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Jerrell Grimes: ‘Negus Intelligence’ – A lyrically and creatively bold Hip Hop album!

There are 5 key words used to describe Jerrell Grimes  -a Poet, an Author, a Survivor, an Entrepreneur, an Artist. Grimes’ creativity was first expressed in personal journals, and eventually evolved to full poems and books. His desire for literal fluency expanded after coming to terms with his own emotional evolution that his recovery from cancer provided. The strength and courage exhibited physically became manifested as literary exploration- resulting in three published poetry-style books, his debut EP “Versatility” and a host of additional feats.

Jerrell Grimes (D.R. Juul Photography)
Jerrell Grimes (D.R. Juul Photography)

Jerrell Grimes who focuses his artistry on remaining true to the basics of old school Hip Hop, is due to release his debut album, titled ‘Negus Intelligence’, on the 20th of January 2015. We were privileged enough to obtain a preview of the 17 tracks which make up the album.

With his first formal album contribution to the Hip Hop scene, Jerrell Grimes manages to vividly recreate his world, our world – the turbulent arena in which life plays out its commitments and compulsions -as well as furnishing rays of hope and love- all wrapped up in tidy bundles of well thought out rhymes, an incredible vocabulary and a deeply analytical intellect.

His unique singing/rapping flow, calls for nothing more than admiration and respect no doubt. ‘Negus Intelligence’ blazes, sparkles and shimmers.  This album is more than an able introduction to the talent Grimes will undoubtedly unleash on listeners as he moves forward in the game. “Victory”, “Hustle & Flow”, “Check List”, “Serious Affair”, “Always”, “I Know U Know”, “The Wait (Naked, Part One)”,  “Bitch, I Came To Eat”,“King” and “Queen” – each is a masterpiece in its own right and each successive title shows a transformation of style, form, production and certainly of wisdom.

Each track boasts Jerrell Grimes at his best – the best of a new breed of young Hip Hop artists who are looking back to the roots of their craft. At a time when a handful of legendary rappers, from coast to coast, delivered spoken words that actually meant something, not just to hold up a banging beat, or boast the latest auto-tune gadgetry!

‘Negus Intelligence ‘ is a definite must have in any hip hop collection. Today, too much emphasis is put on the commercial appeal of albums, forcing us to overlook the immense talents flying under the radar.  Grimes’ lyrics give you visuals and his thoughts are way deeper than the average rapper. Moreover his rapping-singing style is truly unique and creative.

Jerrell Grimes (D.R. Juul Photography)
Jerrell Grimes (D.R. Juul Photography)

The beats are tasteful, solid and minimal on this album, leaving center-stage to the efficacy of the spoken word. Because at the end of the day, deep inside himself, Jerrell Grimes knows, as much as we all do, that the difference between becoming a successful rapper and a legendary one, lies in the power of the lyric!

This is simply the most lyrical and creatively bold Hip Hop album I have heard in the New Year, so far!

OFFICIAL LINKS:

Artist Website

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