NYC rap legend Jadakiss is set to drop his fifth solo studio album Ignatius this Friday on Def Jam/Roc Nation/D-Block. The album is named after his former manager, Ruff Ryder producer/A&R and long-time friend Ignatius “Ice Pick Jay” Jackson who unfortunately passed away from cancer in June 2017 (RIP).
This release is set to be his first solo album in five years following November 2015’s chart-topping Top 5 Dead or Alive and two and a half years since the Friday On Elm Street joint album with Fabolous.
The lead single from the forthcoming Ignatius release dropped back in October and is titled “ME,” an uplifting three-minute offering accompanied by a cinematic film clip. The introspective Jadakiss handles the track himself in classic ‘ Kiss fashion, detailing many of the accomplishments, trials, and tribulations he has experienced throughout his musical career to date with the likes of Biggie, Puffy, 50 Cent, Beanie Sigel amongst others.
The second album single released earlier this month is the extravagant “Kisses To The Sky” featuring both R&B singer and long-time collaborator Emanny as well as Rick Ross. The braggadocios 5-minute track has an overall different feel compared to his previous “ME” single, yet contains the aura of traditional Jadakiss verses admittingly with a polished, glossier cover overall that has strong mainstream appeal potential.
The third single “Hunting Season” featuring Pusha T was released last Friday but quickly pulled from streaming sites following the untimely shooting death of rising 20-year old rapper Pop Smoke in California after being shot by masked gunmen in his own house on Wednesday (RIP).
The track “Hunting Season” contained vivid visual imagery painted throughout depicting similar hypothetical subject themes which ultimately led to the passing of Pop Smoke. It is currently unclear whether the “Hunting Season” removal is permanent or temporary, and if the track will still feature on the Ignatius album drop this Friday.
