westEND Music Review: Trap Baby Jesus

westEND Music Review

Jase Kevion

Trap Baby Jesus: The Motion Picture

The long-awaited project from music group DEMI’s Jase Kevion gives more than a hook. With well-placed skits throughout 17 tracks and a display of versatile subject matter, “The Motion Picture” isn’t a far-fetched presentation of this album.

Score: 6.4

Instrumentation: 7.8

Lyrics: 6.3

Delivery: 5.0

Production: 7.3

Cohesiveness: 5.0

Creativity: 7.2

With the rapper coming to Frederick by way of Baltimore, Maryland, one can imagine the inspiration that Jase absorbed from classic urban films, such as, He Got Game. Within context of the narrative that he portrays, Jase is often referred to as “Jesus” representing the “chosen one” story arc in figures like Jesus Shuttlesworth (the main protagonist in the film He Got Game) and the Biblical references to Baby Jesus. The songs and skits unfolded a story of attempts on Jase’s life, haters blocking his path, loved ones distracting him, and love on his heart. Through it all, he still prevails.

These efforts of creating a visual in albums are now a rare and underrated side of the artform. Though it is easy for the listener to become absorbed in the track format, crowded feature list, and Jase’s unfinished story, this project does spark one question: “What does he have next?”

As far as value, the consistent quality of production that comes with the T.A.G. Music Group handle is on full display; it is accompanied by Jase bringing an array of chopped up drill flows, or drill music, a harder trap flow by way of Chicago, as we’ve come to expect from his harsh and raw sound. To display some flexibility, he shows off his ability to hang on more sweet and melodic tunes, such as he did on tracks like La La (Featuring Street Scott).

A large part of the album that is cannot go unnoticed, is the generous amount of features that sit alongside Jase that as a result, create a haze of supplementary voices if a name is not familiar. This also makes you wonder if Jase could benefit from displaying more of his range in the way of flow switches, vocal display and delivery. With that being said, there were a few notable artists that stood out when their time came. Frederick rapper, Stitch Early, with the addition of vocalist, Eddy Michaels, turned out to be the perfect collaboration on Jesus Shuttlesworth. It could easily be ranked as the project’s best track. Another track to look out for is All My Life, with features from Baltimore’s SlickboySupe who brings a catchy singalong flow and Jayy Starr, a name you may recognize from Fresh Empire’s “Keep it Fresh” anti-smoking campaign. With this, you can really feel Jase get into his pocket and deliver a track that brings a climatic end to this chapter of Trap Baby Jesus: The Motion Picture.

The album tells a real, raw journey that is still developing. Leaving optimism for progression, we’re left with a solid project and untapped potential that can only be built upon further in later releases.