J-Giles Son is back at it with his third release aptly titled My Mindset. This joint features guest spots by Oscar Urbina and Mouthpi3ce, as well as vocalist Alysia Ferrari. From top to bottom, this is an album that covers all sub-genres of hip-hop, so if you like variety, this is one that you don’t want to miss. It has some east coast vibes, west coast bounce, and dirty south crunk, which is pleasing to the pallet of this hip-hop head.
J starts of this album with an introduction, “The Welcome,” and in it, he invites us into his life and welcomes our participation on this journey with him. The first track is “Who Knows Me,” featuring Alysia Ferrari. Here he opens up his heart and shares his transparency with the listener. He communicates that God knows his thoughts, worries, and prayers. He shares, “Designed to worship the divine but I might define my worth by what occurs when an album drops.” This is a struggle that many artists face on a daily basis and he holds nothing back in sharing his story. Alysia adds a beautiful hook on this track with her melodic voice. She is definitely one to keep on the radar.
“Eyes Up” is the first banger that is introduced to us. It has a dope beat laced with heavy bass drums and strings. On this track, J lets us know that it is important that we keep lookin’ up at Christ in our lives at all times. He raps, “Put on ya gown bride of Christ you look amazing, His blood cleansing us from sin of the spirit we’re tastin’.” Oscar Urbana rips his verse on this one as well. This is a very encouraging track to all Christ followers to always lift our eyes up.
On “Like This,” he opens up on his story and shares how he models his life for Christ and encourages others to follow his example if they need direction. He also challenges the stranglehold that the secular culture seems to have on the hip-hop industry. He says, “Offer change to our culture many need to be taught, tryna get inside ya head here’s a penny for your thoughts, plenty believe the lies entertainment’s injectin, they contrive the result in our lives self deception, God’s word from His spirit the people gotta hear it, the accuser steals the truth the zeal of God can reveal it.”
On the last track, “Outside the Box,” he talks about how he lives outside of the box and not like everyone else. He compares the box to the world and how living in the box means that you are living for the flesh. Living outside of the box means living for the things of God. The beat is dope and has a spacey vibe on it.
Overall, this album does a great job communicating its title and you can definitely see that J loves God and loves people.
