![]() Does this feel like an album for this moment, or does it feel like it picked up where that single, "Exhibit C," left off?įITZGERALD: This feels like a 2020 album, simply because the things that he raps about, the religious allegories that he brings into play, all of these things kind of point to the moment that we're in, which is like the world is at a standstill. SHAPIRO: You know, 2009, when Jay Electronica broke into the public scene in a big way, was such a long time ago in America. Like, I haven't even thought about what he's rapping about yet.įITZGERALD: He really does a great job of throwing as much at us as he possibly can because he knows that we've been waiting, and we're going to sit with this for a while. ![]() I'm hearing like a bit of lounge music or something sampled. SHAPIRO: I feel like I'm hearing an accordion in there. From a hard place and a roc to the Roc Nation of Islam, I emerged on the wave that Tidal made to drop bombs. The minaret that Jigga built me on the dome of the Roc was crafted so beautifully, consider this Adhan. If it come from any of those, consider it Haram. JAY ELECTRONICA: (Rapping) If it come from me and Hov, consider it Quran. But by the time we get to Jay Electronica's verse, he is flying out of the gate letting us know exactly what we're about to hear from him. Pen, put a pin in that.įITZGERALD: It actually begins with a verse from Jay-Z, who's heavily featured across the project. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "GHOST OF SOULJA SLIM") SHAPIRO: I know you've had less than a day to absorb this album, but tell us about a track that really jumps out at you.įITZGERALD: I'll start with the second track, "Ghost Of Soulja Slim." I've been talking to people that I work with in the industry, people that are just hip-hop fans in general. Do they live up to your expectations?įITZGERALD: Absolutely. SHAPIRO: And we've now got these 10 tracks. ![]() And ever since then, we've been waiting and waiting and waiting. And everybody immediately began trying to decipher his lyrics, trying to figure out what he was saying. ![]() And I just remember being in college, and the Internet just stopped. And I just remember being like, this person is really, really committed to the art form of hip-hop. SHAPIRO: I kind of sketched out the backstory here, but tell us what this roller-coaster ride has been like for you over the last decade-plus.įITZGERALD: Well, it actually starts a couple of years before, in 2007, when he released his first mixtape. KIANA FITZGERALD: Thank you so much for having me. SHAPIRO: Freelance music writer Kiana Fitzgerald is one of the people who has been waiting a long time for this album, and she joins us now. These universal truths remain self-evident. It's the day of the judgment, fulfillment of the covenant. You never thought we'd make it to la ilaha 'illa llaha (ph). JAY ELECTRONICA: (Rapping) Remember Rappin Duke? Duh-ha (ph), duh-ha. Then last night, more than a decade after "Exhibit C," he released "A Written Testimony." Singles, shows and promised release dates came and went. SHAPIRO: Ever since then, Jay Electronica has teased a full-length album. JAY ELECTRONICA: (Rapping) Nas hit me up on the phone, said, what you waiting on? Tip hit me up with a tweet, said, what you waiting on? Diddy send a text every hour on the dot, saying, when you gonna (ph) drop that verse? You taking long. He first grabbed widespread attention back in 2009, when he released the single "Exhibit C." The artist Jay Electronica finally dropped his debut album. Here's a surprise that shocked hip-hop fans in a good way. 2020 has already brought plenty of surprises - some welcome, some terrifying.
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