Little over eight months since his last studio album release back in October of 2019 with The Therapy LP, John Anthony is back with his forth project under his rising Villainous Records label and unlike his previous three albums and EP’s, this new project just may be the one that could turn some heads for the up and comer… and not so much in the most positive of ways.
June 26th, 2020 marked the release date of The Bad Guy Chronicles, an album featuring twenty tracks and a two sided genre of hip hop with both styles of rap in boom bap/alternative and trap/alternative. The album gave a much more edgier and aggressive aspect by John that we really haven’t heard since his Four Forty Four EP back in 2018. The first half of the album, or side one as it’s stated, presents quite possibly the most lyrical, unhinged, vulgarizing aggression of storytelling that we have gotten so far from John in his career.
The plot of this album stands alone as entitled, with “the bad guy” being the focal point of what this project is representing. Anthony seemly fires back at his critics and doubters, along with admitting his failures in past albums in songs like Remember Me and The Bad Guy. Stating the obvious, he brings a more irate and somewhat darker tone in these tracks, which really shines the hostility and anger in his voice. His hatred towards his past relationships doesn’t seem to change, however, in the song Crazy, he does exactly that as he not only disses but lyrically batters and ridicules his former girlfriend. Going on a lim cursing her out and expressing his resentment word for word. He stated in the song:
“You nothing more than backstabbing, little heartless b****, fake mother f*****, I hope you f****** die in a ditch”.
This, being one of John’s many former past relationships that didn’t end well. He previously wrote about this same former girlfriend in an older song called No Time off his 2019’s The Therapy LP. Not to mention the derogatory language and homophobic slurs that have circled around certain tracks from the album. Sharpening the Saw, in a fan’s perspective, is probably the most underrated but discriminatory track on side one the album. Anthony holds back on absolutely nothing in this hard-hitting song as he once again attacks at his critics and haters, deeply ingrains misogynistic and sexist insults towards his former girlfriends, occasional drops homophobic and offensive slurs and even metaphorically but disturbingly states to kip-nap Jennifer Lopez’s 11-year-old daughter in his basement and strap explosives around her. The track also recieve tons of judgmental feedback due to the fact that Anthony’s sound and flow was heavily compared and gave off a strong early 2000’s Eminem vibe.
Even with all the brash cockiness and arrogances seemingly overlooking side one of the album, John does deliver in remarkable storytelling lyrics. Who I Am being the best example of his creativity with the pen. His diverse ways to enhance the listeners mind and visualize the story is what makes this track one of the more well-written songs. It gives a deeper insight into the young life of John Anthony, way before his influence in hip hop. He touches base on family issues, his troubling ways in school and at home and his lack of unscholarly and poor education. This song, however, also gave off a strong early Eminem vibe which didn’t suit too well with many. In essence, he does show his appreciation to the game with his thoughts on today’s mainstream music through songs like Lost One, which gives a more lyrical sense in the creativeness with the pen but also lectures and emphasizes the skill he has through each line, Better Late Than Ever where he basically expresses the love he has for hip hop and the sense that it took him years to finally release a album that he was satisfied with, and Life’s a Bitch where he name dropped iconic, late-great rappers that influenced him to get on the microphone such as LL Cool J, Nas, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, 2Pac and many more. He even slipped in more personal relationship issues in one of the verses where he takes shots at another former girlfriend who filed harassment charges against him in 2018. Overall, side one (which according ranges from track 1–11) gives an absolute lyrical and controversial affect, but surely for the ones who enjoy a well-written, lyrical, boom-bap styled, in-your-face hip hop sound just may appreciate this first half of The Bad Guy Chronicles.
As stated though, that’s only half of the album. Side two of the BGC takes a completely different turn than that of side one. Anthony has stated many times the frustration of not being able to satisfy certain areas of fans due to the fact his older music was more conscious, underground and alternative with occasional boom-bap. Music that doesn’t compare to today’s mainstream trap that everyone listens to. So it comes at no surprise that John made a side two which featured a more mainstream sound. It did, however, come as a surprise when in the beginning of the 2020 summer, John unexpectedly releases hit single Ballin on all streamers worldwide, his first song to get published on major services. It’s hard bass, trap-style sound really fit perfectly with today’s style of music. It arguably became a fan favorite and quite possibly his most popular track in his career.
Coming into the BGC, side two gave expectation of something similar to that of Ballin. Tracks 12–20 all were trap-styled and even with the change in production and beats, the lyricism never changed. The hard-hitting bass only added the unique and different sound over the meaningful lyrics. Almost like listening to a completely different artist. The song Bang emphasizes John’s deep belief in being able to say whatever’s on your mind. Never Enough throws light on basically the main idea of why Anthony made a side two featuring a trap sound. Feeling as if everything he’s released was never good enough for certain people. Stating:
“Never enough to be a fan, if I gotta go ahead and be the man, I’m a beat the man, bet you even then this s*** to you is probably never enough”.
Also giving the wonder if the new trap-style will be “enough” in a sense. Wannabe which ultimately rings the alarm of rappers today. John takes jabs and subliminal shots towards rappers who take advange of the game and stating his belief that hip hop is the easiest way for a person to become famous. Loveless gives a more catchy, relaxed vibe to it as John clarifies against past relationships and mentioning how certain love felt invisible, exposing fake love in not only former girlfriends, but quite possibly himself too. Oh Shit! which simply in verse two is John taking another shot at his former friend and rapper Lil Cyko. John Anthony and Lil Cyko’s beef began years ago after Lil Cyko, real name Jayson, apparently lied and deceitfully talked behind his back, which ultimately was the reasoning for John to respond back with 2019’s diss track Backstab.
Speaking of beef, the last track on the album Beef, once again in a fan’s perspective, is most likely the more underrated track on side two. Yes, he does nonchalantly, in a way, talk about people starting beef with him as he states in the hook “You don’t really, really wanna fuck with me” and “You don’t really, really wanna start this beef”. But what really makes this five minute track a true hit, is the two and a half minute outro verse in the song. He starts by explaining the fact that through everything he has done and released, he still considers himself a nobody and needs to look at the fact that he’s not, in quotes, “flawless”. He explains his reasoning behind his anger on certain tracks while also lashing back at people who criticize his music for being to vulgar and negative. He even shoots shots at rapper 6ix9ine in an attempt to compare certain things said on record. Quoting:
“Why the f*** am I the new scapegoat, when everybody’s fine now with 6ix9ine”.
Also calling out millennials and the generation z, stated them as snowflakes and harangue them for always attacking his views and beliefs. What really captures light on this verse is when he starts storytelling midway after explaining his views. He makes you visualize and put into story about a young rapper making it big but having no talent and only living off one hit song. How record labels are searching for the same style of rappers (basically mumble rappers) and they rather sign them then look at someone who actually may have skill. He goes on by reliving through what we have witnessed over years with many young rappers and how they have one hit song, blow up, become money-hungry just to make it to the top and suddenly within an instant lose it all. He goes on blaming the record labels and the fans for “playing” with these rappers lives. And what really takes this verse to life and shines truth is the ending line where he quotes:
“And the story just repeats itself again, when the next rapper goes and gets signed”.
Reminiscing that people will quickly forget about a rapper as soon as they fall and will build up another just to see the same thing happen again. Obviously, these are bias opinions on part of John. But it really stands out Beef as a very powerful track.
All in all, the album from top to bottom is clealy well put together but this is certainly an album for the right viewer. The viewer who wont feel easily offended by some of Anthony’s vulgar lyrics. Besides that, The Bad Guy Chronicles is could be John Anthony’s best album to date, giving this a notable listen for anyone insterested in that raw, attitudinal hip hop sound.
Overall, the album is a solid 8/10.
The Bad Guy Chronicles by John Anthony is available everywhere today.
