Remember how Drake threw songs from a bunch of different genres onto More Life and called the lengthy but enjoyable project a “playlist”? That’s essentially the formula J. Mill executes on Newton’s 1st Law: Always on the Move (Volume 2). He excels on his newest full-length in comparison to his previous CaliFromTexas series because he doesn’t monotonously constrain himself to another region’s sound. Once the 27-year-old MC departs California after opener “No Cold Summers,” he makes short stops in Brooklyn (drill-seasoned “Elevate”), Jamaica (dancehall-inspired “Mela”), and raunchy R&B (“Already Know (P-Town)”). The 78723 native’s nimble sing-rap flow boosts run-of-the-mill subject matter throughout the tape’s 23 songs, with driven tracks “ok i” and “Unselfish” best embodying his grind-oriented mindset. The former contains the work’s most memorable lyric: “It ain’t nothin’ more playa than puttin’ lil’ mama back in her car seat.” Features include local contemporaries JØXX (“FaceTime”) and Yung Bryse (“Don’t Let Me Down”), both of whom deliver reminders of their talent after going several years without new projects. Though refining this album’s tracklist to a number below 20 would’ve certainly created a more cohesive offering, there’s enough positives to push J. Mill’s trajectory upward.
J. Mill
Newton’s 1st Law: Always on the Move (Volume 2) (A.O.T.M. records)
This article appears in September 19 • 2025.
