This was originally released in 2005 as a free download, and was later issued from 7th Seal Entertainment with the same cover in a slim case in 2007. Skip a year, it was reissued with a different cover, skip another year, and you have the modern cover that's being used right now. These EPs are very short, and they're the kind of CD you'd hand to a friend if he wanted to know more about Lo Key. With that, I'm going to move onto the next section.
Graphics:
Each version of the album has its own cover art, more or less. In the album art section at the end of the post, I will post the art chronologically and label it.
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The 2005 free download version and the 2007 slim-case version have the same cover. I'll be posting it below. I don't know what the rest of the art looks like, just the cover.
In 2008, the art changed to a completely different cover with Lo Key, without anything on his face. This is interesting because I don't even think I'd seen Lo Key's face in full prior to this cover, except on "The Last Gathering", which I know near-nothing about. I don't have it, so I can't talk about the other aspects of its graphics - you'll see the cover below.
I do not own the 2007 or 2008 covers, so I have no ideas of the differences between them except for their covers. That is why I am not speaking much on them.
Lastly, the 2009 cover, the current one. This is the one I have, and the one I can talk about the most. It features a skull, missing the jaw, with two AK-47s on both sides of it pointing in opposite directions. His name is at the top, in what looks like stylized spray paint, and the EP name is at the bottom, stylized in the same fashion. On the back is a track list against a white background, with the track names done in the same style as the rest of the lettering. There's a URL for Infectmusic.com (Which no longer exists, by the way) at the bottom, too.
The EP cover is just a slip, and on the other side there's an ad for Infectshop with a litany of work I would assume was on sale at the time. This ad is interesting for a number of reasons, but I won't bore you guys with the details. The CD art is the same stuff from the cover, fit to a disc. Nothing in the CD rest. For this CD, the art isn't too elaborate, and it doesn't really need to be, either. The cover's pretty nice, but the art isn't spectacular for this version.
Content:
This CD has some great music, but is also seven songs long and priced at 12.99 plus shipping. The intro is only seventeen seconds long, so more like six tracks long. Of those six tracks there are probably going to be songs you like and songs you aren't fawning over - that's the reality of it
The production consists of re-engineered pop beats modified for rap, with Lo Key and some features spitting over them. I don't recognize all the beats, but I assume none are completely original. The beats are, generally speaking, very interesting to listen to and are eclectic with their vibe, they kind of spin all over the place with no particular pattern. It makes the tracks varied and fun to listen to, and is part of what makes the CD entertaining. At the same time, the tracks don't seem to have much of a flow either. It's like a bunch of files were just dropped onto a CD and that was that. Also consider the fact that some of this CD's content is featured on other releases - "2 Sick" is also on a Madd Maxxx releases entitled "Sick Hop", "Pump Pump" is featured on a bunch of different CDs and under different names, and some of these songs are also featured on The Best Of Lo Key CD. The track "Drastic" was edited and is different from the older version, and besides that the musical content of the CDs is the same.
Overall, though, the songs that are on this album are pretty smash. Most of them, a good 4/6, I enjoy heartily. The rest are alright, and I guess they're cool to listen to if you're in the mood for them. But to be dead honest with you, while this EP has a few great songs on it, it's not an amazing EP. You don't need this EP, and if you're a broke ninja you probably don't want to be shelling out 12.99 plus shipping for a CD that's not only an EP, but will likely only have a few songs you really like. I won't tell you to avoid this EP like the plague, but considering the fact that it only has a few good songs and is expensive - especially for an EP, you might just be better off getting it on the internet or something. I'm sure you could buy it digitally for cheaper than that. I hope I've painted a good picture of what this EP is like for everyone, and I hope you've enjoyed the review.
JRH gives "Jack Yo Beatz" by Lo Key a: 2.7/5
Strong points:
- Good lyricism, good features
- Beats are very unconventional, makes the album unique
- Some pretty dope songs on this CD, songs I know I'll come back to the CD for
Weak points:
- Incredibly short, and for 12.99 too
- No particular flow with the track listing
> 12.99 price tag
- EP has some good songs, but not every song is great, which is okay for an album - but it really stands out on an EP
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| 2005 download version and 2007 slim-case version |
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| 2008 cover, jewel case |
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| 2009 reissue - contemporary version, and the one I have |
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