Album Review - “4824” by WhoIsJovie
Rap veterans are an interesting breed, masters of their craft, synchronized with their trademark sound, the greatest poets of our lifetimes, but often relegated to exclusively speaking their truth or passing knowledge to a new generation who would do anything else but listen to the hard-earned wisdom of their seniors. On #WhoIsJovie’s latest album, 4824, we find the Detroit emcee plagued with this burden but finding a way to remain one of the game’s most prolific lyricists, smooth talkers, and a dying breed of wisdom-filled artists with enough savvy to stay entertaining and driven.
For those looking to enjoy a master of the hip-hop craft, take beats to task, then look no further than this tape. Designed as an on-a-whim project, the concept of the tape is in the title, 4824, angel numbers rooted in the idea that our purpose and beliefs are operated and guided by spiritual forces or guardian angels.
While the tape centers around this idea of guardian angels guiding Jovie, with titles like “Angel” centering around the emcee reflecting on his journey, in actuality, the project could make the argument for Jovie himself being the guardian angel for up-and-coming artists, as he often uses this tape as a way to explain how to avoid unnecessary pitfalls, and help others avoid making the same mistake twice or career slips that may have plagued him.
The project is relatively short, only lasting around 15 minutes in total. But during those 15 minutes, listeners are treated to the anthology of a man who dined with kings at the top and hung around the bottom of the slums.
While usually an emcee capable of crafting witty lines, Jovie, for much of this project, keeps his message clear with lines like “Can’t please everybody, some people can’t be pleased. I got lifelong lessons I learned back as a teen, carry em’ till today, then pass down to my seed.”
For this project, the former lyricist of the year speaks to viewers with an energy stern with past warnings and gratefulness for his lifelong journey. It’s perhaps the perfect yin-yang of his life that he hopes you can appreciate with him as his story unfolds.
Regarding his artistry, Jovie’s flow is still buttery smooth, making every line feel poetic in its delivery. This is evident in songs like “Head Up,” where his penmanship makes the three-minute track feel near journalistic due to his ability to cruise without skipping a step.
Overall, you will find yourself cruising to each track as Jovie strikes the proper balance of lyrical and teaching without being corny or preachy. The beats complement the artists as each track becomes Sunday afternoon levels smooth, and by the end, you will find yourself playing the tape over on repeat.
