Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony ALBUM REVIEW

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The underwhelming event.
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FAV TRACKS: THE BLINDING, THE NEVERENDING STORY, SHINY SUIT THEORY
LEAST FAV TRACK: EZEKIEL'S WHEEL
JAY ELECTRONICA - A WRITTEN TESTIMONY / 2020 / ROC NATION / CONSCIOUS HIP HOP
5/10
Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?

[@spacecowboy3693]

Written Testimony: 5/10 Jesus is King: 4/10 Islamic forces win the Crusades.

[@acc2876]

Lmao

[@daanyaalkhan5686]

Bruhhh

[@sgs9601]

Ahnaf Rahman the rapping is better on WT but the substance, production and soul is greater on Jesus Is King!

[@shehryarkhan2916]

Ohnof

[@spacecowboy3693]

@@shehryarkhan2916 bhaiiii

[@bigdoinks11]

The kids saying yay are jay Electronica's adlibs

[@Yungtacosss]

LMAO

[@shotbynolan1705]

Producer tag

[@tylerclarke5664]

@@shotbynolan1705 That and the machine gun adlib

[@defoperator7993]

Radiohead uses the same sample in rainbows

[@SmxkyGxd]

It's actually a sample of Bunny Sigler's - Shake your booty, a well respected RNB singer from the 70s who was instrumental in creating the "Philly Sound". You might recognise it from the beginning of Pusha T's - Numbers on the boards.

[@ikeysokol7344]

i didn’t wait a decade and i love Jay-Z so i had a lot of fun listening to this one

[@carajito3136]

I totally understand melon’s points, but im With you. Im a zoomer, so i was a kid around the time of jay elec’s hype. This is a strong 7 to light 8 to me.

[@stewytrack7632]

Me too, it’s my AOTY so far

[@PARK-mv3if]

Ikey Sokol same it’s like an 8 for me

[@joshheyns9196]

Cant agree more king

[@radarinfinite1032]

Wasn't feeling it but it's growing on me. I thought the beats were terrible but they are not at all that bad

[@tvterthot]

A.P.I.D.T.A is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard this year

[@andrewsullivan4309]

Maybe one of the most beautiful of all time for real

[@mstefanidis1841]

@@konway17 nah that song In particular is fucking great

[@omegapryo]

They used the song “A Hymn” by Khruangbin for apidta . Check out the rest of their music if you like that vibe.

[@AveAgave]

@@omegapryo i found it recently! Khruangbin is amazing! Jay & Jay did an amazing job

[@omegapryo]

@@AveAgave happy you love it! Such good music!

[@ashtonbowman5077]

Not being able to read the album cover is not a reason to give this a 0, Melon..

[@acc2876]

It says "jay electroica" on the top on of the album cover and "written testimony" on the bottom

[@hizzle8393]

blue shahada maktoobah

[@acc2876]

@@hizzle8393 exactly

[@salehali9541]

On top it reads jay electronica, and on the bottom it reads "shahada maktouba" which obvs translates to written testimony.

[@SocialistFinn1]

@@salehali9541 how can you even write "jay electronica" in Arabic script or is it just written to be close enough?

[@antonecruz9975]

Melon: *lets out a sigh before his review* Me: Ohthony Notano

[@needlessoptions]

Lmfao

[@glipk]

Haha

[@abid444_]

hello there antoney cruztano

[@ihce]

You really didn't have to spend 12mins speaking on jay-z's lips.

[@futurafree3669]

HAHAHHSHEHSISBE

[@eye-leenlove]

😂🤣😆😷- boy respek your elders!!!!

[@vickjr98]

Lmao

[@seandafny]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@CaldoV1]

The honourable Anthony Fantano has said that almighty god Allah revealed to him that the melons of the comment section are the real children of Israel

[@nicolasmb2457]

🍈

[@ninety1nethagawd]

Quranthony Allahtano

[@JackieLombardi]

holy shit LMAO

[@beertrick1968]

There it is

[@notforsale9488]

LMAOOOOO

[@youcanthandlethetruth8873]

Islam and Nation of Islam are two very different things.

[@loganleatherman7647]

Seriously... people need to understand this. Nation of Islam was started by an African-American in Michigan in the 1930s. They are to Islam what Mormons are to Christianity, except they still read the Qu’ran and are usually angry. Never met a pissed off Mormon in my life. Lol

[@younggrinch2826]

I mean unless it’s what you’re into who cares

[@mahedhusayn3474]

the NOI are not muslims, they break the main tenet of Islam

[@zinedinosmanovic5192]

@@younggrinch2826 Because NOI is literally an entirely different religion. It is like treating the Rastafarian religion as Christianity because it takes from the Bible.

[@napppstar0]

@@zinedinosmanovic5192 all religions are derivative.

[@rithvikchilam7232]

“Hope you’re doing well” hit different this time

[@OmarAli-ly6ko]

This review isn’t 10 years long so I’m giving you an F Anthony

[@TheNinja94a]

Failedthony Ftano

[@DrSpikeSpiegel]

"Jay Electronica? More like Gay Electronica" does not qualify as a review, Melon.

[@thescoobymike]

@@kirklandbond4765 ? More like Kirkland Bondage (Available at Costco)

[@promiseomiponle810]

The Professor just a trend where people enter this guy’s comments and say some false shit to “discredit” his review, but we all know it’s just some trolls for some laughs😂😂😂

[@jpegz0w6]

It’s funny tho

[@user-zu6ts5fb6g]

he did not say this. did you even watch the video

[@promiseomiponle810]

lololololooo it’s a joke lol

[@juliobalelo2119]

TheNeedleDrop Album Reviews 2020 So Far: 10/10: 0 9/10: 0 8/10: 9 7/10: 8 6/10: 5 5/10: 9 4/10: 4 3/10: 0 2/10: 0 1/10: 0 0/10: 1 (Green Day) NOT GOOD: 2 (Justin Bieber, Lil Baby)

[@FELCommentary]

Bruh I want a 3/2/1 review, stop blue balling me with the 4s Melon

[@johnjson]

deeply confused And the 8’s

[@redactedname247]

Average with Not Goods excluded - 6.08, Average with Not Goods treated as 0s - 5.76. Rough year.

[@sirpeetthelittle]

the lack of a 9 so far scares me

[@earlsweatpants2395]

@@redactedname247 March

[@lukem118]

Just re-listened to it again. It was definitely better than a 5. I do think they should have marketed it as a Jay Elec & Hov collaboration album. Jay Z went HARD on this album, they definitely brought the best out of each other 🤩

[@Chad-vk6fb]

6:22 you can hear the children screaming from his basement

[@jumbodumbo628]

Oprah would be proud

[@vyrin]

best comment on this shit

[@kissland2001]

So Jay needa drop an album after 20 years to get a 10/10

[@veridian4433]

Looks like Jay should've taken another 900 years to get the yellow flannel

[@monkeymask9596]

Veridian this comment makes literally no sense

[@standardbrah]

nah it makes sense mang

[@anjeluriel4457]

If yellow flannel is a positive review and red flannel is a negative, then I wonder what it means when he wears the blue flannel

[@monkeymask9596]

Curtis Bowden no it doesnt it took 40 days to get a 5/10, therefore it would take 16 days to get a 7/10 and get a yellow flannel, 900 days makes no sense

[@master_shakem3291]

guys the joke is that it took a long ass time for jay to drop another album

[@xavier1998]

An alternate title for this album would be “Allah is King”

[@futurafree3669]

True

[@anonymousaccount8505]

Kids See Allah

[@osama3146]

Alexander Spectre nah thats fucked up

[@Santana_Art]

Watch the Allah

[@JackieLombardi]

LMFAOOOO

[@ollietotalgamer]

It’s weird, the cheering doesn’t make the album any better but the fact that they don’t really make it worse is kinda impressive. So I guess they do add to the album, or they don’t I don’t know it’s like a paradox

[@ThePhreakass]

The cheering made it worse for me since if you look for children cheering on KZbin this cheap sound effect is the first one you'll find.

[@dickensanthony]

ThePhreakass damn why did you have to ruin the aesthetic for me

[@thuggathuggababy]

ThePhreakass I mean it’s meant to be corny it and plays great into the songs

[@defoperator7993]

Its Jay's production tag

[@gfbmusic]

JAY ELECT IS YOUR FATHER. JAY Z IS YOUR MOTHER AND YOU ARE ALL SILLY GIGGLING CHILDREN.

[@JackKanoff_]

Jay Electronica was only on half the album, half of 10 is 5, therefore it’s a perfect score. Thanks melon man!

[@joooeeeyyy5671]

you ever heard of somthing called a duo album

[@purpleskulltroopertravisfa3419]

You heard of something called a joke

[@sthoughtsarchive2791]

Lmao

[@johngillians1027]

Man I want to thank you for your words. You don't have to feel out of touch or whatever because you aren't feeling the stat quo. Jay Elec didn't need JZ at all on this LP. So yeah that 5 is appropriate.

[@noahking9996]

Uh oh did melon just denounce Allah

[@greghaunch1154]

Damn right melon said crusade now deus vult

[@sgs9601]

Wooosh Ifgay I’ll follow his lead, we doing the Jesus Christ way! Fuck u talmbout Islam, y’all ain’t real n y’all got ghostwriters 😤😂😒

[@fuckooo]

God doesn't exist

[@sgs9601]

Wayne Kerr - hell bound

[@chinaldo10]

SGS Jesus is God’s creation and servant, not God himself.. he says in the Bible the miracles he performs are not of himself but of the creator - he also tells followers to worship the creator. Allah in Arabic purely means “the one and only God” ... put no idols or partners beside him, including Jesus... it’s the ultimate sin. Peace

[@will7874]

if he took 20 years to make this, it would’ve gotten a 10/10

[@steviewonder1663]

Expect Act II whenever Michel Gondry and Jim Carrey finally make Eternal Sunshine 2: Infinity Drift

[@ThiefOfBaghdad]

shoulda spent another decade

[@cheynemcnab6540]

Yup. It’s simple math

[@levimoore5376]

maybe if he took 10 more years it'd actually be decent lmao

[@johnnyfree]

Pitchfork: heres some of the best new music out recently Anthony: no

[@extremelyonline]

Chris C pitchfork sucks, they’ve given every clipping album a 5.6 or less

[@steviewonder1663]

Anthony is the superior review website

[@sprb4725]

xSportacus the writing for pitchfork is horrible most of the time, but as much as Melon cares about music he usually has very poorly thought out opinions

[@extremelyonline]

SPRB you’re just mad because melon is black

[@spamsingles5948]

Pitchfork: Code Orange is a 4.5 Anthony: no

[@ban9880]

I’m sorry but this album is amazing

[@planetzoot7410]

Incredible

[@Boomi_Dog]

It's not good

[@ban9880]

@@Boomi_Dog stfu

[@yourmusiclover9205]

@@ban9880 salt much?

[@ban9880]

@@yourmusiclover9205 nah, r u?

[@chuongnguyen5724]

Louis Farrakhan: speaks Jay Electronica: YAYYYYYYY!!!!!!

[@desmondleake5672]

There was no way it could live up to the hype after 11 years.

[@Ahmad-wp2bl]

Not just that. This is basically a collab album in which Jay Elec has not proven to himself that he can consistently make just a song. By having an intro, verses etc all by himself. He let Hov even start his OWN album off, which is ridiculous in my opinion The production wasn't great either. A 6/10 for me, disappointed and underwhelmed as fuck

[@chrisjfox8715]

Jay Elec himself never hyped this up. People did.

[@hiltonhosannah769]

Emanade I thought it made sense he had Farrakhan and Jay-Z start the album off...reminded me of how Earl Sweatshirt started Doris: he knows you’ve been waiting for the album, so he takes the opportunity to make you wait just a *little* bit longer. But with that being said, Jay-Z’s appearance does overshadow Electronica’s performance a lot. They should’ve cut his appearances from 8 to no more than like 4-5.

[@zero0blade953]

Hilton Hosannah yeah but Pre banged harder than this whole album LOL

[@ytyoungrichnhigh]

well... no. It most definitely could have. If it had 20 songs.. if about 5 of them went off the "deep end" of art and hip-hop. Complex rap. Etc etc... more features.. singers, rappers, and all..

[@jcp2017]

Jay Elec really waited 10 years to drop half an album smh

[@longshotkdb]

'shake my hips' ?

[@childishgennady4317]

jcp2017 His hips don't lie though

[@peaceblessking4014]

💀💀💀💀💀⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰

[@slabside67]

jcp2017 Half an ok album. I’ll stick with my mix tapes of jay elec.

[@bruno.6610]

Even if you don't like this record, you gotta admit the last track, A.P.I.D.T.A is an amazing track.

[@Bobby_Gains]

Bruno. Idk how he didnt like it the song made me cry

[@ClydeNut]

Yeah that he didn’t even bring that track up gives me the sense that he phoned in this review hard.

[@bruno.6610]

@@Bobby_Gains A tear dropped from my eye more than once when Elec was speakin on his mom.

[@bruno.6610]

@@ClydeNut For real, seemed like he didnt try to dig deep into the tracks and gave a sort of surface level review.

[@mango6355]

Fact

[@doperat9630]

Bro you were trippin with this review. This album is amazing and jay electronic has such interesting topics in his bars and I love his rhymes as well as jay z and amazing production.

[@planetzoot7410]

Ignore this shit. His opinion sucks sometimes

[@fuziontonygaming]

Too bad it’s anti-Semitic

[@colecarter2829]

@@fuziontonygaming I didn’t pick up the antisemitism, like yes it’s black nationalist and yes it called out the israeli government but I didn’t catch any hate towards jewish people. Obviously there’s the farrakhan association but there were no antisemetic quotes or bars dropped anywhere that I heard

[@zacharybeer9517]

@@colecarter2829 There is absolutely no way to incorporate Farrakhan without welcoming antisemitism with open arms. The Nation of Islam - of which Jay is a member - is explicitly antisemitic, homophobic, and racist. The album is laced with antisemitic and racist dog whistles and Jay constantly praises Elijah Muhammed, Louis Farrakhan, and the Nation of Islam. Throughout the album, Jay promotes the antisemitic conspiracy that Jews are "not the real Jews," both by his endorsement of the rhetoric of Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam and many of his own lyrics. Jay refers to the Jewish people as Satan multiple times. I agree that criticism of the Israeli government is not antisemitic. However, Jay Electronica does not target the government - he targets the sheer presence of Jewish people in the land. Outside of the context of the album, Jay has further proven himself to be an antisemite on many occasions. It is unfortunately cut and dry.

[@buddhistpalm39]

@@zacharybeer9517 Farrakhan isn't antisemitic. He just thinks the people who call themselves jews aren't.

[@anjumshahzad8612]

The fact this album is out is a miracle..

[@TheKingHyral]

And it underwhelmed. Should have dropped it 10 years ago when he still had hype. Jay is still the biggest waste of potential in rap.

[@anjumshahzad8612]

@@TheKingHyral true. Did it to himself

[@cyclone927]

5/10?! Joethony Buddentano **gunshots** 😂😂😂😂😂

[@twoheavens]

LiT comment bruh

[@zaybabbles9772]

Versace Pancakes 😂😂😂

[@denisp8432]

Oo know we poddin

[@cyclone927]

Thanks bruh, that means a lot to me.

[@ChananyahYash]

I was just telling my girl he said everything Joe said but more eloquently and with examples given. Joe just needs to relax... but he was right.

[@BrianDePalmaII]

Let’s Agree: “Because the artist is black” shouldn’t be used as a valid criticism in Melon’s reviews anymore

[@lamestudiosinc418]

I'm gonna have to *disagree*

[@TheMetalTempestYT]

i.........agree

[@JulioIsKilluminati]

I’m going to have to agree. I did let it slide the first couple of times he used it as a criteria but it really shouldn’t be this biased.

[@DW.Records]

how many times do i gotta see the same comment on every video

[@ninety1nethagawd]

*LETS ARGUE*

[@drewforbes8980]

ah yes my favorite genre: genre

[@jpegz0w6]

I also enjoy when I enjoy

[@neilb3332]

Ok

[@Utshob5]

I think me being Muslim makes the experience a whole lot more fun for me personally I love the Jay and Jay collab not perfect but I feel the Musljm connect makes this album go from a 5 to 7.5/10

[@speed47g]

funny enough I think Jesus is king had the same effect on me since I’m Christian

[@tompoiambs7562]

Thats called being bais even though the album is not even a 4. and islam has nothing to do with NOI. and malcom X proved it.

[@iqbalhussein5434]

NOI is the polar opposite of Islam homie

[@mastertrey4683]

@@tompoiambs7562 Jay Elec is muslim

[@lukegingerich7535]

music isnt aloud in islam tho

[@heeeyyy2947]

I just came here to say “Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)” saved my life and I’m wondering if anybody else loves it as much as I do?

[@domasrevaitis1158]

It's one of me favorite songs ever and it's so sad that this album wasn't anywhere near that level..

[@dredddre5573]

Facts I thought when jay e dropped his whole album would be like that song so disappointing

[@myao96]

thats my shit forever. been years now but that shit is still among my favs

[@maxwilson9255]

cmon anthony you can't just take off 1 point for each minority featured on the record

[@standardbrah]

oh shit

[@Cosdamotto]

max wilson BOW BOW

[@benerb3970]

I’m sorry Anthony but this review is so poorly written. You can’t just say that u hated the album because JAY-Z and JayElectronica didn’t have a sex soundtrack.

[@southside6093]

Ben Erb L

[@ConsciousRobot]

He made plenty of reasonable, concise points about what he didn't like about the album, which I agree with. Seems like you didn't really hear what he was saying. Maybe because you didn't want to. The production throughout the album is sloppy, and awkward. It's not an aesthetically pleasing or enjoyable album.

[@astormolly4897]

Jason Mays is a generic album

[@ddvsgd9508]

@Jay Rock Jinx He's the most relevant music reviewer in the world, deal with it.

[@d.joseph2690]

@@ddvsgd9508 Oh my fucking god, can you morons not differentiate between genuine comments and trolling?????

[@meatrubber6552]

Joe Budden rubbin his hands like Birdman rn

[@randyjohnson2373]

Meat Rubber65 Joe Budden was the weakest member of slaughterhouse, he knows it too deep down.

[@jackw4947]

Meat Rubber65 would love to here them break down a needledrop review on the pod

[@bobbyfrankfort9923]

As soon as I didn’t see a flannel on I knew this wasn’t gonna be good

[@Manamanamana36]

Bobby Frankfort expected red tho

[@BianicEpicVideos]

I literally LOL's when I read this!

[@sweetg3377]

Ezekiel's Wheel was personally my favorite song on the album

[@NhlanhlaMathe]

Same, this guy's high

[@sebastienc.2257]

Same

[@MrHeyo31]

Its actually the most relaxing Hip Hop song of all time and actually love jay electronica on it (talk about some of the mediation part of the album w/ this song)

[@evanrosenlieb8819]

Same

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

Song's way too long, and plods along. Is Hov even rapping, or is he talking on this track? Overall, it's a'ight.

[@owen8943]

Also I'm gonna be honest I'm not sure why you'd assume that Jay *doesn't* share Farrakhan's views considering that he's a registered NOI member and is clearly proud of it. It's not like that movement's antisemitism is a secret.

[@RobinHouseChannel]

Honestly I feel like I would've liked the album A LOT better if it weren't for that. Especially considering Jay's line about the "synnagaoue of satan" 😬😬

[@auggiedoggie4968]

I was under the impression that Jay was an atheist.

[@trip2belize]

@@auggiedoggie4968 far from it. assuming you meant Jay Elect anyways.

[@RobinHouseChannel]

@@auggiedoggie4968 I think Jay Z might be but nah Jay Electronica is v open about his NOI membership

[@PaintedHoundie]

@@RobinHouseChannel there isnt much reason to think that line is specifically about jewish people, but something that is rather a synonym of evil institutions in general. hes used it several times and is also something he got from the new testament. the dude is more than likely referencing systems controlled by white people if anything. and not saying this is a good thing, but the way people are with leaders and revered figures, a lot of the things worthy of scrutiny when it comes to farrakhan are either ignored, compartmentalized or the person in question is not as familiar with the man as they think. eilija muhammad has skeletons too, but when you grew up on a dude that gave you your worldview, your purpose and your confidence it would be a trial to let someone like that go.

[@jakeallen476]

New jayz album had too many features from jay electronica in my opinion

[@panameraboomin7925]

Might be one of the first times I don’t agree with the needledrop, this album was fucking amazing to me 🔥 cried on the last song and everything lol

[@bontlemakhathe8864]

The last song is beautiful

[@-YokoOno]

Yeah. Anthony’s personal bias is strong in a lot of his reviews. Each to their own but his evidence here is idle and malnourished. Any unbiased third party would laugh at this being a 5/10.

[@panameraboomin7925]

Yoko Ono i mean off pure philosophy without even hearing the project, how are you going to rate any joint project from Jay z and jay electronica a 5/10.

[@joshyakubov9150]

@@-YokoOnoI mean not really. What's there that's so outstanding about the album? Lyrically Jay E wasn't really pushing many points across about who he is and what he stands for more than we already knew. He had ten years to develop himself as a person and as an artist but his art and his personality are the same as they were in 2009. And that's not even mentioning the many production issues on the album.

[@peoples2296]

@@joshyakubov9150 it's not like he's been making music for 10 years. He's got like 1 album worth of material. Not sure how much development you were expecting.

[@jackheeke4897]

How can I trust someone who doesn’t know Grunt Birthday Party

[@CaldoV1]

jack heeke some of you have never dropped grunts with a BR and it shows

[@Edzf99]

@@CaldoV1 The BR is for amateurs. Real OGs use the DMR.

[@sounddrivenofficial]

@@Edzf99 the BR came before the DMR

[@jazsi_]

@@CaldoV1 On Allah 😤

[@Edzf99]

@@sounddrivenofficial I'm just thinking of halo reach which is my favorite halo

[@sargonavocado4582]

Referring to the artist here as “Jew Electrocute-tronica” is crossing all sorts of lines dude!

[@camreddish1fan202]

Sargon Avocado 😐

[@challzbrown]

Sargon Avocado this shit never gets old, I can’t imagine a person who is new to the comments section here 😂😂😂

[@thehandleisuseless]

@@challzbrown I see it on all his videos, it incredibly dumb

[@gfbmusic]

JEW Z AND BEYOND JEW ARE MY FAV CELEB COUPLE OF 2020

[@E.RHYMES]

Being critical of the persecution and exploitation of blacks by jews is not a death sentence to all jews. Any issue with jews is always deemed as anti semetic which is terribly false.....

[@christophertaylorxi7766]

I was underwhelmed but “Fruits Of The Spirit” was nothing but Bars

[@VENGEFULHEXX]

Facts. Whole project really is nothing but bars but they're just random.

[@christophertaylorxi7766]

HEXXISTENTIAL you’re actually right. Aye, did you really have a problem with Jay-Z being half the project? Because I didn’t mind that aspect of the project.

[@VENGEFULHEXX]

@@christophertaylorxi7766 I loved Jay's verses but it shouldn't have been on this project. It's like if you have some chicken and it's got way too much seasoning on it and it's to the point where you just straight up taste seasoning rather than the seasoning complimenting the taste of the chicken itself. I came to eat chicken (listen to Jay Elect) but all I could taste was seasoning (hear Jay Z). These were some of Hov's best versus in a decade though.

[@thegroove14]

So are we getting checks from the government or nah?

[@bitchfuckmeeee6873]

At least someone in the comments is asking the real questions

[@dingdong6729]

Na.

[@Fendernocaster109]

Ya yall get your checks in 7 to 10 years from now how are they gonna get u a check with no money and no one working

[@eye-leenlove]

Garrick Groover - LOL!!!!! Get your news kid!!!! By any channel necessary!!!!!

[@byHexted]

Jay Z swept up on this but I think it’s pretty clear jay elec had no intention of putting out a debut at all until hov. I’d rather have this album then nothing I liked it a lot personally

[@robinvolpi]

This is the feeling I got from it, as well.

[@TheJDoyle42]

Id rather have nothing almost made me not a fan of Jay elec but then I went back and listened to star wars and ahhh maybe the next album will actually be good

[@mpctv.musicproductioncultu1982]

THEY BOTH ARE SMART MEN! ! ! JAY DOESN'T JUST DO FEATURES. "JAY E" DIDN'T NEED TO HAVE JAY ON THERE AS MUCH ALSO! HE DIDN'T HAVE TO PUT HIS ALBUM OUT IF HE DIDN'T WANT TO!!!💯 AND JAY ISN'T GONNA LET SUM-1 SIT ON THE SHELF AND BE INVOLVED IN THE CAPACITY HE WAS‼️🎶💯

[@Freezepark]

I absolutely loved this thing. Maybe it's because I didn't wait 10 years for it, maybe it's because I don't care that Hov takes up so much of it, maybe it's because I absolutely do not care about Jay Elec's religious beliefs nor do I even feel that that aspect should be touched upon in a review at all? I loved the production on nearly the whole thing, I thought both Jays pulled off amazing verses consistently. Like a solid 8 for me at the least.

[@jetrhett992]

🎯🎯🎯

[@chiefhardy6312]

i thought sometimes the production went too far to the point where it was just too much, for example on flux capacitor. i still liked the experimentation on it and hearing Jay Z again. 6/10

[@Apollo101A]

Here it is folks THE ACTUAL review

[@Freezepark]

The Absurdist Are you aware of how much legendary rap music has made reference to the 5%?

[@lukepotts9511]

probably my favorite part of the album was the stock children sample, idk but something about it pulls the whole track together. also my favorite track was universal soldier exactly because of the numerous samples which were put together perfectly

[@xxTheMinecraftNation]

The stock children sample ruined the album for me. That’s literally the same sample used in halo reach which I’ve been playing for a long time. It sounds so goofy, especially when they’re trying to be serious. It’s ridiculously silly.

[@BeingAMonkey]

How do you stock out of children? Do you capture them yourself, or do you buy them?

[@68020845865]

bro i was thinking exactly the sameeee i really liked that sample

[@tebonete]

Yeah universal soldier is amazing best instrumental in along time jay z has a great verse on it

[@franciscomaldonado9073]

Luke Potts I like it to me it sounds like they’re screaming “JAY!!” It kinda adds to it imo. I know they’re saying “yay” though.

[@mikkovitug1361]

I get it Anthony but you didn't need to say Jay Elec deserves corona.

[@gatofury2000]

As Joe Budden said *"I've never seen a rapper get bodied on his own album"*

[@DEDSEC.]

gatofury2000 oh-

[@kjk607]

Joe has a history of getting bodied by Royce and Ortiz

[@RB-.-]

Joe is stuck in that toxic early 2000s mindset where everything has to be about beef and bars

[@dogsandyoga1743]

I think Ghost tied with Rae on Cuban Linx. But def didn't body him...

[@crowing3886]

Facts, all this album did is make me want a new hov album before a new jay elec album 😥

[@JoeTheProGamer]

Anthony, can I quarantine with you and listen to MBDTF? 🥺 👉🏽👈🏽

[@foreverconstant]

This Album is an “Instant Classic” . If that last song A.P.I.D.T.A. didn’t jerk a tear out of you or full blown cry , your numb ..Personally I lost someone recently so it hits different for me . This album deserves at least a 7 . For me it’s a 10

[@geor349]

This guy cried from mac miller. He's not numb. Its just that you connect with the song more then most. Sorry for your lose.

[@foreverconstant]

geor .Thank you my friend !!!

[@regirayquaza]

There's quite a few skips for me to be higher than a 5, but there's quite a few highs

[@fernandoreyes680]

Do you still feel this way?

[@MartyMcFly__25]

I grew up Sunni Muslim and parent both have close ties to the FOI and 5% so I’m super familiar with everything they talk about on the album. I tend to agree with Fantano on the point that they don’t really say much about how Allah and the prophet speaks to them. Most of of it is super surface level that makes novice think they’re being deep or are on some higher plan. I’m a atheist now so i think a lot of it naive but it bring up some fond memories and teachings I got as kid. But that just it I got a lot of these thoughts as a kid. I simply think they should be going deeper instead of parroting the FOI basics 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@persona7-7-7]

Noi

[@donniexl1033]

I understand your sentiment but, you have to wonder “how” deep could they really go? I mean true insight imo would be jeopardizing themselves, not to be too corny

[@robinvolpi]

@@donniexl1033 Indeed

[@kwizkwiz]

your name is Marty Mcfly

[@MartyMcFly__25]

Donnie XL I feel you on that but I thinks it’s a bit of a cop out. You talk about what it means to you not just slick rhymes of Islamic imagery

[@plain48]

ghost of soulja slim is not in favorite tracks? the review is a joke.

[@andreypralich2536]

Just _ Noah A.P.I.D.T.A too. Melon is a joke and shouldn’t review hip hop records anymore

[@plain48]

Andrey Pralich exactly, sure the album has some rough spots but it’s a 7/10 at least.

[@Santana_Art]

I wish Jay Elect had it in him to put out a full solo album. His potential is still very apparent imo

[@kloakekloaker1020]

What are you talking about, the guys so mind numbingly boring

[@ruzgaryasar4041]

Not for us bruh

[@Santana_Art]

kloake kloaker jesus dude do you even hear yourself? Relax.

[@kloakekloaker1020]

@@Santana_Art what is your problem with my statement? It's just an opinion relax br0, I like lil pump and rick Ross and plenty of people hate on those guys so whatevs.

[@Santana_Art]

kloake kloaker I like those artists too... But still.. fuck u.

[@charliejordan4490]

THE LAST TRACK WAS SO GOOD MAN 😭

[@Olori-Ogun]

Tears turn to waterfalls by the time they reach my laces

[@shaunlangenberg]

I cried, ngl

[@charliejordan4490]

Shaun Langenberg same man

[@Raziel2696]

Dude got Ezekiel's wheel as the worst track.... this review invalid off that alone

[@TheTentailsnaruto]

Forreal lmaoooo

[@LensJunior]

I agree

[@Yungsurfer]

I just can’t comprehend how does someone think Ezekiel’s wheel is a bad track At all..... this is definitely one of his dumbest takes ever

[@vdoza33]

Foreal. I really think he missed this one. Sounds like he’s hyping himself for jay still even he says he’s trying not to.

[@riverwell42]

no, anthony, spreading covid-19 in public spaces is not okay!

[@genesisosuna]

This album is like the og eternal atake but we had to wait 10+ years for this one

[@alexqq14]

Detox

[@briandawkins7108]

I don't really see the comparison

[@cbchansey6866]

@@alexqq14 at least he dropped Compton tho. Jay really made us wait 13 years

[@brawler5785]

@@cbchansey6866 And Compton was actually good.

[@johnjson]

Brian Dawkins They both took a while, and when they were released, didn’t live up to the hype. Uzi stans want to say it did, but they are just defending their favorite rapper like we all are guilty of doing

[@BACHKA]

Me: uh oh he doesn’t have the yellow flannel Fantano: 5/10 Me: 😔

[@Sound_Judgement]

Maybe it’s because I wasn’t really into the music scene at the time for me to have the hype for this release, but I had no expectations going into this album and left feeling it was one of the best of the year so far. Hits hard, doesn’t linger longer than it needed to, meaningful and well-thought-out lyrics punctuated by jazzy production and beats, and with Jay-Z’s constant presence being a surprisingly good aid to the album (I’m not really a fan of Jay-Z’s recent output, 4:44 aside). I came away from this lamenting that there wasn’t more to find, not that this somehow “didn’t live up to the hype.”

[@FELCommentary]

Exactly, I didn't know anything about Jay so I went into it blind and thought it was a great conscious sort of lo-fi classic hip hop album. You hate to see it.

[@gabrieliacobazzi6236]

I agree

[@FELCommentary]

@Dooky what a whimsical and well written rebuttal

[@betweenthebars256]

Reminder of who Jay Electronica is a personal friend of/is a part of his group - “The Jews don’t like Farrakhan, so they call me Hitler. Well, that’s a good name. Hitler was a very great man.” - “And the Christian right, with your blindness to that wicked state of Israel … can that be the holy land, and you have gay parades, and want to permit to have a gay parade in Jerusalem when no prophet ever sanctioned that behavior. How can that be the Israel, how can that be Jerusalem with secular people running the holy land when it should be the holy people running the holy land. That land is gonna be cleansed with blood!” -Louis Farrakhan, Saviours’ Day speech, Chicago, Feb. 26, 2006 - “Osama Bin Laden didn’t destroy the Twin Towers. That was a false flag operation to take the world’s attention away from the great disunity in America after George W. Bush stole the election.” -Louis Farrakhan in The Final Call, March 15, 2016 - “I’m not an anti-Semite. I’m anti-Termite.” -Oct. 16, 2018, tweet from Louis Farrakhan (@LouisFarrakhan).

[@sohype6827]

That Farrakhan dude is something else, calling Hitler a great man? That's just crazy... 😂 But that Bin Laden twin tower talk is popular a conspiracy so I don't really see a problem with it from a moral standpoint Fuck Israel tho

[@betweenthebars256]

Thomas John that was a quote from Farrakhan, not Bin Laden

[@jarvishughes]

I love how much this guy doesn’t get it. How much he doesn’t understand. But how clear it is to some of us.

[@abhinandukanil3415]

Melon thought it was Watch The Throne 2

[@user-vi7di4fj1r]

This just confirms that Joe Budden’s next album will be a 10

[@E.RHYMES]

Unfortunately he retired.....

[@browsingyoutube6563]

Joe Pump Pump Pump it up Budden 😂🤣😩😖🤨

[@adeebseyed8606]

Anthony is challenging Allah by rating this album 5/10 😪😪

[@noursallou7856]

what the hell

[@juandeagle5489]

8/10 imo

[@coiboyify]

Good

[@peterstanchev3156]

“I don’t think Jay Electronica personally has issues with jewish people” … God, this aged really bad. 😂

[@wesleykummer5774]

The underwhelming review

[@-YokoOno]

Sometimes he misses.

[@giothedream]

Anthony, you can’t just pet your dog for 12 minutes and call it a review.

[@jpegz0w6]

But he’s a good boy 🥱

[@jpegz0w6]

Wrong emoji 🥺*

[@hobosdominecraft1]

Jay-Z - A Written Testimony (feat. Jay Electronica)

[@NathanNotorious__]

hobosdominecraft1 legit though having Jay - Z on every track kinda killed it for me

[@BlakeRocks52]

This album has so many problems, but god damn the bars are crazy

[@levimoore5376]

the bars might be good, but all the beats are total messes.

[@-YokoOno]

levi moore can you go into that more? You’re just throwing idle words around. The beats are mastered perfectly apart from one or two tracks. I’d really like you’re one own objective take on this

[@midnightgravity.]

@@-YokoOno tell em bro

[@marmiteghost]

honestly feel like this album would've fared much better if it was released as a Jay Z and Jay Electronica collab album. the expectation of this being Jay Elec's looooong anticipated SOLO DEBUT album rly fucked me over in terms of enjoyment. every single time Hov appeared on a track i was just like wtfff again? and he was good! i was literally just getting mad because i wasnt expecting him to be on there

[@standardbrah]

v valid my guy

[@thuggathuggababy]

Bro this how unbiased you’re being . The fact that it wasn’t technically a collab drags your enjoyment? Learn to be objective

[@joepipisitoface3380]

this album grabbed me instantly. crazy good, and jay and jay are an excellent duo.

[@noahraymond244]

I read somewhere that it was intentional that He didn’t rap on the intro and Hov started the album. It’s suppose to build up the suspense and essentially Electronica is saying “ you waited 10 years for the album, you can wait a few more minutes”. I thought it was kinda clever tbh.

[@Swagoullie]

Noah Raymond a lot more waiting for not a lot of pay off.

[@lllllllleeeeeeeeeeeooooooo8540]

@@Swagoullie idk, it's a pretty substantial payoff imo

[@singingchef23]

You struggle with the spiritual rappers I've noticed

[@markville1061]

melon, you spelled “don toliver - heaven or hell review” wrong

[@ilovecody7514]

I was waiting for that review along with this one. I enjoyed both a lot.

[@jakegraham3758]

Why review a good album by a up and coming artist when you could review a mediocre one from a artist people haven’t cared about in like 9 years

[@jasinferati4064]

Be patient y’all

[@ilovecody7514]

@@jasinferati4064 No shit

[@AlbertoMendoza]

Be careful, Jay Elec is going to go for you too like he did Joe Budden.

[@THE_MAC.]

Jay Rock Jinx I don’t agree with a lot of his reviews, but he’s not a “corny white boy”. He’s simply giving his opinion on music. It’s not more than that

[@king.ozzymandias]

Bruh nobody cares about what white people think about hip-hop especially a nigga like this. Casual fans dont like this album

[@Manamanamana36]

Like he did this album? M e d i o c r e

[@jkdaprynce]

Shiny Suit Theory is a 10, 11 year old song? I mean it fits, but it shouldn’t have been there. Lazy

[@patricktervo2013]

This should be fun.

[@Hanneboii]

Imagine waiting a decade for a 5/10

[@standardbrah]

5 points per decade, he on dat slow turtle and the hare grind, 2055 finna slap

[@geor349]

Imagine spending a decade making a 5/10. It deserves more like 4.7 or something but i get it has to be round so whatever.

[@gfbmusic]

IMAGINE WAITING FOR SOME RANDOM INTERNET WANKER NERD(WHO DOESN'T HAVE HIP HOP RUNNING THROUGH HIS VEINS) TO TELL YOU WHAT THINK ABOUT HIP HOP MUSIC.

[@tonymcgriddle1977]

Ngl thought that the name of the day was “Quran-thony time-tano”. Smh melon commits haram again

[@DonInADress]

Am I the only person that loves Flux Capacitor!? From the Zaha line to the Rihanna (where’s my album Rih 😒) screaming vocals from Higher - I just feel like it’s the most fun song on the album.

[@canal_changeling]

I love it too.

[@kapyasmith2590]

thank god reviews are personal opinions and not facts cuz till this day i listen to this album and its fire

[@aidensmith8813]

jay is cursing out anthony on the album cover

[@noursallou7856]

man its just the album tittle in arabic

[@rozicc]

@@noursallou7856 woosh

[@Donutello333]

Melon just because he wouldn't sleep with you doesn't mean you get to give his album a 5/10

[@Julie-qr9ow]

4:34 the fact that they would even say that is haram.

[@acc2876]

Arabic language isnt only arabs language, not everythink you see is haram kids

[@Julie-qr9ow]

@@acc2876 what are u even talking about? I know arabic isnt only for arabs I'm not arab but I speak arabic. I was talking about how jay z was referring to his word as the word of god u dummy.

[@acc2876]

@@Julie-qr9ow i know, i was just pointing that out for the other dummies who will take your comment in a wrong way.. which i know it well happen

[@nwoodz]

exactly, this comes across as them calling themselves Gods, which is definitely haram😂

[@taye9113]

Julie i know wym in terms of first listening to it 🤣🤣🤣🤣 but what I think jay is saying here is that his beliefs and words he talks about is fact statements due to reading the word of god and claiming that he ain’t a liar pretty much saying that he don’t cap, it’s from the Quran and when he says if it comes from any of those consider it haram, maybe as in people without knowledge just claim things that ain’t true

[@ElijahMan2633]

3 years later, I still disagree. Two Jay’s on one album. This album is easily one of the best Hip Hop albums of the decade.

[@juhanjames2653]

Stg bro universal soldier hits diff

[@wiz_dropbomb2134]

Damn people really don’t appreciate that Jay Z is on the album. Ungrateful.

[@Manamanamana36]

He's the only good thing there

[@peoples2296]

@@Manamanamana36 you're crazy. They are both fire. This is what lyricism is.

[@Manamanamana36]

@@peoples2296 yeah you right Jay Elec's beats are fire

[@LeBeautiful]

*10 years have left the chat*

[@NBA_4LIFE]

Cmon man this album was obviously not worth the hype but a 5....thats tuff its at least an 8 incredible production and personally I loved the overall sound and flow The duo brought

[@JeaniusMenard]

zaibukan An 8 really?? 🧐

[@ugouchiha4147]

Incredible production..? Stop it.

[@randyjohnson2373]

zaibukan Anthony just discovered jay Electronica from pitchfork since he has all this time with corona

[@mannypacma8]

Best bar of the album when Jay z said “that gossip I send melonheads”

[@coinhawk]

album is FIRE.... most wont see it until about the next 10 yrs.... slow minds...

[@benb2794]

Not gonna lie, I didn’t know who Jay Electronica was before I listened to the album. Once I started, I thought that the Jay meant Jay-Z and the Electronica meant some other guy I didn’t know, and that it was a collab album

[@m.chevameindra5521]

in conclusion: "Music To Be Murdered By > A Written Testimony" - Melon

[@dwikinugraha6804]

Bcoz its fact

[@bobbyphiller3426]

At last Em didn't take a decade of hype to release something of middling quality. He can take a year or two to do that instead.

[@cucumberlemonade5358]

So jay electronica is reviewable???

[@sekos.]

what im saying

[@mysterious_559]

Fantano is weird

[@madvillain20091]

I love this album. i would rate this a strong 9/10 for me personally. you should review R.A.P. Ferreira - Purple Moonlight Pages.

[@iamdanielrobles]

You just don’t like Jay electronica

[@Welcomto5thavinue]

A lot of these criticisms are fair but fruits of the spirit is nothing but bars, Ezekiels wheel is so well produced and I think accomplishes what it needs to as well as A P I D T A having the best verse of the record on it w Jay Elecs verse and working as a perfect outro