Music has the ability to make people of all ages feel as if they’re not alone and put the intent and emotions of the writer on a platform for listeners to relate to in a positive way. Joji’s 2018 album, “Ballads 1,” does just that with every song. Each song on the 35-minute album illustrates, in a poetically beautiful way, a different personal experience he’s had. With each track titled in all caps, you can just tell by looking at the songs how much intention and thought was put into the album. Listening to “Ballads 1” feels like looking through a window into the mind of Joji.

Although Joji is making more serious music right now, his career used to be a lot more comedy-based. Something not everyone knows about him, is that he used to be more well-known as Pink Guy or Filthy Frank. He was the person behind the “Harlem Shake” in 2013, and has since written several vulgar, yet entertaining, songs such as “Fried Noodles.” Joji has since ditched the alias and now focuses more on having a serious career. Without his previous content under his former persona however, Joji may not have as big of a platform as he does today.

In “Ballads 1” the artist combines trap and ballads, which is something not many people can pull off. When asked by a writer at Forbes Magazine if he thought the two went together, Joji said, “Not really.” In combining ballads and trap, he creates a unique and unconventional sound. The lyrics of each track are, for the most part, pretty serious. 

The first song of the album, “ATTENTION,” is about being in a relationship with someone he cares about and feeling neglected. The second most popular song on the album, “YEAH RIGHT” is about being in a relationship with a girl who only is with him for the money and he’s not supposed to care about it, but he does. Whether or not you can relate to the specific things he sings about, everyone has experienced or felt something similar. Adding unique electronic effects to these lyrics creates contrast and sparks interest in listeners.

Not only is there contrast in the type of music Joji’s creating, but each song is different from the  others as well. The tracks themselves are individual, yet they flow together flawlessly. The amount of similarity and contrast is balanced to the point where if you weren’t paying attention, you wouldn’t notice the song changed but would still be singing along unconsciously. From “ATTENTION,” a mellow and tragic number, to “CAN’T GET OVER YOU,” which is upbeat and sanguine, there is a lot of variety in tone and vibe in all 12 tracks. Although there is a contrast in how each song sounds, the topics all make connections to love and/or insecurity, which everyone can relate to. 

There are a lot of sounds and instruments that you wouldn’t find yourself hearing on many other new and popular R&B, trap or pop albums. For example, he uses the xylophone in his song “WHY AM I STILL IN LA.” Joji also uses electric guitars, piano and even bells in his other tracks. The use of several uncommon instruments also illustrates the thought he put into “Ballads 1.” Because each track has its own unusual twist, whether or not it’s an uncommon instrument being used, it is abundantly clear that Joji wanted each song to come across in a specific way while also keeping them unique and intriguing. 

Although the album overall is astounding, “R.I.P.” does not go with the album at all. Not only is it the only song in the album that he collaborates with another artist (Trippie Redd), it is also way more basic than the other tracks. In my opinion, it feels like you could find a song just like it on any other Hip-Hop or R&B album. When listening to the album through, it sounds like a random single was put in the middle of it and forgotten about. Despite this, I would highly recommend this album to avid music listeners.

Citations: 

Herman, Tamar. “Joji Talks ‘Ballads 1’ And How His Music Is Just The Start.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 29 Oct. 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/tamarherman/2018/10/26/joji-talks-ballads-1-how-his-music-is-just-the-start/#4f9dd4b93902.

https://www.ballstatedaily.com/article/2018/11/joji-weaves-a-beautiful-but-weathered-tapestry-with-ballads- (Website doesn’t exist anymore)

“YEAH RIGHT By Joji.” Genius, 8 May 2018, genius.com/14731354