Though some had written it off as a hip-hop urban legend, has officially reclaimed the narrative in his favor with his new album A Written Testimony. And to make things even more enticing for bar connoisseurs, the project is a full-fledged collaborative effort with Jay-Z; a pleasant surprise for those wondering whether 2020 would bring some new music from Hov. Clocking in at ten tracks and a modest thirty-nine minutes, there’s plenty to unpack from the lyrically dense effort. 

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Featuring production from Jay Electronica himself, AarabMuzik, , The , , and No. I.D, A Written Testimony is equally stacked behind the boards. For the most part, Jay Elec dictates the sonic direction by playing to his strengths, conjuring gritty and lo-fi selections evocative of underground hip-hop. Yet even so, moments like the back-and-forth banger “The Blinding” featuring should serve as a gateway for some curious newcomers — you can check that out . 

As is always the case with great expectations, so too comes the risk of equally great disappointment. Yet for the most part, Jay Electronica appears to have delivered a quality release, though some might find themselves bamboozled by complex themes and occasionally abstract lyrical content. Either way, the fact this exists to begin with is a win for hip-hop, especially for those keeping track of the ever-growing list of . Stream A Written Testimony below, and sound off – did it live up to the hype?