Masicka: ‘438’ Album Review

Masicka’s rounded debut album 438 was worth the wait, a masterful blend of his prowess, appeal and street savvy. Engaging and wide-ranging both conceptually and sonically, Masicka bares his flaws, epiphanies and triumphs with palpable urgency.

Released by ONErpm and 1SydeRecords and featuring producers like his longtime collaborator Dunw3ll, the highly anticipated project houses sixteen tracks that alternate between keen introspection  (Suicide Note, Heart Cry), clashing emotions (Mirror, Love Story), and hard-won victories. Though the deejay grapples with many feelings at once, none of them exceeds his will to succeed. 438 is a sleek ode to Masicka’s rise from the grip of poverty and a nod to his next chapter after a decade in Dancehall.

Interestingly, 438 parallels yet another formidable project from a lyrical ghetto prodigy. Not since Cham’s ambitious double-disc Wow… The Story (at the time the Miami New Times called it “the most anticipated album in years from any reggae artist”) has anticipation for a body of work from a Jamaican been so high. The emotional texture on these projects is rich, easily sashaying between braggadocio, self-aware cuts and well-spun street tales, to songs praising matriarchs and delving into heartbreak.

Fans and doubters alike pined over 438 for months, wondering why an artist as gifted as Masicka would wait to unleash what was surely a firestorm, much like the one engulfing the project’s cover art. Now that 438 is here, the answer is quite clear. The fact that it arrived after the well-received singles Corner and Leader (not included) is testament to the 28-year old’s prolific nature, consistency, and potential.

Masicka clings to his usual themes on 438: the vicious cycle of street life, success, sexual conquests, romantic relationships and eliminating his enemies. These alternating perspectives as both underdog and ‘top striker’ make Masicka one of the most capable and engaging acts in the game.

Songs such as Stature, Suicide Note and the album opener, Ultimate, properly articulate the deejay’s manifesto; Masicka makes music for his fellow warriors, the alienated, the heavy-hearted, songs that comfort the living and pay homage to the dead. It’s been his stock-in-trade for years, and while his other forays are equally as entertaining (Just A Minute, Grandfather), cuts like Stay Strong and King Inna Earth contain a vital vulnerability that makes his songs special.

Fans have come to rely on Masicka’s wisdom and raw emotion which, especially in the current climate, feels both timely and empathetic. Masicka doesn’t simply lament the forces that tainted his upbringing—violence, poverty, questionable characters—he paints his trauma in a relatable light for his fans, crafting songs that become their scriptures. “Look inna mi life and you will find hope/ Never siddung yet and write a suicide note/ This land is like quicksand and mi couldn’t find rope,” he rhymes on Suicide Note, already a crowd favorite.

Self-exploration aside, Masicka serves up three slick ladies’ anthems in quick succession on 438. On the Stefflon Don assisted Moments, the British bombshell matches his tone, flow, and even his falsetto as they trade steamy, flirtatious bars. Quality featuring Sean Paul is equal parts bedroom bully and booming bass, while Highlight plays like the explicit, unofficial soundtrack to cuffing season.

The suite wouldn’t be complete if the Infrared hitmaker didn’t fire off at his foes. On King, Masicka’s grandmother makes a heartfelt cameo (“My grandson, God bless you, the world is yours…”) but it’s overshadowed by the ballistic bars which follow over the next few songs.

Each of these tracks fizzes with cool disses and violent rhymes: “Barrel ah clear like seh mi go wharf/ Badness man ah study and mi nuh skull no class”—whether or not you take the lines literally, Masicka maintains he’s not to be taken lightly. Not even Dexta Daps’ smooth vocals on Vanish can distract from the jarring transition, however, though the duo sounds as compelling as their earlier effort, Leader.

The same is also true of Masicka’s team up with the Unruly Boss, Popcaan, on Pain. Here, the subject shifts from the gritty gunplay on 2020’s Unda Dirt to a hard-hitting go-getter anthem.

Clocking in at 10 minutes, Story is a dazzling example of Masicka’s flair for storytelling. The deejay serves up yet another plot twist in the saga of childhood friends Tyler and Puffy, a single last updated over five years ago. Genahsyde fans are well attuned to the gripping storyline that’s as much a screenplay as it is a tale of tension, betrayal and friendship gone awry.  With the abrupt ending offered on 438, there’s a sense that Masicka may have more in mind for this captivating series.

For his finale, Masicka chooses a familiar song, They Don’t Know, in a strategic move. The video for the Genahsyde/ IamWav produced track is Masicka’s most successful (33M Youtube views) to date. It’s a cause for celebration that’s been vetted by his faithful fans and also ties in with 438’s overall tone.

Long-delayed yet right on time, 438 finds Masicka flipping flows and flexing his storytelling chops. The man of the hour brings quotes and quiet affirmations ahead of the season for reflection and resolutions. He presents a panoramic view of his pain and triumphs with no skippables and worthy of endless replays. Both a paean and a character study, honest and heady, 438 celebrates the power of Dancehall while pushing the genre forward.