Written by David Williams
Determination is a word that comes to mind when thinking of JID. Born Destin Route, the youngest of 7 siblings in Atlanta, nobody handed him anything. From earning a spot on Hampton University’s football team despite being one of the smallest players on the team to his integral role on Dreamville’s historical roster, JID had to grind for everything he’s gained. Despite being one of the most talented lyricists heard from the South in years, he didn’t score a major record deal until he was in his mid-20s. That might explain why JID sounds like he has a constant chip on his shoulder and still raps with the intensity of an underdog looking for a breakthrough.
After the success of his 2018 sophomore LP DiCaprio 2, the hip-hop community was put on notice with the technical rapping ability of JID, even drawing some early comparisons to young Kendrick Lamar. Acknowledgment of his talent came about with doors opening up for him in more ways than one, connecting with pop artists by giving out features for Imagine Dragons, Dua Lipa, and Doja Cat for the Grammy-nominated song “Options.” JID manifested he could thrive in any soundscape.
Photo Credit: Naskademini
Fast forward four years, and we arrive at the next saga in JID’s journey, The Forever Story. The album is well worth the long wait with a mix of wide-ranging verses about relationships with family, systematic oppression of the black community, and a vivid depiction of Atlanta street scenes.
Over a variety of instrumentals, like the bass-pounding “Raydar” and the classic boom-bat “Crack Sandwich,” JID delivers a vast array of flows, including his distinct Tommy Gun, rapid-paced flow. With his clever wordplay and dynamic delivery, you can see how hardcore hip-hop heads choose him as their favorite from Dreamville.
Speaking of Dreamville, JID could be considered the Robin to J. Cole’s Batman, as far as mainstream attention and level of recognition of one’s craft within the label. Being around a steely veteran still in his prime, you are bound to pick up a few tricks of the trade. The storytelling is more crisp, detailed, and thought out. In “Dance Now," featuring Kenny Mason, you can feel the Cole influence in the vocal samples and marching tempo of the beat, as well as his fiery cadence and delivery. The track features a surreal, chaotic depiction of Atlanta in its music video directed by Trey Lyons, a rising LA-based director featured in Nuance's Summer 2020 Issue.
An unexpected high note on the record is the singing ability of JID, exhibiting his vocal range with ease on the spiritual feeling “Kody Blu 31” and the sonically smooth “Better Days.” He’s like a basketball player working on his game over the summer, chomping at the bit to show off his new skill set with his singing. Also, he sounds like a complete natural. You can envision him incorporating this more in future projects down the line.
Kinship plays a pivotal; JID throughout The Forever Story. He raps passionate, personal stories about growing up in Atlanta and living in a big family with hardly any money or support. You can feel his frustration when he talks about eating the same bologna sandwich daily. The two standout tracks about family are “Bruddanem” and the following song, “Sistanem.” Both tracks have deep meaning sounding therapeutic for the narrator putting him in a vulnerable space. “Sistanem” is about his turbulent relationship with one of his sisters. The song feels like a plea to her to try to make things right. By the end, you are rooting for them to patch up things.
Photo Courtesy of JID
There are many quality features on the record, too, starting with Lil Wayne and Durk, who go toe-to-toe lyrically with JID on "Just in Time" and "Bruddanem." 21 Savage has a fun, machismo oozing verse on “Surround Sound,” while Earthgang comes out swinging on the KAYTRANADA-produced track “Can't Punk Me.” The ever-so-versatile James Blake even sneaks in for a cameo in the middle part of the album, and finally, Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) gives us the vintage backpack conscience rap he’s known for on “Stars.” Of course, too many features can bog down a collection of music, but in this instance, most, if not all, of them elevate each song individually.
JID’s maximalist ideas with his songwriting can feel overwhelming in moments during the 59-minute runtime. However, in an era where songs usually clock in around 2 1/2 or 3 minutes, The Forever Story’s tracks routinely go for 4-6 minutes. In most instances, there’s a purpose behind the ideas for the extended length, but some songs could use some trimming when they don’t necessarily need the 3rd verse.
In a sense, his latest offering, The Forever Story, serves as a prequel of sorts for the Atlanta rapper, where he showcases his upbringing. JID gives us a peek behind the curtain of his life before we knew him and how that turned him into the man he is today.