Jinx - "JFK"
Abridged Review: YES, you like this.
Now, if you’re not lame and “too busy,” take five:
I remember the first time I heard Jinx. It was early this year (2010) when a fellow Hip-hop “head” forwarded me his MySpace. The single at the time was F.I.L.A. and I remember thinking, “cool.” Not in the 1990s, “Oh, man! Cool!” way but more in the Tom Cruise/Jamie Foxx “Collateral” way. You know, the scene in the Jazz bar where Barry Shabaka Henley gives Miles Davis’ definition of the word: “He meant that it was good… But not ready.” Well, it’s the end of 2010 and somehow Jinx has found his way into my inbox again, this time with an advance copy of his upcoming mixtape release “JFK,” hosted by San Diego’s DJ K-Phi.
Call me old school but I listen to albums; I guess I’ve got one of those old souls or something (or I appreciate the art of releasing more than one good song). From the get, it was blatantly obvious that we had a new and improved artist on our hands. Let me one-up that: A new and improved, grown and seasoned person—the foundation that any alter ego is built upon. I don’t mean to be all cheese and sentimental but the amount of growth in Derrick Jenkins the person hit me before that of Jinx the artist. Let’s not get it twisted though, this MC is on a different level. At times I almost couldn’t digest that this was the same lyricist mere months removed from “Futurama.” Something must have gone down in that time, though, cause it sounds like he’s got one foot in a jail cell. Hopefully his manager can keep him out cause he’s on to something.
So, the music: Jinx takes us everywhere. He’s back with his signature spacesuit, his typical uberarrogance, and a touch of sincerity and genuineness (yes, that is a word) that we haven’t seen from him before. And he continues to do one thing better than anyone I’ve heard: Articulate his words. My Chinese girlfriend, born and raised in South Africa (yeah, weirdest combo I’ve ever heard of too), even said, “I can actually understand what he’s saying!” We’ve got the radio friendly records such as Glow, creative story telling on “Sex School,” and we’re even treated to some vocal/R&B stylings on “High As I Want To,” which wasn’t actually half bad (but stick to the flow, bro). While the party and goofy records will most definitely have you bangin’ your head and appreciating a flow and wordplay that is miles beyond his previous work, and definitely on par with the industry game at large, I think Jinx has two deeper things that he wants you to take away from this project; the title track “JFK” showcases both. First, there’s no guard up on this record: This is Jinx with no buffer—no wall. Second, there’s no hook here. We get a one verse glimpse of where his head is really at, then he let’s one of the greatest leaders and orators of our time, shoot, in the history of mankind, take it from there: John F. Kennedy.
I’m gonna give “JFK” an old school Star Search 3 and ¾ stars. I’m looking at this as Jinx’s first “real” release because this is a different beast. So we’re grading on present day, not comparing to the past. This mixtape isn’t poised to change the game or knock anybody straight on their ass quite yet, but if he stays on this course he’s about to give the competition a swift kick to the… Well, you get it. And we’ll even update Miles’ definition of cool. This Jinx: Ready.
Best Record to Smoke to: “Therapy”
Favorite Record: “Run A Train”
Favorite Line: “White people out here are so fuckin’ racist. I said and I meant it and it felt good.” (As far as skin tone, I’m about as white as they come, but there’s something about that line and its delivery. You can’t help but appreciate the authenticity.)
(iPod on: K’Naan “Troubadour”)
