…stop sucking the pizza out of that nigga turtles ass you mark
The Lord is my rock!!!
Erykah Badu is a disgusting sewer rat with poor personal and mental hygiene and she is a petri dish for sexually transmitted diseases. She has a legitmate claim for the title of grossest woman on earth.
Over there hurting lmao.
Lil to much Islam talk but album is dope in my opinion. 5 outta 5.
Lets be real you dont have to like something because you think other people like it and think its cool. If you strip away all the hype and listen to this album for what it really is you will see its not that great. The production kills this whole album regardless if they were going for an unpolished sound. A couple songs are actually hard to listen to on a good system this album could have been great but you can tell it was rushed and well thought out plus some of the songs sound super dated. Lyrically I didnt hear anything new or innovative nothing I was fiending to go back to again the next day I listened twice and im good for a few years. If Jay Z wasnt on this no one would probably care honestly. The hype is real this album is not.
You sound like Joe Budden…is that you in there Traitor Joe?
It’s poor taste and lame to say you have “more money than a NFL bench” when you have a sports agency and niggas who came from the hood worked hard to make a roster. I can’t buy the Allah talk from this boujee negro Jigger. Gain isn’t Godliness. It’s a difference between spirit of poverty and deepthroating your bank account. Jay Electronica gives hopes to brothers who want to pursue passion projects like dropping a debut album at 40 plus, I respect it. Would’ve been nice for him to drop more bars to share more of the journey, but he did alright for himself. I’ll give this a 3/5. It didn’t blow me away. I will say it has some of the best bars for MCs who are older than 40. Jigger just gives an off vibe. Lupe would’ve been an interesting addition being as though he definitely would’ve articulated and meshed with the theme a lot better
so boring. so poor. so much of a let down. so much could have been great so much was a disaster.
Great album, but not a good look having the ? hold your ?? on your long awaited debut?….js
It’s a good look when you get what they were looking to do. U.N.I.T.Y.
I think this is an album that people are really going to have to sit with. For me, this album surpassed all my expectations and the heavy JAY-Z presence was a bonus – it was also necessary in my opinion. The album starts off with a speech from the Honorable Minister Farrakhan (How dope is that?) and then transitions to “Ghost Of Soulja Slim” which sets the tone for the whole album to me.
The content of the album is dense and powerful. This is grown up rapping. Hip-hop for people who read. The references to NOI, Five Percenters, African deities, etc.. The chemistry between the two is masterful. I really dug how Jay Electronica and JAY-Z fed off of one another and they are talking some high-powered stuff on this project, and people won’t grasp right away.
This album reminds me of a combination of “To Pimp A Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar, “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx” by Raekwon, and “4:44” by JAY-Z. It’s that epic of a project to me and it gets better with every listen.
Both MCs are top-tier in my opinion, and it was on full display. The common “criticism” I see is that people are saying JAY-Z washed Jay Electronica. I don’t think so. Jay Elec was getting his shit off as well – and if he did get washed by JAY-Z, it’s JAY-Z. That’s like clowning someone for giving up 40 to Michael Jordan. It’s no shame in that. Not a big deal.
Much agreed, The album is truly “Deeper than Rap”. Not about competing with each other, but with our common enemy; Oppression and Ignorance of self. It’s actually about unity amongst our people. So much so, that Jay Z stuck with Jay E through and through the whole story. A BROTHER IN ARMS. The unity stems All the way through to the spiritual Level, when they address reunion with ancestors and ALLAH. Unity – Oneness – Knowledge of Self. This A Masterpiece, and exactly what the culture needs more of right now. ASÉ ????️
Asè! Peace to you, Lord. I encourage ALL BLACK PEOPLE to check this album out. Knowledge of Self, Knowledge of Weath, finding God and spirituality, anxiety, depression, and motivation are just some of the things they talk about in this project.
At first listen the album was a little too dense and sounds cluttered. I had trouble differentiating the production and lyrics off-gate. After a few more listens I completely digested the project and feel that this album is masterful. We have to factor that our expectations were probably unattainable and also that this album was made in 40 days. I agree that jay-z may have outperformed jayE, but that has to be expected. Im sure JayE would tell you the same. However, he held his own and brought some really meaningful lyrics and inspired jayZ in his own way. I feel like this may be a prelude for more to come and once the other projects drop we will look at the entire discography as an anthology of greatness. Just my opinion.
? This is truly an overwhelming event of an album. Got me in tears of Pride and humility simultaneously. MAGIK ??Jay and Jay inspires us (HIP-HOP) to excel in and uplift the kingdom. This is our Nation, our Culture, our HOME. Let us care for is with LOVE, Pride, and compassion for OUR BELOVED. Forever Young, forever WISE, HIP-HOP never DIES. For this TRUE and LIVING Purpose, I Will oblige ????. @EzeLL_DazH.. Gratitude Family ??#wearehiphop #godhop #linkinbio #ascendedmasters #majorkey??️?
MASTRBUILDRZ
This album’s more than a 4. Pitchfork actually outclassed you guys here. Congrats
The album is dope! The stripped-down production blends well with their flow and lyrics…makes the listener focus on what they’re saying rather than the beat. Jay-Z killed it…just more proof that he’s one of the best to ever do it. My ONLY critique of the album is that it was missing the momentum of Exhibit C…if Jay E would’ve put out a couple singles last year (on the level of Exhibit C) as a “warm up” to this album, then this would be a 5/5 classic, easy. But what Jay E did bring was still very good and potent. 4.
You can always tell when an artist or a label rep comes in here to balance the negative comments by writing an essay thats longer then the actual album review
Clever as hell I love hearing somebody rep Louisiana by holding his own against one of the greats. Dude flow smooth AF!! I absolutely love the spiritual aspect and direction
Dope project. I hope we get a Jay Elect pure solo this year with some Just Blaze production.
The album is flames! A legit solid project from 2 MC’s that are masters of vocab. Could’ve used a bit better production beat wise to match the talent of the lyrics but this album did not disappoint!
Real ??♂️??♂️??♂️know, no disrespect to Hov because his verses were HARD as hell. But Elect was on another level of what a black man need to hear right now!!
solid
Quality
Waited for 10 years and then got 40 minutes of Jay Elec getting washed by Jigga. Disappointment.