Album Review: Jim Jones, Pray IV Reign

04.06.09

I wouldn’t classify myself as a fan of Jim Jones at all. In the past, I’ve found his lyrics to be lazy, his constant ad-libbing after every line annoying, and his cockiness unwarranted. His mixtape/album last year, Harlem’s American Gangster, was not only a cheap and completely obvious ripoff of Jay-Z’s American Gangster, but he somehow tried to play it off as an original idea. A few years ago, Jones had a nationwide hit with ‘We Fly High (Ballin)’, which some misguided people are still shooting invisible basketballs to. That was 2006, also the year of ‘This is Why I’m Hot’. But instead of going the way of Mims, Jim Jones has managed to stay relevant, still coasting off of his ‘Ballin’ success, and music business connections. Besides a song here and there (‘My Life’ from Hustler’s P.O.M.E.), I haven’t enjoyed much of the music he makes.

All expectations for Pray IV Reign, at least in my case, were extremely low. But despite all of these preconceptions, Jim Jones might win the 2009 Most Improved Player award. Pray IV Reign is actually not bad.

Music Video: Jim Jones, Blow the Bank [ft. Oshy Star]

03. 21.09

Song: Blow the Bank [ft. Oshy Star]
Artist: Jim Jones
Album: Pray IV Reign
Label: Columbia Records
Producer: Magnedo7
Notes: 3rd single from LP
Analysis: You should know the drill with videos like these by now. Throwing money, dancing girls, posing for the camera… they forgot the fancy cars but it’s cool. Actually, this video does have an actual theme, that of Jones and his goons robbing a bank vault. It’s whatever. Still like the song though.

New Music: Jim Jones, Na Na [ft. Brittney Taylor]

01.24.09

Song: Na Na [ft. Brittney Taylor]
Artist: Jim Jones
Album: Pray IV Reign
Label: Dipset / Columbia Records
Producer: unknown
Notes: none
Analysis: Every postive or remotely positive comments or remarks or compliments that I’ve said about Jim Jones’ recent work is all shot to shit with this one song.

New Music: Jim Jones, Blow the Bank [ft. Oshy Star]

01.16.09

Song: Blow the Bank [ft. Oshy Star]
Artist: Jim Jones
Album: Pray IV Reign
Label: Dipset / Columbia Records
Producer: unknown
Notes: none
Analysis: I praised Jones on the song ‘Precious‘ that came out a few days ago, for actually making a song that I enjoyed. However, I had my doubts that Jones could put out an entire album of jams like it, because I am pretty sure that Ryan Leslie was the musical driving force behind what I liked about it. But ‘Blow the Bank’, while not as good as ‘Precious’, is giving me more hope that Pray IV Reign is going to be a lot better than I originally expected from Jones.

New Music: Jim Jones, Precious [ft. Ryan Leslie]

01.14.09

Song: Precious [ft. Ryan Leslie]
Artist: Jim Jones
Album: Pray IV Reign
Label: Dipset / Columbia Records
Producer: Ryan Leslie
Notes: 2nd single from LP
Analysis: It’s no secret that Jim Jones isn’t a good rapper. He’s not even a good hitmaker. He had one huge hit in 2006 because of a catchphrase, and the masses love catchphrases. Somehow he’s been able to stay relevant over the last 3 years despite never coming up with a song after ‘Ballin’ that I can even name right now. With all of the hate out of the way, it is this kind of R&B/Pop-Rap track like ‘Precious’ that Jimmy actually fits in on perfectly.