J The S

Released as a free prequel to his album The Last Days, When in Rome... has J the S (Jake the Snake) contemplating his life in rap from the inside out. He puts his frustrations best in intro track "Right of Passage” when he raps, "It used to be a culture trying to be a business/now it’s a business trying to be a culture.” Often grimy and in-your-face, J the S occasionally pulls it down to Earth, like he does with Joel Ortiz on "Do You” and the life-affirming "Forever Tomorrow” featuring the Greater Good. When in Rome... suffers, however, from too many cameos. As tempting as it is when you’ve got Skyzoo and Ras Kass at your door, it diverts from the main star.