As an artist it’s important to know what works for you musically.  Too many times listeners are subject to artists trying to be something they’re not.  You’ve seen this all the time right?  The conscious introspective hip hopper rapping over a southern trap style beat?  You’re thinking: “something doesn’t sound right.”  That’s understandable since part of being a great artist is being believable.  The beauty of Dream Shift is that Jaylafe won’t leave you feeling this way (for the most part…).

“Jimmy’s World” is a song that stands out because it is aimed at shining light on what many young men face regardless of where you’re from.  Jaylafe paints a rather vivid picture of how someone can be lured into pornography while dealing with the pains of life.  The following song “Rainbow Colored Scar” is aimed at taking the listener into the life of a homosexual male as he grows into adulthood.  He shows the battles one can face when dealing with something of this magnitude.  In light of these two stories, I’d say Jaylafe’s a pretty good story teller.  He is able to be quite vivid with his imagery and creates characters with depth.  “2059” also stands out as Jay preaches a message on the downward spiral of the world.  This track may hold Jay’s best lyrical offering.  Not because it has powerful similes and metaphors but because he really hits home and delivers well timed, vivid statements of trends that are quite noticeable in our current world.

There are a couple of black eyes on this project.  The well-aimed but poorly delivered “Media Slave” reminded me too much of Eminem’s first album in the way the hook was delivered.  The beat, as well as the way the verses are delivered, felt too much like what people talk about when they reference the “old days” of Christian Hip Hop.  Simply put, this song is pretty corny.  Though the message is clear, it probably should’ve been left off the project.  Secondly, “Beast Mode” sounds completely out of place on this project.  For one, it’s a “trap” style track and that’s just not Jaylafe.   It really gave me that “Something doesn’t sound right” feeling I mentioned in the beginning.   Without this song, the album has a cohesive feel but this one is a wild card.  Jaylafe’s flow wasn’t bad on the track but what may have been an attempt to diversify the project really misses in that aspect.

The beats are just ok in my opinion.  Though the project is mixed quite well, there are no beats that push the envelope or make the listener feel any emotion strongly.  Though I feel that Jaylafe tells good stories, lyrically he still has plenty of room for growth.  There are many times when Jay forces words to rhyme when they just don’t, and that’s a sign of a lack of creativity in that moment.  In some verses, his delivery felt rushed when trying to close out or finish a bar.  He doesn’t have major timing issues but could most certainly improve in this area as well.  

Jaylafe comes off as an average guy with something to say.  He touches a pretty wide array of social issues and current trends.  Issues like the world’s increasing dependence on technology and lack of morals in light of “equal rights”.   This album seems to be an appeal to the unsaved as opposed to massaging the minds of mature Christians.  This is a good aim, but I feel the overall feel of this album might limit its appeal. 

This album sounds less hip hop and more alternative.  This isn’t a knock on the album.  As a reviewer and someone who has been listening to music all my life, I appreciate artists who are comfy in their skin.  In fact, these artists typically make the best music.  The album feels like middle-class suburbia but without the raw emotion and unique sound that can be found in much of the music that originates from suburbia.  I’m not saying that all music has to move the listener the way soul music does but many groups and artists from the ‘Burbs have made great music that brought you into their world and made us all respect their viewpoints and musical prowess.  Overall, this project falls short in that area.

 

Categorical Ratings Breakdown:

Originality/Creativity: 2/5
Lyrics: 2.5/5
Delivery: 2/5
Beat Selection/Production: 3/5
Concept/Arrangement: 2/5