At the 2015 BET Awards, during a time in America when racially-charged crimes in Charleston, South Carolina have sparked protests for unarmed black citizens, Jidenna and Janelle Monáe’s performance of “Classic Man” was a political statement. They referenced the 1968 sanitation workers’ strike in Memphis, utilizing a group of men who hung signs that read “I AM A CLASSIC MAN” around their necks, and gave them a respectable salute. After Kendrick Lamar’s stunning performance of “Alright” on top of a vandalized police car earlier in the evening, it was that moment the mainstream realized Jidenna was fearless when it came to speaking up about issues.
Two years later, Jidenna became the epitome of a classic man with his bespoke suits. As he was putting together his Epic Records debut, The Chief, he explored his past experiences growing up in order to better himself as a black man living in an uncertain world. “That’s the beautiful thing about a debut album, it takes a lifetime to write that first work of art,” he tells HipHopDX. “It really just chronicles me trying to understand what it means to be a man. To go from ‘Classic Man,’ to ‘[Long Live] The Chief,’ those are two types and they can be the same man. Those are two perspectives on manhood.”
While most of us in our 20s fight the feeling of ending up like our parents, Jidenna embraces his Nigerian roots and values every lesson his father has taught them. The Chief was released on the anniversary of his father’s death; a proper dedication to someone he later admits had a “love/hate” relationship with. “As a Nigerian boy, you have to make sure you honor the one that brought you in because you realize when you get older, you realize your parents—they were just a man, just a woman, trying to make it happen for you and doing the best they can,” he says later at an album release show in New York City, which introduced his head-nodding banger, “Long Live the Chief.”
The dapper singer/rapper parallels his journey to manhood and paying respects to his father through narration by Comedian MC/host Chief Obi, who plays his uncle. But it’s clear The Chief is just a sample platter of what’s been on his mind lately. Over bombastic production by Mike Will Made-It, “Helicopters / Beware” is about “they” shooting you down when “you’re shining bright,” referencing the uptick of police-related deaths on African Americans. “I done seen ‘em, kill ‘em in broad day/If I die, today’s my holiday,” he raps with conviction. Jidenna continues the theme on a more sophisticated scale on “White Niggas,” which imagines a “put yourself in my shoes” scenario where white crime is discussed in the same tone as black crime. The album also ends on “Bull of the Earth,” an elegant orchestral track with a subtle dig at President Donald Trump and the political climate right now. (“We won’t hail to the new king/As the political mood swings/Everybody showin’ true colors/Like a motherfuckin’ mood ring.”)
Most new artists aren’t rebelling for a good cause like Jidenna is. Part of his appeal is being multidimensional as an artist, and his political lyrics are certainly a subsequent part of his narrative. But The Chief doesn’t deliver a cohesive message, as the rest of the album is peppered with songs aimed at radio dominance like Trampoline,” “Bambi,” and “Little Bit More”. For Jidenna, who comes from a school of spectacle, he’s a performer first and an album’s artist second. You can tell when he’s tapping into his West African influences to make new waves in pop, Hip Hop, and R&B that how these songs are presented live are important to him.
The Chief could have been in the same orbit as Solange’s A Seat at the Table and Beyoncé’s Lemonade as an ode to the black experience and championing empowerment. It lacks the punch and poignancy those projects have, leaving Jidenna to present us with a body of work characterized by his singles rather than his message. While The Chief sets him up for a more focused sophomore effort, Jidenna’s genre-hopping album is merely a sliver of his versatility as an entertainer.
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LOL right??
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Honestly. This probably is the most interesting and best produced rap album in at least 2 years.
wait… what? How is this a rap album.
Nah…hhdx trippin…this album is bangin. Its good all around. Idk what yall listenin to
I thought this album was fire and I disagree with the comment about lack of cohesion.
After Reading This Article I Went Back And Listen To The Album Again, Can’t Agree With Whoever Wrote This Article, I’m Glad To See All These Comments In Here With People Know What Real Music Sounds Like. The Album Is Straight Fire By The Way
This is HIPHOPdx right? More rapping, less sing-songy BULLSHIT!!! This album is BULLSHIT!!!
Preach.
This album was good af!!! i showed it to 2 friends at work who had never heard of Jidenna before (both old school hip hop heads)…they been bangin this shit all week! Flames!
I don’t care what people say… this album is hard as hell its a breath of fresh air and different from the bullshit.
It’s all over place, all over the RIGHT places!! This album is fuego. As a listener of hip hop, reggae, soca, afrobeats and all other genres from the African Diaspora I’m happy we have someone who can deliver this project. And for my hip hop heads “Long live the Chief” as a standalone is banging on anyone’s record right now.
Not sure if this guy actually listened the album or just skimmed through it. Amazing album with the perfect mix political/social views and fun music.
The album was Af, mad production and even had some crazy Bars don’t know what else you need to do to get a better review after a solid project like this
Are you crazy. There is one special Album where the rapper doesn’t talk Bullshit and you rate it a 3.7/5 ?? I think those trash talk Rappers dulled you. This Album is one of the greatest and most special i have heard in a long Time. 5/5
Are you crazy. This is one special Album without and I think those trash talk Rappers dulled you. This Album is so special. Pure Fire! Jidenna should get the fame he deserves
First Album i got a physical copy of since 7 years. I really recommend this Album- The reviewer got listen to that album again. It has all but a lack of cohesion
Give that Man ah Grammy . His Album gave me earwigs all the way!
Jidenna’s whole album slays! Bambi, Helicopters and especially White Ni**** are so great. This Album has heart!! On repeat!
Eric brah, listen to that Album again, but listen closeley this time. This Album is pure Gold.. Jidennas Music is special and those Tracks are killin it on different levels. Thats not a lack of cohesiveness bro.
This album was worth the wait. I love that Jidenna has his own sound and created his own lane. The fact that “Bambi”, “The Let Out”, and ” Long Live The Chief” sound distinctly different in style, but are all equally dope songs shows Jidenna’s versatility as an artist. That is rare in hip-hop today b/c everybody is making the same songs right now.
I fucking love this album. It’s creative, emotional, it has great storytelling, and you can dance to it.
3.7? Wow, that is an upsetting rating that I do not understand. But Hey… This is a 5 to me! Excellent album.
Great Album!
LOVE this Album!
Super sicc
5/5. This is the best album I have heard all year, by far!
shitty review. 5/5 classic album from classic Jidenna the chief of music
dope album. the hottest shit out there. copped it & been bumping all day long.
Dope project. At this point, I only read HipHopDX reviews to see how far they are removed from real listeners.
If you don’t like this album you don’ t know shit about lyricists and real hip-hop, Jidenna takes it back to a time where dope beats and lyrics whats was important instead of the “hook”
How the fuck is this hip hop?
Classic Album!
One of the best Albums in a long Time. dont know what you listened to Eric?! Come on, this is so dope! 5/5!
Lyrics are fire
This album is so real and versatile. What the hell are you talking about cohesiveness? The shit these rappers are talking about is cohesive!
No this Album is soooo good! An instant classic in my opinion
What’s your definition of a classic?
No way this is a 3,7/5. Best stuff i have heard in a while!! Bambi is killin’ it. But the other tracks are dope too
Solid work. This Album is lava!!!
#NotHipHop DQ
Just amazing Album. Those tracks are dope!
Just listened to this Album. Absolute Amazing and different! Recommend!
How is it different?
Great Music. Some really Good Tracks. Give that man some awards.
some okay music. we’ll see if he wins awards
I rate it a 5 out of 5. Cant stop listening to this Album. Versatile as F****
I gave it one play and won’t be listening to it again.
Smart and great on many Levels! Amazing 5/5
Jidenna and Wondaland records achieved sth great with this Album. Really Different! Wow
The best i ve heard in a long time. Every Track is really good so far
Only really good?
How did this get reviewed on Hiphopdx?
Simply put, this is a great album. It feels fresh start to finish. Well done Jidenna
His song is called “Bully of the Earth” not Bull. His music was not made for radio play lol it’s made out of love of music. There’s so many influences on this album of genres all over the world other than Nigeria! Did you listen to this while you were busy cleaning your house or something?? I almost wrecked listening to this on the highway. Give my man some credit. He threaded this through beautifully. It wasn’t rushed, nor is he over polluting the airwaves with useless-ness. You can actually build lessons and teach off this material…or do you only like to hear about strippers and blowing money on here -_-
They didnt put classic man on the album? that was dumb. dope album tho
Rating it 4
Dope Album! Versatile
album is dope. reviewers/bloggers always get it wrong because they want to seem knowledgable. lol
Really Good. Bad Review
Good Review. Really Bad.
Just amazing..Great Album!
Came to a hip hop site and see this
Just great. Those new Hip Hop Fools dont know what hip Hop is about. Lil Yachti idiots
How is this album Hip Hop?
Amazing. On repeat all the Time. Jidenna is a beast
I couldn’t get through it one time.
Gonna buy the Cd. Totally worth it. Versatile and fresh!
Can’t Stop listening to this!
Barely got through one play for me
3,37 is a joke. Best stuff ive heard in a while. Give that man a Grammy.
Great and versatile! this is music not to be ashamed of , listening to
The chief dont run, he makes great Album. Amazing Debut
Not really feeling this album, he needs to stick with one genre and perfect it.
Less is more. This is more.
by far the best ive heard this year.
It was different and the music was definitely on point. One of the most underrated talent out here for sure.
Underrated and a great talent! 5 out of 5
Perhaps the best album of this year!
Good Album, great Artist! thx Jidenna
give that man the attention he deserves!
5/5
The only thing this Album lacks is Attention. Great new Artist
Album is average at best not sure why so many people here are gassed about it. Not even sure why its being reviewed here.
Doesn’t live up to the hype to me
Fearless? This dude is scared of dark brothers jacking him, he’s got to be strapped because people think he’s mixed and has money.
take the advice of your name and fuck outtahere with that bullshit review
I tried to like it, but corny to me. Really well put together with endless amounts of talent and money but nothing rings thru with any soul to me.
This album is deep you need to listen through it a few times. Track 11 is my favorite.
Looked for the review of this album to understand why the buzz for it isn’t so crazy and now I get…
3.7 ?…. how?….. so if the songs aren’t preaching about drugs, bitches and money then its a bad album?…
Nah… this album is way too versital and obviously very properly put together for this review…
Best Album in Years
I’m not getting how every single person saying that this is just good album or better are giving it a 5/5, barring the one person that gave it a 4 (but then again, I do get it as it is a really good album and this guy does have talent). But what I don’t get even more so is with the people that are saying this is just a good or worse album giving it just a 1/5? There are people here who are critical of the album, but there are really people saying this is good but giving it a 1/5?! It completely distorts the community rating! And for the people being critical of the album, none of you are even justifying why you think this is bad, other than it is not hip-hop? How do you explain tracks like Chief Don’t Run, Long Live The Chief and 2 Points? Definitely not rap, are they? And for the people saying this is not different, there are elements of blues, soul, rap, hip-hop, R&B and reggae on this album, he’s taking inspiration from many genres of music all over the world. I know people will come out and say that Drake did just that with VIEWS and More Life as well, but Jidenna’s attempt comes across as more real and sincere with exploring his mixed heritage and culture throughout the album. His experimentation with genres and with how frequently he switches everything up reminds me of Anderson.Paak’s “Malibu”, where Paak constantly was switching between funk, soul, disco, R&B, rap and that one song that sounded like surfing music. Not many artists are brave enough to do that throughout the course of their album. With the way Jidenna constructs the album around the themes he explores and the genres he implements does make this different from most other projects and a refreshing listen. Having said that, I don’t think this is the best project of the year as others are saying, and time will tell if this gets hailed as a classic. But at the very least, this is a 4/5 album.
The album is as classic as Jidenna is. Bambi always on repeat. I take it as my lullaby