Pray IV Reign [PA]

Performer: Jim Jones (Rap)
Artist: Starr; Chink Santana; NOE; Ludacris; Busta Rhymes; Ryan Leslie; Oshy; Juelz Santana; Rawanna; Mel Matrix; Ron Browz; Rell; Brittney Taylor
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Never hailed as the strongest lyricist out of the Diplomats clique, Jim Jones has always made up for it with the weight of his street credibility and his distinct vocal presence that exudes restrained menace. On his fourth full-length LP (and first for Columbia), the self-proclaimed Harlem Capo shines, thanks in large part to inventive street-hop beats from a production team including Chink Santana, Supa Dave West, Triple-A, and Ron Browz. While many of Jones's concepts are recycled, as he muses on backstabbers ("Frienemies") and brags about his lavish lifestyle ("This is the Life," "Pop Champagne"), he still executes them well. PRAY IV REIGN is a rare hip-hop album in that the intro--which sees Jones taking in O.G. wisdom from a Harlem old-timer over a `70s soul-drenched beat by No I.D.--is by far the tightest track.

Rolling Stone (p.69) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "[H]is open-armed commercialism mostly works: 'Na Na NaNa Na Na' turns a kid's chant into a catchy cash-flaunting song..." Spin (p.86) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "New York hustler Jim Jones is, despite his own best efforts, effortlessly charming." XXL (Magazine Publisher) (pp.101-102) - "With even more adventurous choices and evident spurts of maturity, Jim displays the chops to maintain his status as a compelling hip-hop figure."

A true NYC success story, Jim Jones's ascent to a spot among rap's quickest minds and keenest ears by the late-`00s is almost breathtaking in its deliberateness. While hip-hop history is littered with label architects whose attempts to grab the mic were tributes to vain mediocrity, the mercurial Diplomats co-founder is not one of them. Jones waited until practically every other member of Harlem's Dipset crew (Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, etc.) had had his turn before unleashing his solo debut in 2004. By 2009's highly anticipated PRAY IV REIGN, Jones revealed himself as a versatile budding star, as comfortable dropping an auto-tuner heavy single like "Pop Champagne" as elegantly reimagining indie-synth-popsters MGMT's "Electric Feel."

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.5