Andrew Kelly - Joy (Album)

Back with his 3rd effort, the wittily brilliant Andrew Kelly has returned to bless them with more of his genius on his 1st of the new year "Joy," which, the wordsmith in me, is no doubt rejoicing to where fans of intense lyricism can follow suit. Personally, I didn't know of Andrew Kelly until I heard him on Dingo Johnson's "I Rap Better" tape on the cut "Gullah Gullah Island," matching the wild energy of him & R. Locko effortlessly, so I had to go back & do my homework before jumping into this project.

Immediately coming with the multisyllabic wit, Andrew wastes no time being brash & in your face on "Broken Bottles." Pissing in several & busting them over competitors' heads since they seem to think everything is some sort of big pissing match. He has a "white face" with a "black soul," & it shows, you can tell this is somebody who's done immense studying of those before him to perfect his craft into becoming the "Rap Guru" he now is. That flute coupled with that boom-bap, him & Alley Rocket are some snake charmers on this one, striking fear into you like the daunting taunting of a king cobra & it won't be long before that venom eats you alive painfully slow.

The energy flowing "Through the Wire" is enough to cause blackouts cause that's literally all he's doing on each of these cuts. I'm not sure a "Crucifix" will exorcise the demons he's conjuring up with his insanity-driven rhymes. Eyes following you from "Painted Portraits," so far gone "Off White" like the paint peeling off the walls, such heat can only make those who try to compare chock full of "Jealousy" as he wears his narcissism wrapped tightly around the heart on his sleeve on "Lost in My Pride." Who can blame him when you're this good, you got every right to be arrogant in your cocky confidence & it is your civic duty to bow before the "Shadow God" cause when it comes to beats & rhymes, records like this come few & far between.