If I were to give Friday On Elm Street a traditional review, it would receive a solid 83/100. However, this isn't a review in that sense. We decided to go a different route.
Both Loso and Kiss are rap veterans, created in an era where bars were more important than breathing. Thus, lyrically, no rapper in the game wants to be on the opposing end of Jada’s raspy entendres or Loso’s knockout punchlines. When the two New York vets announced their intent to make a joint project, fans were skeptical. Although many mixtape mashups have been gracing Spotify playlists recently, the dream of hearing two of the most lyrically adept monsters together for an entire project sounded too good to be true. After months of speculation, and a release date that was pushed past the Halloween timeframe, the duo finally delivered Friday On Elm Street last week.
The joint mixtape features 12 tracks, two of them being solo records for each of the artists (although Jada features fellow LOX member Styles P on his solo outing). While conversing on Friday On Elm Street, a debate began to formulate within the groups of hip-hop heads I respect and admire. Some argued that Jada had the better solo record, while others shrugged their shoulders in disgust, and declared Loso as the winner of best solo track. The debate grew into a furious argument about which lyricist delivered the best verses on the mixtape. Everyone’s opinion of lyricism varies, but there had to be a defining way to weigh Jadakiss’ verses, and Fabolous’ as well.
So, I invented a method. First, we're looking at a sample size from the project, and so, the six best tracks on the mixtape had to be determined, which was a debate within itself. Then, each rapper’s verse was judged on delivery, punchlines, flow, metaphors, and entendres. For example, on “F vs J Intro” Fabolous won the punchline and entendre categories, but Jadakiss killed the other three categories, making him the winner of the track. The same grading method was used on the six tracks that were chosen, and an overall winner was decided. Feelings were hurt and “I told you so’s” were thrown around callously, but my decision is final. Of course, a proper Who Had the Better Verse competition would be lackluster without fan participation, so after reading our rankings, join the debate and cast your own vote! One thing is for sure though, you won't find a more distinguished lyrical onslaught for years to come.
F vs J Intro
The intro to Friday Night On Elm Street boasts some of the best bars on the album. Conceptually, this song explores the Freddy V Jason conflict better than any other track on the mixtape. Fab opens the track over a hurried and haunting instrumental that evolves into a classic New York rendition of “Dead Wrong” for Jadakiss’ verse. Although Fab effortlessly destroys the opener, Jadakiss delivers an OG verse that forces the listener to make the ugly face more than once.
Winner: Jadakiss
Favorite Fab Bars:
Now he in an awkward room tryna lock a goon/
Like the shooter had a hood on, mighta been Dr. Doom/
Sounded like a fifth or a nine, couldn’t tell though/
All a sudden, thunder, it mighta been Hoodie Melo
Favorite Jadakiss Bars:
Power from the hockey mask, James St. Patrick/
Three bodies in one night, that’s a hat trick/
Pay the plug soon as you finish, that’s a backflip/
Spend six, make 12 back, that’s a crack flip
Theme Music
Swizz Beatz employs a Marvin Gaye sample and crafts a soulful masterpiece on “Theme Music.” Instead of delivering completely separate verses, Jada and Loso trade bars with flawless chemistry. Swizz peppers the track with his hyped up ad libs to add a little excitement to an otherwise relaxed record. Loso sounds at home over another soul record, while Jadakiss’ delivery is absolutely electrifying, but in the end, Loso’s “jumper” double-entendre steals the show.
Winner: Fabolous
Favorite Fab Bars:
Swish, my jumper is back/
The bars is up, high jumper is back/
You gon' make one of the gremlins jump from the back/
Put the strap over the shoulder like the jumpers is back
Favorite Jadakiss Bars:
If you miss something, rewind that/
Memories take you back to the time/
Take the time to remember that you can't get the time back/
Now your boy's invincible/
Got me teaching niggas principles/
It just make me wanna holla/
You can't even get a dollar cause I can't talk sense to you
Soul Food
It’s beats like these that make me miss the Soul Tape series. Fabolous easily delivers the better verse on “Soul Food,” although Jadakiss does offer a memorable appearance. Somehow Fab crams punchline after punchline into every corner his rap book would allow, then lays them down carefully over C-Sick’s gospel-inspired instrumental.
Winner: Fabolous
Favorite Fab Bars:
“The goal wasn't live middle class and buy Camrys/
I want us all to eat, even if from my pantry/
I guess I'm just more soul food than eye candy/
I feel like these young niggas need more eye jammies/
More passport stamps, less trips to Miami.
Favorite Jadakiss Bars:
From the hood, cop-out, even if not guilty/
Rich ain't good enough, nigga, I'm not filthy/
I'm hardcore, rough and rugged, I'm not silky/
Guns under mattress, money is where the quilt be/
This is the last supper here/
Last time we break bread, so pull up a chair
I Pray
Religion and hip-hop culture have always been intertwined. Jay-Z calls himself Hova, while Nas answers to Godson. Iced out Jesus pieces and crosses adorn rap stars in their music videos, or on stage during their performances. With gospel rap growing in commercial appeal and popularity, it’s no surprise Jada and Loso get spiritual on “I Pray.” This isn’t a Chance record though, and the veteran emcees keep it gangster over an instrumental that is both hopeful and sordid. Jada’s bars resonate within the concept of the record much deeper than Loso’s do, and Swizz’s hypnotic chorus is sure to be stuck in your head for weeks.
Winner: Jadakiss
Favorite Fabolous Bars:
Can't even bless your food round here, niggas hate that/
You close your eyes and bow your head and get your plate snatched
Favorite Jadakiss Bars:
Yeah, everything is irrelevant/
You mistaking the elements with the elegance/
Your emotion supersede your intelligence/
Then they might just kill you for the hell of it
Talk About It
Songs that encourage some form of activism in the wake of several horrific cases of police brutality and the election of Donald Trump have become more prevalent. Jadakiss and Fabolous offer their two cents on a track that features the beautiful and talented Teyana Taylor. “Talk About It,” stands out on Friday On Elm Street, as a socially aware and honest track that isn’t too preachy and still enjoyable. Kaepernick gets a shout out as Kiss and Loso highlight the issues that face minorities in America.
Winner: Fabolous
Favorite Fabolous Bars:
We need a one-on-one before it's goes gun on gun/
People skip the front page, 'til they see they son on one/
And now it's too late to talk, the topic has changed/
They shootin at black targets like these cops at a range/
Can we talk how many died for the birth of a nation?/
And how this national anthem ain't worth my ovation?
Favorite Jadakiss Bars:
Knowledge of self is through wisdom/
So can we talk about the school system?/
Young girls raped and knocked up/
Will Hillary release niggas that Bill locked up?
Principles
“It’s never ‘bout the money,” doesn’t really seem like a true statement, but “Principles” is a dope track nonetheless. Jada and Loso highlight the rules that dictate the streets, a code that is more important than wealth, in their books, at least. The fluctuating synths and headbanging percussions help make a somber subject into an irresistible track. Both Jadakiss and Fabolous deliver a handful of quotables on “Principles,” but Loso's punchlines are much more memorable.
Winner: Fabolous
Favorite Fabolous Bars:
Fuck it, he should've had the llami on him/
Actin' Holly, had to go Tommy on him/
You do dirt, you get dirt, that's how germs spread/
Squash the beef with a funeral, it's confirmed dead/
See, it's never 'bout the money cause I burn bread/
It's the principalities, like Big Worm said
Favorite Jadakiss Bars:
It's only a problem in the case when you can't help him/
They even invite you to a place where you ain't welcome/
Reliable source, who you gettin your intel from?/
Jewish lawyer on the retainer, they had to bill him/
Interrogation 'fore he arrived, they tried to drill him/
It's hard for you to stay on one side when you a villain
The Winner
Now for the grand talley:
Fabolous: 4/6
Jadakiss: 2/6
Fabolous takes a "W" home for Brooklyn. He delivers the most memorable verses over the best tracks on Friday On Elm Street. Don't get it twisted, Jadakiss is still a rap god, but Loso simply outdid himself.
What do you think?