Chicago emcee Ajani Jones is anything but traditional. An artist characterized by distinct and creative wordplay, Jones has built a loyal following from his unwavering commitment to true storytelling. Frequently utilizing bouncy and stylized boom-bap production, Jones has no qualms about thinking outside the box and reinventing the wheel of conscious hip-hop through eclectic instrumentation. Despite his rapid expansion of genre influences, the Midwest raconteur is by no means a newcomer to the rap game, with acclaimed projects littering his discography going back to 2017's Eternal Bliss. His more recent album, 2019’s Dragonfly, provided a perfect example of the emcee's willingness to experiment musically, with tracks veering into neo-soul and even electronica-influenced production while staying true to Jones' distinctive razor-sharp wit and delivery.
Fresh off one of the most underrated projects of 2020 in Kenya EP, Jones enlists fellow storytellers Khary and Jon Swaii for a single that induces head nods as routinely as its lyrics elicit gasps. Truly one of the most lyrically captivating singles of the year, the three emcees seem to coexist flawlessly on the track as they explore a dizzying array of topics over a hazy, reverberating sample and drums that accentuate the artists' flows ever so delicately.
Coming from a city as hallowed for producing generational hip-hop talent as Chicago certainly puts additional pressure on rising stars like Jones to take up the mantle of the greats. However, judging by his previous track record and the brilliantly orchestrated trail he is blazing, Jones is not backing down from his city's illustrious hip-hop history as he confidently strives to add his name to Chicago rap Rushmore.
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