Jon Crawford drops Jersey’s best rap album with “For What It’s Worth”
By: Nikasi Doorn
Tags: Rap, Album Review, New Jersey, Hip Hop, Music

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

In an industry focused on looking good on a surface level, it’s always refreshing to hear an artist willing to paint a picture that captures the true human experience. Jon Crawford, one of Jersey’s hungriest & most promising artists, has come back to notch a second chapter in his saga. His second full album, For What It’s Worth, provides an in-depth look at the trials and tribulations that he has faced and conquered, all the while remaining true to himself and his craft.

Three years of blood, tears, and sacrifices have culminated into one of the most ambitious projects to come out of Camden, with the bulk of the production handled by Denzel Stone, as well as Crawford himself. The album was also A&R’d by Shane Pope & executively produced by Melanie Bonilla. The vlogs that covered the 3 year recording process, as well as the Godfather-esque album cover were both shot by one of NJ’s brightest directors & filmmakers, Jamyr “Filmsbyjtg” Greene & digitally imprinted by Adrian Armstrong. Amir “Fierce” Sims, prodigy of OVO’s Boi1da, was also tapped for the production of “14 Racks,” the lead single off the album. Engineered entirely in-house by GTS’s own Amir “Ca$hmere” Corsey, For What It’s Worth has the sound and steez of a magnum opus; even more impressive is the fact that this is only his second album. He says it himself on “November 21”: “My rookie season dog, but i’m leading the league in numbers” — Crawford’s ready to let the world know that he’s just getting started.

Jon Crawford, shot by @filmsbyjtg

Perhaps one of the most notable qualities of Crawford’s work on this album is his openness and honesty, his successes and triumphs getting as much screen time as his faults and low points. Trauma, anxiety, and depression serve as the stones that Crawford has sharpened his flow and delivery on. That’s why the pain in his voice is almost palpable on “November 21,” when he mentions how his woman has stuck with him through the roller coaster lifestyle that comes with chasing a dream: “Not a dollar to my name, and she been holding me down / For all the nights that we cried, I promise I’ll make you proud” — a true testament to her loyalty and love.

The music video for “November 21”, shot by @filmsbyjtg

Off the first few listens, Jon Crawford comes off as someone well aware that chaos is a natural byproduct of change. When you focus on your dreams and the money starts coming in, your priorities change just as much as the people around you. Intentions get revealed and circles get smaller as you realize who’s really on your side. Crawford remains mindful of the changes that occur around him, all the while making sure that he remains the same person he was before the success and notoriety, hence the lyrics on “Dreams Come True”: “Having an identity crisis / Trying to figure out this life shit / For this game, dog, you gotta sacrifice / Integrity, but at what point do you figure out what the price is?” — what’s the purpose of success if you lose everything, including yourself, in the process?

Crawford’s deeper cuts allow him to let raw emotions flow effortlessly over the spaced-out, slower cuts on the album. On “Weather the Storm (Interlude)”, he spills his heart to the woman by his side through the good times and the bad, his promises to give her his whole heart absolutely floating over a skeletal sample of Boyz II Men’s “Can You Stand the Rain”. From this track, to “For What It’s Worth (All Things Shall Fall in Place),” “Karma,” “Anxiety,” “Dreams Come True,” and “November 21,” this album is full of deep cuts that Crawford treats as confessionals, going into the booth and spilling the thoughts weighing him down for the ultimate feeling of catharsis.

Jon Crawford

For What It’s Worth plays like a victory lap of a driver whose career is just getting started. From the gritty, hard hitting tracks, such as “Hustle,” featuring New York rapper CasperTheFuture, to the infectious bounce of tracks like “14 Racks” and “Bad,” featuring Glassboro artist Hyme, to the slower, substance-saturated songs like “For What It’s Worth (All Things Shall Fall in Place)” with Dead Poet Society artist & vocalist Eric Skye, this album has a little bit of everything for everybody.

Crawford ends this album in the same manner that Kobe ended his last game: by dropping 60 points and giving one final wave to the crowd. In Crawford’s case, however, For What It’s Worth is just the beginning of his legacy.

Stream Jon Crawford’s For What It’s Worth, out now on Spotify, Apple Music, and more!

Follow Jon Crawford on:

Twitter: @jncrwfd

Instagram: @jncrwfd

Soundcloud: JON CRAWFORD