Masterpiece and classic are 2 of the most associated words have heard about the album. A.P.I.D.T.A is being heralded also. Another sentiment I've seen is refreshing and a breath of fresh air, I listen to a lot of great current Hip Hop so I hear great shyt all the time but I understand that and even among the dope shyt this has some uniqueness about it because you have an icon and legend in Jay-Z on a spiritual tip while still being witty and lyrical and sounding really hungry on some tracks. The chemistry between them both which I think is excellent, the style of Jay Electronica which isn't common to hear, even the choices he makes with like the samples they use and shyt, to hear this on an album with Jay-Z that features people like Travis Scott, The Dream etc give it a certain uniqueness. Content wise we don't always hear albums on this kind of platform and with this soundscape that are mentioning issues like Palestine, Jim Crow, Rumi, Adan, Bewitched even, you're getting a lot of different references that capture a time period but also have a relevant modern feel. It feels fresh and new but also with a touch of classic about it, timelessness.
Jay Elec even has a reference to Khomeini and the fataw he put out on Salman Rushdie, these references are not missed on me at all and they are littered throughout the album. It gives the album substance and depth because they are just not thrown in there, they are in context and purposeful. And it's all tided together in a theme of upliftment, a theme of hope, a theme of spirituality and power.
The pharasing is different, the lyricism is different, who would have thought in 2020 you'd hear this. To me this is what we should be hearing, expanding the genre and culture with knowledge and information that people can build upon. Not just hoes, money, clubs, drugs, shyt like that, that's why I understand the fresh air sentiment MANY have expressed. I haven't gone as long as them without that shyt but it still feels special and unique in it's own right.
It's positive also for the most part, it will stand the test of time on that. Just like how I feel Distant Relatives did. There's biblical references that add a certain gravitas to what's being said and some beautiful phrasing littered throughout, great lyricism which is potent, poetic and meaningful.
"The Lord is my rock, I speed dial through salat
My trials in the fiery crucible made me hot
I glow like embers of coal, born with a touch of gold
My mathematical theology of rhymin' a touch the soul"
I bolded that line because it really is a theology in a sense, he's touching people's souls with his calculated and scientific spiritual rhymes. That line further emphasizes that this was intentional and purposeful, this was his purpose and the comments shows he achieved it. The phrasing even in the other lines is very well done, metaphors mixed in with descriptive emotive language, he's trying to reach the people in many of the bars and succeeds.
I could talk about the album all day and break down every song but I won't do that quite yet, but...
Some of the cons, I suffered for prose
My poetry's livin' like the God that I fall back on
And all praises due to Allah for such a illustrious platform
The teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad's my backbone
Even a line like that, some of the cons I suffered for prose, that shyt is dope. He does the thing Jay-Z sometimes does which is like is have related themes in different parts of the rhymes to create cohesive thematic verses. No matter your religious persuasion the imagery throughout the album is impressive too, you don't have to be N.O.I to respect the commitment and sincerity in Jay Elec's beliefs and his dedication. A lot of powerful and great people had that throughout all walks of life and fields. Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X are 2 obvious 1's who for a very long time had the exact same inspirations when they were achieving great and historic things. So people don't have to agree with their ideology, I'm not N.O.I myself, but I do respect the faith and belief. It's not just about religion, it goes deeper than that into a spiritual realm and a human realm.
Jay-Z mentions Du Pont and Carnegi, there's really a lot to the album in a concise number of tracks, 9 with vocals.
The album lives up to it's name to me, it IS A Written Testimony from Jay Elec, obviously with Jay-Z adding on as a brother, but he's put emotion and thought into this shyt. He's not just saying any old shyt, sometimes shyt being concise is not a bad thing. I'd rather 10 tracks of dope or great than 19 tracks and 8 are good.
Jay Elec mentioned Ice, Harriet Tubman, Flint, it really is like a testament of what's important to him as a human being and what he represents within his parts on the album, that's why I feel it is a effective piece of art, it was with purpose and the intent was fulfilled in my opinion.
As I said could be discussed all day, but my point is the substance in the album and the craft are what will make it stand the test of time. There's a strong foundation that I believe won't crack but will only be appreciated more. Just a few off the top thoughts.
now
He did a lil more than produce on that project! 
