A community comes together on JordanL’s “The Great Progression”. Flows are fire while a slew of personal narratives emerge. By including such a wide array of different styles within the album a kaleidoscopic rush emerges. Stylistically JordanL draws from gospel, the blues, funk, electro, all neatly tied within a southern hip-hop template. Going for such a sprawling expansive sound the spirit gains a unique spirit of defiance. This perfectly punctuates the power of his lyricism, with every verse carefully balanced for maximum impact. Highly colorful arrangements reveal a real ear for melody. Fantastic grooves help to anchor the entire album for volume is an absolute must for he goes for a sense of the physical.
References abound throughout the entirety of the journey. The nods to Outkast feel undeniable. First of all, the sheer swath of genre-jumping feels reminiscent of Outkast’s unencumbered tact, for like them, JordanL lets it all circle through. Even his vocals at times touches upon Andre 3000’s impeccable flawless delivery. Beyond this, the occasional insight into the historical circumstances that created some of the most tender moments recalls a bit of Kendrick Lamar’s astute insight. By bringing both these old and new school elements JordanL crafts a world that feels timeless.
Grandeur opens the album up with the colossal “A Mother’s Prayer” complete with a sense of symphonic beauty. From the strings to the piano there is something stately about it. Darkness reigns supreme on the distorted voices of the eerie “God Otw”. Kinetic energy runs through “Jump” where the track has an infectious rhythm. A certain swagger defines the huge, sprawling riffs of “All That”. “Tell Me (feat. Hipi Blvq)” serves as one of the highlights of the album, as the vocals offer an intimate setting. Beats blast through on the dense mix of “Court Side”. Jerky beats and urgent vocals make “Talkin’ Bout (feat. Mb Myz)” a blurred sort of beauty as it races past.
Jazzy keys give “God Was Right” a sense of purpose. Clear-eyed focus lends the track a moment of clarity. Playfulness and politics mesh together on the elastic groove of “Guns & Girls”. “Flowers” features a cyclical loop that gives it a hypnotic quality. Another highlight emerges on “By Any Means (feat. Nick Lamar)” where there is an earnestness to the lyricism, with hard-hitting intensity. Layer upon layer intermingles on the ornate “Legendary (feat. Icewear Vezzo)”. Bringing it all home is the self-reflection of “Family Ties, Pt. 2” which neatly ties everything together with a confessional-like quality.
“The Great Progression” proves JordanL to be an incredible storyteller one who revels in the details that make up a fully lived life.
