Expectations play an important role when diving into a new release: some artists seem to have their muse on speed dial, consistently delivering top-quality projects. One such musician is Atlanta-based rapper JID, who’s catalogue is only growing in versatility and notoriety with every subsequent release. Most up-and-coming stars would probably crumble under pressure after releasing an album as universally praised as 2022’s ‘The Forever Story’— JID is not one of them. Above all, new record ‘God Does Like Ugly’ further solidifies the rapper as one of the best in his generation as he continues to run circles around the entire genre of hip-hop.

Despite his protestations that he “hates lyrical rap,” JID is continuing to pen some of the most forward-thinking and concise wordplay in the scene on ‘God Does Like Ugly’— though the record lacks a distinct central theme, its various explorations of life are both wonderfully heartfelt and stunningly precise. JID uses the new record to discuss his rise to fame and the various highs and lows that’ve come with his newfound lifestyle: far from bragging though, the artist manages to draw several endearing parallels between his own struggles and those of the listener (with his knack for comedic timing doing a hell of a lot to close that distance). There’s a hefty amount of genuine wisdom to be found across the album, even buried as it is in the sheer number of words JID throws out over the project.

“Dear Lord, it's tears in my eyes 

I know that tomorrow will bring sunny skies

And I will look back and smile

'Cause it's just a moment in time”

Opener ‘YouUgly,’ for all its blaring synths and aggressive ad-libs, is a surprisingly earnest cut as it touches on JID’s own journey, and how the society around him led him to this line of work— hilarious as it may be, the line “far cry from bugs in cereal boxes on the shelves: now I order escargot on the plate, "it's a f*ckin’ snail?”” does a wonderful job encapsulating the rapper’s struggle adjusting to a vastly different lifestyle. Right until the end of closer ‘For Keeps,’ ‘God Does Like Ugly’ has JID reflecting on his journey and the ways his music has changed not only his life, but the lives of those around him: it’s incredibly sweet, providing a heartfelt backbone behind those technical flows and diverse beats.

“So this is for the diehards and casuals alike

That press play as soon as the clock strikes midnight

Hit up all my posts with the comments and likes

First on the site trying to cop the merchandise”

That’s not to say that the new album is more straightforward in its messaging than a record like ‘The Forever Story’ though: as ever, JID is a lyrical wizard, continuing to push the English language to its absolute breaking point. Near-every track here showcases the rapper’s extreme capabilities as a writer, whether he’s penning ever-evolving verses— see lead single ‘WRK’— or flipping phrases on their head (as he does on ‘Glory.’) Much the same could be said for his flows, which continue to impress on the new record: with performances varying from the restrained, pitched-down verses on ‘Community’ to the quiet intensity of a cut like ‘On McAfee,’ fans will surely struggle to find all-too much to complain about in this regard.

On a sonic front, ‘God Does Like Ugly’ is pulling no punches: its opening leg, especially, is an absolute barrage of new and fresh-faced ideas. ‘YouUgly’ sounds like a montage of a different artist’s best hits, with the track smashing its way through a plethora of grimy distortion-heavy beats— standout cut ‘Gz’ is similarly gnarly, as JID manages to flow effortlessly over an unsettling collection of synth tones and shakers. The record is undoubtedly a versatile one, skipping its way through the Kanye-esque choir samples of ‘Glory,’ infectious chants of ‘WRK’ and some absolutely blood-curdling features from Malice and Pusha T on ‘Community.’ Not every musical experiment pays those dividends though, as ‘God Does Like Ugly’ does proceed to lose some of its identity towards the middle of its track list: Don Toliver’s presence on ‘What We On’ comes crashing in as if from another album entirely, as do the melodic leanings of ‘Sk8’ and ‘Wholeheartedly.’ Even still though, there’s an overarching feeling across the record that the listener is in safe hands: by the end of the journey, JID gets the train back on track, guiding the record into a wistful mood for its final leg on ‘K-Word’ and ‘For Keeps.’

If the title of ‘Goes Does Like Ugly’ is true, the Lord must despise the rapper’s latest work: JID continues to earn all the praise and hype that surrounds him, once again threatening to top many album-of-the-year lists. The rapper’s fourth full-length project houses just about everything you could possibly want— deep lyrical explorations, sharp wordplay and enough hip-hop essentials to rival the classics— and does so with a quiet confidence that’s simply infectious. There’s no denying: JID can rap.