Water is Truth
The Water[s] by Mick Jenkins
First things first, who the hell is Mick Jenkins?
Mick, if I may, is some underground rapper that hails from Chicago, according to his Twitter account.
Next, why should you actually keep reading this?
What?! Do you not enjoy reading my sub-par work that might someday aid my dreams of achieving 500-1000 followers on twitter? Haha you laugh now, but just wait…someone famous might tweet me back. Oh wait, that’s already happened.
I don’t want to get the f*** out since this is my blog, but here’s some proof:
If anyone is going to tell me that Sir Michael Rocks isn’t famous, you might be right…
I definitely enjoyed his work as the second half of The Cool Kids, and his debut album, Banco, which I would advise anyone and everyone to…what’s that phrase my generation likes to blurt out for no apparent reason? Oh yes, TURN UP!
Sorry kids, as much as I would love to spew off into another tangent and discuss Mikey Rocks and the fact that The Internet’s busiest music nerd tweeted me back, the point of today’s piece of work is to educate your mind on Mr. Mick Jenkins. (Mick, if you’re reading this, may I call you Micky?)
I’ll be honest, I don’t know that much about the MC, but after pleasuring my soul to The Water[s], I’ll say that I want to know everything about ol’ Mick. Don’t get me wrong, he obviously looks like an older, plumped up version of TDE newcomer, Isaiah Rashad. Is there anything wrong with that? Obviously! I mean…if you’re like that.
Alright, now back to the album/mixtape/whatever this thought-provoking work of art is.
Here’s the tracklist to *The Water[s] *:
- Shipwrecked ft. The Mind (Prod. by ThemPeoples)
- THC (Prod. by THC)
- The Waters (Prod. by High Klassified & Da P)
- Healer ft. Jean Deaux (Prod. Dream Koala & OnGaud)
- Comfortable ft. NoName Gypsy (Prod. by Cam for J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
- Vibe (Prod. by OnGaud)
- Jazz (Prod. by OnGaud)
- Black Sheep (Prod. by Statik Selektah)
- Drink More Water Ft. Ebony (Prod. by Spacetime)
- Canada Dry (Prod. by J Money, Additional production by OnGaud)
- Who Else (Prod. by TJ Osinulu)
- Dehydration Ft. The Mind (Prod. by DJ Dahi)
- 514 (Prod. by OnGaud)
- Martyrs (Prod. by OnGaud)
- Jerome Ft. Joey Bada$$ (Prod. by Kirk Knight)
Hear thee! Hear thee! Shall I start thee review of Sir Jenkins?
1. Shipwrecked ft. The Mind (Prod. by ThemPeoples)
To start us off, The Mind seduces us by crooning his sweet sweet poetry with this dreamy, wave-y vibe production from ThemPeoples. Then drum roll please we get the first verse to begin this project from Mick. He decides to talk about his hometown, Chicago, the ups-and-downs of it such as being around violence, smoking marijuana as a youth, and achieving to make the “cabbage” i.e. money.
Let it be known that Mick changes up his flow from 0/100, real quick. I’ll personally say that the 2nd verse that Mick spits surprised me, definitely did not see that coming. Similar to Isaiah Rashad’s in Menthol (feat. Jean Deaux)
favorite line: “it’s been tragic, Since Boy Meets World its been savaged” (I pray to God that everyone understands that reference)
Sample:
Listen to the sample, you won’t regret it.
2. THC (Prod. by THC)
We take a different turn production wise on THC, but Mick manages to fit the concept of water into the project. Aside from that, Mick boasts about his talent, that it will “get you high” without “cop[ing] a blunt”. It’s sad to say that this track is the shortest on the project, but still a head-bobbing track. Mick then goes on to talk about the pros and cons of water.
Thumbs up for THC on the production side of the record!
3. The Waters (Prod. by High Klassified & Da P)
Mick definitely shows his audience that he can hold his own, especially on this track considering he has an unorthodox way of rapping. But as unusual as it is, his content is meaningful, and lyrical. It might be on this track where he spits some interesting metaphors. And weirdly enough, he references Baroque, a period of artistic style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, architecture, literature, dance, and music that began around 1600 in Rome, Italy and spread to most of Europe. Not many MCs do that!
favorite line: “Everybody wanna be the back of a D-Rose”
4. Healer ft. Jean Deaux (Prod. Dream Koala & OnGaud)
Healer is a track that has displays that really smooth, water-like ambiance, that again, Mick fits perfectly into the project. He even starts the song with the bar, “My piss ain’t never been so clear”. Jean Deaux was a perfect feature for the record, her amazingly soft vocals go hand in hand with the production, special thanks to Dream Koala and OnGaud.
**Fun Fact:“ This is an essential track for those leading up to coitus.
5. Comfortable ft. NoName Gypsy (Prod. by Cam for J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
Comfortable is particularly one of my favorites on this project, but I feel the production is what I like most about it, more so than the lyrics. Not to say Mick isn’t spitting well, he has many great lines such as "And usually we would have a whole bunch of ginger but lately I’m been in these waters like a slow bro”. Is it just me or is that a Pokemon reference?
Aside from that, this track has one of the catchiest hooks on the project, and the NoName Gypsy feature was interesting…I wasn’t even aware that she was dropping a mixtape.
6. Vibe (Prod. by OnGaud)
Mick spits over a Larry Fisherman-esque beat produced by OnGaud, and hopefully you’ve figured out that OnGaud is a totally great producer since he’s credited on 6 of the 15 tracks on the project.
The hook on this record will have your head swaying back and forth, along with that, Mick’s flow is on point with the production on here. We learn that he’s not your average, stereotypical rapper who only wants money, drugs and women; it seems to be far different than that. For instance, Mick talks about being a fashionista for instance, preferably Pendleton Woolen Mills and Woolrich.
favorite lines: “And hella vapors I’m painting pictures so pristine,
Right on your ceiling the feeling is kinda Sistine”.
“I’m Mr.Hyde Park worse than a Dr.Jekyll, ooh bad”
(Referring to Hyde Park, a neighborhood and community area on the South Side of Chicago, which is known for seeing many acts of crime)
Fun Fact: Jenkins references “Holy Holy” from Vic Mensa, give yourself a cookie when you find it!
Vibe is Mick’s favorite track on the project and the song that he took the most time on.
7. Jazz (Prod. by OnGaud)
This was the song that aided me in discovering the presence of Mick Jenkins
The minimalist production and Mick’s flow mesh together so well, it’s ridiculous that not many know who he is still! Anyway, Mick spits about the concept of truth in Jazz. The hook goes “Talking all that jazz, talking all that jazz…”. Mick is saying that people are talking about the “truth”, but in actuality, their truth is tainted with pure fabrication, and they are talking all that “jazz”.
Let it be known that Mick references many music legends in this track such as John Coltrane and Frank Sinatra.
Music Video
8. Black Sheep (Prod. by Statik Selektah)
The beat on this sounds similar to another song I’ve heard, but I can’t manage to remember it. Never mind that, Mick does an amazing job of showing his lyrical ability with his well-written poetry and vocabulary. What gets me about this song is the end of the song in which an excerpt from a televised special called “The Negro and the American Promise” is played. Mick truly cares about the moral fiber of America and “all that jazz”, which should be respected.
favorite line: “A freshman on varsity n*** where yo Letterman at?”*
Word used that I’ve never heard anyone else utilize: halitosis
(crazy, right?)
9. Drink More Water Ft. Ebony (Prod. by Spacetime)
Jenkins is consistent yet again about the whole concept of water and truth. And with this track, the production is a low/soft tempo which Mick took advantage of using Ebony, whose voice is perfect for the hook.
10. Canada Dry (Prod. by J Money, Additional production by OnGaud)
If you have yet to figure it out, Mick has a ridiculous obsession for Ginger Ale, which is perfectly fine (never fancied the stuff). Other than that, the beat is mellow/catchy/wavy and Mick’s relaxed and boastful flow makes the track enjoyable.
11. Who Else (Prod. by TJ Osinulu)
Here’s a song where Mick switches up the tempo and just spits “straight fire”. He’s spitting many incredible lines in this, referencing Paul Pierce to Piers Morgan to Danny Ocean to Mel Gibson. When Mick says that he’s “brought the reign for a new thunder”, I believe him.
favorite lines: “I know you saw signs,
Black Mel Gibson with the passion”
12. Dehydration Ft. The Mind (Prod. by DJ Dahi)
First things first, props to DJ Dahi for the production, was definitely diggin’ it. Nothing new coming from Mick, just him doing him, which is always bombdotcom. The combination of The Mind and Mick Jenkins is always a treat for everyone.
13. 514 (Prod. by OnGaud)
Praise for OnGaud, that is a versatile cat. Back to Mick though, very interesting about how he’s been in the “514”; many rappers don’t usually rap about hanging in Canada, but Mick decided to show some love and give Canada props.
favorite line: “And I do it for the fam, Peter Griffin, we got no Meg”
14. Martyrs (Prod. by OnGaud)
When it comes down to Martyrs, Mick solidifies himself as a clever, genius MC who obviously knows what he’s talking about. In Martyrs, he channels the mind of young street youths in today’s society in whereas they desire the lavish lifestyle i.e. money, materialistic purchases and women.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Mick, Chance the Rapper and Vic Mensa decided to start working on many other projects, they all seem to have that political preacher element to their music, plus, they’re all from Chicago.
15. Jerome Ft. Joey Bada$$ (Prod. by Kirk Knight)
This has to be a personal favorite of mine, but for all the good reasons such as the slow tempo, heavy production. Once you get to Jerome, you figure out that Mick can maybe do everything as a rapper, from his flows to his technique, he can definitely hang with the big boys of mainstream. Aside from that, he says “people” in the way Tupac used to say it which is just plain dope. And sampling some Biggie from Dead Wrong made the track about 10x better.
Compliments for whoever decided to throw in Joey Bada$$ in there too, that production screamed Joey.
favorite line: “That’s why I do not f** with customs, I’m unaccustomed to these costumes”*
Is this project worth checking out? Definitely, you’d be an idiot who’s mind is a closed abyss that wouldn’t want to try anything new, just relax and give it a listen. Guys like Mick Jenkins don’t come around often. If you enjoy biblical references, Canada, Ginger Ale, truth and water, give Mick a listen.
Could you get your mom to listen to it? If you’re mom is into this stuff, of course! If she doesn’t like hip-hop? Bump some Mick Jenkins right in her face!
Comparison? Mick Jenkins is part of a rare breed, but if I had to compare him to anybody, it would be Isaiah Rashad, both physically and musically.
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follow Mick and hopefully he’ll respond to my tweets and follow me back someday: https://twitter.com/FreeMickJenkins
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