Give Joyner Lucas credit — he created a rollout that pairs beautifully with his album’s ADHD theme.
The road to release date goes all the way back to October 2018, when he emphatically stated his love for the money and success on “I Love.” The ensuing 18 months brought a torrential downpour of abrasive singles and big-budget videos, and both sonically and thematically, each song was more different than the last. He’s delivered lyrical miracle bars about terrorizing ADHD like the infamous Isis and dedicated a Stan song to childhood idol Will Smith, and through it all, the only constant was the steely man on the cover staring at you through his fingers.
It’s fitting, but that doesn’t mean it’s effective. Of the 18 songs on the album, a whopping nine tracks were previously released singles. Take away the four middling skits and that leaves only five new songs, of which only one — “Gold Mine” — is worth returning to. And thus, the “brand new” ADHD feels more like the end of a dreadfully long examination than anything resembling a highly-anticipated album.
Whether by design or not, Joyner’s inability to stay on track kills all possible momentum. He brings plenty of ambitious ideas, but dashes in and out so quickly that it’s hard to take any of them seriously. Every 15 minutes, a skit tries to wrangle it all back to the overarching topic of ADHD, but not once does Joyner dig deeper and actually explore the disorder that so clearly impedes any artistic development.
One might expect such revelations on the title track “ADHD,” but instead he chooses to talk up his own greatness while simultaneously self-distancing himself from all others. There’s more introspection on “I Lied,” when he admits how far he’s strayed from former promises, but it’s buried in his machine-gun flow that makes the listener duck for cover rather than lean in for a closer listen.
Ironically, the songs where he imitates mainstream flows and tropes are the album’s best moments. “Lotto” is a bonafide hit, complete with trembling strings and an infectious bounce that brings a rare moment of fun to the table. Timbaland supplies a similar bounce on “10 Bands,” and Joyner’s stutter-stop flow glides over the drums to devastating effect. And, the juxtaposition of subtle melodies and catchy flows lands with precision on “Gold Mine.”
Unfortunately, three makes on 18 tries aren’t enough to save the album. Especially when one of those misfires is the breathtakingly massive failure by the name of “Devil’s Work,” where Joyner swaps one death for another while playing judge, jury and executioner. Setting aside the mental image of Joyner stroking his beard as he decides who’s life to spare, the song is a crumbling column meant to support a colossal album, and unsurprisingly it’s not up for the task.
Combine the haughty sense of self-importance with his overwhelming desire for outside acceptance, and you have a recipe for disaster on ADHD. One thing is for certain: Whoever put the breaks on the mythical “What if I Was Gay” track deserves a badge of honor.
It’s too bad they weren’t loud enough to stop the rest of the album.
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Iv not heard the album yet so I can’t say anything. I like Joyner as I think he as a lot of potential. My only criticism is every track iv heard from him as the same type of ad libs in the background. Which can sound monotonous after a while.
I think your review is shit.
I think this is a good solid album.
Those singles were good when they released, then suddenly their not? Devils Work, Broke and Stupid and Still Cant Love are the bad songs on the album.
I strongly recommend this album to hip hop purists. It isnt Quavo type shit, I snitch nine, or the Weekend type shit. Its hip hop. Its a story. The fact that you said in your review he jumps up and down and in and out, furthers the concept of ADHD. Inability to sit still, stay focused, stay on track, gather information, spew out information as “normal” people do.
Music/Art is subjective. Opinions are individual, but yours is shit
This is slamming, love the album
Album bangs. Reviewer doesn’t know whatsup.
That album roll out marketing plan was the dumbest most annoying shit I’ve ever seen. I hope no artist in history ever thinks this is a good idea to repeat. All the best songs on this album have already been out for 2 years anyways. Whoever told Joyner this was a good idea should be fired.
This album is quality! Devils work is a classic. hes asking why the good people go and the evil stay alive, its a great point! not trying to be a judge or executioner! How did you get this job when joyners creativity is better than most in the current state of hip hop…And i like it when he talks from his OWN perspective bcuz that means hes talking REAL!!! Do the knowledge… This review should be scrapped!
Does the guy who wrote this know what A.D.H.D means? It’s all over the place because that’s what people who suffer from it are like!!
The album is fire and the video/track for Will was amazingly creative. Maybe 2 skips but it will stay in rotation.
R you kidding me with this review? The album is fire!!
Completely agree!!! Great album.
WANTED TO LIKE THIS ONE. I TRIED, BUT I COULDN’T.
Who raised the reviewer ? Album was good not great. Definitely not less than a fucking 3.
It’s a good album. The staff on this sight seem to love mumblers and bling rap. I don’t understand what they hear when the rate Tekashi and the like so highly but rappers who rap get bad reviews.
Prove it.
I heard almost half of the new Joyner album and it is str8 trash too much hippy hop beats and not enough memorable tracks. The new age rap really influenced this once shining star. If you want to listen to real rap listen to Griselda or RJ Payne. Just my honest opinion. 1star out of 5
Hi. You’re a moron. Just my honest opinion.
Have you listen to His last project? he’s not that bad. This album was decent, compared today’s overhyped talents. Also this was a experimental project, he said on the Suge Remix. Also he has memorable tracks like Will and Devils Work. It’s you opinion dude. ?
The album is ?????
Album is str8 ? who the bump wrote this review??? Personal perhaps??? Yes it issss truth coming soon. Yikes
The album is ? the review is bull ?
The album is ?
Yall hating crazy !!!!!!
Horrible review. P.S. you misspelled brakes.
Bitch.
Your review is shit. Sorry to say that but for all the effort put into this album, the rating is too low
How do you judge a record by the effort and not the outcome? I’m pretty sure Russ and Lil’Dicky, damn, every other mothafucker puts a hell of an effort into a fucking major label debut album. You can’t give a man a grammy just because HE TRIED REALY HARD, that’s some real bullshit.
‘
Lil’Dicky and Russ were played out before they ever started.
Not bad, y’all are just expecting WAAAAAAY too much out of a guy.
his concept doesn’t live up to the image of himself he created. classic ego failure. all front, no back
This site praises mumbling buffoons who promote drug abuse and emasculation while denigrating talented conceptual work with high quality lyricism and production. We must wrest the culture from the hands of these corporate owned vultures.
Yo I thought this was a solid album, really surprised to see anything below 3.
It was good but long overdue
the album is nice.
I think he’s talented. But this was lazy. Too many old songs. Nothing as creative/complex as that song about the $100 bill in his last project. He seems to be copying a lot from others. I hear a lot of Drake and logic amount others…
meh
Pretty good, interesting concept… It’s art
it looks like art if you move way back & squint
its artsy i guess
I don’t care what you rate an album usually. But the man was very transparent about leaving Atlantic with the album he was working on. Just because the songs were released a while ago doesn’t make them less great. I admit to being disappointed initially but the music on that album is solid. To lower his rating because you heard great songs a while ago is crazy. If you didn’t like most of those 8 singles then fine, that’s different. But the review seems to penalize him for leaving his label and probably having to fight to keep those singles since they’ve made money for him already
One of the best albums of the year, I’m not bothered by the fact that a lot of the track were released as singles with videos. Doesn’t make the album less fire.
2.8? Ha ha ha, what a load of BS from this site yet again. The album is at LEAST a 4/5 and probably higher.
somebody got denied an autograph. fucking hater
meh, all style no content. says so many words without adding any depth. so, music for kids who are hearing everything for the first time. shallow as hell
I ain’t even gonna…..this is boring trash
The roll out of the album was retarded but there’s really only 1 bad song on the album(10 bands) minus the skits.
Thank god the “what if i was gay” joint wasn’t on the album though.
3/5
I though the album was good overall. But I wish more rappers would go the Eric B and Rakim Paid In Full album route. Less is more! 10 classic tracks. More than that and in most cases you don’t get the bang for the buck you would expect. Loved the Will track and video! Next album should match that creativity!
Lets be honest, the album wasn’t that good. Forget the fact that half the album was released months ago, truth is, this music is just gimmicky. His last album was a classic, hands down. So many cool concepts, deep content etc. This album was full of “single video” material. I agree with one of the people above who mention that its a lot of syllables packed in with little to no content. That is very true. Stylistically, its a decent album. But overall, its a 3/5, and thats being generous
Facts and also he said this was a experimental project.
Shits hard, review is str8 BS
Filled with corn at bars, but are we really surprised considering it’s a Joyner Lucas album, he has mad potential but he needs to find his own style & drop the corny ass bars.
The guy’s lyrical AF and better than most new rappers waaaaaay more than LOGIC no offense the Will song aloneis give this guy some awards already FOR REALTHE.
If you release an album of 18 songs and the public gets only 5 new songs out of it, it’s a disservice right out the gate. And you know he did that because the youtube views of all those old songs count in the album sales. As far as the songs themselves go, they are way too gimmicky and corny. The fast rapping with absolute zero content also gets old quick. He has talent but he really needs to work on his content. 2/5
Easy to hate on something that’s been around long enough. But you self proclaimed experts give high ratings to albums that make zero impact. 2.8 is an insult for an artist better than most but you probably feel important. Ratings are one ego dude having an opinion. Glad yall still have an income.
Isn’t the literal definition of ADHD :
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that includes symptoms such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
Pretty much how the album is created and flow of the album is.
Much like the joker the film is numb of anything to do with fun and excitement or good feelings. As that’s the condition and what it feels like. It’s not made to feel nice it’s made to feel like the condition.
That’s a good excuse, let’s give you the benefit of the doubt anyway…making an album that’s purposely a mess to mesh with the title of it is fucking stupid. Now back to reality, Joyner is a dope rapper who can’t make a good album…no shame, that 99% of today’s rappers
Not an excuse… he gave you the literal definition of ADHD and gave solid evidence how it relates to the Title and the album’s content.
I think da album wuz gr8. Joyner iz a lyrical assassin & cnt 2 many otchea fuk wit da kid
Main fault wit this album that people are finding is that 9trackz have already been released what else is Joyner gone do with”em 9 songs of course his gone put”em on his album!!
Thought he was going to be a great, but nope lol.
I’m pretty shocked by all of the bad press on this album. I agree that the rollout wasn’t the best. Personally, I want a new album to be new. But the writing and cadence and thought is here in spades.
That said, the tracks with Young Thug and Chris Brown were shit IMO. That basic pop style just isn’t becoming of Joyner’s style. Same complaint with ADHD. The whiny hook was cringe and I expected a deeper dive into his experience with the disorder.
But overall, a lot of heat. ‘I lied’ ‘ISIS’ ’10 bands’ ‘Revenge’ ‘Broke and Stupid’ ‘Lotto’ ‘I love’ ‘Devil’s work’.
I’m happy with it.
I honestly don’t understand the people that claim that their was not content on the album. It contains more content than the average modern rapper packs into an album, but I guess that opinion is based off of Joyner’s old work. Personally, I do not think the release of the album was as effective as it could have been because we got as many skits as new songs, and this has made some people resent the whole project because of that. However, I enjoyed every released single pre-album drop, and the new songs were not complete garbage. I understand why he did the rollout the way that he did (to maintain relevance while creating an album), but it would have been more effective if there were more new songs released. Overall I still give it a 4/5.
One of the best indie album to come out this year. If anything’s wack here, it’s Kenan Draughorne short sighted thoughts.
Crazy how disconnected these journalist are. This is the best hip hop albums I’ve heard in years. I would love to know what albums they think are better.
Y’all are high giving this 2.5 stars while the Lil’ Pumps of the world are getting platinum records? This is a great album!