JMAC the Dragon - Struggle Bus (EP)

Still relatively fresh off his “Fire Sign” EP, JMAC decided to hit us with another collection that may very well be some of his most vulnerable work to date. If you’re looking for the turn up vibes you found on his previous EP or for the bar heavy work we all know & love him for, just know that you won’t find that on these three records but that’s not to say he’s not still rapping his ass off, there’s just a much different feel this time around. Opening up with the previously released “Window into My Soul”, it’s evident that he’s letting us in to a more meditative & introspective reflection on his life & journey thus far, both as a man & a creative. My biggest gripe with rappers, especially those who can rap at a high level, is that I don’t know who they are when I listen to them so I appreciate JMAC here for offering us insight. The introductory lyrics to this record lets his listeners know that, this is beyond just rap for him, it’s his therapy but in the process of him striving for his career, it seems that he’s neglected other aspects of his life, particularly his relationships, both romantically & especially familial. He painfully but beautifully encapsulates this dilemma when he starts rapping from the perspective of his mother, even a friend of his, as well as his younger sister chime in & one can only hope that he can find a balance. Is the respect of the game more important than the respect of his family & loved ones? I don’t believe so but it’s clear that he just wants to make them proud.

The life of an artist is not a road everybody is prepared for, as this business is not for the weak. It can be very discouraging at times, making it pretty damn difficult to keep your shit together. From the extensive touring to the money it takes to create this art, which honestly is just getting more expensive to even the detractors, it’s enough to drive anyone insane & even though he’s been putting in work for years now & is grateful for the progress he continues to make, he feels there’s still work to be done to get to his “there”. Regardless of his frustrations, it’s nice that he’s able to hold himself accountable for how he may be appearing to his loved ones, who clearly only want the best for him. He knows that he may appear selfish at times but as he expresses in the second verse to this cut, his experiences with fake friends & superficial women, are what make him wanna be so self centered & if they feel a way about it, then he’s sorry but it’s not really his concern. He’s not here to live up to whatever idea you have of him inside your head.

I find it funny how on this last record here “How I Been (2023)”, that the production opens up with a subtle sample of TLC’s “Creep” cause I’ve BEEN complaining to this man to hit me with some more of that R&B flava but this EP is close enough cause it contains so much soul. The fervor he’s rapping with on these records has truly been more fiery than previous efforts. To close things out, he details a lot of the harsh lessons he’s learned on his emotional musical journey, specifically in knowing who to trust. Having to differentiate who’s really your friend or just someone who wants to be around you to benefit off you & use you as a stepping stone to further their career or business can be annoying but it’s just one of the many things that continues to add fuel to his fire.