It’s been about 4 years since one of the illest females you’ve never heard had her album stolen and leaked to the net. Jeanius is finally getting the official treatment. This version is said to have been done all over from scratch…that is all the music done with live instrumentation/no samples and some fresh songs as well. How does it stand up? Let’s find out. (*name in italics is the name from the older leaked version*)

Intro (Intro)
The first thing I notice is the absence of about 33 seconds…but it’s a good thing. The original had some ominous voice and talking at the beginning. The song itself has definitely been back to the boards and redone. It’s obvious when compared that this one is a lot cleaner and level. Other than that, the song seems the same. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

2-32’s (B.N.K)
Featuring DP
Someone wanted to start a cypher, 32 bars each for both emcees. Nothin’ here but the beat and the mic. Lyrically, both Jean Grae and DP bring it on this one. I think the track gets a little repetitive by the end, but outside of that, the song rolls. It clocks in at about 20 seconds shorter but you don’t miss them as the song has no gaps.

Don’t Rush Me (Don’t Rush Me)
The intro adlib is funny as hell to me; “9th got the beats you can sing to for no reason”. Then she comes with the ruckus; There’s nothin’ like knowin’ ya’self/Like the way I know smokin’ had kinda broken my health/Like the way I know my flow don’t make appropriate wealth/I can’t change that/Funny I say that when it’s money I’m aimed at.  This is typical of the What What. She is unapologetically, one of the straightest shooters in the game. She is real at all times and realer at others. The most noticeable change in the track is the chord. It’s a lot deeper and placed a little later than the previous version.

My Story (Please Forgive Me)
I won’t cheapen this one by telling you what it’s about, but it’s personal as hell. I won’t claim to know her or anything like that, but if this is just her writing without experiencing what she is speaking on, she needs to write screenplays. The story is gritty and insightful and paints the picture perfectly, from all aspects. The track has been redone with some new instrumentation and slight tempo changes. The rework is obvious and positive on this one, I definitely like this version better.

The Time Is Now (The Place Is Here)
Featuring Phonte
The Ashford and Simpson of this rap shit are here playing on a classic 9th Wonder sounding track. “Get green like I’m chlorophyll”? She took it to biology, I can’t hate, I like that shit. Ha ha!. Tiggalow comes with the comedy in his flow as usual; Labels used to play me like, now they betta pay me like, I’m Luke Wilson, check ya books I ain’t Owen. Both go back and forth asserting that now is their time. Percy Miracles makes an appearance during the background. This version features a redone hook, a little beefier kick, and cleaner sound overall.

Billy Killer (He’s My Man)
The singing and guitar on this track meet you at the door and sound exquisite together. There are some gaps in this song, sounds like censorship, and I don’t know what she says in those spots. Maybe that’s part of the concept, but I missed this one. I mean, of course, it’s the darker lines that feature the gaps of silence and censorship, but I want to know what she says. It’s the same on both versions so we won’t know until I can get the interview done. This version, again, sounds cleaner and “finished” and features a lil’ more kick from the 808.

Think About It (Think About Me)
This is Jean lettin’ her nuts hang (pause). There’s nothing wrong with a lyrical threat and some grandstanding to anyone who will listen from time to time. The castration talk makes me cringe, but other than that, song is tight. The horns are well done and 9th offered up a pretty deep track, musical as hell.

8 (Non Sense)
You don’t like the way I flow/She needs more emotion tho/I’ll give you emotion, it’s you holdin’ ya broken nose/And leave you comatose/Qith a pound of Columbian snow/Atcha side and when the cops arrive they’ll just think you overdosed. The Heidi Fleiss of words? The Corretta Scott of her day? Jean is on her shit with this one. At a brisk 2:25 on the clock, this is somewhere between a interlude and a song, lyrically, it’s a beast. This version is virtually the same as the older one.

American Pimp (The Game)
Featuring Median
The track is dope, some old school funk/bluesy sounding hybrid. The song itself isn’t far behind. Median comes in and delivers a methodical deliberate flow that sometimes seems to snake around the tempo and fluctuate between here and there at times. It’s a pretty interesting dance. Jean showcases her storytelling again with the help of a dope ass change in music. The production value of this song over the previous version is bananas.

This World (Until)
Y’all wanna let me in/Then you wanna change me up/Man how the fuck you think you ever gonna play me up/You can’t play me out/Y’all just actin’ crazy now/I’ll be doing Jeanie until this world fades out. She lets us in on the roadblocks and hurdles she deals with being a woman in the biz, at the same time, she asserts and challenges anyone who thinks that she is not the genuine article. Well done Jean. The track is dope, no sight of any 9th Wonder slow down here. Not much variance from the older version.

Love Thirst (So High)
There aren’t many more Hip-Hop songs that can get more laid back and groovy than this one. The older version was about 4:26, this one is a full minute and some longer. Why? So you can listen to the grove and hear Jean …But anyway, the track is not complex but it’s so laid back and chill, you just want to hear it. Damn, this is a sexy ass song.

Desperada (2nd Chance)
Jean gets personal again talking about suicide and drugs as she gives praise for being able to live in the now. I’m so glad you saw the light too Jean. There isn’t much to say about this one, it’s pretty raw and straight forward. I think some part of all of us can relate to the song and her sentiments on this one.

Smashmouth (was included on the back half of “2nd Chance” – hidden track)
Featuring K-Hill, Edgar Allen Floe, & Joe Scudda
The way the track comes on reminds me of the another real dope posse cut, “The Headbanga”. It has that kind of go get it feel. Now the hook is horrible, but the lyrics are pretty fly from the first three. Joe Scudda stumbles a bit on the anchor leg though. Jean Grae with the Eric Cartmen shoutout damn near made me fall out my seat laughing as well as the Last Dragon reference.

Bottom Line:
I am glad it’s finally out. Even more glad that I can finally cop officially. For those of us that have this CD from the previous leak of the unreleased version, this trumps that. The production quality on every song is a lot cleaner and a lot better sound quality throughout. I was sad there wasn’t any new content though. This was a great time to add a few more tracks or do something different to make a bigger splash in the market. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a solid ass album and one that anyone that loves Hip-Hop should cop, but other than the production value issues (that some may be used to by now) it’s the same album they got for free some 4 years ago. I recently read an interview about her retiring from the game, don’t know how true it is, but I hope it isn’t. She has been in the game and has some acclaim, but none of the bright lights. Imagine working where you work and not getting a raise or any recognition from the company publicly, but at your desk, folks come by and say how good of a worker you are…and imagine it’s been this way for quite a few years now. You would feel the same way if the job was what you chose to make your career in. So I feel her, but I hope she isn’t gone. She keeps getting better with time, this is just another example of Jeanius.

nappyPicks: “2-32’s”, “Don’t Rush Me”, “Love Thirst”, & “My Story”

Download: No links, it’s leaked TWICE now. Support, support.

Edgar Allen Floe brings us Floe Almighty – The Remixture. Its 13 exclusive mixes of his 2006 Floe Almighty project as well as some bonus tracks. This CD is the first realease on Floe’s MCEO Records. The name comes form one of the most reknown poets in history and Floe pulls his poetic spirit from that inspiration. The Justus League continues to bring us hot music from the up and coming underground market that features one of nappyafro’s faves, Little Brother. Let me hit you with the tracklisting and production info first.

1. “Skyward (Constant Elevation Remix)” – produced by 9th Wonder
2. “Floe Free Style (Shade Business Remix)” – produced by Khrysis
3. “Craftmatic (Karate Kid Remix)” – produced by Khrysis
4. “Livelyhood (Family Affair Remix)” – produced by Blunt
5. “Floe Almighty (Floezone Remix)” – produced by 9th Wonder
6. “Nightwatch (Intruder Alert Remix)” feat. Mal Demolish of The Undefined – produced by Blunt
7. “The Torch (Flame Thrower Remix)” – produced by 9th Wonder
8. “Hostility (Madizm Remix)” – produced by 9th Wonder
9. “One and One feat. Diablo Archer (Angelic Remix)” – produced by Blunt
10. “Changes (Mood Swing) (Blunt Smoke Remix)” – produced by Blunt
11. “Floe Shout Outs (One Love Remix)” – produced by Slicemysta
12. “The Righteous Way To Go (Trilogy Remix)” – produced by Word 3rd Productions
13. “Cruise (I-40 Remix)” – produced by Blunt
14. “Off and On” [Bonus Track] – produced by Khrysis
15. “On Schedule” [Bonus Track] – produced by Khrysis

Skyward comes on and is a bit different than the typical 9th Wonder track. Typically, Wonder makes MUSIC not beats, but this one is more Emcee ready on the boom bap type steez and Floe does a really nice job riding the beat. As the title implies, it’s about Floe making changes and his dedication to grow and be better each time out. Refreshing cut.

Flow Free Style is a darker sounding track and floe is spitting some knowledge about his life in the game and his story. Wanna know who he is? Listen to this track. Nice throwback hip hop reference in there for you listeners too.

Craftmatic introduces a fun background track that Flow playfully weaves and dances over with some pretty dope lines. The beat knocks and is very well done. Good track.

Livelyhood comes on very musical, one of the best tracks on the album I don’t know if the lyrics really correspond to the song though. It’s a party starter by lyrics….but the sound and the beat are laid back groove type music. I think that separated lyrics from music, he has 2 great songs. Together, they contradict each other.

Floe Almighty HERE is the 9th Wonder. Samples, level, good energy, and I think Floe recognized that this is one of the best on the album. Floe lets you know that he is here, plants his flag, and puts us on notice. Dope track

Nightwatch feat. Mal Demolish has a very dramtic intro, guitar and chords come on and the flow comes on with it. No long intro, straight rappin’. I have to admit, I’m not up on Mal Demolish, but he does his thizzle quite nicely. We are introduced to a little story telling ability, welcome indeed.

The Torch is groovy as hell and with the sample and groove of the 70s and 80s sound, overall, it’s a nice track. Laid back like I like and some impressive chains as well, can’t hate on this one.

Hostility by beat alone sounds like it could be the Torch pt. 2. The groove just goes on to the next song. I think Floe comes a little too hard on this beat, however, its not bad. The mesh seems a little off though.

One and One feat. Diablo Archer is one of the singles and is overall, the best track top to bottom. Diablo and Floe trade tymes and they actually sound great together, good sound contrast. Think Cheeba and Suede type collab. Dope track here.

Changes is more of an aggressive track, aptly called the Mood Swing. Remember, you’re seriously fuckin with a grown man / lemme take that back…you ain’t fuckin with Floe man. Brings a little of the battle rap sting to the flow. Then it flips…dude changes beats right in the middle of the song….pretty hot. Creativity always gets love in my book.

Floe Shout Outs is a short song dedicated to those who follow and keep up with EA Floe. A longer interlude if you will. Its okay, the sentiment is great, but the track itself is just ok.

The Righteous Way To Go is the most mellow cut on the album. I wanted to light up and drink some henny on this one, and I don’t smoke. It’s that kind of feel, even with EA speakin’ on the history and changes of hip hop as he lived(s) it.

Cruise is a funky track that features some nice horns and bass guitar married to some pretty chill metaphors and rhymes.

I am going to leave the bonus tracks for you to check out when you cop this album. You won’t be dissapointed in them at all. I just felt like leaving you SOME present to discover on your own.

Bottom Line:
This is a good album, well done and a backpacker’s best friend. Solid album that is defnitely a laid back chill type vibe. Thanks to Edgar Allen Floe for shooting me an email to peep the album, it is definitely a welcome additions.

Download: “The Torch (Flame Thrower Remix)“

Download: “One and One” feat. Diablo Archer