Juelz Santana makes up for lost time with “#FREESANTANA.”

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STREAM

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TOP 5

5. Boiling Water (Ft. 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne & Belly)

“Boiling Water” is driven by a relentless, hard-hitting beat that exudes gritty vibes from start to finish. Over it, Juelz Santana boasts about his money-making and drug-dealing ways, while 2 Chainz effortlessly embodies both a playa and a triple OG persona in his verse. As for Lil Wayne, he delivers a verse with a consistent flow and tons of violent punchlines. Belly rounds out the song with a blurry hook that adds one more layer of grit to the show.

4. Bloody Mary (Ft. Lil Wayne)

In “Bloody Mary,” Juelz Santana and Lil Wayne deliver hard-hitting bars over a fast-paced, trill rendition of Pac’s “Hail Mary” beat. Juelz showcases his clever punchlines, slightly off-kilter flows, and reckless bars, while Wayne brings his signature wild bars with a delivery that feels almost Martian and one of the steadiest flows you’ll hear today. The contrast between their rapping styles makes for a damn entertaining listen.

While we never got an actual album from Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana in the past, I’m happy to hear that they are still close enough to make tracks together like “Blood Mary.

3. Wish Me Well

“Wish Me Well” is bound to resonate with folks. In the track, Juelz Santana lays down bars that highlight his street credibility, unwavering loyalty to Dipset (Thank GOD), and readiness to confront opps. Set against a gritty rendition of Drake’s “God’s Plan” beat (This is why it will resonate), the song also incorporates a substantial portion of Drake’s hook, adding to its impact and familiarity.

This is the closest thing we will ever get to a Juelz Santana and Drake collaboration.

2. The Get Back (Ft. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie)

“The Get Back” rides on a fiercer rendition of Jay-Z’s “Dead Presidents” beat. Over it, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie delivers an infectious hook that embraces his bright future. Meanwhile, Juelz Santana raps exuberantly about living lavishly in the present, feeling cautious about the future, and learning from the past. Overall, I feel like this song’s energy is too bright to ignore.

1. 23 & 1

“23 & 1” rides on a soulful beat that builds in intensity as the track progresses. Over it, Juelz Santana passionately addresses America’s flawed prison system and reflects on past fake friends in his circle.

What I love most about the song is that Juelz keeps his composure throughout, tackling tough issues with clever punchlines and a straightforward delivery. You also get a chance to hear a phone conversation he had with Meek Mill about how they both navigated their difficult jail situations. To me, you didn’t listen to this project if you didn’t listen to this track.

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SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. 23 & 1 (4.5/5)

2. Pink Eagle (Ft. Dave East & Jim Jones) (4/5)

3. Wish Me Well (4/5)

4. In My Life (3.5/5)

5. Boiling Water (Ft. Belly, 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne) (4/5)

6. Do You Believe (Ft. Jeremih) (4/5)

7. Celebration (4/5)

8. Bloody Mary (Ft. Lil Wayne) (4/5)

9. EZ WORK (3.5/5)

10. The Get Back (Ft. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie) (4.5/5)

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OVERALL RATING

(80%)

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT #FREESANTANA:

• On the album, you get vintage Juelz Santana. Back when I was in high school, I considered Juelz one of the best rappers in the game. He had a knack for dropping clever punchlines and exuding unparalleled coolness. Today, he still possesses the same qualities that made him a standout rapper.
• The features on the album are fantastic. It’s clear that Juelz Santana has a lot of love in the industry, as evidenced by the outstanding contributions from guests like 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne, Dave East, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, and Jim Jones throughout #FREESANTANA. It’s unlikely any of them would charge Juelz for being on the album, given the respect and admiration they have for him.
• The content on the album is hood-marvelous. Juelz Santana remains in tune with the streets after all these years. In #FREESANTANA, he delves into certified hood topics like drug dealing and gunplay, alongside discussions of street loyalty and codes.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT #FREESANTANA:

• The beats on the album are blah. Recently, artists have been rapping over lackluster remakes of classic hip-hop beats, and in #FREESANTANA, Juelz follows suit.
• The album’s quality seems inconsistent at times. While it’s understandable that Juelz, being incarcerated, may face challenges in mastering his tracks, it’s puzzling why Jim Jones’ verses also come across as low-quality.
• Cam’ron’s absence from the album. While it’s true that siblings often have conflicts, when a brother is struggling, you’d expect support. Regardless, I believe the album could have benefited from Cam’ron’s presence, especially on tracks like “Pink Eagle” and “Celebration” (It’s noteworthy that Juelz even takes a shot at him in “In My Life”).

In the grand scheme of things, #FREESANTANA is a reminder that Juelz Santana can still rap his ass off.

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