Juga-Naut – “12 Bricks” Prod. by Micall Parknsun (Album Review)
This is the 5th studio LP from Nottingham, East Midlands, England, United Kingdom emcee Juga-Naut. Dropping all 4 of his previous full-lengths including a mixtape & 3 extended plays, the ones that would stick out to me the most would be the Sonnyjim-produced debut The Purple Door & his 3rd album Back to the Grill Again produced by Giallo Point. London veteran Micall Parknsun however has been enlisted behind the boards for 12 Bricks after being teased in 2017 & that automatically had me interested regarding the direction for it.
“Blue Notes” opens up with a psychedelic boom bap instrumental talking about him dreaming of a better future ahead of him whereas “40 Acres” featuring Micall Parknsun himself finds the pair over a synth-driven beat boasting that they made the speakers bump because they made the drum. “Show & Prove” keeps things dusty decimating any other squad who can’t fuck with his because they’re a bunch of phonies just before “Gametime” atmospherically talks about taking time when getting what’s his.
VVV get a track of their own with “Gaudi-Gang” having Cappo & Vandal Savage join Juga-Naut to discuss elevation & progress being the 2 key parts of this journey called life while “Know Your Worth” talks about realizing one’s value. “Dodgy Dealings” kicks off the 2nd half of 12 Bricks recalling some dishonest business methods being revealed over an organ & hi-hats while “Build a Bridge” returns to the boom bap explaining what we do today makes it what it is.
“Pink & Red” winds down the last leg of the album talking about slowly dreaming of big money coming his way until using “Stained Glass” as a metaphor for the other side containing a pained past instrumentally retaining a boom bap sound. “The Juice” featuring Scorzayzee & Tommy Nova finds the trio getting confrontational over a rap rock beat while “Glass Mortar” featuring Da Flyy Hooligan ends on an opulently hardcore note.
Come to find out 12 Bricks was recorded between 2016-2018, which is wild to me considering that it joins The Purple Door & Back to the Grill Again in becoming an another important entry in Juga-Naut’s discography. Between his rhymes & Micall Parknsun’s production, they’re pretty much laying out the foundation for this new era of underground hip hop in a time of uncertainty combining Naut’s hard-hitting lyricism with Micall’s ear for sampling.
Score: 8/10
