Released on July 2nd, 2007, this EP has become my all-time favorite extended play over the past eight years. I first reviewed it in July 2016 when I was just 17, and while I loved it back then, my appreciation for it has only grown. Initially, I classified it as a mixtape, but it can be seen as a free EP. I find my original review from my teenage years quite embarrassing, so I’ve locked it behind a password. If you’re interested, I can share it for five dollars—no joke. When I first listened to this project, I was blown away. I was already a fan of Jay Electronica’s loose singles, but this project, despite being different sonically, solidified him as one of my favorite MCs of all time. This EP remains his best work in my opinion, though I also admire the leaked “Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn)” and “A Written Testimony.” My favorite track from Jay might be “Better in Tune with the Infinite.” Perhaps in five years, I’ll review “Act II” to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Focus Hip Hop. This blog, by the way, turns 10 years old in December, and I’ve started the commemoration with a redux review of Atmosphere’s “God Loves Ugly.”
Let’s dive into this project. This EP was supposed to be the first in a trilogy of three acts. The second, “Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn),” leaked in 2020 and is available on TIDAL. The final entry, “Act III: The Last Will & Testament of Timothy Elpadaro Thedford (The Prestige),” remains uncertain. The unique concept of this first project involves Jay Electronica rapping over the soundtrack to “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” composed by Jon Brion, who also produced Kanye West’s “Late Registration.” The film, starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, is one of my favorites, and I experienced the EP before watching the movie. The project begins with “Intro,” featuring Just Blaze and Erykah Badu discussing their relationships with Jay Electronica. I initially overlooked this part, but it works well as an introduction to both the project and Jay as an artist. Just Blaze praises Jay’s creativity and originality, noting his willingness to take risks and try different things, exemplified by this project. Erykah Badu speaks about Jay on a personal level, highlighting his intelligence, aura, and positive influence. The music from Jon Brion is cinematic and perfectly sets the tone. The first actual song, “Eternal Sunshine,” starts after about six minutes and forty seconds. The opening bars had me in awe, and the beautifully arranged instrumentation from Brion, combined with Jay’s lyricism and flow, creates a unique sub-genre of Hip Hop. The track “…Because He Broke the Rules” features a clip from “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” and showcases Jay’s stunning rapping over a cinematic instrumental. The song deals with the pain of a broken relationship, and Jay’s flow, lyricism, and vocal delivery are all perfect. “Voodoo Man” is my favorite track on the EP. It begins with a clip from the Kurdish film “Turtles Can Fly” and transitions into Jay’s incredible lyricism. This track exemplifies Jay’s ability to pack so much into a small amount of time, and his performance here is nothing short of astonishing. Overall, this EP is a unique and timeless piece of Hip Hop music. If you haven’t heard it yet, I highly recommend checking it out. It’s a perfect entry point for new listeners and a reminder of Jay Electronica’s brilliance for long-time fans.
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