Black Friday (Jay Rock mixtape)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Black Friday
Mixtape by
ReleasedNovember 26, 2010 (2010-11-26)
Recorded2010
GenreHip hop
Label
Producer
Jay Rock chronology
From Hood Tales to the Cover of XXL
(2010)
Black Friday
(2010)
Follow Me Home
(2011)

Black Friday is the eighth mixtape by American hip hop recording artist Jay Rock. It was released on November 26, 2010, for free download and then on December 7, 2010, via iTunes and Amazon.com, under Top Dawg Entertainment.[1] It was Jay Rock's last mixtape before the release of his debut studio album Follow Me Home.

Background[edit]

The mixtape was interactive as it gained some of its tracks thanks to fans' feedback on Twitter and fans also helped shape the album cover.[2] Music videos were released for "No Joke", "Diary of a Broke Nigga" and "Get on Your Shit".

Lyrics, production and themes[edit]

The lyrics stay true to the typical rags-to-riches street narrative style, adding a sense of regularity to the mixtape, though it rarely crosses over into redundancy, thanks to Jay Rock's delivery.[3]

The production embodies astral atmospheric sounds that evoke feelings of an urban cement dreamscape over the traditional hip-hop elements.[3] "Walk by Me" production was described as trademark G-Funk synth on steady loop over the deep groove of drums and bass.[4]

The mixtapes themes were described as "street" related and Rock's rapping was described as "reality rap".[5] Ology described the mixtape as a "street narrative"[3]

Guests and production[edit]

The mixtape features guest appearances from Black Hippy members Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul along with Big Scoob, Trae Tha Truth and Spider Loc among others.[5] The production was handled by Focus..., Crada and DJ Khalil, as well as in-house producers from Top Dawg Entertainment, such as Willie B and Sounwave, representing Digi+Phonics.[5]

Critical reception[edit]

Black Friday received critical acclaim upon its release. It was named the 83rd best mixtape of 2010 by XXL and described as a "banger".[6] Ab-Soul's features were widely praised by critics.[3]

Track listing[edit]

[7]

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."No Joke" (featuring Ab-Soul)Willie B4:17
2."Diary of a Broke Nigga" (featuring Kendrick Lamar and Giddy)Crada3:37
3."Still in the Hood" (featuring Trae)Dem Joints3:54
4."Fuck the Police" (featuring Ab-Soul)Dangeroo Kipawaa2:54
5."Juice"Sounwave3:35
6."They Say" (featuring Kendrick Lamar)Phoenix4:03
7."Walk with Me" (featuring Big Scoob)Mr. Lee3:17
8."In These Streets" (featuring Spider Loc)Paperboy Fabe4:15
9."Hustle Man" (featuring Ab-Soul)Dangeroo Kipawaa3:25
10."Money Makin' Moves" (featuring Ab-Soul)Dangeroo Kipawaa4:27
11."Trapped in the Hood"Wyldfyer and L.E.S.3:00
12."Get on Your Shit"Focus...3:56
13."Kush Freestyle" (Bonus Track)DJ Khalil2:11
14."Shadow of Death" (performed by Black Hippy) (Bonus Track)Sounwave3:39
Samples
  • "Still in the Hood" samples "Fully Loaded Clip" by 50 Cent.
  • "Kush Freestyle" samples "Kush" by Dr. Dre.
  • "Diary of a Broke Nigga" samples "What's Your Name" by The Moments.
  • "Shadow of Death" samples "Dance Music" by R. D. Burman.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "iTunes - Music - Black Friday by Jay Rock". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  2. ^ Abstract by Andrew Martin. "Album Review: Jay Rock - Black Friday | Prefix". Prefixmag.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-27. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  3. ^ a b c d "Music". Ology. Archived from the original on 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  4. ^ "Jay Rock Featuring Big Scoob – Walk With Me [Song] | Jay Rock". Blog.jayrock.com. 2010-11-28. Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  5. ^ a b c TC (2010-11-26). "Download: Jay Rock - Black Friday Mixtape | The Smoking Section". Smokingsection.uproxx.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  6. ^ "The 100 Best Mixtapes of 2010 (100-50)". Xxlmag.Com. 2010-12-30. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  7. ^ "// Jay Rock - Black Friday // West Coast News Network //". Dubcnn.com. Retrieved 2012-01-16.