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Califoreigner

Boston transplant Jimmy Powers's debut is a workman's album, workman rap from a musician who has a day job. That perspective lends Powers’s music honesty, humility. This is apparent in personal songs such "Janice Marie," in honor of his mother, or "Same James," a nod to his Boston family and friends, assuring them that he hasn't changed, that he's still working toward his dreams while keeping memories of Beantown intact. Then there's "True Currency," in which Powers rolls out a litany of things that hold real meaning for him — love, family, respect — all over a grandiose, piano-driven backdrop.

There's a level of humility in Powers's voice, too, that carries past the emotional songs. It's the way he can spit what is essentially a standard boom-bap battle rap track, "Keep It Short (Intro)," in such a matter-of-fact tone. He just chugs away, putting together complex rhymes and wordplay. He displays his craft without beating us over the head with it, like he doesn't care if we hear it, content to rhyme well without the limelight.

But maybe that contentment is a double-edged sword. For all his virtues, maybe Powers is a little too familiar, too relatable. Maybe ivory tower-inhabiting musicians appeal to us because we aspire toward more than contentment. Hearing Jimmy Powers, you almost want him to risk his steady life and go for the gusto. Because if he did, maybe we’d feel like we could too.

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Album: Califoreigner (2010)
Artist: Jimmy Powers
Label: 2012 Dynasty
Songs: (1) Keep It Short (Intro) (2) Cali-foreigner (3) Classless (4) New Era News (5) True Currency (6) Same James (7) Troops (8) Janice Marie (9) Evolution (10) Which Way Is Up (11) Worth (12) Shits & Giggles

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Boston transplant Jimmy Powers's debut is a workman's album, workman rap from a musician who has a day job. That perspective lends Powers’s music honesty, humility. This is apparent in personal songs such "Janice Marie," in honor of his mother, or "Same James," a nod to his Boston family and friends, assuring them that he hasn't changed, that he's still working toward his dreams while keeping memories of Beantown intact. Then there's "True Currency," in which Powers rolls out a litany of things that hold real meaning for him — love, family, respect — all over a grandiose, piano-driven backdrop.

There's a level of humility in Powers's voice, too, that carries past the emotional songs. It's the way he can spit what is essentially a standard boom-bap battle rap track, "Keep It Short (Intro)," in such a matter-of-fact tone. He just chugs away, putting together complex rhymes and wordplay. He displays his craft without beating us over the head with it, like he doesn't care if we hear it, content to rhyme well without the limelight.

But maybe that contentment is a double-edged sword. For all his virtues, maybe Powers is a little too familiar, too relatable. Maybe ivory tower-inhabiting musicians appeal to us because we aspire toward more than contentment. Hearing Jimmy Powers, you almost want him to risk his steady life and go for the gusto. Because if he did, maybe we’d feel like we could too.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Album: Califoreigner (2010)
Artist: Jimmy Powers
Label: 2012 Dynasty
Songs: (1) Keep It Short (Intro) (2) Cali-foreigner (3) Classless (4) New Era News (5) True Currency (6) Same James (7) Troops (8) Janice Marie (9) Evolution (10) Which Way Is Up (11) Worth (12) Shits & Giggles

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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