Music: Mick Jenkins Goes Down to The Water[s]

Surely, there’s something in Chicago’s water supply as the Windy City continues to spew promising talent with 23-year-old rapper Mick Jenkins. 

Born Jayson Jenkins and originally hailing from Huntsville, Alabama, the baritone rapper has caught the attention of casual listeners and hip-hop heads alike with his conceptual mixtape “The Water[s],” fraternizing witty punchlines and vibrant metaphors with a powerful, yet rather nimble, delivery. 

The project takes on an apparent theme throughout as he makes countless references to the life sustaining component that is water and also the namesake of the longtime vegetarian’s second large-scale mixtape. 

“Thank God for the waters.” 

My personal interpretation leads me to believe that “water” embodies every kind of truth in the world as well as the fuel to enlighten, and “ginger ale” (which is also referenced several times) is a natural healing agent to be applied over the harm done by faulty “truths” that are spoon-fed to youth. 

The 15-track mixtape doesn’t necessarily involve many notable features other than fellow Chicago native Jean Deaux and “1994” rapper Joey Bada$$.  However, Jenkins manages to capture your interest again and again with every verse of thought provoking wordplay over 1990-eqsue instrumentals. 

Standout tracks include “Martyrs” (which, personally, gave me goose bumps) and “Jazz.”  I would suggest taking the time to sit down and watch the music videos for both of these.

Actually, not watch—analyze, because there’s much to be said about the visual perspective he provides for his audio. 

“The Water[s],” in my opinion, is not meant to be played passively over the wind gushing relentlessly through your car window on the highway.  This is certainly something to be picked apart and examined in your free time in order to be fully appreciated. 

In the sarcastic words of Mick Jenkins himself, “Drink more water . . . or you might die.”