Album Review - Jonathan Emile - The Lover/Fighter Document LP

Originally reviewed for Wonderground Magazine

Original Review - 3.5 Beards

The story behind this album is almost as important as the content itself. The road to the release date was packed with struggle and perseverance that resonates throughout the album. I was put onto this album from seeing the video for "Heaven Help Dem" and from seeing it all over my social media. Knowing nothing of the project other than the video I headed over to Bandcamp to check it out. The simplistic layout of the cover; a headshot with text overlay is interesting with a contrasting yellow ionizing radiation symbol that starts listeners on a path to the first track titled "Radiation." Radiation sets the stage and lets the viewer into Jonathans story; a battle with cancer that began when he was 18, chemotherapy for two years and his recovery. The album consists of 7 features over 6 of the 15 tracks and includes Buckshot, Tek Luciano, Murs and the Golden Boy himself Kendrick Lamar. The album breaks free of being put into that "Hip Hop" box classification with its soulful beats, live instruments and hip hop mixed with reggae influence. High points for me in this album is the story it delivers to the listener as well as various tracks including “A.G.E.S.” “Heaven Help Dem”, “Life of God” and “Radiation.” Low points for me on this album are all things you would expect to have on a first album, a variety in styles of music and I found some of the tracks though interesting and catchy were highly repetitive and simplistic in its rhyme schemes. This album leaves me wanting to see his live show and looking forward to the next album.

Coming back to this album about 2-2 1/2 years later, I think this album has aged well. Going over the album again I think my review was pretty accurate. Even with the time passing since the release of this I would still suggest at least a listen.

https://jonathanemile.bandcamp.com/album/the-lover-fighter-document-lp