Album Review - “In My Bag” by WhoisJovie

The Detroit hip-hop scene has long lacked a key element to its already-impactful roster of verbal showboaters. Whether it’s the all-too-familiar cash talk or gun-play rap that the city has become accustomed to speaking on, there’s always been a critical element missing within the city’s soundscape. With the release of #WhoisJovie’s latest project, In My Bag, he correctly injects the game with its key missing piece. Him. 

What’s the difference between a good verse and a great verse? 

What’s the difference between a good flow and a great flow?

What’s the difference between a good rapper and a great rapper?

If you’re asking these questions, then this project is the answer. In My Bag by #WhoIsJoviefor lack of better terms, the difference maker between good and great. He boldly draws the lines and finds a way to make each bar feel fun, stout, underratedly-funny, and impressive. 

On this project, #WhoisJovie is a man of 1,000 flows. While on paper, each line can run the risk of being butchered by your average Joe. However, Jovie’s ability to make each beat break, bend, and whirl on his whim is the most impressive feat of this project. 

“Applied the Pressure, Arrived Together, Fly as a Feather, mind on my mozzarella. I’m next, I got it from now till forever.” Boasts Jovie on “Meet Da Connect.” A brilliant line that even while typing out, I butchered the flow and cadence Jovie effortlessly dished out. 

 The return of #WhoisJovie is a welcomed sight as the veteran emcee proves his high-quality penmanship is still one of the sharpest in the game. This is evident in songs like “No Breaks.” Where the emcee takes a cool-collected beat, highlighted by a whistling tune, and flips each bar on its head with what I can only describe as impeccable breath control.

“They playing checkers, we talkin’ bout chess over here, no worries, no stress, we just blessed over here, just stepped over fear, took steps to get here, and if you ain’t steppin with us, please step to the rear.” 

Across ten tracks, Jovie lays out several well formatted lyrically dense verses, where he takes each beat to the proverbial kumite and puts together a rapping masterclass. While each instrumental is showstopping in its own right, one can argue that the emcee makes these beats stand out. 

A lesser emcee could toe the line between falling on their face or simply making these beats feel boring or downright repetitive. Jovie not only succeeds in highlighting these tracks, but he also makes them feel like they would sound displaced in anyone else's hands.

Overall, this album feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s undoubtedly cool, like driving down the street on a summer day (Duck Sauce). At times it’s cinematic like a scorsese mafia flick (No Breaks), and at times its reflective in all the best ways (What I Done). Overall, this project is necessary for the culture of hip-hop and the necessary breath of fresh air for Detroit rap.