“Enjoy the View” of Joey Cool at His Most Empathetic (Album Review)

Joey Cool is a 37 year old MC from Kansas City, Missouri starting out as a long-time affiliate of local independent hip hop powerhouse Strange Music dropping a total of 4 mixtapes & a studio album on his own until Tech N9ne decided to officially sign him to the Snake & Bat in 2017. He then dropped an eponymous sophomore album the next spring followed by Old Habits Die Hard as well as Coolie High & I Tried to Be Normal Once. But with the 1-year anniversary of The Chairman of the Board passing by a couple months ago, Joey’s beginning the fall by enlisting Mario Casalini to fully produced his 7th album.

After the “It’s Rare” intro, the first song “Oh God” is a gospel trap crossover to start off the album declaring that he is who he is & that he will help teach you what to say on your journey whereas “Kingdom” featuring Tech N9ne is a more rap rock infused cut calling out those trying to bring their paradises down. “Kansas City Classic” shoots for a more playful vibe aesthetically talking about continuing to drop exactly that in you bastards leading into “Flickin’” giving off a bit of a west coast feel sonically reminding that he isn’t going anywhere.

“Sweet” featuring Lex Bratcher starts off with a wavy trap sound prior to a triumphant beat-switch during the 2nd half both being at a level that’s not near, but then “At My Expense” takes a groovier approach refusing to the back & forth tonight. After the “Please Tip Your Ushers” interlude, “Hallelujer” goes full blown gospel rap telling you to ask anyone if he’s been that dude just before “Closer Now”featuring K.A.A.N. & King Iso talks about how they was all supposed to drown there over a moody instrumental.

Meanwhile, “Sink” blends some keys & hi-hats tackling the concept of depression even further while “I Bet” featuring Wennely Quezada comes through with more of a pop rap duet accompanied by an spacious beat explaining that they just can’t go down the river. “Peanut Butter Jealous” featuring X-Raided pointing out how no one wanted flicks with him now that they’re well established with a bouncy trap instrumental while the lead single “Great Time” drops off a club banger for the 1-time.

“Buckets” gives off an eerie tone to the beat feeling like he’s on today while spirit-lifting “We Got Us” talks about how his mom told him there would we be days like this & that all his family as his each other specifically with his father Bill Johnson being featured on here as he’s been in the past. The penultimate track “Buddy Effyn” hops on top of a pitched sample explaining that too many tried to shade or change him & “American Swankster” closes out the album on a jazzier note declaring himself to be just that.

Now the deluxe has 8 bonus tracks & I’ll touch base on them. The first of which “Swank You Very Much” is this empowering trap rock cut talking about knowing that his mother is proud of him while “Big Cool” looks to add another title over more guitars & hi-hats. “Give ‘Em Hell” has this cool gospel flip throughout telling everyone to stop talking to him like it’s 2012 while “Oxygen” featuring Jehry Robinson gives off a peppier trap tone advising to get back.

“Chai Tea” featuring Lex Bratcher goes into a futuristic direction talking about being off the titular mixed-spice tea while the piano-driven “Don’t Cry” featuring Mac Lethal talks about not shedding tears for them. The “Kingdom” remix adds 2 new verses from King Iso & High Deafinician of the unConventionAl KingZ that make it better than the original & “Do-Over” ends the deluxe by going full-on rock down to the Swankiest of Strangeland flexing his singing voice predominantly.

Self-titled & Old Habits Die Hard are my personal favorite albums in Joey’s catalog, but Enjoy the View has to be my favorite that he’s done in a while in my opinion. Mario Casalini’s production gives off a different vibe of its own & the American Swankster himself happens to be the most emphatic he’s ever previously as far his performances go. Couple underwhelming features too, but it should be noted that most of them stick the landing.

Score: 8/10