Jim Jones could teach a class on longevity in Hip-Hop. One of Harlem’s godfathers has been steadily dropping music since he stepped out with The Diplomats in the early 2000s. Sure, there have been label changes, public feuds, fallouts, and underperforming albums, but Capo has never stopped dropping his brand of perfectly poignant rap music.
Take this past summer’s Lobby Boyz album with Maino as an example. The project was well received by critics and fans alike for its traditional New York grit, grind and gusto. But his latest offering sounds a little different from the normal Timberland-tapping listeners are used to. Instead, it’s easy, breezy and sounds like what you’d get if you sent a mid-40s Harlem hustler on a laid-back Miami vacation.
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Back In My Prime is Jones’ latest album, a complete eight-track collaboration with Hitmaka. Hitmaka, for those who don’t recall, is also known as Yung Berg. Berg, of course, had more downs than ups with the lyrical part of his career, but isn’t screwing around with the ProTools. His production credits from 2010 onward are impressive to say the least and would appear to be a perfect pairing for Jones to get off some laidback lines about love, life, and aging like a fine bodega 40oz.
To get the best snapshot into how Miami-mode Jones is living, feeling and thinking, “Status Update” tells the best tale. Just under three minutes of reminiscent rhymes over Berg’s soulful production brings listeners up to date with a Jones that sounds at peace with his journey thus far. He even touches on The Diplomats and where things stand in present day: “I be in the streets, they be asking where Juelz at? I want to know the real reason he fell back” as well as “it’s hard for me and Cam to see eye to eye, I love him I still hug him but when I see him, it’s “hi and bye.” It’s kind of crazy, I thought it was ride or die. Next subject.”
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These few lines obviously turn heads and garner the most tweets, but there is plenty more on this album to dive into than good ol’ gangster gossip. For starters, the intro track “Gunshot” delivers some traditionally boastful bars from Jones like “You know I’m good with all the killers and the shottas dem/So tell ’em be cool ‘fore I throw somethin’ hot at them.” Sounds familiar, right?
The biggest difference is that these rhymes are laid over a Caribbean canvas thanks to Hitmaka. KRS-One’s “Step Into a World” is mixed with some patois passages from BEAM. The tough talk tone is set to let you know it’s still Jones but with a cool island breeze under his wings instead of the usual harsh Northeastern wind.
As for the remainder of the album, Jones takes it all the way down; to the bottom of his heart to be exact. With the exception of “Bet It All” with Benny The Butcher, Jones plays for the ladies. “F U Better” featuring Jeremih, “YKTV” with Ty Dolla $ign, “First Plug” with Pleasure P, “Let It Go” with Tink and “I Am” with Stefflon Don are all love songs.
Well, love songs might actually be a bit of a stretch, but Jones is talking to all his lovers; past, present and future. With the help of Hitmaka’s smooth production, everyone’s voice sounds silky, expressive and downright catchy. You could probably sum up this collection of songs with a few lines he swindles on “I Am”: “It’s gettin’ closer/My player days are over/Maybe not completely/All jokes aside, girl, you know that you complete me.“
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These few songs are by no means revolutionary, but it is a change of pace for Jones, who usually likes to break up his player ballads with gritty gun bars just to remind the haters and losers that he’s still in the streets. This time around though, Jones is less MAC-10 and more Mack Daddy.
When the 25-minute run time is said and done, all that listeners are left with is faith that Jim Jones is comfortable with his place in Hip Hop. He’s been in the game for over 20 years and still attempts to put his best bars forward year after year – commendable. That said, don’t be fooled by this album’s title, Jones isn’t necessarily “back in his prime” but it’s a quick listen with standard beats and rhymes from one of Hip Hop’s most beloved characters. Harlem hustlers never die… they move to Miami and make playboy rap albums with Hitmaka.
