Summary

JID is recognized as a generational great in hip hop, drawing influence from a lineage of iconic artists while forging his own unique style and gaining community credibility.

Abstract

The article celebrates JID as an exceptional artist of the new generation, whose skill, catalog, and community support position him as one of the best in his era. It draws a lineage of hip hop artists to illustrate JID's influences, including Q-Tip, Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, Andre 3000, and Lil Wayne, and even detects elements of DMX in his cadence. JID's artistry is characterized by his nasal tone, vocal dexterity, and imaginative concepts, combined with a jazzy musical sensibility and street knowledge. His lyrical prowess is highlighted by his use of metaphors, similes, and overall ferocity in his lyrics, which can be appreciated both intellectually and viscerally. The article also emphasizes the importance of his crew, Spillage Village, and their affiliation with J. Cole's Dreamville, suggesting that collective strength contributes to enduring greatness in the hip hop industry.

Opinions

The author believes JID possesses a combination of superpowers from his influences, making him a unique and potent force in hip hop.
JID is seen as an anti-mumble rapper, emphasizing his clarity and articulation in an era often dominated by less clear vocal styles.
The article suggests that JID's success is not solely individual but also a product of his strong support system, including his producers and engineering team.
JID's position in hip hop history is compared to entering the NBA during LeBron's career, indicating he is a contemporary of established modern greats but is carving out his own legacy.
The author expresses that JID's greatness is not just in his solo work but also in his affiliations, particularly with Spillage Village and Dreamville, which are seen as sources of power and unity.
The author hints at the potential for JID's crew to evolve and maintain their influence, drawing a parallel to LeBron James' partnership with his agent, Rich Paul.
The article is part of a larger series celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip hop, suggesting a deep appreciation and understanding of the genre's history and evolution.

Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary

Hip Hop Lineage: JID, a new generational great

JID is an emergent artist with a catalog, skill, and community credibility to claim the crown as one of the best of his generation

“Lemme bear it all when I’m tellin’ God/

You know I’ma rant [Morant] when I talk to Jah.”

— JID, “Dance Now”, The Forever Story

Hip Hop is still young enough to see the unique influence of one artist on successive artists that follow them. This is true in every dimension of the culture — graffiti, DJing, emceeing, breaking.

For instance, here is what a likely totem pole of one style of Hip Hop lyricists looks like:

> Kool G Rap begat > Rakim begat > Big Daddy Kane begat > Black Thought

Begat might be too strong a word—more like influenced. But, when their influence was so potent that it gave birth to an entire DNA strand of rap style, I decided to make the upgrade.

And here is another:

> Q-Tip begat > Mos Def/Yasim Bey begat > Lupe Fiasco begat > JID

Unlike other artists within their lineage, JID is like a super soldier who possesses all of their combined superpowers as well as his own.

In addition, JID’s DNA is grafted from other lyrical trees, including those of Andre 3000 and Lil Wayne. If you listen deeply enough to his flow, you even hear elements of DMX in his cadence.

JID is built to be a generational great.

Like Q-Tip and Mos Def, he has nasal tone, vocal dexterity, jazzy musical sensibility, and imaginative concepts blended with street knowledge. JID sets himself apart from his peers and on par with Lupe, 3000, and Lil Wayne with his crazy metaphors, similies, and lyrical ferocity.

On top of that, while JID is fully articulate — an anti-mumble rapper — he can still be enjoyed without understanding every word or every concept. His sing-songy scats and rhythmic wordplay are fun and well organized thanks to JID’s creative instincts combined with his amazing production team.

J. Cole: No Emcee Equal

J. Cole is still one of the most underrated rappers in the game

honestlyed.medium.com

His producers and engineering team do a phenomenal job layering his voice with an expansive soundscape that centers JID and other vocalists.

Aside from his incredible artistry, JID appears on the right side of history. He emerged after the big three (Drake, Kendrick, and J. Cole) solidified themselves as the modern-day greats.

To use a basketball analogy, JID enters the league while LeBron is still playing the game. But JID is clearly of a new generation and is unlikely to be compared to an established legend. Instead, he will mostly be compared to his contemporaries.

Time will tell.

One thing to watch is how his crew evolves. Few artists in Hip Hop — or any genre — maintain durable greatness without an incredibly talented team. Heck, LeBron has Rich Paul.

JID’s crew, Spillage Village, is tightly affiliated with J. Cole’s Dreamville. There is power in numbers. There is strength in unity.

JID is one of the new greats.

Read my entire tribute series for Hip Hop 50th Anniversary.

Honestly,

Ed.

I am a poet, essayist, and civic strategist celebrating 60 years of civic revolution in Birmingham, Alabama. Get to know me better here.