Ignatius

Ignatius is titled after Ignatius Maurice Jackson, aka Jay Jackson and Icepick Jay, Jadakiss' beloved friend and manager who died from colon cancer in 2017. Kiss and Fabolous hit the Top Ten that December with Friday on Elm Street, a horror-themed set that was in the works the previous year, so this is the raspy half's true response to the loss. Jackson factored into his partner's output on A&R and executive production levels. Jadakiss made this fifth solo album as if Jackson was overseeing it, from beat selection to choices for featured artists, and also pays much lyrical tribute to cope with the tragedy. The LP begins with the regal boom bap of "Pearly Gates," in which Kiss directly addresses and assures Jackson, and quotes the Book of Ephesians as his voice almost cracks, yet he still drops wisdom and cutting witticisms like "Ain't no benefits when you part-time" and "They couldn't box us, so they fenced us in." From that strong start through the mournful "Closure" -- name-checking recently deceased family, friends, and peers -- he sounds similarly humbled and sharpened at once. Ignatius isn't strictly about reflection, though. There's some lethal, laser-focused ferocity in the Pusha T collaboration "Huntin Season," grade-A boasts and signature cackles over looped Peabo Bryson in "Me," and streetwise sermonizing in "Gov't Cheese." And who's that singing the smooth hook on "Keep It 100," one of several tracks with one-on-one relationship talk? That would be Jadakiss -- who also croons on "Angels Getting Pedicured" in a more recognizable manner -- still advancing as an artist, almost two decades after he released his solo debut bearing a co-executive production credit for Jay "Icepick" Jackson. ~ Andy Kellman