If you haven’t noticed by now, The Alchemist and Boldy James are a match made in heaven.
As James’ hypnotic presence meshes perfectly with The Alchemist’s exquisite ear, the pair is released their second collaborative project, BO JACKSON, Friday (Aug. 13) — produced entirely by The Alchemist and ALC Records.
Al had previously teased BO JACKSON’s release on Instagram with a clip of them in the studio, as the project’s lead single “First 48 Freestyle” hit DSPs July 23. A week later, the lo-fi “Drug Zone” catapaulted Boldy and Al into mainstream circles, being shouted out by Griselda boss Westside Gunn via Twitter.
The project features some of rap’s finest lyricists in Benny The Butcher, Curren$y, Roc Marciano, Stove God Cooks, Freddie Gibbs and Earl Sweatshirt.
James and The Alchemist have build quite a rapport over the past few years. Initially linking on Boldy’s magnum opus The Price Of The Tea in China in 2020, the two also collaborated earlier this year on Al’s short, yet potent EP, This Thing of Ours, also featuring Pink Siifu, Maxo, Earl Sweatshirt, Navy Blue and Sideshow.
James rips visceral verses on both “Drug Zone” “First 48,” further proving the Detroit rapper’s knack for curating gritty, brutally honest bars over Al’s signature sound. This is Boldy’s fifth solo venture since signing with Griselda Records last year, adding to his other 2020 solo studio outings in Manger on McNichols, Real Bad Boldy and The Versace Tape.
BO JACKSON marks Boldy and The Alchemist’s first full-length project since TPOTIC, however, Al has kept busy sprinkling in a few beat tapes over the last few months.
With Boldy and Al back in their element, boom-bap’s deadly duo is back on BO JACKSON.
