Justis
Just Is
By Omar Mouallem

When the intro’s horns erupt and Justis delivers his first two bars, you get that rare feeling that this is going to be something special. The Kitchener-Waterloo rapper and producer gets everything right on his debut, finding a delicate balance between personalisation and audience inclusion. On “I Am Hip Hop,” he raps, “Despite asthma, I rip mics and write chapters.” Whether he is making a good point (“Try’n To Live,” “Music For A Rainy Day,” “Cocaine”) or just having good time (“Down,” “Get it Right,” “Weekend”), Justis has the cadence, lyricism and production skills to make him a defining voice in Canadian hip-hop. Just Is is just one of the best rap debuts in recent memory. (Do Right!)
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