A Review of JID's "DiCaprio 2"

Atlanta rapper JID looks to gain some momentum with the release of his second studio album "DiCaprio 2." This is his second release since signing to J. Cole's Dreamville label in early 2017. JID's first release, titled "The Never Story" is best described as a mellow work of classic Hip-Hop. JID uses the classic "boom bap" beats as well as his tuneful cadences to create a mellow sounding project. Along with these nicely placed cadences, JID also shows off his ability to rap. Put this all together and we have a unique sound amongst the pool of rappers in 2018. Fast forward to "DiCaprio 2" and his lone single "Off Deez" featuring J. Cole. I like this song a lot for it fast paced and catchy hook which is JID exclaiming "Get off my dick" repeatedly as well as the verses from both JID and J. Cole. More on this song when we get to the actual review so now let's look at the track list for JID's "DiCaprio 2." The album contains 14 tracks with seven featured artists spread out over the course of five tracks on the album. A$AP Ferg, J. Cole, 6LACK, Ella Mai, BJ The Chicago Kid, Method Man and Joey Bada$$ are all featured. With this collection of big stars and legends on this project, JID looks to gain some momentum. So, without further ado, let's get to the review! 👂🏾

Review 👂🏾

Scale

Per song
+.5 for beat selection
+.5 for flow
+.5 for content/impact
+.5 for hit value

Points will be taken off for:
Fatigue in listening
Lack of diversity in beats

Raw Score: The amount of good songs on a project versus the overall amount. Songs must have a +1 or above to be counted.

Quality Score: The total amount of points accumulated over the total amount of songs.

Playback value: The resonance an album is perceived to have if played again in full. Scale out of 5.

Frequency Change
This isn't more of an introduction or interlude. This track has someone flipping through the channels in which he encounters four channels appearing to show what may be on a typical cable docket.

Slick Talk
The transition between "Frequency Change" and this song is seamless with the sound of static to give the impression that the channel has been changed to this song. This beat made by Kenny Beats and E Wonder starts off as a standard rap beat with a strong bass and high hats. JID's first verse is cut off by a beat switch which produces a slower boom bap beat with a bass and drum hitting at the same tempo. The cadence changes with the beat switch as well with the second verse being reminiscent of "The Never Story." From this song, it's very clear that JID can rap, the beat selection on this song is great as well.
+1

Westbrook (ft. A$AP Ferg)
This beat produced by Christo starts with a quiet wind chime sounding background with a heavy bass for JID's first verse. One this verse JID uses the same cadence as kiLL edward (J. Cole's alter ego) on the song "The Cut Off" and "FRIENDS" off J. Cole's most recent album titled KOD. The beat switches with the A$AP FERG hook where he raps,
"I done came up, I done came up (Came up)
Put your chains up, and your rings up (Rings up)
Fuck the other side (Fuck 'em), we don't change up (Nah)"
JID's cadence changes with his second verse and he also produces a faster flow, this continues for the rest of the song. The use of A$AP Ferg gives an upbeat feel to the song while JID continues the trend. A very well put together song blending a slower melodic flow with a fast paced "money time" flow.
+1.5

Off Deez (ft. J. Cole)
This fast-paced high hat with structured bass and brass instrument background made by ChaseTheMoney works well with the cadences JID chooses to use. The JID way executes the hook with a fast-paced flow is also shown in the first verse. JID's first verse starts with him changing his cadence and flow to be on pitch with the brass instrument when he raps,
"Okay, East Atlanta playboy
Don't got much to say, boy
Cradle to the grave, and it's been like that since a slave, boy
It ain't shit to pull up, pick the fucking tool up
Screaming hallelujah, pushing daisies and some tulips"
After these lines JID speeds up the flow making for a hooking experience for the listener. J. Cole mimics JID's first verse when he starts with a slow flow and changing the cadence to match the beat at the beginning of his verse when he raps,
"Legend out the 2-6 (Whoa)
Y'all know who the truth is (Whoa)
Crazy like a movie by that nigga Stanley Kubrick (Whoa)
Perfect time to pop up (Whoa)
Wet you like the hot tub (Whoa)
Clean up Aisle 7, damn somebody gettin' mopped up"
After this J. Cole, like JID speeds up his flow to be on pace with the high hats in this song. This song is a hit in all forms of the word in my eyes because of the flows, cadences, content and the momentum that builds throughout the song.
+2

151 Rum
This beat made by Christo and Nice Rec starts off with a lagging bass and what can be described as either a horn or a person in the background. JID uses the high hats to keep on pace with this beat. The song structure of this song is hook, verse then hook which works well with the beat because the beat could get tiring after two verses. That's great awareness on the part of JID to recognize that.
+1

Off Da Zoinkys
This song starts off with a piano and someone singing setting a church vibe for this song. As the beat made by Christo, continues we get a soft high hat and a slow tempo in the bass before the bass intensifies. The song is about rejecting the use of drugs. This is show when JID raps,
"Y'all niggas need to lay off the drugs
Some of y'all need to lay off the dope
My niggas gettin' it straight off the boat
Pure cut, put it straight to your nose"
The theme of this song continues as he names more drugs that people need to "lay off." The song ends with an outro of JID having a conversation about presidents. The content of this song works to JID's benefit as well as the great beat and his flow.
+1.5

Workin Out
This bass guitar beat created by 2thirty5 gives off a classical feel with the addition of the high hats and high-pitched piano keys. The beat works to maximize the emphasis if JID's lyrics. The outro of this song is interesting because the person talking gives the idea that he has the mindset of people needing to look like they have money. What makes this apparent is his comments on J. Cole's appearance,
"I fuck with y'all niggas, bro, why that nigga J. Cole
Got all this money, look like he 'bout to
Borrow somebody charger or something
"C'mon bruh, let me get your charger bruh
Let me get my shit to uh, uh 10% percent
And I'll give this shit back to you bruh bruh"
C'mon bruh flex some of that Dreamville money, let me see it"
These comment are reflective of societies idea that if you have money you should show it off, which is something that many people like J. Cole and now JID reject.
+1

Tiiied (ft. 6LACK & Ella Mai)
On this song we get a different JID cadence on the hook, in which he sings. The beat made by Ron Gilmore and Elite, has a bass that hits twice consistently but comes in slowly, the high hats sound like authentic drums and there's the sound of other percussion instruments in the background. On the first verse, JID raps about a relationship where it seems he's always trying to make it work while the girl he's with isn't putting in the same effort. 6LACK continues the theme of this song on his verse while Ella Mai gives the same theme but from the opposite perspective. The song ends with an outro of what seems to be a group of women reciting "niggas ain't shit but a tongue and a dick." Overall, the theme of this song is relevant in todays back and forth between men screaming "women ain't shit" and women screaming back "men ain't shit."
+1.5

Skrawberries (ft. BJ The Chicago Kid)
Contrary to "Tiiied," this song is made to give a more uplifting sentiment to women. The J. Cole beat with a violin in the background, with a standard boom bap high hat and bass sets a mellow feel to this song. The BJ The Chicago Kid feature somehow works to make the song even more mellow than it is on the JID verses.
+1

Hot Box (ft. Method Man & Joey Bada$$)
This relatively quiet beat made by Zorro and Skhye Hutch is made with an even pitched piano, bass guitar and slow-paced high hats works to establish that classic hip-hop feel. The three rappers rhyme about weed and their experience with it. This is probably why the name of this song is appropriately "Hot Box"
+1

Mounted Up
This Hollywood JB and Christo beat has a boom bap feel with a distinct bass sound in the background. This beat allows JID to display his lyrical ability which is shown when he raps,
"Am I trippin'? A nigga be trippin'
I'm feelin' like most of you niggas be slippin'
I'm giving you tips and a nigga just went with it flippant
Not sayin' you stupid, but hella reminiscent"
Overall, this song goes as a testament to JID's impressive rapping ability.
+1

Just Da Other Day
This Bobby Kritical beat starts off with a tempo that requires a certain flow because of how piercing and exact the bass hits on the hook. As the beat develops throughout the hook it allows JID more freedom to go back to his primary flow. The guitar rifts at the end of the song are an amazing way to close out the song. Overall everything blends together well.
+1

Despacito Too
This Frankie P beat has a boom bap feel to it with the consistent bass and light high hat feel. JID over three verses once again displays his rapping prowess with excellent wordplay and an excellent flow. This song is an interesting close out to the album. While it's not the last track, the next track is labeled a bonus track.
+1

Hasta Luego
This CuBeatz and WondaGurl creation starts with what seems to be wind instruments and develops into a fast-paced high hat with a soft high paced tempo masterpiece. The harmonizing in the background helps add to the feel of the song. JID's verses are once again fire but the hook is what stands out to me. The cadence switch with the background singing is attractive on the hook.
+1

JID's "DiCaprio 2"

Raw Score: 13/13
Quality Score: 15.5
Playback value: 5/5

Overall, this is a great album with tremendous playback value. JID uses the boom bap sound in an era where the sound's popularity has been steadily declining. JID's songs filled with hyperbole and metaphors is reminiscent of old school rap. JID's use of features on this project was tasteful because artists weren't put in positions that they weren't used to. The standout tracks on "DiCaprio 2" are "Westbrook" featuring A$AP Ferg, "Off Da Zoinkys" and "Tiiied" featuring 6LACK and Ella Mai. With the exceptional bars and overall music put forth on this album, it's safe to say JID is someone worth keeping an eye on. Go stream JID's "DiCaprio 2" today on your favorite streaming platform. Also, don't forget to follow OLDMLK.com on Instagram @OLDMLK and let us know what you think of the album!