Pieces of a Man
by Mick Jenkins
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 21
  3. Negative: 3 out of 21
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  1. burt
    Dec 4, 2018
    2
    Mick Jenkins fails to live up to the promise of The Water(s) once again. Although this is a much more impressive album than 2016's The Healing Component, it lacks staying power and a true evolution of Jenkins' sound. The beats on this album are nicely curated and complement his flows and timbre, and Jenkins' performance on this album ranges from serviceable to impressive, showcasing aMick Jenkins fails to live up to the promise of The Water(s) once again. Although this is a much more impressive album than 2016's The Healing Component, it lacks staying power and a true evolution of Jenkins' sound. The beats on this album are nicely curated and complement his flows and timbre, and Jenkins' performance on this album ranges from serviceable to impressive, showcasing a commendable level of lyrical and performative skill when he rises to the occasion. Unfortunately, these highlights are bogged down by a lack of fulfillment that stains this record.

    Conceptually, this album's homage to Gil Scott-Heron's 1971 album of the same name is, much like some of the songs on this album, painfully underdeveloped, cropping up only whenever it seems convenient. When the album doesn't shine, it slumps along through tired, same-y and uninspired tracks that strive to exist purely on vibe alone. Jenkins' does make an effort to tackle some lofty subject matter on this album to varying degrees of success. When Jenkins fails to reach the lofty goals he sets for himself, the songs can feel contrived, pretentious and ill-conceived despite their best intentions. At times, the album appears desperate to seem deeper than it is in reality. While the sometimes excellent instrumentals provide a fitting backdrop for Jenkins' soothing, bass-y vocals, there is often a feeling of shallowness to the weaker songs on the album. On the semi-frequent filler tracks, the songwriting succeeds at developing an atmosphere but nothing much beyond that.

    As enjoyable as I find the album when I'm listening to it, I find myself being so harsh on it due to the failure on Jenkins' part to realise a potential I see in his talents. Setting up such an ambitious concept and failing to deliver on it in any meaningful way further sours my opinion, and while I would recommend this album easily to long-time fans of Jenkins' work, I would recommend newcomers to start with The Water(s). Hopefully, Mick Jenkins' next project will return to those lofty heights and his potential will be realised, but until then, if you're just hungry for more of his work, or simply love jazzy, conscious hip-hop, this album will scratch that itch.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. The Wire
    Dec 4, 2018
    80
    Pieces Of A Man is coherent, marrying the raw energy of trap with jazz-funk inspired beats. Black Milk’s instrumentals “Stress Fracture” and “Gwendolynn’s Apprehension” are remarkably complex both melodically and rhythmically. [Jan 2019, p.80]
  2. Pitchfork
    Nov 1, 2018
    76
    Though a versatile vocalist, Jenkins isn’t actually a Tier 1 rapper. His rasp can struggle when forced to take on too much, especially amid the prominent percussion and tough orchestration of something like “Ghost.” But this is a minor gripe within a major scheme. ... A gripping portrait of one human among Chicago’s 2.7 million.
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  3. Rolling Stone
    Nov 1, 2018
    60
    His lyrics have always run the risk of feeling overthought, and Pieces of a Man is no exception; for all his talent, Mick sometimes verges into dorm-room thoughts (“cottonmouth get you soon enough/wake up and realize the moon is us”) and cringeworthy high musings (“Fuck is woke if you conscious but still in the bed”). But his heart is in the right place, and his elevated lyrical aspirations steer him right more often than not.
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