Returning from his hiatus J Hus brings lyrics, composure and skill with his latest album Big Conspiracy. Known as one of UK urbans front running artists many have been anticipating J Hus next project and he bears no punches with his latest offering.
The title track starts with a different spin to J Hus’s other projects and sets the template for the whole album “Big Conspiracy”. This first track articulates the flamboyant yet pensive musings of an artist between the gangster and pop life, knitted together with vocals, elegant production and hard hitting lyrics, themes that permeate throughout the whole album. “Crazy how this road life is so enticing, crazy how all the underdogs are rising” gives a nod to the “trappings” of a former life but also the emergence of a new horizon for this next generation of artists.
“Helicopter” and “Fight For Your Right” display J Hus’s defiance against traditional structures but also the ties to his original previous misdemeanours. Acclaimed producer JAE5 lends his brilliance to the project, “Triumph” illustrates the J Hus need to get his hand dirty with a defiant militant playful voice that is echoed across “Reckless” and “Cucumber” that are sure to be replayable songs for many listeners.
Where J Hus truly hits his stride is with songs “No Denying”, “Must Be” and my personal favourite “Fortune Teller”. The track “No Denying” starts of at break neck speed and gives you the feeling of a heavy weight champion entering the ring at his most composed and blood thirsty best. The frustration, passion and mischief in J Hus’s verses translates a scattered yet focused authentic approach that is both engaging and unpredictable. “Call me a Titan, Thunder and lightening ,the circle needs tightening, the hustle I dive in, struggle and striving , my business I’m minding” encapsulates the rebellious braggadocious intent of the whole J Hus album and the instrumentation at the end of No Denying and Must Be is something to behold and absorb.
J Hus gives us the commercial tracks fans will be happy to hear with “Play Play” featuring Nigeria’s elite artist Burna Boy and a summer hit collaboration with Koffee on “Repeat”. This versatility continues with the later songs such as “Love, Peace and Prosperity” which convey a lighter and bubbly track that is as equally sonically pleasing as the album.
The deepest and potentially most important track on the album is “Deeper Than Rap”. This song gives a deeper insight into J Hus mind that may only previously have been conveyed with his sporadic thoughts on his Twitter in which he talks about different issues affecting the community and the world at large.
“No blacks no dogs, we were segregated, they took our history then they went and erased it. I’m just a road man so why am I preaching? God made you sexy so why are you bleaching? How you send your son to school and not know what they teaching, how you beef a next block and not know the reason?” illustrates food for thought and a wider lenses on the black experience.
Final Verdict
This J Hus album brings an enjoyable majestic yet gritty tone I have trouble describing. Brash, provocative and underpinned by amazing production it illustrates the J Hus many have come to love but packaged in an evolutionary way. He knits together songs for streets, commercial tracks and even gives listeners deeper thoughts to digest at the end. There is no Big Conspiracy here about who is one of the best in the game, and this album proves it.
8.6/10
Words by @MrPIAProgress