John Yesha – John (Album Review)

John Yesha explores personal transformation through futuristic hip-hop, soulful melodies, and bold experimentation.

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TOP 5

5. 365

How you close an album matters to me, and John Yesha absolutely sticks the landing with “365.”

The production is lively, pairing unbelievable synths with sunny energy and a smooth dance groove. After everything this project puts your brain through, this feels like stepping outside and realizing the weather is perfect.

John matches that atmosphere with a free, springy melodic rap style as he talks about living life to the fullest and not wanting the good times to end. His delivery feels loose and genuinely joyful, giving the track an infectious sense of movement.

It leaves a good taste in your mouth (Pause). More importantly, it makes you want to hear another one from John.

4. Save Space

“Save Space” is for people who think so far outside the box that NASA starts monitoring their location.

The instrumental is chaotic and otherworldly, but there’s a groove underneath everything that makes the experimentation click. Once you catch it, you’ll really mess with what’s happening.

John keeps you on your toes by moving between erratic, cold raps and almost desperate, emotional vocals. Those contrasting performances give the track tension, making the soul-searching and lessons learned feel like thoughts he’s actively working through.

I like how much there is to unpack here. The production challenges you, the delivery keeps shifting, and the emotion gives you something to hold onto through all the madness.

3. Kingdom

“Kingdom” sounds like it could either get you dancing hard as hell or install a software update in your brain.

The production is futuristic, heart-pumping, and packed with adrenaline. What makes it interesting is that John doesn’t try to match every ounce of that intensity. Instead, he keeps his delivery mellow, rapping about wearing his heart on his sleeve while carrying himself with confidence.

A female vocalist adds a hypnotic quality before striking electronic vocals pull you even deeper into the atmosphere. Each layer adds another dimension without losing momentum.

The contrast between John’s cool delivery and the production’s restless energy works beautifully. This is one you’ll want to spin back just to catch how everything comes together.

2. Statistics

“Statistics” is tougher than trying to beat Super Mario Bros. 3 without any mushrooms.

The production hits hard as hell, carrying a rebellious attitude with just enough gentleness in the backdrop to give it dimension. John meets it at the rim with a punchy performance that puts his competitive nature, confidence, and skill on display, showing he can turn nothing into something— like a rap MacGyver.

Personally, I love hearing him in this bag. It’s a cocky banger that works because the performance backs up the attitude. John knows he’s the s**t, and he gives you plenty of reasons to understand why.

1. VVS

“VVS” is intense enough to have your speakers reaching for something to hold onto.

The production is explosive, distorted, and loaded with adrenaline. John comes out swinging over it, using an unchained, erratic flow that feels like he’s trading body blows with the beat.

Balancing that aggression are soulful, highly infectious vocals that bring the track together. They give your ears a place to land without draining any of the energy.

Lyrically, John talks about reckless spending, although I have a sneaking suspicion there’s some sarcasm behind the flexing. Whatever the intention, the combination of chaos, melody, and personality makes this feel special. It’s the clearest example of how exciting his music gets when he lets every side of his artistry loose.

SONG BY SONG RATING

Chadwick (4/5)

VVS (5/5)

Save Space (4.5/5)

Fore (3.5/5)

Spotless (4/5)

Found Sound (3.5/5)

Twigs (3.5/5)

Statistics (4.5/5)

LSC (3.5/5)

Kingdom (4/5)

John (3.5/5)

Step The Sun (3.5/5)

You Like That (4/5)

Time (4/5)

365 (4.5/5)

RGM RATING

You won’t hear many projects this diverse mentally, musically, and performance-wise that still feel this connected. John Yesha is truly a magician.

What impresses me most is that the experimentation has feeling behind it. You can hear him searching, pushing himself, and finding different ways to communicate. Even when I don’t fully understand where he’s taking me, I’m interested in following.

The production on John is outstanding. Futuristic textures, hard-hitting drums, soulful passages, and dance grooves all find their way into the project. There’s enough detail to reward your attention, but the music also gives you plenty to react to immediately.

With elements inspired by his synesthesia and sounds drawn from Atlanta, the production also connects to his experiences. It feels like a world he’s built for himself and decided to let us explore.

I’m not going to lie: some of the writing went slightly over my head. Still, one thing comes through clearly—John is working through a personal and spiritual transformation, and he lets that process shape the album.

The project moves through creative blocks, self-examination, confidence, and lessons learned. Its background also includes his experience living with M.S. and the role music plays in helping him find perspective. That context gives the writing’s searching quality more weight.

I appreciate that he doesn’t sound like he has every answer neatly prepared. There’s room for uncertainty, discovery, and the occasional flex while he figures things out.

John isn’t just a good artist; he’s an outstanding one. He can spit with the confidence, aggression, and technical skill you expect from your favorite rappers, then find a melodic pocket that changes the entire feeling of a track.

His instincts are what stand out most. He understands when to attack the production, when to stay cool, and when a more emotional performance will carry the moment further. The singing feels purposeful, and the rapping has enough personality to keep the shifts engaging.

That range is a major reason the album’s different sounds work together. John remains a compelling presence throughout.

John is an awesome listen. It’s art, it’s deep, and it’s cohesive without making every track sound alike. The production gives you a world to get lost in, while John’s versatility keeps revealing new corners of it.