After four long years, the original top dawg has finally returned with his sophomore effort titled 90059. His debut album, which was released in 2011, left me wanting so much more because of his superb talents that were displayed on few tracks like “No Joke,” “Say Wassup,” and “All My Life." Majority of arguments against him are that he lacks some of the uniqueness and versatility that fuels the popularity of his label mates like Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Isaiah Rashad, and SZA. This leads to him sounding more one dimensional over the duration of an entire project. Compared to his fellow black hippy/labelmates discography, Follow Me Home in all honesty sounded like one long action movie with few exciting moments, but overall it was a solid project.

Ever since then Jay Rock went into hibernation like Jason Voorhees, only to be awaken to straight murder unsuspecting songs. The victims include Kendrick’s “Money Tree’s”, YG’s “I Just Wanna Party” and Ab-Soul “Black Lip Bastard Remix”. Hell he even has murder his own songs like “YOLA”, “Pay For It”, and “Numbers On The Board Freestyle”.

With no presence on social media and rare appearances for interviews, I was a crack head feigning for some more rock (see what I did there). Then it happened. Just random track drops from Jay Rock every five months or so to let fans know his presence is still strong and should be feared at all times. In the summer, he dropped a couple of tracks that had different sounds and flows far greater than the one’s from his debut which had me on my toes trying to keep my balance. In August, it was revealed that he was finally dropping an album in the fall, and the owner of TDE revealed that it was in the fan's hand to decide when the album was going to be released. It reached the “mysterious” desired number of pre-sales orders, and here we are.

My hands are shaking and my heart is beating to listen to the silent assassin show forth his untapped talents. So, here we go…

1. “Necessary”

Just by hearing the slow chant of “90059,” I’m hooked in. Sounds something like a Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. There's a nice beat change, and just like that Rock slaughters another song. I’m gonna to have to stack up on body bags if he’s on a killing spree like this. The beat is bananas. You're gonna need some good speakers or headphones to get the full effect. Here he is talking about the struggle he goes through just too make it out of it. Great subject matter and way to open the album. I’m loving this album already; I’m on the edge of my seat!

2. “Easy Bake” ft. Kendrick Lamar and SZA

I guarantee you as soon as this beat drops, your head will uncontrollably start bobbing. I like Rock's flow on here and his lyrics are on point. So, this what you been cooking, Rock, for four years? If it is, keep cooking Rock…Keep working that wrist! “Kill the beat, some intervention on some inner vision” - that’s a dope line right there. Ah, here comes King Kendrick. I like his flow too. Waitm why did they have to turn up like that? I wasn’t ready!!! Kendrick and Rock trading bars just spotlights their Jordan and Pippen chemistry. There's a funny line by Rock at the end by the way. Here’s another beat change and this some new G-funk type beat. This got me Snoop Dogg two stepping. SZA voice is everything; why you doing this to me Rock? Rock just dishing out animalistic bars right here! This undoubtedly deserves 20 repeats when you just listening to music and 30 repeats while you riding in your car. I could’ve definitely saw Nate Dogg on this track, but unfortunately he’s no longer among us (R.I.P.). Two songs into this album and it’s already better than Follow Me Home.

3. “Gumbo”

I’m not gonna lie, I've heard this song before the album, but it’s still dope. Rock serving hot plates out the kitchen, he pushing his wrists to their limits. This beat is smooth and relaxing, definitely a chill and smoke song right here with great metaphors and overall message.

4. “Wanna Ride” ft. Isaiah Rashad

When I saw the track list, this is one of the songs that I was anticipating the most. From the beginning, you can really see Jay Rock strongest assets, which is his story telling ability and his lyricism. Shame it doesn’t get the attention they deserve. Another beat change, and I’m ready to jump out a window. The instrumentation on this track is crazy; this is definitely a late night ride-to-anthem. Jay Rock perfectly changes his flow to fit this beat and murders another song. Kind of disappointed that Isaiah didn’t have a verse, but he killed the hook though. By the way, please drop another project! The world needs it.

5. “The Way’s” ft. Sir

Not gonna lie, but this track sounds like some new school Juvenile/No Limit type sh*t. These funky, electro synths are a good combination with the drums, they really make the track pop. The hook is addicting: “And that's the way/P*ssy on my hotline, that's the way/Plans on my trap phone that's the way/Numbers in my paper bag, that's the way”. To me, Sir sounds like Musiq Soulchild right here. This a track definitely for small house party type atmosphere or a strip club joint.

6. “Telegram (Going Crazy)” ft. Lance Skiiiwalker

The production so far is light years better than Follow Me Home. So far, it hasn’t sounded repetitive at all. I like the background vocals on this track and the beat is relaxing, yet haunting. This is a dope subject matter; Rock talks about the struggles of maintaining a relationship when his girl doesn’t trust him because of rumors she sees on social media. I like this song because it’s a Sunday type of tune. Who the hell is Lance Skiiiwalker? Whoever he is, he sounds just like Jay Rock in my opinion.

7. “90059” ft. Lance Skiiiwalker

Ahhhhhhhhh!!! I like the piano intro. Oh my God, this hook sounds like another plane hit another tower. Lance Skiiiwalker sounds like the resurrected Old Dirty B*stard on acid. As soon as the hook stops (Thank God), the silent assassin goes on another killing spree. How does this man not have murder charges on his record? Jay Rock spitting some Wu-Tang 36 Chambers bars, do or die sh*t on this track. This song would be great, but the hook is not doing it for me at all.

8. “Vice City” ft. Black Hippy

Here is another track I’ve been anticipating. They don’t always do tracks together, but whenever they do, just know the world will stop and funerals will be held all day. The beat is menacing, and as soon as it drops, I know this is a monumental moment in hip-hop. Did Kendrick just transform into an intellectual trap rapper? He’s flawlessly flowing on this abstract beat and killing it. He effortlessly passes it to Rock who body slams and punctures the beat. Ab-Soul resurrects it and sends it back to heaven! Schoolboy Q then proceeds to get high enough to visit it and rap on it. All I can say is wow. Where is a black hippy album? Mankind needs it. Matter of fact, after thinking about it, the world might end that day if that happens.

9. “Fly On The Wall” ft. Busta Rhymes

This is a deep introspective track from Jay Rock. It has dope lyrics and beautiful beat. It’s not like he hasn’t done a track like this before, but this one right here he’s really reminiscing and coming from the heart. To be honest, I’ve never heard Rock be this open. He’s really putting me in his shoes and having me walk with him through everything he been through. Busta rapping from the perspective of a proud mentor; who’s watching Rock's growth?

10. Money Trees Deuce ft. Lance Skiiiwalker

I heard this song when it first came out, but it still bumps! When I first heard it, I knew this album was going to be pretty good. The beat is smooth and I really like Jay Rock's flow on this one. From the very first verse, he’s building up to an amazing final verse. When he raps that verse, it blows me away how hard you gotta hustle to get where you want to be at in life. It’s a shame that Kendrick didn’t bless this song with a verse, but overall, I think it was a good move to not have him on here. If there was going to be a sequel to “Money Trees,” I can’t see nobody else giving it the justice it deserves other than Jay Rock.

11. The Message ft. Vic Smitty (Uncredited)

This is the last song on the album and yet again, Rock doesn’t disappoint. It's another dope beat and dope lyrics. This is music for the soul. I would apologize for not writing here more, but once I started to vibe out, I wasn’t coming back until the song ended.

After hearing 90059 in its entirety, it’s impossible for me to complain about the wait. This album is amazing from top to bottom. Follow Me Home may have been the most disappointing release in TDE’s discography, yet Rock seems to have taken everything that was flat before and given it life on his sophomore go-around. The production is superb, layered, full of life and emotion, and never once does it feel like a tired retread of your bare bones West Coast instrumental. The subject matter is still 100 percent Watts, yet Rock keeps things fresh by experimenting with flows and well-placed features.