listening notes 004: r.010: bloodsport v2 (director’s cut)
As we watch the world of R.010 continue to unfold, we wanted to take a moment and share some notes. We loved R.010: BLOODSPORT (Director’s Cut) for a lot of reasons, but they all come back to what we appreciate about Jxylen as an artist.
In a culture that currently prioritizes speed, overconsumption, and expediting everything, this is an artist who is not afraid to go slow. To create intentionally and meticulously. To release methodically. And to retain control over execution regardless of the trends online.
Bloodsport (1988)
The Kumite
An instrumental opening to help with the world-building. A small snippet filled with texture, grain, and the perfect amount of grittiness before transitioning us into the rest of the project. A small reflection of what we love about Jxylen as an artist and the attention to detail that unfolds throughout. It feels cinematic.
No Mercy
Raspy and raw lyrics hit with a punchy cadence over an elegant sample loop. The ad-libs add to the gritty atmosphere and the world-building throughout the project.
Jean Michel ’81
The hauntingly beautiful sample over the grainy beat is mesmerizing while Jxylen speaks straight truth on the track. The juxtaposition with the raw and violent lyrics creates a distinct tension felt throughout the project. Feels like art should. Good repetition near the end. Feels energetic.
The Raven
A calmer feel than the last track. But still raw. While he talks about hate, it’s more about his love for the culture and his need to defend its authenticity.
Good Will Hunting
The mix of melody, production, and lyricism makes this one of our favorites. You can feel the emotion, and it sits with you for a while. Until you feel something, another one, another one, tell me what you want, another one, another one.And again, that classic mix of an elegant sample over the gritty, textured hip-hop beat.
BEBOP!
One of the strongest tracks in terms of world-building. From the sample to each hit of the piano keys, it makes you feel the tension. The raw lyrics cement the noir feel. Even through the raspy, emotion-filled delivery, there’s an underlying flow where Jxylen displays his undeniable finesse.
The outro is one of my favorite parts of the project. Both the initial sampling and the outro highlight an important part of Jxylen. The true magic is in the details. He’s an artist with complete control.
The title Director’s Cut is obviously fitting. He’s clear in his vision and meticulous with the details, making sure you’re sat watching every second.
Who Shot Who?!
The title immediately references classic hip-hop. Straight flow. The strongest display of his rap finesse and power. The production still feels tough but beautiful.
Overall, the project feels almost exclusive, like everything Jxylen drops. And of course, it feels classic.
Thank you for reading. We’re excited to experience more of Jxylen’s vision.
Listen to Jxylen on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music, and read more from him on his blog, The Exist Club.
