Boldy James & Nicholas Craven - Penalty of Leadership Review
The impressive rapper + producer duo of Boldy James & Nicholas returned for their second album on January 12th, Penalty of Leadership. Boldy and Craven first collaborated on Craven’s “Craven N 3” on the track Yzerman, back in 2022. Their first tape would be released later that same year, Fair Exchange No Robbery, to generally positive reviews, and one I enjoyed. With this second album, they had a certain standard they would have to compete with right off the bat, not just from the previous album, but in comparison to the plethora of great single-producer albums that Boldy James has under his belt. So, could they capitalize on their chemistry and reach that standard? Was this an improvement, or more of the same? In reverse order: a vast improvement of what was already quality to something more, and without question.
This tape might be the best release of the year so far. Those unfamiliar with Boldy James will immediately disregard that statement. We all know someone like that. But when Boldy finds that right production match he taps into something that makes lasting music. He’s not reinventing the wheel and trying to make a TPAB, which not everyone needs to do; it’s not mind-numbing, or overly braggadocious or conscious either. It is, in its purest form, Hip-Hop, through the medium of an emcee with one of the slickest and most unique deliveries and flows that the game has seen up to this point in its history. Craven, a Canadian producer who comes from Montreal, is no amateur when it comes to rap. He’s worked with many respected and substantial names in the game from Roc Marciano and Conway the Machine, to Navy Blue and Armand Hammer. His sample game is far from subpar, and throughout his discography, it’s incredibly clear that he is masterful when it comes to tailoring beats that match these rappers symbiotically. No one beat or one artist outshines over eclipses the other, they’re audio examples of symmetry; like George Lucas said “It’s like poetry it rhymes.” Craven is everso adding to his rapport and making the case for himself to break into that conversation of current production greats. It is too early to say he’s in that arena that’s more mainstream leaning with Alchemist, Hit-Boi, and Metro. But there is no doubt, and is far from a knock, to put him in that camp with Daringer, Camouflage Monk, Conductor Williams, and Big Ghost Ltd.
The opening track “Formal Invite” is a perfect introduction and stands like the warmup before a marathon with the production evoking an awakening, as if both are loosening up for the rest of the project. Boldy still has that same slickness but it seems more tame when you get further down the tracklist. The bars are still there and even though tamer than what follows, he isn’t one for lack of trying.
“No country for old men, big trouble in small China,
Speak every language fluent in bag music from all genres” - Formal Invite
Tapes like TPOT in China, Versace Tape, and Manger on McNichols helped make me a consistent fan of Boldy, and where I feel he showed improvement from the early/mid-2010s. In those albums, he appeared to finally find the perfect formula of his voice and inflections, in tandem with the tone and flow that he is now known for. From Bo Jackson/Super Tecmo Bo on, he has now mastered that formula as a whole. You get your street knowledge and stories, over incredibly melodic but chest-hitting samples that are irresistible to hear again in the form of Jack Frost and Straight As. These songs are woven with threads that call for celebration, escaping an old way of life, and being able to enjoy the fruits of his labors; one can’t help but feel that inspiration, with a pinch of pain and scars to match.
“Game time, this ain’t no arcade,
Make sure you know what you signin’ up for if you should partake,
Rope chains and Mark VIIIs, sold more ‘caine than Scarface,
Only thing I felt worse than this pain is this heartache,” - Straight As
This album also holds significance to James as almost exactly one year to the day, Boldy was in a near-fatal car accident that left him in fear of being paralyzed, after suffering broken vertebrae. Amazingly, he was able to recover and eventually get back to walking on his own two feet. The pain and recovery process he had to go through is laid throughout the entirety of the project, and when touched on you can feel the truth and reflection in his voice. The most direct, however, is on the “Brand New Chanel Kicks,” which also starts with a new clip of the accident he was in, and ends with a small outro with Boldy detailing that process.
“Right after I do these three hours of physical therapy,
Countin’ my blessings, don’t know why He keep spraing me” - Brand New Chanel Kicks
Clear, concise, and awareness, are some of the key elements of effective communication, and all 3 of these apply to this tape that helped start what has been an interestingly empty but now seemingly diss track and beef-riddled year up to this point. The beauty of Hip-Hop is that the best projects can be both Hip-Hop at its core from Nas, or punk-esque in the form of Playboi Carti, there is no ultimate “right.” Certain core elements still apply, and those that can nail down those elements and do the rest in a way that works but hits all the marks, leaving you with something special and of a quality you can feel every time you press play. Penalty of Leadership does exactly that. It does not stay any longer than it’s supposed to, it’s not flooded with guest verse after guest verse like a set of Infinity War cameos. The tape helped showcase two masters of their craft in a way that they could flex not just their individual skills, but their skills as a duo. Boldy has been the embodiment of consistency with the quality and quantity to make the case for him, more than maybe any sleek bars he releases. Craven has shown that he can improve and elevate those who get on these tracks he’s able to craft so expertly. It’s been a tape in constant rotation for me this year with no signs of losing steam.
Rating: 4 Mics out of Great
Personal Favorite Tracks - Straight As, Jack Frost, Murderous Tendencies, & Early Worms Get Birds ft. Double Dee
Gonna do something new here from this point on. I wanna do a consistent updating of a list of the top projects of the year. It’ll also serve as a reminder for me of what has come out, but also show where anything has changed throughout the year. So, here is the first placement of the top album of the year. Some might be projects I’ve reviewed, others maybe not. Either way, tell me how I’m wrong
Top Projects of 2024
Penalty of Leadership - Boldy James & Nicholas Craven