Play It Again Sam: JR Writer – Politics And Bullshit

With the announcement and jubilation over Dipset reuniting (and Hip-Hop needs this reunion), it’s a perfect time to go back to another one of my most hated reviews. We had producers upset for no reason, people trying to spot samples, folks proclaiming JR to be the best from Dipset, and even calling me out to produce songs. What we NEVER did see was anyone offer up an alternative review or any support for this album at the register.

Let’s break it down simply and quickly since this is now recognized as a mixtape and not an official studio album (there was some confusion at the time what it was). The good. Writer has the ability to spit witty bars and clever flows while riding the beat pretty well. I’d expect nothing less from Dipset as that is something that they all clearly work on when putting a song together. Some examples of his more memorable lines are:

“Leave ya fitted flat like a nigga sat on it” , “Put them in text books, these niggas history”, “You would swear it’s Black Friday how I’m gettin’ deals”, “I’ll kill a track and send my condolences to whoever made it”, “The track will need forensics”.

There were bad parts of this album as well though. First, the production. The entire album lacks punch no matter what system you put it in. With songs that mysteriously change chords, lazy looped chords, and lot of tracks that sound like freebies, the music comes off much flatter than you’d expect on any release from someone that’s in the game, not trying to break into the game. Like I mentioned in my review, there are some really good tracks here too but the dividing line between the two extremes is cavernous. Second is that there were plenty of examples of lazy lines as well. Some examples are:

“Get back in the whip and bust me down like a cancer stick”, “I do this, skedaddle/I’m crack boo, they should come and stick me in a capsule”, “We’ll chitty chitty bang bang all over ya fitted cap”, “Lookin like a polar bear slapped me with a bowl of rice”, “I got guns I can barely lift they heavy”.

Now, I have to admit that if you aren’t really a fan of the group, don’t mention that in the intro of a review. Folks will essentially stop reading and color your comments as hate. Also, after reviewing the album, I realized that there is a thing as too many metaphors/punch-lines. His “style” has no rhyme that develops longer than the sentence before it. So it’s like an endless battle with some imaginary opponent. Even with his moments that show skill, his comas of lethargy triumph this album and leave you with little more than fleeting moments of “oh, that was cool” . This problem provides rarely any reason to hit rewind on any song. All in all, when I go back to listen to the album again, I’m still not impressed and probably even less impressed now than I was then. If I were reviewing this album today, it would probably get just 2 stars as I think it’s overall, less than average. The most telling thing about the hype machine is how we did a review for his previous album a few months before this album, and not only did it get just 2 stars, my brother in fro’dom said the same things I did and got not one comment. Where were the riders then? I guess the bandwagon hadn’t stopped in that neighborhood yet.

The Black Alex P. Keaton
  1. JR is a great rapper. He is as good as any rapper line for line. Just because of dipset hate and him not being a big name every second of non-greatness from him gets scrutinized. What im trying to say is that if someone like Jay-Z, Drake, or Fabulous spit the same lyrics JR did on a song u would call it great or amazing.And if Jay made the exact same album it would be 4.5 starts or something like that. But because if EXTREME dipset hate u never give a guy like JR a chance. Same thing yall did with the 40 cal album.

    1. P, you always come in here declaring everyone wrong and yourself right. I bet you don’t even PLAY this fucking album and don’t remember the last time you heard it. Now, I’m sure you’ll come back and say you play it daily or some other derivative of “I listen to it consistently” and hey, what can I do but call you a liar, just like you are calling me. When I spot bad lyrics, I call them out, read my reviews. Not to mention that I gave the boy praise and even expressed my interest in Dipset getting back together. If Jay made THIS album, I’d call him Wack-Hova. You always ride for the lesser known cats, well news flash, all lesser known cats aren’t good. There may be a reason to them being lesser known.

      If EVERYONE is saying that this dude sounds like Cam except you, I’m going to put money on you not being Neo and guessing that you are the one that is wrong, not everyone else. Search the net, everyone sees it but you.

      1. U actin like im the only 1 who say this review wasnt right i obviously wasnt. And JR souded like Cam like the first year he came out from then on he is alot different from Cam. And if this sight doesnt hav biase from lessr nown artists to major artisits then how come a major artist thats not somebody like Piles album review has ever got less than 3.5 stars? Is it because all major artists albums are great? No its because yall dont have the courage and the individualism to say this here is wack. Yall can get somebody like a Jay album and not like 6 songs on it and still give it 4 stars. but a lesser known artistsif yall dont like 3 songs its gettn no more than 3 stars. Its not fair. And this album sounds just like an album Cassidy or Fabulus would make to me but i bet if they made this it would not be judged nearly as harsh. And if their isnt a major artists biase how Come a album like the Blueprint 3 can win album of the year over at least 5 albums that were better from lesser known artists?

        1. We don’t have the courage and the individualism ? Come on P? It’s like that?

          Let me pick three reviews off the top of my head without looking:

          RJD2 – The Colossus (3.5 Stars)
          Atmosphere – When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (4.5 Stars)
          Strong Arm Steady – In Search of Stoney Jackson (3.5 Stars)

          I picked these three albums because one of them has over a 4 Star rating (Proving your rant about non-major artists never getting over 4 stars false).

          But I also wanted to point out that RJD2 & Strong Arm Steady didn’t do extraordinary numbers in terms of page views and honestly, I knew that before going in. But it’s not about that is it? When Jerm did a review for an album in a foreign language (Teriyaki Boyz’s Serious Japanese) that wasn’t for page views either. It’s all about getting our point across and have a forum where we all can discuss Hip-Hop music. So to say that we lack courage and individualism … nah son.

          When Me, Jerm, SBK, H20, Saule, & Ark (hell even sometimes readers like you) do reviews, we don’t sit around and vote on the ratings. The rating comes from the reviewer. Period. always have. Saule or Jerm may hit me up about a rating to get my view on it but at the end of the day, it’s up to who reviews the album. Period. I never told ANYBODY reviewing an album what to give it and I never will.

          Shit, individualism is all we got.

          (Edited: Atmosphere had a 4.5)

          1. I’d like to point out that we also did Brother Ali, put Drake on for most of you, and did a album review on Random (who?) and Children of the Night (who?) exactly. P, you simply ride for the lesser known, and thats fine, but call a spade a spade. The Fro does quality reviews and does them track by track and we do them better and more honestly than anyone else. Not to mention that we care what you all think (try getting a response from some of the other magazines or sties that do this). Now if this site is too commercial for you, you have the right to click that “x” in the upper right hand corner. We aren’t keeping you hostage.

            (I’d also like to point out we’ve had issues with some “popular” artists as well…so celebrity don’t get you 5 stars here)

            And if you decide to keep coming back riding on the little train that could, we INVITE, IMPLORE, REQUEST that you post some of your own reviews for artists you think aren’t getting shine in the forum. I’ve offered this shit consistently since I joined the staff and until maybe the last year, no one has sent in anything.

            Oh, and for the record, stop coming in saying MC Localashell has the best CD in the game, but nobody heard it. If you want to help him AND help us get to artists that are lesser known, post his shit up in the forum. Send us his contact info. But the song you’re singing is sadly out of tune and out dated. Remix that shit.

          2. Yall do do alot of reviews good dont get me wrong. But when it comes to major artists reviews yall scared to be honest espicially with Jay-Z and Drake

  2. I dunno. I always liked JR. But like. He is a rapper. A mixtape rapper. Its difficult for him to actually make songs. Writers Block tapes are always dope to just listen to. But in terms of an artist, JR has done as well as he can pretty much.

    On another note, Bird Call used to be my like favourite track back in the day haha.

  3. J.R Writer is the freestyle rapper of Dipset, just to clarify on the “imaginary opponent” thing you had there.

    But he’s still very lame, and your perspective still stands true.

    1. Whats lame about him? Dipset just gets hate man! WTF is wrong with yall? Yall ask for real hip hop all the time and then u get a guy like JR who keeps it 100% real hip hop what you mad about? Cuz he light skin and flashy and cocky? And thats the exact same reason the whole set get so much hate cuz they light skin pretty boys who are cocky and flashy and yal bumz just be on yall computer going wild. Point Blank!

      1. Firstly, I dont’ hate on Dipset, and I’ve never said that or mentioned that I do hate Dipset. I happen to actually like them (no homo), and their not bad rappers, though I prefer Juelz & Jones (no homo)

        And let me further validate my explanation why someone like J.R Writer is lame. The only reason I presume that you would like him is because he can spit alright punchlines, and is affiliated with Dipset. Yet, you don’t understand there are people just like him who can spit blindingly fast lines to this imaginary opponent the same or even better way he can. Big Sean easily comes into mind, JD Era, Jin, Cassidy, they’re all certifed rappers in the same lane that your J.R Writer is in, and all of them (except Big Sean as of now) have created albums that surpass J.R Writer.

        The fact is that J.R Writer can spit a couple of lines, but he cannot make an album, so simply, he’s not an artist as an whole. Partly due to production, and partly due the fact that you cannot possibly keep on fighting an opponent and stay legitimate. Eventually it becomes suspect, and becomes a self-parody of yourself trying to fight imaginary forces.

        And Dipset gets hate? That’s just an opinion, and what you think and what I think are two completely different things, so you can stop insulting people just because they have a specific opinion about someone / something that’s different and conflicting from yours. That’s not “light skin pretty boys who are cocky and flashy,” I’m just someone can put valid reasons behind my statements.

        1. So JR didnt make a good album? Do your research he dropped a real album that sold more than JD Era and Jin. And that album was alot more than just punchlines. And how u prefer Jones in Juelz over Cam i dont understand when they are just minature versions of Cam that arent better. Every one of his mixtapes is an album just because it doesnt have the specific certification doesnt meen anything. JR never sucked dick or kissed ass. Even now he doesnt even try to hang on to the top teir diplomats coatails. He isnt lame just because u dont like him.

          1. In my opinion, no J.R did not drop a good album. Alright, you can give me the L for not researching that J.R apparently sold more albums than Jin and JD Era (Who I believe hasn’t dropped a offical album yet) I just prefer Juelz & Jones over Cam’ron, I dont’ see anyhing wrong about that, and you’re now just simplying just trying to disvalidate my statements with opinions.

            Explain this certification to me, I’m thinking you’re talking about gold / platinum plaques, so I don’t wanna just run out with things.

            I’ve never mentioned or even chose to think whether J.R “sucked dick or kissed ass,” if that’s what you were wondering, and I could possibly care less, I just came in here to state what I thought, then this happened, and naturally I’m going to respond.

            And I could say the same for you. He isn’t good just because you like him. It works both ways.

  4. J.R. is a budget Cam, not nearly as strange, not nearly as good, ect. Why are underground Dipset heads so mindlessly focused on half-assed mixtape punchlines from guys half the worth of even Jimmy Jones.

    1. If you dont listen dont talk. JR makes good music. And if u did listen u would know JR raps nothing like Cam. So him being compared to Cam I dont get it. JR or 40 cal will eat your favorite rapper no problem. Dont let status fool you.

      1. looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

        you’re an idiot but okay

        1. Im an idoit? Bitch u an idiot up here trying to comment on some artist you proably never even really listened to before. Dont let the radio program u dog

          1. okay… assuming everyone who disses J.R. Writer must be a radio junkie… good logic. Yea i don’t even see a reason to argue with your idiocy.

    1. lol, man, I’m gonna have to do a play it again again sam. lmao. folks ride for him on the site, and forget him at the register. Hell, can we even say folks are sleeping on him if they know but don’t care? lmao. That’s def not politics, it’s clearly bullshit.

      1. Listen Saule yall do do quality reviews when it comes to artists that are not major and that u have no biase against. And i do like the site yall just aint perfect. Come on man just admit when u go into a dipset review u go in with a negative attitude thinking its gonna b wack. And if u invite me to post my own review yall not gonna post it on the site so is their a point? Ill do a review though and itll be fair no matter what.

        1. Why would I admit some bullshit that isn’t true. Again, I HAVE 2 of Santanas albums. I bought Jim Jones joint, and I reviewed this JR Writer. I had no info about dude before so why would I have a negative view. Fact is, I didn’t have much info on them as a group, but hearing their name doesn’t make me rush to the store either. That’s called honesty. I would show you the emails, but if there is an artist that I think is wack, I don’t do the review, simple as that. If there is an artist that I’m overly hyped about, I suggest that someone else review it as well, the fam will back me up on that too. You will never see me doing another Cham review, nor Fat Joe, or Jeezy because I don’t like their music. Cham, I tried…again and again…I can’t do it anymore. Not only is that unfair to those who read our reviews, hell, it’s unfair to me. So no, I don’t do reviews if I think I it’s going to be wack. If I’m inviting you to post a review, post the muh’fucka and stop telling me what I’m going to do. If you actually read the site, you will find that plenty of our readers have had reviews posted here. The normal process, is to post it in the forum, and then we put it on the front page if we feel like it’s a good review. It’s pretty simple.

          As far as being unbiased, let’s pick a few “major” artists and see where they fall.

          1 star albums:
          Soljaboy and Gucci Mane

          1.5 stars:
          Cappadona, MJG, Hurricane Chris, Chamillionare, T-Pain…T FUCKING PAIN!

          2.0 stars: (STILL BELOW AVERAGE)
          Lil Jon, Cypress Hill, Too Short, Snoop Dogg, Timbaland, Beanie Siegel, Gucci Mane, Bow Wow, ICE CUBE, Keith Murray, Bizzy Bone, Jim Jones, Wyclef, Twista, Bone, Eightball and MJG,.

          So lets look at the other side, lets see who we have that do better than that, but aren’t major players.

          4.5 stars:
          Fashawn, Brother Ali, Atmosphere (Little Brother if you want to get technical, I don’t know that they even have a gold album.)

          4 stars
          Murs & 9th Wonder, Skyzoo, The Alchemist, Reks, Black Milk, K’Naan, Elzhi

          3.5 stars:
          Fashawn, Strong Arm Steady, Gucci (listed only to show he falls on both sides of average for us, major or not) Felt, Cormega, M.O.P., Asher Roth(?), Teriyaki Boyz (what?), Jake One, Ill Bill (who?), Skillz, Jean Grae, Cunninlynguists, Sean Price.

          Fuck it, I’ll keep going. 3 stars:
          KRS-One got a damn 3 star review, Method and Red got one, CAM’RON got one, Joe Buddens got one, E-40 got one, The Knux…who? don’t matter, they got one, Boss Hogg Outlawz and the Outlawz BOTH got one, the damn G-Unit only got 3 stars….that’s a whole label by themselves that are MAJOR only got 3 stars, slightly better than average? The Pack, Huey, THE DAMN DIPSET GOT ONE TOO, Tru Life…who?

          Man look, clearly, it’s not how you are calling it. If the shit is bad, it’s bad. Ask the other readers here how often we get it wrong. I don’t mean 4 stars and it should be 4.5 stars, I mean saying an album is bad and it’s actually the shit. It doesn’t happen around here often at all. We do the best reviews on the net, and if you doubt us, DO BETTER. Hell, you may get yourself a job.

          1. Yeah i might have rushed in too strong i give u that. And i never said yall did bad reviews i just said some of them were a little biased. More specifically Jay-Z reviews. And the reason i jumped like that was because every dipset album i sees reviewed on this site is made a joke out of when some of them are really good. But I didnt notice that most of the time its B-Easy reviewing dipset albums so i guess hes the hater here. Must be a Jay-Z stan.

            Im sorry to get off topic but that 40 cal album was pretty damn good. And if somebody else like Cassidy made that same album it would get 4 stars. Almost every song on that album is of different subject but because of biase and what you think you knew U said it was basically one demintonal which isnt true. That album was creative and thats just the kind of shit that makes me mad.

            And I wanna review that Freddie Gibbs shit when it come out. Will yall post it if I do that.

          2. And i can kinda understand liking Juelz over Cam but you like Jim over Cam? Thats bannas (nohomo) as cam would say.

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