Jonwayne: Rap Album 2 ALBUM REVIEW

Jon Wayne, known professionally as jonwayne, is a rapper from California, signed to the very well respected Stones Throw Records. Now of course, Jon doesn't look like a 'rapper', something that he brings up not only on this album with the hilarious opening skit to "LIVE From The Fuck You", but also on his 2013 record, Rap Album 1 where he made the album cover a literal saltine cracker. And while Jon is self aware about this aspect of his persona, he doesn't make it the main focus of his music, and instead focuses this album on his battles with addiction and from what I gather, just moving through life in general.

For as funny and witty as this album is at times, it also has a lot of emotional impact, with tracks like "Human Condition", "Out of Sight", and the fantastic closer "These Words Are Everything", Jon takes a really introspective route with this album that is incredibly endearing. For instance, the track "These Words are Everything" sees Jon reflecting on how in the end, the only thing people will remember about him are the words he speaks, so in his eyes, it's important to always be up front with how you feel and never hold back. Another memorable, and simultaneously funny and infuriating is the track "The Single" which starts up with what could of been the single most aggressive and downright catchy track on the entire album, only to have Jon flub his verse a few times, getting really angry in the process. Again, moments like this show just how open Jon is willing to be on this album, and how his wry sense of humor permeates every inch of this record.

However, not everything on this album reaches such heights as I found tracks like "Rainbow", "Blue Green", and "Hills" to be a little underwhelming, mostly because they don't involve a lot, or any, rapping from Jon. Also, I would have loved to have heard a couple of energetic cuts on this album, while the softer more controlled tracks can be quite amazing, I still would have loved to hear tracks that took the same angle that "The Single" or "LIVE From the Fuck You did".

Still, this is a really solid album from a guy I knew nothing about until now. If you like your hip-hop to be personal, introspective and a little grimy, check this thing out.

8.4/10