In this current era of artists teaming up to do collaborative mixtapes or albums, it is always a huge gamble and in many cases doesn’t always pull it off. I’m happy to report that this isn’t the case with ‘Janktape Vol. 1’ helmed by neighbourly West Coast rapper and sometimes singer Buddy and emcee Kent Jamz. 

Coming from Compton, both Buddy and Kent Jamz exemplify brotherly love that is felt throughout all 10 tracks, as they go back and forth on fun, feel-good, bouncy singles. Whether it be ‘She Thinks’ or ‘For The Ladies’, they have the quintessential West Coast sound that many of us recognise from Dr Dre’s early 2000s reign. It makes you long for the days when we can all be around our friends, outside in the sunshine. 

Conceived and executed during this quarantine period, from what I understand, it not only reflects their creative work ethic but highlights how efficient and well made a collaborative album can be when the artists are genuinely friends and have fun recording together. As a result, we have a cool upbeat and breezy project that gives us colour in these dark and uncertain times and provides us with optimism for sunnier days ahead over the horizon!