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)

Yep, this track is hot (I’m a good writer).

“Boiling Water” is driven by a relentless, hard-hitting beat that exudes trill 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)

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.”

In “Blood 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, orthodox flows, and reckless bars, while Wayne brings his signature crazy-ass bars with deliveries that border on Martian-like. The contrast between their two styles of rapping makes for quite the listen.

3. Wish Me Well

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

“Wish Me Well” is bound to resonate with many listeners. In the track, Juelz Santana lays down unapologetic bars, highlighting his street credibility, unwavering loyalty to Dipset, and readiness to confront adversaries. Set against a gritty rendition of Drake’s “God’s Plan” beat, the song also incorporates a substantial portion of Drake’s hook, adding to its impact and familiarity.

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

“The Get Back” is the most complete track on “#FREESANTANA.”

“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 vibes are too bright to ignore.

1. 23 & 1

“23 & 1” isn’t the most complete track on “The Get Back,” but it is the most impactful.

“23 & 1” rides on a soulful beat that escalates in intensity as the track progresses. Over it, Juelz Santana passionately addresses America’s flawed prison system and reflects on past fake friends within his circle. What I love most about the song is that Juelz keeps his composure throughout it, tackling some pretty tough issues through clever punchlines and on-point deliveries.

Towards the conclusion of “23 & 1,” Meek Mill, who has recently experienced incarceration, shares heartfelt reflections on his conversations with Juelz Santana over the past few months. This adds a poignant layer to the 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

(B-) (80%)

WHAT DO I LIKE 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, exuding unparalleled coolness, and addressing topics like drug dealing (which was considered cool as hell back then). Today, he still possesses those same qualities that made him a standout rapper in the past.
• 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 that any of them would charge Juelz to be 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.
• Juelz stayed in his pocket on the album. Juelz Santana sticks to his strengths on #FREESANTANA: delivering hot-ass bars. Throughout the album, that’s his focus, and he excels at it.

WHAT I DO NOT 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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