Jimmy Comes Full Circle On New EP 'Where Should I Start'

The best place to start is normally at the beginning, Homerton native Jimmy releases his newest EP Where Should I Start  in a continuation of his solo career as he steps out from East London’s 98s collective.

The exciting East London collective are made up of talented artists that included Unknown T, KO, V9 and Billy Billions but on this project Jimmy sees himself take space.

Not his first solo venture, Jimmy released Risk It All and Alchemy in 2022 in quick succession after the other before letting sometime pass to return with Where Should I Start, an attempt to fill in the gaps and revisit past memories that have continued to shape him to this day.

Consisting of 10 tracks it’s overall a nice balance of rap, grime and drill that allows Jimmy to grow in stature as the project develops.

Opening with the raw ‘Welcome to E9’, composed of electronic elements that create an eery haunting sound backed by a looming bas Jimmy brings us into Homerton, East London the place that shaped him.

Preferring a more UK classic rap approach that is familiar to the mid 2010s on ‘In n Out’ produced by Chase & Status, provides a space for Jimmy to place himself one step back further on the roads, trapping and it’s financial benefits.

There is an exploration the sense of home that is associated with East London, but also reality of the roads and the consequences of his ambition.

The piano based track with fellow East Londoner Potter Payper ‘Regina‘  is more upbeat and we witness a more direct flow from the rapper that allows him to express his personality and playfulness as him and potter go back and forth on the beat.

‘Too Much’ addresses growing up too fast, and the absence his ambition creates. He raps,“Mummy ask me why I’m never at home/She tell me son you roam the streets too much you don’t want to be the one police see too much."

The soft toned ‘Talk To Me’ is an expressive cut. A laid-back baseline and dynamic synths pivots into a silky sound that demonstrates the East Londoner’s versatility for this romantic record, whilst still keeping it authentic.

‘Money’ has a more experimental fusion feel to it paired with clean rap verses that are centred around the power of money. Whilst ‘Evil Eye’ featuring Alchubbino backed with soulful vocals engages with themes of loyalty, close friendships and staying the course despite troubled waters.

The eight track of the project sees 98 members V9 and Smokes join Jimmy on the that samples Game’s ‘Pray’ - giving a nod to their close ties proven by their effortless ability to play off each other.

On ‘Faded Out’ produced by Chase & Status, Jimmy has grown into himself as a rapper and a person, becoming more relatable his lenses has narrowed and he opens himself up to vulnerability as he deals with feelings of mistrust, and the revaluation of personal relationships.

Finishing on ‘Flashbacks’ once again he demonstrates his pen to draw us into a realistic and authentic impression of his life experiences with honesty, accompanied by a looped guitar lift and percussion the low tempo allows us to drift out ending it on a introspective note.

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