Jim Jones and Hitmaka unite for a brief project called “Back In My Prime.”
STREAM
TOP 3
3. YKTV (Ft. Ty Dolla $ign)
Are Ty Dolla $ign and Hitmaka the new Nate Dogg and Dr. Dre?
Whenever Ty Dolla $ign and Hitmaka link up, they create R&B gold. “YKTV,” the duo’s latest release, is way too smooth, vintage-sounding, and infectious to ignore. Don’t sleep on Jim Jones’ contributions, though. I love how he slyly raps about pulling up on folks and balling on another level. Overall, this is a very solid record.
2. Bet It All (Ft. Benny The Butcher & Trav)
The most passionate hook, the best beat, and the best guest appearances are on “Bet It All.”
The soulful beat that powers “Bet It All” will strike a chord with you. Over it, Trav hits us with a passionate hook that has him talking about his old hustling ways, Jim Jones hits us with a verse that has him talking about his Teflon strong mentality these days, and Benny The Butcher hits us with a verse that his him talking about overcoming odds and upgrading everything around him. Personally, I love the focus and determination that everyone on the song raps with.
1. Gunshot
Jim Jones was born to rap over a beat like the one you hear in “Gunshot.”
I’ma sucker for hip-hop and reggae fusions like “Gunshot.” With that being said, the biggest kudos on the planet needs to go to Hitmaka for what he was able to do for the song production-wise. As for BEAM and Jim Jones, I absolutely love the amped-up hook that the former blesses us with, and the sly, gangsta, and bossed-up verses that the latter blesses us with. All in all, “Gunshot” is one of the hardest songs I’ve heard this year.
SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN
1. Gunshot (Ft. BEAM) (4/5)
2. F U Better (Ft. Jeremih) (3.5/5)
3. Bet It All (Ft. Trav) (4/5)
4. YKTV (Ft. Ty Dolla $ign) (4/5)
5. First Plug (Ft. Pleasure P) (3.5/5)
6. Let It Go (Ft. Tink & Ball Greezy) (3.5/5)
7. Status Update (3.5/5)
8. I Am (Ft. Stefflon Don) (4/5)
RGM RATING
(C+)
Jim Jones and Hitmaka are Love & Hip-Hop legends. They are also two artists that have been in the game for so long, I’m convinced that they have seen it all. While neither started out doing what they are doing today, they have fully perfected their new crafts. With that being said, I love the chemistry Hitmaka and Jim Jones show in Back In My Prime.
Preferring a sound that feels straight from the late 90s, Hitmaka hooks Jim Jones up with nothing but smooth-ass hip-hop beats that have everything from traditional reggae elements to traditional R&B elements. Exactly how I would want him to, Jimmy raps like a dude that is indulging in his success, money, women, and hall-of-fame street status. Though I wouldn’t call any of the styles that the Harlem native uses groundbreaking, they are appealing because they are raw and stay true to who he is. All in all, this eight-track project has some quality beats, some good guest appearances, and some pretty solid rap performances.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
