JP ONE

Ever since his proper introduction into the rap game, with his debut mixtape Tha Power of ONE, JP ONE has steadily been making his ascent amongst the ranks of revered underground MC’s on the Detroit hip-hop scene. The past few years, those who have kept a close eye (and ears) to the streets have bared witness to the onslaught of music the Detroit-born, Benton Harbor-raised rapper has flooded the streets with in such a short time span.

To keep his status secured and the cards continually in his favor, JP ONE returns with maybe his most ambitious body of work to date, Fire & Brimstone. Intended to be the first installment of a planned trilogy, Fire & Brimstone embodies all the elements that showcases one hustler’s rise to prominence. Aside from the lead off single “Win or Lose”, and the Spaghetti Western-infused follow up, “Pride”, JP ONE rarely veers, and stays perfectly woven within the seams of the overall theme of the mixtape.

Musically, this project is reminiscent of rap’s most grittiest days, complete with vintage soul samples, rugged instrumentation, and intricate lyrics. On the mystical, “City Under Siege” featuring fellow Detroit rapper and Mass Appeal’s latest signee, Boldy James, the two MC’s trade bars, and craft a tale tailor-made for the streets.

JP ONE shines bright, and stakes his claim, delivering warning shots to anyone in his way on the road to riches. “I don’t partake in bullshit and reindeer games/ And I don’t feel the need to play friendly with these lames/ Never sneak-dissin’, got no problem sayin’ names/ But if you catch me lookin’ at him, shit I’m probably takin’ aim,” Jackpot says before delivering this sentiment, “I’ve been solid all my life, I don’t fold or stand down.” JP greatest asset is his voice, it’s clear and direct and doesn’t get drowned out by the production.

Speaking of production, Fire & Brimstone has a good assortment of producers, who create solid soundscapes for JP ONE to preach his form of ghetto gospel to listeners. On the BJ Gates-produced “Ear Hustlin’”, it stands out due in-part by it’s awesome ‘70s-inspired soul loops. Pig Pen channels classic Roc-A-Fella on “Human Nature” with its Just Blaze or Heatmakerz-esque production. The mixtape’s biggest standout is the introspective “Art & Life”. Not only is this track sonically good, but it also shows JP’s knack for storytelling, as he details topics ranging from failed relationships to serving time behind bars.

JP only loses focus with the paint-by-numbers “I Just Wanna Know”, which is garnered toward the fairer sex, but doesn’t quite fit cohesively into the rest of the story. All in all, F&B’s first installment is off to a good start. Here’s to hoping the rest of the trilogy can be equally as good, or even better. - Soo Detroit Magazine

JP ONE – ‘Fire & Brimstone’ Album

Artist: JP One
Album: Fire & Brimstone
Label: Gifted & Talented LLC
JP One presents to the world, his new 13-track project entitled, ‘Fire and Brimstone’.
It was almost 10 years ago when Nas proclaimed, “Hip Hop is Dead” and faced backlash from almost the entire hip-hop community. To some extent that statement can be considered true due to today’s music becoming heavily focused on mesmerizing hooks and melodies from either the club-laden production style of DJ Mustard, or the sound of futuristic synths under concrete shattering bass from Metro Boomin. The days of the simplistic boom-bap sound from pioneers like Pete Rock, Large Professor, and DJ Premier are nearly extinct. Of course there are artists, such as JP-One, who continue to pay homage to the era that spawned greats like Gangstarr, Rakim, and KRS-One.
JP OneJP’s “Fire & Brimstone” project is the first offering from a trilogy and is a testament to core hip-hop fans everywhere that music with meaning is still appreciated. His journey of rising through the ranks of the Underground Detroit hip-hop scene has made him a seasoned MC and his polished skills are showcased on this mixtape. Full of clever punchlines and double entendres, JP sends a message that music from the Golden Age may be in its end of days, but he’s here to offer some direction and salvation to keep the culture alive. From the tape’s opening track, comes out the gates strong and lyrically dances over a dark and menacing beat reminiscent of Jay-Z’s “Pray”. Throughout the tape you’re going to hear some really good displays of rapping. Although some of the hooks may not be as melodic, JP makes it a point that his lyrics stand out on each track. The project’s standout track, “City Under Siege”, features XXL Freshman candidate Boldy James sparring with him through tales of the street life over a smooth soul sample beat from Pig Pen, who produced majority of the mixtape alongside BJ Gates. It is the crisp engineering and production being in sync with JP’s sharp voice that helps to provide the perfect canvas for him to paint great stories lyrically. He manages to bring things closer to home through his chance to vent and reflect on his journey thus far on the tape outro track, “Art & Life”. Anyone who’s ever had to make the tough decision of sacrificing their normal life to chase their passion will be able to relate to this heartfelt track.
All in all, this is a solid project that is definitely worth a listen. It’s not going to be put into the radio rotation, or dropped in your favorite nightclub or strip club. JP’s tape speaks to those who love real hip-hop, offers a voice for people caught up in the street life, and acts as motivational music for anyone who’s working hard to follow their dreams. Be sure to add this to your playlist for those morning drives to work or if you need something to ride to during a late night cruise. The streets can definitely expect more greatness soon to come from JP after this quality presentation.
https://soundcloud.com/chosen1jackpot/sets/jp-one-fire-brimstone/s-v5KWy - Control Detroit Mag