The two words that are immediately synonymous with “The Next Level” are ‘aggressive’ and ‘variation’. Every track on this release is completely different from the last, and considering this weighs in at 18 songs (minus the odd intermission or two) that’s no small feat. If you’re going to use a song with the name ‘Cock As Fuck’ as your opener then you walk the very narrow tightrope between flopping like a cheap Asda pastry and actually coming good on your claims. Well surprisingly enough, J. Karma actually delivers. Whilst it certainly has elements and songs that are full of the stuff, it’s not your typical braggadocio angry hip-hop album. Even though I’m quite partial to that sort of release as well, it always pays to have some variety.
The dichotomy between the content is ridiculous. J.Karma seamlessly goes from a completely unapologetic and realistic look at life on the road and white powder distribution with ‘Over Here Feat. Tommy Bones & Little Dee’ (two MCs who both shine in equal measure on this track) to ‘Big Money’, a song all about the pitfalls of the drugs game. The irony really isn’t lost on the on the MC, and you really can’t hate on the dude’s self-aware narrative throughout the album.
Now don’t get it fucked up and think J.Karma is one of those rappers that relies only on shock and violent content just to get recognised (I’m not talking about some bullshit Odd Future ting son). This is simply an album that sometimes deals with the darker side of things. It’s not a solely introspective, ark, realistic or bragging release. It’s all of it, and even though it came out last summer it’s already found itself in my top 5 2012 albums thus far.
Get yourself some decent music. Another banger from your manz Tricksta.
Stand-Out Tracks: Big Money, Is This It?, Don’t Need You, Let Me Break It Down.
Recommended If You Like: Immortal Technique, Chronic Redye, Jaz Kahina, Cash.
01. Intro
02. Cocky As Fuck
03. Over Here Feat. Tommy Bones & Little Dee
04. Follow Me
05. Is That It?
06. Big Money
07. Intermission I
08. Round And Round
09. On Fire
10. Complete
11. Neveragain
12. Intermission II
13. Keep Pushin’ Feat. Franko Fraize
14. Don’t Need You
15. Raw Feat. Reds & DPF
16. Let Me Break It Down
17. Sick With The Mic Feat. Jammin Kane
Tracks 3 and 15 Produced by Mrs Dark (aka Darkhorse)
Download links:
http://jkarma.bandcamp.com/album/the-next-level-free-download
http://www.downloadamixtape.com/?page_id=195&mixtape_id=2204
JKarma@live.com
www.jkarma.bandcamp.com
www.youtube.com/JKarmaTV
www.twitter.com/JKarmaArtist
www.soundcloud.com/JKarma
www.twitter.com/parkstreetpr
www.parkstreetpr.co.uk
info@parkstreetpr.co.uk
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