When it comes to east coast rap, it is inevitable to have that term synonymous with its historic birthplace, New York City. Other places on the Atlantic Seaboard, like New Jersey, have been mildly successful in establishing fame under the shadows of the NYC, thanks to powerhouse acts such as The Fugees, Redman and Naughty by Nature. Shawn Jackson (a Providence-based rapper who sounds eerily like Rhymefest) is intent on putting his beloved state of Rhode Island on the Hip Hop map with the release of his debut album.
First of All is a pseudo-concept album that revolves around the night of Shawn‘s sold-out performance in Los Angeles, complete with hilarious skits and cameo appearances. With the majority of the album’s songs overseen by Mekalek, a burgeoning producer who laces sample-heavy tracks for other Rhode Island emcees such as Time Machine, Jahpan and Fedd Hill, Jacko‘s full-length effort promises listeners with bangin’ beats alongside the bangin’ lyrics. The result is a surprisingly enjoyable listening experience that hints at the scope of the rapper’s ambition and his desire for mainstream acceptance.
The album starts off with members of the crowd eager to enter the LA venue to see Shawn Jack do his thing and the overzealous bouncer (effortlessly played with deadpan accuracy by the artist himself) who refuses to give his hyped-up fans any slack. “How Ya Feel??” also features a brief appearance by Double K (of PUTS fame) who gives Shawn a small pep talk before he energetically bumrushes the stage (and rips the subsequent song to shreds). The aforementioned track is a good indicator of what one ought to expect on the rest of the journey, with Shawn displaying his grown-up approach to emceeing with humor, confidence and swagger over Mekalek‘s laid-back instrumentals.
Not content with merely pleasing the underground constituents with clever wordplay, Shawn peppers the rest of the album with satisfying guest vocalists to aid him in becoming universally accepted. For example, “Soopafly” and “Go There with You” feature the smooth R&B crooning of Ty (of Ty and Cory) alongside Jacko‘s witty lyrics ranging from his allegiance to the Red Sox and making money to his careful examination of the current state of Hip Hop. Beloved and Comel of Time Machine also aid in his desire for cuties (and greatness) on the effervescent “Gold Medal Kids”. Last but not least, Jacko and Guilty Simpson make for an ill combination on “Strategies” as they discuss their mission to become Rap’s “Next Big Thing”.
The biggest drawback of the album can be attributed to not necessarily his rhyme skills but his particular choice of hooks. On “Feeling Jack,” the Rhode Island emcee blazes through an enjoyable narrative that is dragged down by the annoying chorus that leaves the listener feeling “jack s**t”. Also, “Hate Down” and “Maan Up!” are examples of great songs that lose their inevitable charm, thanks to Shawn‘s exaggerated ’70s-era singing that borders on sounding more laughable than it is entertaining.
Undaunted by the long journey ahead, Shawn Jackson is an emcee poised to break free from obscurity with the release of his debut full-length, First of All. The album’s premise (i.e., a packed concert in Los Angeles) is entertaining and captures the artist’s ambition of becoming famous beyond the borders of his home state (and his New York-centric coast, for that matter). He is smart enough to team up with guest rappers and singers who complement his “grown man” lyrical style but not yet refined enough in making the best hooks to truly reach the next level. Nevertheless, this is a wonderful start for the Providence native and a shining testament to talented east coast emcees who reside outside of the Tri-State area.
