If reports are to be believed, this latest download only EP ‘Jonwayne Is Retired’ represents Los Angeles-based rapper / producer Jonwayne’s final release prior to him hanging up the mike permanently. Looking back though, he’s certainly accomplished a lot in the four years since he was introduced to the world through that city’s Low End Theory collective back in 2011, releasing three albums, and slew of mixtapes and corporate-baiting EPs, whilst at the same time watching his profile boost thanks to collaborations with Flying Lotus and Jeremiah Jae. It’s certainly a strong parting shot, and there’s such a vigour to the five tracks collected here that it’s certainly hard to believe that he’s really quitting the rap game for good.
‘Beacon’ opens things with a predominantly beatless wander through repetitively cycling analogue synths and murmuring sub-bass pressure, the stripped-back palette allowing Jon plenty of space to spin his loose yet curiously economical wordplay (“the greatest thing in life is not giving a damn”), before ‘Minerals & Gems’ pushes the clattering MPC beats back to the forefront as squelching synths and funk-centred organs creep and Jon’s lyrical flow takes a tougher tone that still carries an underlying dose of playfulness (“no country for wack men” indeed). Elsewhere, ‘Green Light’ gets darker a moodier, with Anderson Paak contributing his Southern-tinged guest MC vocals for a verse that nicely counterpoints Jon’s more rugged delivery against pitched-down flecks of funk guitar and a wheezing double-bass loop, in what’s easily the illest sounding moment here. If this really is the end for Jonwayne, then this EP certainly represents a more than worthy send-off.
