Both albums Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon put out this year are worthy of your ears. The first was May’s celebratory Too Little, Too Late, which placed the Charlotte MC’s slick lyrics and nimble flows over an array of toasty loops. Now he’s back with Beautifully Black, entirely produced by Navy Blue (who is on a rapping and producing run of his own). It’s hard to pick out a single track; it’s best to run straight through and wait for a Navy sample chop or Jah-Monte line that will have you smashing the rewind button. But the intro, “The Missing Link,” sets the stage. Navy’s loop is as comforting as your grandparents’ home-cooked meal, and Jah-Monte uses it as a canvas to flex his chops. In the first half his dizzying flow feels like you’re stuck in a mental maze, but then he switches on a dime, pausing to take a breather between each candid reflection. If it’s the last thing they both release this year, they went out with a bang.
With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace, it’s difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it all—no matter how tapped in they are. That’s why we created The Ones, a daily post to highlight the song you need to hear.
Check out previous Ones, and listen to new rap from Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon and more on our Spotify playlist.
