Jay Electronica vs Dr. EnQi vs Jay‑Z, reviewed by Raamel Walcott
Let’s dive right in head-first, this will be a song for song comparison of A Written Testimony vs Sound Becomes Light. The Overwhelming Event vs Magnetism. Magnetism is a super authentic fan forward view of Dr. EnQi discussing Fancy Black Pesos. This gives us an amazingly detailed picture of Dr. EnQi that we never met in the conscious community. The Overwhelming Event fails to stand up to Magnetism simply because it says nothing about Jay Electronica, although Farrakhan is a powerful speaker and the music is amazing it’s not as powerful of an introduction as we expected based on the wait. The intro should have addressed the wait.
Ghost of Soulja Slim vs Nature vs Nurture! It starts with more Farrakhan & Jay‑Z moving into Jay Elect with a bar stating “If it come from me and HOV consider it Koran”… This is, unfortunately, more of an eclectic Jay‑Z song feat Jay Elect than anything else honestly, so I must deduct points from an otherwise amazing song musically and lyrically. Nature vs Nurture is an amazing entendre filled description of Dr. EnQi’s life perspective of the world and how it came to be, it’s pure art! His voice and the spacing on this track from Kaz are something from another universe.
The Blinding vs Yayo! This JZ feature feels like an actual feature and Jay Elect shines on this track answering some of our questions regarding the long wait and who he has become. The music is awesome and would have allowed for a sorely needed extra verse to go more in-depth, still awesome! Yayo is an immaculately told compelling story of Dr. EnQi’s childhood. Jay Elect may be incapable of reaching this level of introspective storytelling that evokes Synesthesia in all who hear it like a jolt to the pineal gland.
The Neverending Story vs Power…very powerful! The sonic geometry of the bass on this song produced by Work Major is pure Hip-Hop, almost like the cement of the Bronx. I just feel a level of authenticity that you get from all the name dropping and coat tail riding on A Written Testimony. The world play on Power might even be above Jay-Z’s level, this is an instant top 10 of an all-time song lyrically. The Neverending Story is loaded with amazing power, but over-shadowed by one of the best Jay‑Z verses ever, unfortunately for Jay Elect. Great song but we can’t overlook the fact that he is getting bodied on his own track in a very blatant fashion.
Shiny Suit Theory vs the Basquiat! Finally, a completely masterful Jay Elect song complete with music that compliments his outer worldly God flow. Not even JZ takes away from the synergy of this beat with Jay Elect’s voice and delivery, the samples make this an instant favorite for Jay Elect fans worldwide. Dr. EnQi’s voice, lyrics, delivery, and expertise on said subject matter catapult him into possibly the top 3 all-time or the Mt. Rushmore of lyricists. After listening to this song alone he at least qualifies for the top 5, worst-case scenario due to his effortless double, triple and quadruple entendre schemes! Easily the best verse in the last 10 years hands down. RKITECH really laid out the blueprint on this track!
Universal Soldier vs Seed Money… Seed Money produced by Spectrum Gamma Rayz aka Spectrum Gamz is insane, you literally feel the streets of Motown and Detroit alive with blood of the many prophets of music and black leadership in this artistic dramatization of drugs, money & private prisons. This is lyrical mastery on a first album like we have never witnessed before! Lyrically the Universal Soldier may be the best song on the album with Jay Elect laying out some of what he has been through, combined with a trip through memory lane from the God MC J‑Hova, no words can express the feelings from this song! This may go on repeat in many playlists.
Flux Capacitor vs Sound Becomes Light, sadly, Jay Elect’s verse does not fit well on this track, however sonically, the bars are standard ‘God flow’, combined with Jay and the production for classic ear candy. Sound Becomes Light as a song is monumental and should earn Dr. EnQi a GRAMMY. He literally broke down post-grad level electromagnetism and the music business in one song in a way no artist or orator has ever been able to do with music or in lecture format. This is another song that takes this man who had a 9 year single out in Angel into a class by himself.
Fruits of the Spirit vs Faith in Love. This comparison may seem odd but what I hear in both songs are two intelligent black fathers trying to be the best dads they can be and in that space, I will just say these two songs should be spinning on all P‑1 stations twice a show.
Ezekiel’s Wheel vs Angel, these two songs are matched head to head based on the subject matter and the deeply melodic accouterment that accompanies the heavy lyrics and deep voices of these two artists, who dropped similar albums at almost the same time. I will give Jay Elect the edge on this one in terms of lyrics and word-play however the subject matter goes to Dr. EnQi all day. Dr. EnQi again condenses the complex and creates an adult conversation that gives his entire album so much replay value.
A.P.I.D.T.A. vs More than M.E./M.E. & Eu. You may say it’s not fair to compare 1 song to 2 songs but honestly, there’s just so much more on Sound Becomes Light than A Written Testimony. We waited a decade for just 10 songs with no real dressing, personality or skits. Musically I have to say Silent Riot Dell was masterful on the M.E. & Eu track which transports the listener to a pleasure-centric planet in a similar vein to A.P.I.D.T.A. however, lyrically More than M.E. is an anthem for single fathers across the globe, no contest.
Sound Becomes Light is easily better than A Written Testimony and supplies 1000 times more replay value than any album we have gotten in recent history. Sound Becomes Light is 15 songs and 6 skits deep but the crazy thing is even the skits are well produced with amazingly Mastered Tracks.
MJ Savino
