J Duff is one of the few rappers that are on their way to stardom. The 2012 XXL Freshman Class was filled with has-beens and never-weres, leading listeners to find the best new artists. I believe that J Duff is on a path to become a household name, and this is because of his incredible wordplay and punchy beats. His flow comes forth on the disc’s first cut, Can’t Stop Me Now, as a less sloppy Yelawolf. The complexity of his lines is reminiscent of Chris Webby or early Eminem, but the subject material is much less dorky than the former and less self-aggrandizing than the latter.
Prepare For Glory blasts past the four-minute mark, purely relying on J Duff’s lyrics to push the track past the finish line. The Introduction should be seen as an important rap album because it contains a cohesion to the disc’s 14 tracks that few rap albums can achieve. Even when the tempo of the disc changes (particularly noticeable on Lonely), I feel that J Duff’s output is constant. This is something that even storied artists like Jadakiss or Lil Wayne are unable to do; despite the slower feel of Tear Drops, there is no sense that J Duff has slowed down
I particularly dig the inclusions of featured artists towards the end of The Introduction. Whether it is on Tear Drops (featuring Lara Janine) or I Could Be (Rob the Rockstar), there is considerable momentum created on the latter reaches of The Introduction. Keep an ear out for J Duff — I believe that he will get the attention and acclaim that he deserves if he can keep the momentum and fire that he presented on The Introduction.
Top Tracks: Can’t Stop Me Now, I Could Be
Rating: 8.4/10
J Duff – The Introduction (CD) / 2012 Self / 14 Tracks /http://twitter.com/jduff_ / http://jduff.bandcamp.com/
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
Contact: editor@neufutur.com