Album Review: JID The Forever Story
It’s been four long years since JID’s last album. Since his 2018 album DiCaprio 2, we’ve seen the rise of YSL lean sippin’ trap through Lil Baby and Gunna. While the ATL has rebranded since its triplet flow era, JID has remained the Atlanta bar-slinger. With his fast flows and dark wormy beats, JID has perfected his sound through his Dreamville Label. The Forever Story, JID’s newest album, expands on his original sound and introduces a more introspective side of the artist.
The album starts with an intro track, “Galaxy.” “Galaxy” is an interpolation of one of his previous intro tracks, “Doo Wop,” featuring on his first album The Never Story. This serves as a connection to his first album. Indeed, The Forever Story is meant to serve as the successor to that debut, expanding on that initial sound and flow JID became known for.
The album can be sonically separated into two different sections—tracks one through six and tracks seven through 16. Tracks one through six feature a minimalist style of production more in line with JID’s previous work. Punchy kicks, crunchy cymbals, wormy samples, and samples of life lessons all complete these songs. Lyrically, these tracks are themed around JID’s younger experiences within his community. “Raydar” features intense messages of how the systems built by America keeps Black people impoverished. “Crack Sandwich” tells the story of a 17-year-old JID fighting for his brothers. “Surround Sound” and “Dance Now” are guaranteed to end up on your workout playlist, with their infectious hooks and tight verses from JID.
“Kody Blu 31,” the album’s seventh track, very much represents the median of the album and a sonic change. Featuring an ethereal gospel-like sound, “Kody Blu 31” sees JID experiment further with singing. “Bruddanem” and “Sistanem” feel like the true message of the album. Both of these tracks are focused on how JID’s success hasn’t made him forget to protect and support his brothers and sisters—his community.
Not a single track is truly the same. “Raydar” features a more drill beat, “Crack Sandwich” with a boom bap beat, “Kody Blu 31” with gospel, and “Stars” featuring a cloudy psychedelic vibe. The variety of tracks means that everybody can find something that they like. While JID certainly sticks to his signature flow, he sonically changes in innovative ways that keeps his sound fresh.
Another notable point of the album is the features—not a single feature on this record is a let-down. From industry hard hitters like Yasiin Bey (AKA Mos Def) and Tuenchi to newcomers like Ari Lennox, every single feature flows like butter on bread. A notable standout is Kenny Mason, who, while just featured on the hooks, delivers beautiful yet catchy choruses.
Overall, The Forever Story does not disappoint. JID’s singing is certainly refreshing from his hard-hitter sound. The Atlanta Rapper, despite his four long years of absence, has delivered a project worthy of a wait. While he certainly isn’t the Kendrick of Atlanta, he’s proven himself in a city saturated with some of the country’s best rappers.