J Soulja - More Than Nothin’ (Album)
What a year so far it's been for J Soulja; he's completed a variety of accomplishments from his performance series #TheSmokeOutATX being a staple of the Austin scene, which helped welcome a new performance edition titled "The Pre Roll" that's been receiving its fair share of growth. Other achievements include the countless singles and projects he's done throughout the year, including his week-long single releases that help usher in #SouljaSZN. "From The Soul" to now, "This Ain't Shit" new to J Soulja, who now welcomes in a progressive journey for the world to see his reign continue in "More Than Nothin."
The album cover is designed by HereComesTheArt, who has done several of his covers prior, and here I think we get a little bit of all of them in this one piece. With the intensity strength of his intro "Troubles," he bares out his emotions like he's leading a march. He's precise with a nonchalant demeanor, speaking of how he and his team paved the way to the come-up they're currently on. While most parade in the slim success they achieved so far, it was still countless hours recording with dreams of losing a 9-5 schedule to begin touring. No "Roof" to hold J Soulja down, so he's tearing off that muthahfucka letting the people know he's about to set it off. He's burning down the ceiling, and ain't no fire necessary to help start it. J Soulja harmonizes a smooth appeal to the track, one where we get a little more soul to it, something that bears out a rhythm. All praises to Steelo Foreign for clutching on this production and many others that you will hear throughout the album. Records like "Top Down" & "Need Mine" are critical for the listeners to hear the victory in J Soulja's voice. He's battle through obstacles where most would fall, and a till here standing with nothing being able to stop him. His "Value" & "Energy" is of biblical proportions, especially when constructing top-tier lyricism that he's delivering throughout the project. He's come from the "Bottom" in seeing days that he wished would end since they left him gloomy for the future. Yet, at the same time, it's these days that molded him into the person he is today. He works hard to never be in that position again, and it's a relatable factor to those that grew up in similar situations. The production helps assemble these gritty tales for J Soula to bear out his heart on, and it's what helps to understand him as a person in a wholehearted effort that we don't see many artists do nowadays. The outro "On My Way" sounds like the soul of David Ruffin being channeled throughout. Not because of the jazz elements but because of him speaking on the desires of his eyes that he wants now proceeding to the next level of greatness he's on forward to now. The down south representation is here in this album. He welcomes the doubters & naysayers to see that the person you fought to hold back is now a champion that happened right in front of your very eyes.
I can't stress the love I have for this project; we've got the magnum opus of J Soulja to hear more of his story unfold. Until his next chapter, I highly recommend you check out this album today and put someone new on to it. While doing that, make sure to share it around on all social media avenues.