Rethinking 'Redemption' Two Years Later
- Tucker Cargile
- Jun 15, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 15, 2020
On this day, two years ago Jay Rock dropped his third studio album Redemption and it instantly made summer 2018 a whole lot hotter. Prior to this breakout album, Jay had been one of the O.G. members of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and had gained some widespread recognition for his features on songs like Kendrick Lamar’s “Money Trees” and his involvement in the rap supergroup Black Hippy.
Although Redemption didn’t necessarily establish Jay as a superstar, the Watts native proved that he can put together an album that should be remembered forever. He did this by putting out bangers such as “WIN” and “King’s Dead”, which both have legitimate chances of going down as classic hip-hop hits. What pushed this project over the top was it’s depth, as each track conveys something different and is able to really make you feel something. Most of the tracks are about Jay Rock’s struggles with growing up and surviving in the ghetto, and the manner that he speaks upon these struggles in makes you like the man even more. Despite depicting these experiences that are far from glamorous, the 35-year old always makes time to have fun and this is apparent on “WIN”, “King’s Dead”, “Tap Out”, and “Wow Freestyle”.
This album should continue to be a go-to listen for music lovers, as it is evident that Jay put his entire heart and soul into this project, coming through in a rugged and beautiful way. The features on this project are better than any that you could ask for, with notable stars like J. Cole, Future, Kendrick Lamar, and SZA lending their talents. Although, nobody ever steals the spotlight from Jay Rock, as he sticks to his identity and makes you feel the relentless HEAT.
Favorite Tracks:
The Bloodiest
Rotation 112th
OSOM (feat. J. Cole)
King’s Dead (feat. Future)
Wow Freestyle (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
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