There’s no debating that Joyner Lucas is a gifted technical lyricist. Whether or not you find him engaging, think he’s corny, believe he’s the G.O.A.T., or feel he inspires nothing more than ambivalence is beside the point. On a pure level of rap mechanics, he’s highly proficient.
Whether he’s shit-talking, going after wack MCs in the game (basically all of them, in his opinion), lamenting dissolved relationships, or railing against the phony aesthetics that he views as a plague of modernity, he does so eloquently and cleverly — especially on his new album, Not Now I’m Busy.
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On his second studio LP, Lucas is hellbent on proving that he is both the best and wildly overlooked. He’s been betrayed, but he perseveres. He’s tougher, stronger, smarter and happier than everyone else, but man, does he have a lot to complain about. Despite the Massachusetts rapper’s lyrical pyrotechnics, this is an album that turns the world into his own vacuum, relegating everyone else to supporting actors at best. It’s hollow, and when it’s not, it’s actively vindictive. The bars may be hot, but Not Now I’m Busy is not much fun at all.
The moment that best exemplifies this is the sprawling, nearly-operatic “Broski.” It tells the story of a dear friend of Joyner’s, one who’s been by his side since the MC was six years old. He spells out their relationship during the track’s beginning: “Today, I had a conversation with one of my bros/ My homie, he’s been close to me since we were six years old/ He calls my mama, ‘Mom,’ he seen all of my highs and lows.”
Joyner Lucas outlines the evolution of their relationship, before his supposed friend starts asking for things. He recalls his pal saying: “I quit my job ’cause I don’t wanna work for no other n-ggas/ What maybe works for some, don’t work for some other n-ggas/ Yeah, they pay good, but you know I’m a stubborn n-gga/ Plus, I know you got my back, right?” It’s annoying, and it seems like Lucas’ friend is taking advantage of him, but this slight makes Lucas so mad it fuels the entire album.
On “Sticks & Stones,” which features Conway The Machine and finds Joyner Lucas spitting over a Griselda type beat — one of the more impressive chameleonic efforts on the LP — the latter continues to rail against perceived enemies. He spits: “I’ve seen my own family stab my back, I should’ve known/ They say sticks and stones’ll break your bones, I’m sticks and stones/ I wish I could pick up phones, but…”
Holding a grudge can be satisfying, but just pick up the phone, man. The pain isn’t worth it.
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RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2024
RECORD LABEL: Twenty Nine Music Group
Listen to Not Now I’m Busy below:
