DJ Jewels is a 48-year-old DJ, producer and rapper from Detroit, Michigan, known for his work with some of the Motor City's most notable hip-hop scenes from D12 to Fatt Father's Grindset group to the world famous Fat Killahz or even Obie Trice's. His solo debut was released Another conversation Irene a quarter of a century ago followed by Peep game, Priceless & Take it or Leave it. However, my introduction to him was in the summer of 2010 when he produced the posthumous mixtape Proof Time a Tell recorded in the 24 hours sometime before his assassination, which has some of my favorite solo material from the mayor. The best is yet to come has to be my favorite Jewels album and I was excited to hear their 6th LP after 5 EPs The Movement, Who is Dean Jones?, Fastlife Fame, Aniel & Option 6.
Finale's intro begins in the form of this 96-second horn opener that points the finger at their mainstream or underground competition, while Guilty Simpson's “Document” works into an operatic sample that matches kicks and snares that speak of fools who they bet their music would be Don't Knock No More. “No Hook” by Big Tone & Denmark Vessey has a funkier vibe to the beat killing it without the need for a chorus and after the interlude “DJ Stripalude” DJ Truth's “Is On Me” has to be one of the weakest pieces. And that's because of the heavy auto-tuned vocals, the trap instrumental is fine.
'Drought Season 3' by Big Herk & the late MC Breed embraces the Bay Area inspired Detroit trap scene has become known for in recent memory as they boast about the fact that they're still taking that shit before “Grind Season” from the Grindset sample David Porter's “I'm Afraid the Masquerade's Over” talking about how I'd never make plays to get you over them like they should be. “Hey Mr. DJ” by Kashia Adams goes R&B singing over a funky instrumental that makes you want to dance leading into the trap “Gettin' Off” by Dean Jones & Tae-O knowing only to run.
Interestingly on “Ur tha Won” we have DJ Jewels jumping on top of one of his beasts to give a shot at MCing for just over a minute and holding his weight while maintaining the trap sounds from the previous joint, turning energy into romance “Meet Mr. Wonderful” featuring Marv Won finds the 2 talking about getting better each day on this jazzy soulful hybrid. Big Tone & Loe Louis' “Still Love er” kicks off the other half UNDR DAWG with a fresh dedication to hip hop culture and the sequel “1st Love (Still Love er 2)” like “Ur tha Won” is another Jewels solo joint, instead, it has a boom bap vibe.
DJ Truth's “Pretty Girl Anthem” happens to be a mean pop rap/trap crossover dedicated to all the beautiful women here in Detroit right before Jill Govan's “Thankful4U2” comes out with another R&B joint that's as catchy as “Hey Mr. DJ” from back in the day. Big Tone's “Grow More” takes a groovier approach, organically suggesting you watch what you're feeding your conscious mind and call it haters vamonos, but then “Cheat Code” is a third solo cut from DJ Jewels who cuts a soul sample that drops 808s on the Grindset repping pass.
Picking up perfectly from the previous track, Grindset returns to boom bap on “How Dat Sound?” talk about ripping off people who don't appreciate their hard work while “Heat tha Summer Up” happens to be Jewels last solo cut, jumping over another Detroit trap track similar to “Cheat Code” & “Ur tha Won ” heading for the top with no runners-up. Grindset & Oba Rowland's “Go Mode 2” decently remixes the same song from Grindset's self-titled debut, while Alius Pnukkl's “Live 4 Me” discusses that we need time to get over things.
Pretty much every EP DJ Jewels has put out in the last 5 years except Who is Dean Jones? come to think of it, you found him in house music before Beyoncé and even Drake came out Renaissance or Honestly, Nevermind. As for UNDR DAWGi love it so much The best is yet to come. His production here could be the most versatile ping between boom bap, Detroit trap and R&B leaving most of the performances to a list of established and up and coming local artists aside from the 4 solo tracks.
Rating: 8/10
