A Written Testimony is one hell of a promising effort that was well worth the wait. The skillset of Jay Electronica as both an MC and a producer is on full display.
As an album and summation of why so many people have revered Jay Electronica for so long, A Written Testimony was absolutely worth the wait. Let’s just hope the next one arrives sometime this decade.
“A Written Testimony” offers ample proof that none of us ever overestimated his talent, but the man behind the curtain remains as mysterious as ever. It’s nice to see that some things haven’t changed.
‘A Written Testimony’ is a 39-minute, 10-track project that offers all the usual Jay Electronica tropes: complex rhyming patterns, double and triple entendre, lyrics across various languages laid over psychedelic production with minimal drums. Electronica excels on a technical level throughout. Yet, while this is the most anyone has heard from him musically in over a decade, there’s a sense of reticence throughout the LP.
In a world of mumble rap and amidst a massive release from Lil Uzi Vert in the same week this album is a lyrical refresher for the hip-hopIn a world of mumble rap and amidst a massive release from Lil Uzi Vert in the same week this album is a lyrical refresher for the hip-hop genre. It allows for a new generation to learn from the patience and articulation Jay Electronica expresses here with the help of Jay Z. This is 100% a joint album between the two and an effort to spread the teachings of the Nation of Islam while also smoothly skating on incredible beats. Jay Elec himself produced most of the songs while The Alchemist, No-ID, Hit Boy and Swizz Beats lend a hand. The lyricism and production is unlike anything mainstream music has heard since Freddie Gibbs and Madlib's "Bandana". It was well worth the 10 year wait for this album and it will for sure be on repeat for the underground and dedicated listener. Jay Elec also positioned himself back into the underground by not including Jay Z on the track list which for some came as a nice surprise. For others who may only give this album a glance, without Hov's name on the track list they may skip over it whereas they may have jumped on it with his name attached.…Expand
This album was the most immaculate project that i've heard and definitely one of the best albums that i've ever heard throught this entireThis album was the most immaculate project that i've heard and definitely one of the best albums that i've ever heard throught this entire year. Jay Electronica and Jay-Z were the perfect match for each other. also the production on this album was top notch from start to finish and mostly the lyricism on this project was on point. This LP was definitely worth the wait.…Expand
Great production (mostly) but occasionally raps sound disconnected from melody and a distraction. Well worth repeated listens as each revealsGreat production (mostly) but occasionally raps sound disconnected from melody and a distraction. Well worth repeated listens as each reveals more from production.…Expand
This album is so beautiful and feels like a real religious experience. Jay Electronica's bars are extremely creative but the highlight of theThis album is so beautiful and feels like a real religious experience. Jay Electronica's bars are extremely creative but the highlight of the record is the use of collaborations. The record is extremely skilled in conveying it's ideals of spirituality and how it affects personal relationships. My favourite is the melancholy closer which resembled a goodbye at a funeral. I love the chorus. Favorites:A.P.I.D.T.A.…Expand
Para ser una álbum debut, realmente hay mucho que desear. Las letras son personales e intimas, pero la producción, a cargo de un( 77/100 )
Para ser una álbum debut, realmente hay mucho que desear. Las letras son personales e intimas, pero la producción, a cargo de un grupo de productores en la que destaca él mismo, no propone un diferenciador importante. A pesar de eso, el atractivo es evidente, las melodías fácilmente serán populares, alude a la nostalgia con los samples y usa loops para generar esa clásica esencia del Hip-Hop reflexibo y de observación. Por otro lado también se ariesga a compartir su propia visión de Hip Hop popular y logra un par de track de harán bailar a la gente. "A Written Testimony", aunque no es nada nuevo, el lo bueno de lo ya existe.
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For being a debut album there's a lot to wish. The lyrics are personal and intimate, but the production, where he is the main best in between all of the other 8, doesn't propose an important differentiator. Even though that, the attractiveness can be seen, the melodies will easily be popular, alludes to the nostalgia with his samples and he uses loops to create that classic essence of reflexive and observational Hip-Hop. On the other side, it risks to share his vision in popular Hip Hop and achieves a couple of tracks that will make people dance. "A Written Testimony", even if it's nothing new, it's the good things of what it already exists.…Expand
This album is the most incohesive mess that I've heard, and by far the worst album I've ever heard. I thought before that Man of the WoodsThis album is the most incohesive mess that I've heard, and by far the worst album I've ever heard. I thought before that Man of the Woods was bad, but this hits another level of bad. Most of the sounds sound like they are thrown onto the album and it doesn't even sound like music. The production is downright hideous and the drums on Flux Capacitor sound like trash, literally. The buzzing synth on Blinding and Travis Scott shows up for one part, Travis Scott, you are better than this. All in all, this is awful.…Expand
