Like fans of an aging star athlete, many hoped Jin (The Emcee) would just throw in the towel so as not to tarnish his renowned legacy as a battle rapper after his debut album, The Rest is History, flopped. But Jin had other plans, first regaining his throne with a 50 grand freestyle win in the Bahamas, and then releasing a new debut, The Emcee's Properganda. All but one track on Properganda is produced by Golden Child, a young newcomer who gives Jin's album a beautiful and classic feel. A prime example is "Foolish Little Girls" in which Golden shows a mastery of the very chipmunk soul pioneered and perfected by producers GZA and Kanye West. The conscious track also shows Jin's maturity, as he has finally progressed to where he can write songs, not just battle raps. "It's All Over" is also put together excellently, with perfectly used drums and a catchy sampled chorus. At only 16, it's evident that Golden Child has a great future in the business, and that Jin is not the only star of the album. However, the emcee does contribute impressive lyrics, and shows he retains ultimate control of his album. The raps tackle a surprisingly wide array of subjects, keeping the album interesting regardless of the production. "My First Time", Jin's attempt at "I Used to Love H.E.R.", is highly successful due a great verse and Golden's cinematic backdrop. On "No More Fans" he vents on fans that think they can be the next Jin, and on "Top 5 (Dead or Alive)" he spits his highly entertaining and relatively comprehensive history of rap. Even his club track, the Neptunes-sounding "G.O.L.D.E.N.", is actually a criticism of current rap standards and most fans' disregard of lyrics. With the help of Golden, Jin has put together an excellent collection of songs to help redefine his legacy. No longer just an out of place battle rapper, Jin belongs in the industry making records, creating his own style and carving his own niche in hip-hop.
Via Kristopher Chin
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