Jupiter Gray has just dropped her new EP, “Pressure,” marking her latest break into the hip-hop genre. Once again, Jupiter is hoping to use her unique voice as a black trans woman in the genre to fight the rampant transphobia and misogyny within the hip-hop space by striking down her naysayers and detractors with detractors her powerful bars and impactful lyricism. So, how’d the EP turn out?
While Jupiter Gray is known for her strong sense of self and unwavering identity, her greatest strength is by far her ability to dish out absolutely mean bars one after another. This comes through in full force on “Pressure,” as she spits fire non-stop relentlessly. It’s a skill one like her needs to have in order to survive within the hip-hop industry.
The lyrics here are very well-done, being just the right amount of raunchy to balance out with the empowering ideas at play. “Pressure” is a very personal project, and while Jupiter does absolutely destroy on the mic, she also allows herself to be vulnerable here. She reveals some of her frustrations and thoughts as a trans woman, and it lets the listener put themselves in the headspace of the artist effectively.
The production quality on “Pressure” is also some fantastic stuff. Being done primarily by production maestro Melody The Ghost, a fellow black trans woman occupying the hip-hop space, every arrangement is clear and distinct. Good layering work is done to help distinguish between background noise and Jupiter’s emotional performance.
The closing track Pluto, in particular, is also quite impressive and a standout track among the few other tunes. They’re all solid songs, with sort of interludes in between, allowing us a glimpse into the mind of Jupiter Gray. It helps humanize the record a lot and gives us precious insight into things behind the scenes.
There are also a lot of strong features on “Pressure,” especially Heather Hills’ performance on “Bad Girls.” Both women exude gravitas and power on the track, making for a strong mix of influences and ideas that we really liked.
If you’re a fan of progressive artists, solid hip-hop, or just good music in general, definitely give “Pressure” some of your time. It’s a fantastic project that really allows Jupiter Gray to shine and show off what she’s capable of. We’re eager to see what else she has in store for us in the future, especially if it’s as good as what we’ve seen today.
Link to the EP:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5FceuWYIrPyveWCDyL5f15
Jupiter Gray IG:
https://www.instagram.com/jupitergrayraps/
Not the Usual LICK Publicist! 27 yrs in the biz ~Worldwide! Actual Peer of the Realm~Unitarian Universalist Pragmatic Buddhist~ PROUD GAY Liberal
