10th Anniversary of Jay Rock’s Sophomore Release…Does it Stand the Test of Time?

I’ve been a Jay Rock fan probably longer than most artists from that generation. His 2010 mixtape, From Hood Tales to the Cover of XXL, was my first introduction to him, even though I could’ve sworn I discovered him earlier than that. Regardless, it was through Jay Rock that I discovered K Dot and the rest of the Black Hippy crew. Honestly, Rock has never dipped in his career, which is why I’m still eagerly awaiting a new album in 2025. But for the 10th anniversary of 90059, I thought it was time to take a look back!

In my opinion, this album is the peak of Jay Rock’s discography, SO FAR. With only 11 songs, there wasn’t much room for misses, and for the most part, Jay Rock utilized it all. It runs a full 47 minutes, starting with the first track, “Necessary,” and transitions into a series of great tracks that didn’t hit a bump until “90059” itself. I know some people love it, but it’s just a song with a hook I never really connected with. I don’t skip it, but it’s one of the few songs that doesn’t match the level of the rest for me.

Of course, “Vice City” is amazing, and really, every feature on this album contributes to crafting great songs. “Easy Bake,” “Wanna Ride,” “The Ways,” “Telegram,” “Fly On The Wall,” and “Money Trees Deuce” are all standout tracks. I do wish “Money Trees” had a different title because it sets up unfair expectations, as it stands strong on its own. The only other song, besides “90059,” that I’m somewhat iffy about is “The Message.” It’s another good song, but it just doesn’t quite excite me like the rest of the album.

Redemption, released after this, was also a great album, but it did reach for some hits that didn’t always feel authentic to Jay Rock’s sound, even if they were big records. 90059 remains true to Jay Rock through and through; it has the TDE features and that strong TDE vibe while still maintaining Jay Rock’s unique sound. The few tracks I didn’t hold in high regard before are the same now, but they’re so few and far between. This album holds up for me as well as ever, and I can’t wait for the day we get the next Jay Rock album.

Standout Tracks: “Gumbo,” “The Ways,” “Telegram,” “Vice City,” “Necessary”

Rating:👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (9.5/10)