Sy ShacklefordHere’s the thing about independent artists: Apart from both a common DIY aesthetic and variations in terms of budget and resources, they stay on their grind. It’s with that dedication through which they build a market to gain ends. In essence, they hustle. Appropriately, this review covers the 14th release of Rochester’s own Jae Hussle entitled “Hulk tha Hustla”. Produced entirely by Italian beatsmith Manzu Beatz, the duo has contributed the fusion sound of east coast hip-hop and vintage pop culture.
For the latter, the album begins with an intro which samples “The Incredible Hulk” television series from the late 1970s. The album cover is also inspired by the Hulk. “Frontline” begins with a dark string sample and has a guest appearance from Bronx rapper Crotona P. This sound continues on “Upfrunt”, a menacing cinematic score layered with even more menacing lyrics. For “Streets Cry”, Jae raps his own version of the “Code of the Streets”/”10 Crack Commandments” over a moody soundscape with elegiac piano keys and violins. Next up is “1st Impression”, consisting of a low-key psychedelia to the production which Manzu expertly flipped from several samples it seems.
“Proceed” is classic boom-bap with the lo-fi drum snares, vintage horn samples, and Jae’s lyrics about the cause for why he and his feed. “Regret” requires concentration because the repetitive chipmunk soul production coincides with Jae’s own almost equally fast-paced vocals, making it difficult to focus on either. The slowed sample on “Hu$$le” has a spooky sound reminiscent of a climactic horror movie scene. Lyrically, Jae’s wordplay shines as he proclaims that while he’s not into politics, his pockets “are full of dead prez”. The high-pitched vocal samples return on “Do Me Wrong”, but are coupled with a head-nodding drum rhythm this time to make the beat less cluttered. Lyrically, Jae unleashes his venom on those with snake behavior. The album’s single, “Justify”, and its accompanying video have a “by any means necessary” trope in the music, lyrics, and visuals:
“My Block” has added details to its sullen production such as background yelling, sirens, and dogs barking as Jae paints a picture of reality on his avenues. The production continues its angsty tone on “Gamma Radiation”, where U.K. rapper RY Walker lends his gritty sounding vocals. For the outro, it’s bookended with another “Hulk” TV series sample. By the end of the album, it’s clear that the winner of “Hulk tha Hustla” is the production of Manzu Beatz. Entirely sample-based notwithstanding, the beats held up more than the lyrics. Jae Hu$$le has honed abilities on the mic, but falls into the whole “I’m not a rapper, I’m a hustler” cliché with repetitive usage of the word and limited use of its connotations. While there did seem to be a chemistry at first between rapper and producer early on, the chemical equation wasn’t balanced by the album’s end.