Rid Jetson

Upon first listen of Boston native turned Miami resident Rid Jetson, any music lover with a respectable opinion of Hip Hop would immediately recognize the pure talent and passion emanating from this emcee. What most won't realize, (and would probably be thoroughly surprised to find out), is that the lyrical roar is shooting from the belly of a beast that you'd barely expect to be able to utter a growl. At a mere 21 years old, 'prodigy' would be the word of choice if one had to describe Rid in a single word. Taking a closer listen, you may not be able to pinpoint his origins, but his influences are apparent, and weigh heavily in his flow and delivery. A decent helping of Lupe and J. Cole, mixed with a northern kick and a southern drawl, topped off with the writing ability of a savant, creates a lethal combination unforeseen for emcees his age. Whether it's one of the three, or the entire recipe that captivates, Rid certainly stands out at the head of his class. While attending the listening party for his latest album release, Best of Rid, it was easy to see that several people agree with that assessment. The room was packed with supporters of the HDE (High Definition Entertainment) movement, and quite a few knew the lyrics as if the project had been spinning in the deck for years. Astounded at the lyricism myself, it was easy to see how a line or two would get lodged in the memory. Aggressive, keen, unapologetic = three of many powerhouse adjectives that can be used to describe his product. Apparent from his first release, True Freshman, in 2011, it wasn't until he dropped the lead single from his follow up project, Free Life Order V.1, that the ears of the scene opened in Rid's direction and started to take notice. "1992" was his calling card - his "I Am Here" declaration that takes its listeners on a lyrical journey only he could tell. Fast forward to 2013, and his first release of the year, Thank God, and his September release, Best of Rid, are a culmination of his exponential progress over the past few years. His message is truth, life, wisdom and prosperity - a far cry from the societal norms projected in today's popular music. Where most emcees fail in thinking that following the status quo will open their window of opportunity, Rid is taking the higher road, banking on his sincerity and dedication to take him just as far, if not further. The hope, from myself and for anyone who agrees, is that his plan will work. A few years short of a perfectly sewn package, Rid's flow is prematurely mature, and there's no doubt that it'll age like the finest of wines. It also doesn't hurt that his selection of production has already shown growth (based on the progression of tracks on his Soundcloud page), along with his content and delivery. Tracks like "Keep It Real," "Minds, Dreams, Kings II," and "Sky's The Limit" are just a taste of the overflowing talent this young emcee possesses. It won't be long before he catches on like wildfire, and the masses are chanting his lyrics in stadiums far and wide. You know something is special when you see it...and it proves itself even more unique when you can feel it. You can feel Rid in every track he's laid, and if you can't, your Hip Hop appreciation compass is broken - recalibrate that shit. - S.René

Upon first listen of Boston native turned Miami resident Rid Jetson, any music lover with a respectable opinion of Hip Hop would immediately recognize the pure talent and passion emanating from this emcee. What most won't realize, (and would probably be thoroughly surprised to find out), is that the lyrical roar is shooting from the belly of a beast that you'd barely expect to be able to utter a growl. At a mere 21 years old, 'prodigy' would be the word of choice if one had to describe Rid in a single word. Taking a closer listen, you may not be able to pinpoint his origins, but his influences are apparent, and weigh heavily in his flow and delivery. A decent helping of Lupe and J. Cole, mixed with a northern kick and a southern drawl, topped off with the writing ability of a savant, creates a lethal combination unforeseen for emcees his age. Whether it's one of the three, or the entire recipe that captivates, Rid certainly stands out at the head of his class. While attending the listening party for his latest album release, Best of Rid, it was easy to see that several people agree with that assessment. The room was packed with supporters of the HDE (High Definition Entertainment) movement, and quite a few knew the lyrics as if the project had been spinning in the deck for years. Astounded at the lyricism myself, it was easy to see how a line or two would get lodged in the memory. Aggressive, keen, unapologetic = three of many powerhouse adjectives that can be used to describe his product. Apparent from his first release, True Freshman, in 2011, it wasn't until he dropped the lead single from his follow up project, Free Life Order V.1, that the ears of the scene opened in Rid's direction and started to take notice. "1992" was his calling card - his "I Am Here" declaration that takes its listeners on a lyrical journey only he could tell. Fast forward to 2013, and his first release of the year, Thank God, and his September release, Best of Rid, are a culmination of his exponential progress over the past few years. His message is truth, life, wisdom and prosperity - a far cry from the societal norms projected in today's popular music. Where most emcees fail in thinking that following the status quo will open their window of opportunity, Rid is taking the higher road, banking on his sincerity and dedication to take him just as far, if not further. The hope, from myself and for anyone who agrees, is that his plan will work. A few years short of a perfectly sewn package, Rid's flow is prematurely mature, and there's no doubt that it'll age like the finest of wines. It also doesn't hurt that his selection of production has already shown growth (based on the progression of tracks on his Soundcloud page), along with his content and delivery. Tracks like "Keep It Real," "Minds, Dreams, Kings II," and "Sky's The Limit" are just a taste of the overflowing talent this young emcee possesses. It won't be long before he catches on like wildfire, and the masses are chanting his lyrics in stadiums far and wide. You know something is special when you see it...and it proves itself even more unique when you can feel it. You can feel Rid in every track he's laid, and if you can't, your Hip Hop appreciation compass is broken - recalibrate that shit. - S.René