On his star-studded fourth studio album, Atlanta’s finest JID completes his metamorphosis from next up to one of rap’s most reliable presences.
Is there a more underrated rapper in the USA in the last ten years than JID? Signed to Dreamville — J Cole’s label — eight years ago, the Atlanta wordsmith has, throughout his tenure, always preferred quality over quantity, substance over style, opting to perfectly craft cohesive works of art rather than chasing a winning formula. His 2022 album The Forever Story was undeniably one of the best rap records of the year, taking his public popularity and critical acclaim to new heights.
Three years down the line, JID’s fourth album God Does Like Ugly has finally arrived. The LP is bustling with mouth-watering features; from fellow Dreamville alum EARTHGANG to rap prodigy Vince Staples, and the excellent Jessie Reyez to brotherly duo Clipse. The latter duo, riding high off of their superb comeback album Led God Sort Em Out, prove a standout on gristly gem “Community”.
There’s not too much new from JID — not that that’s necessarily negative. Any fan of him or of US rap in general knows that he is among the most technically gifted of his generation. His flows are deft and varied, piercing throughout. His lyrical ideas are focused and thoughtful, pondering religion, his rise and the industry.
The album doesn’t quite match up to its unique, career-defining predecessor — topping the summit tends to be a difficult task, after all. But it’s a worthy addition into JID’s growing catalogue, introducing his new era and bringing together a pantheon of top class collaborators.
Listen to the album…
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Words – Ben Tibbits
