Before J.I.D was signed to Dreamville Records, he had released his debut EP called DiCaprio. Therefore, there is need to know more about this EP before looking at DiCaprio 2.
DiCaprio
According to Genius, it states that, "DiCaprio is the debut EP by American rapper J.I.D. The album includes multiple features,including frequent collaborator 6LACK, fellow Spillage Village artists EARTHGANG,OG Maco and more".
Moreover on Genius it says, "The EP primarily focuses on the hardships J.I.D faced during his childhood,having lived in one of the most dangerous districts of Atlanta, Zone 6. Production was handled by multiple people : Fellow Spillage Village member Johnny Venus, frequent collaborator Childish Major, Christo, Brandon Thomas and more ".
The Track List :
1. LeTrow feat. 6LACK
2. LeStudMuffin feat. Curtis Williams
3. LeHooligangs feat. EARTHGANG & OG Maco
4. LeInterludepart1
5. LeHornys
6. LeFluGame feat. Jace
7. LeTumbapart1 feat. KEY!
8. LeHoodburger
From the track list above, there are three songs which caught my interest. These are LeTrow and LeTumbapart1.
On the song LeTrow , Genius has stated that, "LeTrow serves as a collaboration between Atlanta artists JID and 6LACK that appears on JID's DiCaprio. On the track,the artists discuss their hood origins and their newfound success in the rap game ". This is shown on the lyrics below :
"While they were sittin' on their hands, I was standin' and plottin"
This probably means that J.I.D was working towards being a rapper while others were slacking.
The song, LeTumbapart1 as stated by Genius, "..serves as a collaboration between JID and KEY! that appears on JID's DiCaprio. On the track, the artist discuss their hood origins and the privileged lifestyles they currently lead".
From my point of view, what makes it interesting is that it samples Leonardo DiCaprio interview to shed light on the issue about wanting more in life. This is shown on the lyrics below:
[Outro: Leonardo DiCaprio and Interviewer & KEY!]
"...I've met a lot of people like this who's entire world is consumed by wealth. And and you meet them and you talk to them and you realize they dont have a lot of foundation in their life whatsoever
And so therefore this becomes the root of all hapiness for them. And of course I like money like everybody else, that would be an absolute lie, but I think its important to be responsible at the same time. And I also think it's important to give back to if your in a privilaged position. I think that that should be a pre-requisite to anyone who's gotten to accumulate a lot of welath in their life
I think that it should be standard.."
I believe this is a message to everyone that they should stay humble even if they have a lot of wealth. Money should not change anyone's personality.
DiCaprio EP was released on January 26, 2015.
DiCaprio 2
There are various ways in which DiCaprio 2 is the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records.
1. The album art shows the actor Leonardo DiCaprio
According to Genius,it states that, "DiCaprio 2 is J.I.D's sophomore studio album, following March 2017's The Never Story. It is also the sequel to his January 2015 EP DiCaprio. Both projects are named after Leonardo DiCaprio, who J.I.D has frequently indicated is his favourite actor".
As stated by Wikipedia, "Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor,producer and environmentalist. He has often played unconventional parts, particularly in biopics and period films. As of 2019, his films have earned US$7.2 billion worldwide, and he has placed eight times in annual rankings of the world's highest paid actors. His accolades include an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards".
Moreover on Wikipedia it said, "He achieved international fame as a star in the epic romance Titanic (1997), which became the highest-grossing film at that point".
From my point of view, the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio is J.I.D's favourite actor and that he achieved international fame as a star in the epic romance Titanic is one of the huge reasons why DiCaprio 2 is the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records.
2. Leonardo DiCaprio had invited J.I.D to his birthday party
According to hiphopdx.com: The Story How Leonardo DiCaprio Invited Dreamville's J.I.D To His Birthday Party After Hearing About DiCaprio 2 by Cherise Johnson, Nov 16, 2018 , it states that, "In 2015, when J.I.D first unleashed DiCaprio, the title was appropriate because he felt just like the Wolf of Wall Street actor. Producing great bodies of work, but slightly overlooked by their respective creative communities. J.I.D has always been super confident in his talent and like Leo,he could relate to not getting the appropriate recognition for putting out quality work".
The fact that J.I.D could relate to Leo in terms of not getting the recognition for putting out quality work is probably one of the reasons why DiCaprio is J.I.D's favourite actor.
Moreover as stated by Cherise Johnson;"....he discloses that the Leo himself is actually excited for DiCaprio 2's release too. So much so the Academy Award-winning actor even invited him out to his birthday party".
The fact that DiCaprio was excited for DiCaprio 2's release makes the album more intriguing.
3. DiCaprio 2 has each song feeling like an individual film
Firstly, let's look at the track list.
The Track List:
1. Frequency Change
2. Slick Talk
3. Westbrook feat. A$AP Ferg
4. Off Deez feat. J. Cole
5. 151 Rum
6. Off da Zoinkys
7. Workin Out
8. Tiiied feat. 6LACK & Ella Mai
9. Skrawberries feat. BJ the Chicago Kid
10. Hot Box feat. Method Man & Joey Bada$$
11. Mounted Up
12. Just da Other Day
13. Despacito Too
14. Hasta Luego (Bonus)
Frequency Change is one of the important songs in the album. According to Genius, it states that, "The album's opener depicts a person flipping through the channels on their television, leading into DiCaprio 2's cinematic theme. Television channels have different frequencies, which is how they are able to differentiated from one another. This opening cut is a representation of the album, as each song is meant to feel like an 'individual film' ".
From my point of view, there is another point to consider. There is repetition of the word , "DiCaprio" on the song. This was probably done deliberately because DiCaprio is an actor who acts in movies hence why I believe each song is meant to feel like an individual film. This makes the album unique which is why DiCaprio 2 is the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records.
4. J.I.D mentions his emergence in the rap game
This is shown on the song Slick Talk. According to Genius, it states that, "J.I.D wanted to make a bold statement for the album's first song. On this track, he delivers a lot of Slick Talk to his fellow rappers, explicitly stating his superiority to them. He warns them that his rise to the top of the rap game is undoubtedly imminent, and he challenges his peers to prove him wrong. Because of the trials and tribulations he has experienced in his life, J.I.D has no reason to suppress himself or sugarcoat his intentions ". This is shown on the lyrics below:
"Look, okay
Fuck what a nigga say or, look, my mama think I made it
Lift my head to skies, I cry and begin prayer
Thanks to the maker, got me out of an awful place"
From my point of view, the fact that he does not sugarcoat his intentions of his rise to the top of the rap game is another way to show that DiCaprio 2 is the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records. There's a beat switch which shows an element of surprise if one has listened to the song Slick Talk for the first time.
Another song which shows his emergence in the rap game is Westbrook. According to Genius, it states that, "J.I.D and A$AP Ferg rap about their emergence into the rap game and their undying loyalty to their family and friends. Over three verses, J.I.D continues the lyrical taunting of the previous track while Ferg handles the song's chorus ". This is shown on the lyrics below:
[Chorus: A$AP Ferg]
"I done came up, I done came up (Came up)
Put your chains up, and your rings up (Rings up)
Fuck the other side (Fuck 'em), we don't change up (Nah)
All the homies ride, they can't change us
I done came up, I done came up (I done came up)
Switching lanes up, and I'm prayed up
Fuck the other side, we don't change up (Yeah)
All the homies ride, you can't change us"
[Verse 3: J.I.D]
"Yeah-ah
Picture a nigga steppin' into the game that's already lit
Just add a little coal to flame it
Lame niggas, I gotta put it in layman's terms?
I'm finna murder you niggas, you better spread the word"
5. One of the songs in the album is inspired by Beyoncé's verse on APESHIT
This is shown on the song, Off Deez. According to Genius, it states that, "Although the song shares the thematic similarities with J. Cole's 2014 track G.O.M.D ,J.I.D specifically stated on Twitter and in an interview that it was inspired by part of Beyoncé's verse on APESHIT :
"Phillippe Patek
Get off my dick (Uh, hey)"
The fact that the song Off Deez was inspired by Beyoncé's verse on APESHIT is one of the reasons why DiCaprio 2 is the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records.
6. J.I.D and J. Cole demand critics to stop criticizing them
Not only does the song Off Deez is inspired by Beyoncé's verse on APESHIT, but also shows J.I.D and J.Cole demanding critics to stop criticizing them.
According to Genius, it states that, "....J.I.D and Cole demand that their detractors and critics 'get off their dicks' which essentially means to stop bothering them, constantly criticizing them,and always having something negative to contribute to conversations involving their names. Both artists give detailed descriptions of how they will kill their enemies throughout their respective verses ". This is shown on the lyrics below :
[J.I.D]
"If you talking that shit, nigga, stop it
I'm a god, I'm a king, I'm a giant"
[J. Cole]
"Niggas gon' honor my name, boy, I'm a god in this game
Y'all niggas homonyms, sounding the same
Not in my lane so I can't complain"
From my point of view, I believe they were both trying to say they are kings in the rap game and they will not let critics discourage them. This probably serves as a lesson to everyone that they should live their life the way they want it to be. DiCaprio 2 is the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records because Off Deez shows two artists not letting critics discourage them.
7. J.I.D acts as an advocate against drug abuse
This is shown on the song, Off da Zoinkys. According to Genius, it states that, "On this anti-drug anthem, J.I.D raps about how narcotics have negatively affected him, his environment, and the rap game. He pledges to get Off da Zoinkys and he pleads for others to do the same because he knows the damage that drugs can cause". This is shown on the lyrics below:
"Y'all niggas need to lay off the drugs
Some of y'all need to lay off the dope"
What makes it interesting is that the song is similar to J. Cole's album KOD where he was also advocating against drug abuse. This is why DiCaprio 2 is the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records.
8. J.I.D admits that things are not working out for him
This is shown on the song Workin Out. According to Genius, it states that, "J.I.D discusses his dissatisfaction with life despite his success. Although he has attained wealth and fame, things are not Workin Out for him. This is shown on the lyrics below:
[Chorus]
"Cause I been working hella hard, shit ain't really working out
I been praying to the Lord, shit ain't really working out
I been looking to the stars, keep my head up in the clouds
Shit ain't really working out, shit ain't really working out
Shit ain't really working out"
From my point of view,the fact that he admits things are not working out for him despite being a successful rapper is interesting. This is highlighting the struggles faced by some rappers hence why DiCaprio 2 is the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records.
9. One of the songs has a smooth RnB track
This is shown on the song Tiiied. According to Genius, it states that , "...J.I.D and 6LACK rap about being Tiiied of a woman who is being unreasonable in their respective relationships. Ella Mai, however, contradicts these allegations, stating that the problem lies within the man's own insecurities and inner struggles".
From my point of view,the fact that there are both perspectives regarding relationships is a reflection of everyday life. Moreover the fact that the song Tiiied is a smooth R&B track shows DiCaprio 2 as the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records.
10. One of the songs in the album was assisted by the late Mac Miller
The song is called Skrawberries. As stated by Cherise Johnson, J.I.D said, "I don't like talking about Mac because it makes me sad. It wasn't even a set collaboration he just came in when I had a session like a homeboy and was like, 'I like this, I'ma add this and arrange this'. We was just bouncing around different songs, he was just being a good friend".
This seems to serve as a dedication to the late Mac Miller hence why DiCaprio 2 is intriguing.
Moreover on Genius it said, "J.I.D raps about his significant other and the struggles they are having in their relationship. Despite the mistakes they have both made, they will always be there for each other. Their mutual love is reassured by BJ the Chicago Kid's chorus. J.I.D also raps about women empowerment, specifically talking about important females in his life".
The fact that J.I.D raps about women empowerment specifically talking about important females in his life is another reason why DiCaprio 2 is the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records.
11. J.I.D stays humble despite the fame he's got
This is shown on the song Just da Other Day. According to Genius, it states that, "...J.I.D raps about his come-up and how he was not as well off Just da Other Day. He understands that everything he has worked hard for could easily be taken away, which is why he must stay focused on perfecting his craft".
From my point of view, it serves as a lesson to stay humble despite how much recognition a person gets. This links back to the song LeTumbapart1 which is found on the EP DiCaprio. This is why DiCaprio 2 is the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records.
12. J.I.D opens up his plans on how he will accomplish his career as a rapper
This is shown on the song Despacito Too. According to Genius, it states that, "Over three verses,J.I.D discusses what he plans to accomplish in his career, how he will overcome his hindrances, and how people initially disregarded his desire to become a rapper".
As stated by Genius, "The song's title is a reference to a popular meme about the hit song Despacito in which people have started a running joke demanding a sequel to the song. The song is essentially J.I.D's response to these demands".
From my point of view,it is interesting because it reminisces about the hit song Despacito.
14. Hasta Luego shows J.I.D's transition as a person
According to Genius, it states that, "Hasta Luego is a display of J.I.D's lyrical talent. He says goodbye to his past as he begins his journey as a rising artist. He also discusses how his family and friends are less fortunate than him and professes his desire to provide for them given his newfound fame and wealth".
From my point of view, what makes it interesting is that he begins his journey as a rising artist hence he believes in himself. This is why DiCaprio 2 is the most intriguing album released under Dreamville Records.
DiCaprio 2 was released on November 26 , 2018.
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