Have you ever been so fed up with your 9-to-5 that you decided to quit your job and pursue your true calling? Further Notice, the new album by rapper Mitchell James, paints the picture of somebody who chooses to act on that urge and all the dreams and nightmares that come along with it.
Recorded and mixed by DJ Yetty of Soul Sessions Studios in Greeley, Mitchell James teams up with producers from Colorado (such as _chefsoul on “I Feel Alive”), and the West Coast (Kasino Kam on “Breaking Points), to deliver his hip-hop take on the take this job and shove it anthem.
The Fresno transplant, Navy veteran, and CSU student has said in previous interviews that the late Mac Miller is one of his biggest influences, and the flavor definitely comes through in his bouncing, semi-melodic delivery.
The instrumentals are well matched with the sentiments the lyrics convey, whether it’s the this-isn’t-how-it-was-supposed-to-be lament on “I Feel Alive,” or the get-the-bag gusto on “Mind on the Guap” featuring EA’s Duke Shoota and Trav The Trigger. If you’re a fan of rappers who use the same cadence for the entire album, I hate to disappoint, but Mitchell James does a great job of switching the flow up from song to song, riding each beat with finesse.
At 8 tracks and less than 30 minutes, the album feels a little short. But that doesn’t mean that this isn’t a solid full-length debut, only that it definitely leaves me wanting more. Give it a listen, and indulge your inner Peter Gibbons the next time you’re heading into your Office Space.
Out December 3, Further Notice by Mitchell James is now available on major streaming platforms. You can catch him live at the Moxi Theater in Greeley December 13th, and Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins December 28th.
