The emergence of young emcees from California has been highlighted for the last couple of years with Blu, Fashawn, Kendrick Lamar and Odd Future leading the way. It’s hard not to notice the new batch of prospects giving the area life where Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and others once did the same. Part of this reemergence and resurgence has been showcased with the new release of Jay Rock’s Follow Me Home album, a project that has Watts, California’s fingerprints all over it.
No one questions Jay Rock’s hood credentials, and his rhymes serve to narrate the current events of his hometown with clarity and sincerity. Complemented by his deep, gritty voice, reminiscent of Shyne and Game, Jay Rock shows he’s well versed in the dealings of street life. “Code Red,” “’Bout That,” “No Joke” and “All I Know Is” showcase this. While some may enjoy the street-driven theme, Jay Rock truly shines when he goes into the hood tales with depth. “Just Like Me” is a standout because of its introspective nature. “The moral of the story, certain hearts will never feel it. Plus, their mind is really twisted. It’s a sickness when I kill my own kind,” he says over mellow, melodic horns. Lyrically, “M.O.N.E.Y.” also shows Rock is capable of extraordinary and clever work, though fans may end up wanting more of this type of lyricism present on the album in place of some of the less stellar cuts (“Boomerang,” 
“Westside” ).
Jay Rock’s ear for beats mirrors his lyricism in that it’s Cali-centric. “Code Red” and “Elbows” are reminiscent of Compton’s Doctor, with piano keys bringing 2001 back. “Finest Hour ” brings Miami to L.A. for a Rick Ross feature. “All My Life” shows Rock could travel to Hollywood, with assistance from Lil Wayne and Will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas, who lends a chart topping hook to Rock’s street-bred rhymes. Jay Rock can also remain true to grit with the instrumental behind “Hood Gone Love It,” where Kendrick Lamar lends a hand on an anthemic banger that any hood could appreciate.
The hood tales have been told over and over in Hip Hop. The beauty of it is not in the rehashing of the subject matter, but in the originality and creativity with which it’s done. In the case of Jay Rock, he carried the influence from past West Coast legends, while adding his own touch of flair on occasion. A capable lyricist with an ear for beats, there is sure to be more to come from him and his camp with more time in the game. For now, Follow Me Home is a lowrider journey to California, with many ups and some downs included. Still, “you ain’t gotta like it ‘cause the hood gone love it.”
Great album
Album bangs hard! TDE is killing the game ATM.
fantastic West coast release!
I got this the day it came out
A must-have for hardcore rap listeners. The beats on this album are banging!
U hav no idea wot u talkn bout. 3/4 of th beats are original.
TDE is killing them. Personally, I felt that this needed no guests though. Buying this album this week. DX showed me.
If you don’t give at least 4 stars, you’re a hater. Come on Hip Hop DX, your ratings are kinda fucked up. Giving Section 80 4 stars ? That shit is a 4.5, almost 5, classic shit. Follow Me Home as actually the same rating than Planet Pit, really ?
the best westcoast album since games’s documentary…….period!!
Thats if you dont count my nigga Lynch’s last two albums.
i meant to say best gangsta rap album by the way…them brotha lynch albums were fire too,but they on some horrorcore ish! peace
Good thing you made that lil correction cuz if you slept on section.80 i feel very bad for you. That shit’s album of the millenium…
3 stars is more then enough, dude has no identity sounds like game and shyne. Lyrics are not bad become boring after 4 songs listening about the hard life in the hood.
beats sounds like some leftovers from the chronic 2001. i expected more from Jay Rock.
Just decent and nothing more.
Definitely under-rated this album
man this album goes HARD shawty!!
son you sound boring with your hood this hood that.
sounds like a weak version of The Game
You just described D-Block and Joell Ortiz, bruh.
U got that back-ass-words dawg. The Game is a shitty version of Jay Rock.
Disappointed! Expected more from jay
jay rock goes hard on this album. i met him the day after the release of follow me home, and haven’t stopped listening to the album since. if you don’t give this at least 5 stars then you don’t know what good music is
you were at the atl concert?
This album is 5/5 right here. Straight classic West Coast shit. Jay Rock puttin down since he came to the scene.
was not expecting much but it blew me away, haven’t heard a west coast gangsta album like this in a long time! 4/5 stars from me, nothing really special but a great west coast album
mothafuckas talking like they havent heard of jayrock.slap yo self!and as expected, hiphop dx is hating on another west coast artist…dont believe me?compare reviews with other sites when it comes to west coast artists.they gave the album of the year, section80, a lame ass review…Blackhippy!!
The Hood does love it!!! Jay Rock is on some real shit and that is what makes his Hood Lyrics better then your average. Listeners can tell that Jay is tellin the truth. Thats why we love Jay Rock but hate Lil Wayne and Rick Ross (two fake hood lyricists) so get them off the album and put more Black Hippie on it, Real Talk…
they both on this album so a real nigga fuccin with fake ones???
@Anonymous
Good Point…
The only purpose of features like that are to sell records, nothing more. They prob never even met, Wayne does most of his shit via email and i wouldnt doubt if Ricky’s the same way… Tech and Travis knew it would sell more records and there some serious businessman, what more do u expect?
this is at least 4/5
this shit is straight fireeeeeee
Because he sounds hard that doesn’t make this a classic dumbasses.
Album is filled with sound a like dre beats
Dude sounds like the game. Please get your own style
Talking 18 songs about the hood is boring.
You dumasses should go back to the 80’s and 90’s to know if an album is classic or not.
This album is decent and nothing more.
I feel you on that. The beats are aight but people are over hyping them.
Figga, I aint heard from you since you were talkin shit on those early Game Intro’s… ITS THE FIG!!!
Jay has some deep as lyrics in all his songs. What are you deaf? Go back and listen to ur soulja bitch music fucking dumb fuck noob.
love this shit, has a serious classic feel to it.
Fuck the west coast. Who listens to these shitty fake thugs anymore. These west coast faggots need to stop embarrassing themselves with this bullshit. The South is running shit. Weezy YMCmB all day. Fuck everywhere else.
hahaha wtfuck?? the south is the reason HipHop is dead
Go shoot your self you dumb faggot .
Hah This dude serious with that south mess then yell out ymcmb my dude go get a life and a mind or keep listening to that garbage wayne call music he put out. And Drake had potential but he proved his time around wayne has destroyed any creative sense he had.
Your a fucking fool… If your gonna talk the south at least gimme Andre, Big Boi, Scarface, something.. Wayne had his day and its long gone, hes too greedy and he sacrificed his artistic integrity for the money. His decision but not one i respect (whats a few extra million bucks?). Kendrick Lamar makes lil wayne look like lil romeo, do your research…
Good west coast album. Best Lil Wayne verse I’ve heard… he had to step it up for the West….
Cuz Wayne put it down when he was still a decent rapper… Shit dropped at least a few years ago, but they had to throw it on cuz its the best cut on the album. He’ll never sound that hungry again..
I fuck with Black Hippy, but Jay Rock is mos def the weakest link. K.Dot is an absolute fuckin genius, Ab souls an ill lyricist and clever as hell, and Schoolboy comes raw, no bullshit about him. Step it up Jay Rock, you got some real talent around you. Learn something…
Love the album, he sounds like a hungrier more focused Game.
i like how he comes with thug real shit… but its still hella deep and not just talkin bout pussy and bustin gats… got mad respect for dude after this album… top dawgs my nigga!! lol
I listened to it once and thought “wow this shit is sick” after a couple more listens I thought “hhmmm this ain’t worth more then 2 stars” after one week I will probably never listen to it again. Shit has no longevity just like most of today’s shit.
I can listen to albums from the 90’s on repeat for 2 months and never get bored because the hood lyrics had stories behind them. The reason Wayne is on it is so that people cop the album
Seriously, dude only has one flow and the flow ain’t even all that. Lyrics are decent , beats are so-so.
@biggs
you are right this shit has no replay value. next week you throw the album in the garbage can
Sad but true.
5 stars this is a classic west coast album has that 90s feel
niqqa got nothin on Game dont compare the two..
I fucc with jay rocc this album not a classic but it’s better than a lot of albums thats came out over the last couple of years. Big sean album wasn’t better than this album, but it get more credit crazy.
First and foremost, fuck you DX for recruiting your reviewers from GED prep courses. Who writes this shit? I could have written a better review without even listening to it. Second off, stop only giving 4 star ratings to artists that pay for ad space, thats just fucking weak and super obvious. Fire this fucking editor…
Jay Rock’s iight but this album needed a little more Strange to it. A Kaliko hook or two would have made up for the lack thereof. Why is it west coast artists can’t write a damn hook? Day one son. Dude’s got real potential and is surrounded by all the talent in the world (All of Strange Music and Black Hippy are absolutely ill) so hopefully it rubs off a little. I dont doubt he’s a real dude, but theres nothing distinct/exciting about this album. Say something mayne!
This was a very good album, probably the second best album i have heard so far this year. And for all u dumbasses that are saying this album isnt STRANGE, this whole album was mostly produced by TDE not STRANGE Music. Anyway, this album is an instant classic.
5* WESTCOAST in da building
Heat!!
On the real this album is wack , its got too many weak songs and mindless lyrics and rhymes .
1-10 scale
Beats – 5
Lyrics – 5
Substance – 3
Replay Value – 3
Total album 2.5 Mics
Album is fire. 8/10 for me.
Not nearly as deep as Section 80. A few tracks have replay value but for the most part, this is the same old shit we’ve heard time and time again. Nothing spectacular. 11.99 on itunes, Section 80 is 7.99, come on jay rock.
Man niggas be talkin mad shit about the nigga Jay Rock. I can listen to almost every song on this album and have had it bangin in my ride since I got it. How does it not have substance? He spits what he knows and his life. People just forgot where this rap shit came from. His flow is sick and style is gritty. This is probably my favorite album that’s dropped summer.
A bold claim, but this is in my top 5 albums of all time.
Quite simply, Jay Rock is the best out right now.
If you disagree, play your favourite rapper’s album and then play this and try and tell me i’m wrong….
Kendrick Lamar “Section.80” better than “Follow Me Home”…. both are great albums but I think “Section.80” is a little better, more subject matter addressed on K-Dot’s album.
I agree, section 80 was better in my opinion
How about the artist who’s label he’s also signed to through joint venture, Tech N9ne
All 6’s & 7’s easily better.
album is fire fire i tell you fuck the south
love this album!
Some of y’all are hyping this album up way too much nothing really special about it reminds me of a lot of other west coast hip hop albums I’ve heard don’t get me wrong its a good album just not as amazing as everyone makes it seem
tdotfromdabronx.tumblr.com
……the worst part is even the media contribute on oppressing independent albums, they give high-quality review to Major albums and dreadful review to independent albums and leave unconstructive criticism on top of that…….http://hh-o.blogspot.com/2011/08/major-vs-independent-rappers.html
everybody on here sound like a bitch. most of ya’ll white, so quit actin like your opinion on hip hop even fuckin matters. i mean a bunch of suburban white boys talkin bout whats good hip hop or not… Laughing my fuckin ass off!!
whats the world come too.
Stop that. Hip hop is for everyone. That’s why it will always be the best thing out there. I’m black, by the way.
Hip Hop is for everybody who struggles
OK
THIS IS GUY IS ONE OF MY FAVE ARTIST, BUT THERE ARE SOME SONGS THAT HAVE MORE POISON ON HIS MIXTAPES …HOW DOES THIS MAKE SENSE…THIS ALBUM LACKED QUALITY CONTROL
HE COULD HAVE CUT 3-4 TRACKS OFF,OR THE BEAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
MORE HELP FROM AB-SOUL TO ADD THAT BUTTA PIMP G SHIT AND IT NEED MORE DYNAMICS
FUCK MAYNE THIS IS HIS BIG ALBUM WHY U GOTTA DISSAPOINT ME ROCK…I WAS LOOKIN FORWARD TO BUYIN A CD COPY TOO…I CANT EVEN GET LONGTERM MENTALITY OR SECTION 😯 ITS PISSIN ME OFF!!
OK
THIS IS GUY IS ONE OF MY FAVE ARTISTS, BUT THERE ARE SOME SONGS THAT HAVE MORE POISON ON HIS MIXTAPES …HOW DOES THIS MAKE SENSE…THIS ALBUM LACKED QUALITY CONTROL
HE COULD HAVE CUT 3-4 TRACKS OFF,OR THE BEATS COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER WITH MORE VARIED VIBE
MORE HELP FROM AB-SOUL TO ADD THAT BUTTA PIMP G SHIT AND IT NEEDED MORE DYNAMICS
FUCK MAYNE THIS IS HIS BIG ALBUM WHY U GOTTA DISSAPOINT ME ROCK…I WAS LOOKIN FORWARD TO BUYIN A CD COPY TOO…I CANT EVEN GET LONGTERM MENTALITY OR SECTION 😯 ITS PISSIN ME OFF!!
You can talk all you want about suburban white boys talkin about hiphop, but the sad thing is we’ve been supporting and buying the shit since probaly before your dumb-ass was born. Dont make it a black or white thing or east or west thing make it a I love rap/hiphop vs. I dont like hiphop or rap thing. So fuck a hater this album got a few jams. Fuck a hater
m lovin’ this shiit..dope ass album. 4 stars for me
dis nigga try to heard to spit that shyne/game voice i can’t listen to that fake blood shit gang banging is so 1990’s like jerry curls
you didn’t actually listen to the album did you?
review is pretty on point!! album is solid with a couple standout tracks.. my fav is elbows beat bangs n flow is nice
kendrick lamar
easily album of the year so far..and u aint gotta love it cuz……..
wish he would have kept lift me up on there since he left all my life on the cd there both old ass songs but either way its dope minus officer ross
Overrated (by fans)
sorry jay rock u suck tech nine rules if u sighn w strange music u gotta make it tech nine club style not all this la bs
no one understands your comment
Hot album for what it is.
This wasa VERY GOOD Album. People should DEFINITELY go BUY it or at least take a look at it.
Jay Rock got to do his debut album the way he wanted to do it when he was with Warner Brothers. How do I know? I asked him. This is a good album to give him his big break. His lyricism is better than most, not better than all. Good beats. This is better than what I’ve heard from the R.E.D. album for everyone saying he’s trying to copy the Game. Hopefully the next album is more StrangeMusic.
must have, if u love hip hop……….
Saw him live in Orlando with Tech N9ne… this dude is wack. Would never buy his album…
weak album , i listen to it twice and didnt feel it at all . better luck next time
One of the worst debuts ive heard in awhile
2 stars
this is so much better than the red album game is hollywood now
Same old, same old. You need to take some tips from your boy Kendrick and stop doing poor Game impressions – better luck next time
I think This was a badass album. Much WESTCOAST hype and hood bangers mixxed with a little lighter rider music. Can’t hate a man from the hood doin his thing. 4 outta 5.
major letdown
r.e.d is better ….you mad?
STOP COPYING GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beats: 8.5/10
Hooks: 7/10
Flow: 5/10
Content: 6/10
Guests: 4/10
-> 6.1/10
First…all this stupid ADSL comparisons to shyne and game is ducking retarded.so since berry white had a deep voice was he tryna be duke or if somebody have a raspy voice do that mean they tryna be jeezy…man fuck yall fucking haters get the fuck off the page
he is good, album is good, he could have done better tho, hope he does better on detox
DOPE
Im from the same hood he’s from and the album is weak i flat out dont like it he just does’nt have the talent.and the beats aint shit now what.
ayo first off people yall shouldnt buy music you dont fuckin understand second off look @ da fuckin title before you buy or rate hiz album this iz da trials n tribulations he goes on in hiz hood FOLLOW ME HOME hiz fuckin home iz da city ov god 1 ov da most dangerous infamous places none ov yall would want to be lol the wild out WILLEM NICKERSON GARDEN BOUNTY HUNNA BLOOD HOUSING PROJECTS so that iz what the album iz about morons lol im not just sayin this album iz good either cause he a blood this is truly a solid album for blood and for hiz freshman album yi mean first album wuz da gritty project baby life next album would be something else so for all yall crtisizing BICK BACK AND ENJOY DA RIDE TO THE NEXT ALBUM OR GET DA FUCK OF DA TOUR BUS NOW LMFAO WOOP!! WOOP!!oh yeah i agree wit dx on the rating of this album 3/out ov 4 starz.
my nigga rock album rating iz look below
OkOK
Dope
this is real rap
hardcore gangsta ish
This has a deep west coast influence and brings the nostalgia of the greats back. Jay Rock is an excellent rapper and this is a very good album.