Sly Jiggy - Wes From the East (Album)
“Wes From The East”
Release date: June 27th, 2021
What’s good y’all? We back with a fresh set of unsigned heat for y’all. Kicking off the 4th of July festivities, we have Sly Jiggy. “Wes From the East” is his first official release since 2019’s double album “Messiah-Adonai,” which has been removed from streaming platforms at the time of this writing. Sly has been spending the last couple years just focusing on the more important things in life. Raising his kids and making sure the family is doing good. Once the gears were in place and the tires were realigned, Sly decided to get back to cooking up. Spending much of 2020, working on his craft and self teaching himself to produce. The results came in the form of four albums, the first being this one. “Wes From the East” begins the series of Sly’s reintroduction to his listeners. This first album is the last project Sly will be releasing under other producer’s beats. This tape marks the end of a creative chapter and lets you know where he is going to be heading next. So without further delay, let’s get into the project (Spotify player embedded at the bottom of the page).
“Doobie”
In the first track, Sly goes in over a trance like instrumental where the strings and heavy baseline dance in tandem with the woodwind whistling under his bouncy cadence of the first verse. This the type of song you put on for the pre-session for your smoke session. Coming in with the fly guy raps, Sly sets the scene for a day in the life. Spending most of his time, outside of the fam, by himself. This is his ode to those moments when you need some time to be alone with your thoughts while the cherry runs. The hook is light and spacey, keeping it simple on the intro goes a long way. Giving the tape a cinematic feel to it’s beginning. This is the beginning of the Sly Jiggy show.
“Jimmi”
This song starts off with some impressive wordplay and punchlines throughout the verse. Sly throws the vibes back in this one, tapping into the 2011-2014 days of his former group Young Scum (their music can still be found on YouTube). Making references to the valley Scum lifestyle that residents, growing up in the North Valley’s of Reno, around the skateboard scene identified with. The hook matches a similar style that the crew used back then. Sly takes a moment to reflect on good times, noting that shit ain’t changed, not even the address. The north valleys are still his home and he is embracing the area that helped him grow in his formative years. “Ride around town with the mob truck, hold up, laughing to bank cause my funds up. Roll up, racing and i’m dabbing till my mind’s stuck, hold up. Addy never changed, still a scum fuck.”
“Andy”
In the record, Andy, Sly taps into his youth and what he was experiencing growing up. Talking about the times where he did not have much and lived off hand me down clothes from family. Remembering a time when he was a young kid wanting to act like a grown up. Before the weed and before really being old enough to understand the things our environment provides to us. Once upon a time, thinking that the street lifestyle was something to admire in his youth. The hook samples a video from an interview of some members of the Young Scum crew he was a part of. Fast forward to being older, he found himself in music and relationships with people he respects changing. Some people embrace him doing music and support. On the other hand, he noticed those trying to be competitive in a way that doesn’t sit right with him. He realizes over time who has been his friend or not. He then ends the record with a lesson that he picked up from his mother: “nobody gotta be your friend.” So be yourself and those who accept it will show themselves to you.
“Pinner”
“Got me fucked up, boi I done told you. Making good music for the soul like some produce. If you got beef, we can meet, introduce. If you got some weed, we can smoke, just roll through.” This song is impressive with the flows that Sly provides, the tricky word juggling and syllable game is on point. In this record, you get a feel for the morals and standards of the artist behind the pen. This one is a more introspective outlook on life from the Jiggy one. It’s catchy and bouncy, I find this record stuck in my head often. Who doesn’t love a good quotable? This song is full of them. I peeped that he ends it with “Like Big and 3 Stacks, I’m so fresh and so clean” before the next record “Rosa” that references the Outkast record of the same title. Nice touch in track listing placement.
“Rosa”
Rosa might just be one of my favorites from the project. The beat is heavy in bass and leaves plenty of room for Sly to use his voice as an instrumentals. The punchlines all through out it are all perfectly timed and doesn’t leave a break in momentum. It is short but sweet, interpolating the hook from Outkast’s “Rosa” into the chorus of this record. The energy is undeniable with this record and proves Sly is a real MC. This one might have you pressing the repeat button before moving on to the next song. This song speaks for itself and everyone should really tap in on this record here for some quintessential Sly Jiggy selections.
“Roto”
Shoutout to Sly for letting us leak this record back in January 1st on the Weather Watcher IG, soundcloud, and YouTube channel. This one was a personal favorite from the early advance listening he provided. This one is the official smoker’s anthem for any session on the solo tip or with the team. The melodic vibes are the most captivating part of the record. The ambient vibes provided in this one can make any room feel smoky. For Sly’s favorite ritual, he keeps it simple. Taking the time to reflect on himself and what he has gone through so that he may be able to live with it. The session is meditative and therapeutic for Sly, helping him maintain composure throughout the complexities of life.
“Clou-D”
In this song Sly commissions, former group mate, Nesta OG for the hook and a featured verse. This is the only feature on the project and takes the perspective of Sly through the eye’s of another. Speaking on what it takes to protect your energy and watching the others who take from it. Keep your circle small. While other’s are taking this life for granted, it is important to maintain your composure and remain grateful at all times. When you are trying to make peace with yourself, you have to become okay with the people who don’t understand your perspective. This song provides an outlet for those to unwind to while we let the feelings blow away with the smoke that we exhale. Sly’s verse comes in second and has the most structured verse of the whole tape. The cadence, message, and delivery are all executed properly. His verse is nothing short of museum quality.
“Mr. Rogers”
This is indeed my favorite song of the tape, it is a perfect closing as Sly describes his responsibility to be a good example for his kids. Balancing fatherhood with his own journey as an individual in life. Although parenthood is your life and identity, it is important to be able to show your children who you are as a person while still filling out your responsibilities. There’s no instruction manual on it but Sly keeps it honest. Speaking on the times where he had to shift priorities and stop certain habits. There’s not much time for experimenting with drugs or having issues with others. None of that puts money in the pocket or food on tables. Sly knows his goals and who looks up to him. He looks to only do things or be involved in things that contribute to his spirit. Family, music, and learning more about himself. Always having a creative outlet has been a part of his life forever. Whether it was style, dancing, rapping, making beats, or even having a good sense of humor on a daily basis. Sly isn’t here to impress anyone though, it’s how he chooses to express himself regardless of who notices or not. He does it to show those who matter, that they can do whatever it is their minds yearn for.
Give this project a listen and tap in with Sly Jiggy on his IG under the Spotify link below. This one is only the beginning of some amazing music. Get ready and stay tuned!
— the weather watcher 🌦🛰