J French’s “BIG BODY” takes a fresh approach to hip hop, combining seductive melodies, powerful story-telling, and a remarkably delicate soundtrack.
J French, a rapper, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Oklahoma City, has completed what appears to be a lifetime’s worth of music industry experience. Since crafting his first rhyme to Devin The Dude’s “Don’t Wait” at the age of 12, he has created his own publishing company and collaborated with various rappers in the Oklahoma-Texas and Los Angeles scenes, including RC & The Gritz, Erykah Badu’s official band, and members of TDE. Despite everything, J French remains as cool as a cucumber. He rigorously sticks to a self-imposed necessity to create music from the soul. “I’m determined to be heard,” French says.
This track by Oklahoma City’s J French has a firmly entrenched hip hop/rap atmosphere — both the soundscape and the lyrical performances deliver the gritty, aggressive, and dynamic aura that was at the zenith of the genre throughout the 1990s.
Starting with a spoken-word approach, J French’s flow improves as the song progresses — the latter half sees his lyrical delivery reach an exciting peak, the tempo is intense, and you’ll be lucky to catch every phrase the first time.
The juxtaposition of this with the slight swagger of the melody and the ambiance provides an appealing and engaging introduction to the track.
Furthermore, “BIG BODY” features an urgent and weighty beat as well as a plethora of colors in terms of the many synths and layers that comprise the soundtrack. The whole thing has an upbeat, cheerful vibe to it.
Ideas appear to be layered one on top of the other. In this scenario, J French stays close to the track’s basic concepts. Whether spoken or delivered with weight and grit, his performance always represents this further and keeps the right level of intensity or excitement at the forefront of the encounter.
The supreme quality and bright energy of the piece is a fine testament. An easily addictive new hip-hop track from an artist with plenty more hits to come.
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