A Written Testimony
by Jay Electronica
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 73 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 73
  3. Negative: 4 out of 73
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  1. aon4962
    Mar 20, 2020
    0
    Very weak production, doesn't look like Jay Electronica's album at all, more like Jay-z mixtae
  2. levileadguitar
    May 16, 2020
    0
    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 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. TheThis 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
  3. sks32
    Jun 14, 2020
    2
    Not being familar with Jay Electronica prior to listening to this, I really struggled to get through this album. It contains some clever lyricism, but I was caught off guard by the prominence of Jay Z even though he isn't mentioned anywhere.

    A Written Testimony gives the impression of an unfinished work. One of the better songs, Ghost of Soulja Slim is a 4:30 track with 2 minutes of dead    Not being familar with Jay Electronica prior to listening to this, I really struggled to get through this album. It contains some clever lyricism, but I was caught off guard by the prominence of Jay Z even though he isn't mentioned anywhere.

    A Written Testimony gives the impression of an unfinished work. One of the better songs, Ghost of Soulja Slim is a 4:30 track with 2 minutes of dead space at the end, and only one short verse from Jay E. It starts developing well, but just does not deliver on the promise it creates. This, along with other strange production decisions like sampling what sounds like speeches and repeatedly playing children screaming "yay" (which is so incredibly out of place), and the lack of any hooks make this a tough listen.

    More than anything, this project comes across as a disorganized concept album. After listening to Testimony, I went back to hear Exhibit C to see what all the hype is about. Honestly, I would find it hard to say this album is cut from the same cloth as some of Jay's earlier singles.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

94
#94 Best Album of 2020
76
#76 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. The Wire
    Apr 28, 2020
    70
    Filled with ghosts; confessions; jokes; an abundance of Jay-Z features and a prodigal son offering explanations for his disappearance and return. [May 2020, p.65]
  2. Q Magazine
    Apr 7, 2020
    80
    An album that dares to tackle life's big questions head on. [Jun 2020, p.101]
  3. AllMusic
    Apr 2, 2020
    90
    Bold production choices gel with this collaborative energy for an album that's inspired, driven, and sounds moved by the hand of unseen powers.
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