All I Do

At age 38, Marlon Jermaine Goodwin is a Southern rap godfather. 19 years after debuting with his partner 8 Ball, he still possesses one of the most commanding voices in hip-hop. The mini-album All I Do shows that age has only deepened MJG’s presence. The Memphis native has perfected a form of rap music that is hard and heavy, but doesn’t sacrifice soulfulness. More importantly, he is grown up but not grumpy; in fact, he seems more with-it than ever. “Big Body 24’s” and the sufficiently nasty “Splash” can compete with any street rap songs the younger generation has to offer. Ultimately, though, MJG’s rhyme skill speaks for itself. His flow has the majesty and might of a battleship. The crucial song here is “Dope Track.” MJG chants himself into a cyclical loop of vintage soul music, and the concise lyrical expertise shown in the song’s final verse should silence anyone who refutes Goodwin’s mastery of his art. An excerpt: “I’m the real, you’s an act / I’m a nail, you’s a tack / You’s a mark, I’m a mack / You meth, I’m crack.”