‘This is the Album’ EP Review

Reviewed by Jordan McDonald Williams
Music Reviewer

Artist: Jaden Smith and MSFTSREP
Album: This is the Album EP
Website: thisisthealbum.com
Release Date: February 5, 2015

Those darn Smith kids are at it again releasing their first project of 2015, This is the Album EP, with the oh-so interesting MSFTSREP collective (pronounced: misfits rep), which consists of Jaden and Willow Smith, Daniel D’Artiste, dylAn and ¿Téo?. Following the release of Cool Tape Vol. 2, which surprised me the most out of all the mixtapes in 2014, Jaden Smith and the MSFTSREP are showing true artistry and expression through this project, proving that they are more than “weird” kids making music.

This is the Album EP, produced by Daniel D’Artiste, was released on February 5, 2015 with just three tracks, all featuring the 16-year-old emcee Jaden Smith. Fast forward to almost two weeks later, three more tracks were released featuring Willow Smith, dylAn and ¿Téo?. The difference between the first three tracks and the three later tracks is significant. The tracks featuring Jaden Smith seem to have that “woah, I still can’t believe this is Jaden Smith” feel while the other three tracks featuring Willow and dylAn have a more poetic, let’s-turn-the-lights-down-low type of feel.

The vibe of the project is not like the general hip hop sound that seems to be becoming a trend in newer “hip hop” artists. It’s more of an airy, thought-provoking project that makes the listener wonder what the MSFTSREP Crew is really about. Willow Smith sounds like veteran soul singer while her brother and dylAn’s lyrics are like those of a grown adult, not a teenager.
Jaden, Willow and everyone else in the MSFTSREP Crew continue to thoroughly impress me through their craft.