Jzargoshepard is an artist who made most of his album Energy in Motion while his life was shifting quite significantly. He said, “Months after moving to a new house in San Diego after leaving my childhood home of 20 years, I went to live in Japan for about four months to study abroad for school.”
He says most of the recording was done in Japan but he also wrapped up a lot of the tracks when he went back home. The album is hip-hop but the themes and topics are very diverse. He explains, “Living in Japan brought with it heartbreak, supernatural experiences and a lot of personal healing. Naturally, this album reflects that.” The album has a contemporary vibe to it. He utilizes a good amount of vocal effects but doesn't overdo it in my opinion. The album gets cracking with “Tired of Waiting'' and the bass and beat itself are upfront in the mix with the more airy elements looming in the background. He has some obvious skill on the mic which you can hear right away. He shows some more of his palette with “222” where you hear overlapping vocal harmonies, multiple hooks and vast array of instrumental aspects. As the album progressed I thought there were some highlights which included “3 Of Swords' ' which has more of a club vibe to my ears. Another highlight in the batch was the very next song entitled “Inner Peace.” I liked the more ominous and dark sounding “Zebra” and the slick “Birth Time.” As I mentioned this album felt contemporary so much so I was feeling my age on this release. The style of hip-hop is very different than the hip-hop I grew up on in high school in the mid ’90s. Things change as they should and this younger generation seems to be bringing more topics to the table than ever before. I thought this was a consistent release and showcased a signature sound. Having one is one thing that will never change. That is an important aspect when gaining an audience. Recommended.
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