Elzhi has been one of Hip Hop’s preeminent MCs for over a decade, but his reputation has faded in recent years. A memorable run as part of Slum Village paired with his breakthrough solo debut (2008’s The Preface) and the universally acclaimed Elmatic project had many Hip Hop heads thinking he was on his way to becoming an all-time great. But sometimes, life gets in the way of such things.
For Elzhi, a difficult bout with depression and a botched Kickstarter campaign derailed much of his momentum. When his second LP, Lead Poison, finally arrived in 2016, the fan fervor was noticeably diminished. But his new album has everything necessary to reignite the flames of his torchbearer status.
Jericho Jackson, a collaborative LP with producer Khrysis, is a return to form for the Detroit native. Lead Poison, good as it is, was clearly created by a man with a cloud of depression hanging over him. Jericho Jackson, on the other hand, is brimming with the confidence from his earlier work. Elzhi is back to pulling out all the stops as a writer, penning intricate rhymes, telling colorful stories and flipping tropes in unique ways.
“Breguets” is the prime example of his capabilities with its overwhelming verbal fireworks. Elzhi puts on a masterclass in lyricism, dropping gems like “You claim you flames when that’s only hail/ What I spit out in the booth is the fountain of youth inside the Holy Grail” and “It turns a gorilla into a chimpanzee/ A pansy who won’t attempt plan B if plan A fail/ They land straight shells, keep it a hunnid/ Life is grand, stay well.”
The lyrical tour de forces are Jericho Jackson’s common threads, but the introspection of his last album also carries over here. The aptly-named “Overthinking” is filled with the “what ifs” of his career, recalling his wrong turns in the industry that still keep him up at night. Elzhi’s strong sense of distrust is also apparent, explored at great length in “F.R.I.E.N.D.S.” — characterizing his fake friends as enemies in disguise — and to a lesser degree in “To-Do List.”
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Sonically, Khrysis plays to Elzhi’s strengths by employing boom bap beats. The Jamla Records producer fashions a sound that’s essentially a mix of the sample-based music he’s been cultivating since the Justus League’s glory days (e.g. Little Brother at its height) and Elzhi-era Slum Village.
The star of the show is the rapping, so Khrysis acts more like the Scottie Pippen to Elzhi’s Michael Jordan. He doesn’t produce anything bombastic here, sticking mainly to lowkey production that allows Elzhi’s bars to shine brightest while connecting songs with some well-placed audio clips. He does get to flex a bit though, such as his flip of Lafayette Afro Rock Band’s “Darkest Light” (famously sampled by JAY-Z and Public Enemy) on the lead single “Self Made.”
For Khrysis, Jericho Jackson is just another quality release in a career filled with consistency. But for Elzhi, it’s redemption. It’s the album everyone was expecting him to make two years ago. Fans who lost faith in him need only listen to this LP to reaffirm their appreciation for his artistry.
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Had no idea he had a new album… Elzhi is one of the most underrated of all time. Great review
Not Elite though
Yep
Currently listening, he’s got that Elmatic flow going on its a decent offering
Love Elzhi but this production is almost insufferable
Elzhi is so fucking dope but not gonna lie the beats were pretty meh to me, none of them stuck in my head at all
Listen to wizville by ocean wisdom that dropped today it’s a million times better
Even has a method man feature
Big props to both these nigguhs , Been listening to em for a long while and they still going hard! Hip Hop
Uhhhhhh, Lead Poison was hot.
Elzhi tha shit!!! He can suck my dick any day!!!
Cuffin Season, Self Made, Seventeen are all incredible. The whole album is filled with lyrical gems and great beats, album of the year so far.
I love the lyrics, the beats are not the best but, El really proves once again that he’s at the very top with MC skills.
Elzhi is incredible. This is how hip hop is supposed to sound and be like.
this has got to be the most bangin’ ass album that i’ve heard in my life. Elzhi & Khrysis delivered us some heat.
This is what hip hop needed: dope lyricism. Production could be better, but i don’t even mind.
Solid project!! Need I say more?!
Sweet album, real hip hop style
This album is really good but I wouldn’t knock Lead Poison that was a work of art.
Was surprisingly disappointed in the beats. eLZhi is an Alien. REALLY believe he can put Eminem under pressure.
Classic conscious hip-hop album from a highly underrated emcee that’s been in the game for years and never went cold…. Always on fire. El-matic
Suprsingly, thought the production could’ve been better. Sounded more like a rapper getting beats from a single producer than the cohesiveness of a true rapper/producer album like prhyme and rsxgld. El is insane though, always
Elite lyricism no doubt with cool laid back production. 4.5 stars
Solid album , I’ve listened through a few times now.
Haven’t listened to any Elzhi records before this, but after this I definitely plan on listening to more.
you’re in for a treat sir! listen to elmatic lead poison the preface all them shits
Big Ups El, youve come along way..Please re release The Breakfast Club EP…”Sarah”…Sup Khrysis nice to hear from u again…Peace from LA…
i dont get the reference to him “reestablishing” himself as a elite emcee . didnt he just drop lead poison? that wasnt elite enough?
Exactly what I was thinking
Dope album. He just got a new fan!
First of all Lead Poison was mostly an ILL album! Wish it had a few harder banger type beats but it was a great project.
Elzhi is one of the GOAT emcees ever period! He’s and emcees emcee like BlackThought PharoaheMonch AZ MastaAce Eminem Royce G-Rap OneBeLo Tonedeff Locksmith Common BigPun BigL Rakim to name a few and this ILL project continues to show that!
Elzhi has been in my personal Top10 somewhere for a decade and he was ILl from 98-08 also
Gotta give this a 5 for Elzhi’s skill alone it’s prob a 4.5 in realty.
Follow me on twitter @SuperDopeHipHop I love talking about ILL emcees like Elzhi!
5/5 One of Elzhi’s strongest projects.
Elzhi is incredible as always. I find the production boring, never been a fan of krysis ear. None of these beats are fire. IMO. Lead Poison has brilliant eclectic music. This joint don’t, simply put.
Elzhi is one of the Greatest lyricists EVER
best album of the year so far. only jays 444 and joey badass all amerikkkan album are better in the last 2 years
them shits u mentioned is trash boi
Ish is hella dope
Elzhi is a beast but I’m a little disappointed in Khrysis. This could’ve been an epic collabo but the beats are mediocre and uninspiring
Elzhi=G.O.A.T and in the future. Love the Jericho Jackson. Khrysis, we need more bangers! I know in time….in time. 5/5 yall keep doin ya thang.
Lead Poison was/is a great album. Hell y’all talkin’ bout?
Elzhi is dope af but I just wanted more out of this album