Johnny Quest

It’s been a big year for local hip-hop, but Lawrence MC and producer Johnny Quest falls short with his latest re-lease. This is for all of my people that need justice/Bangin’ beats with a little bit of substance/Put some life in your stereo box, go on and bump this/If you feel the revolution is near, raise up and pump fists goes the chorus of “Justice.” But life and substance seem to be completely absent from the majority of Just John, and Quest’s style is anything but revolutionary. Instead, the album plods along aimlessly with songs about drinking, smoking, rapping and trying to score at last call. With vocal patterns that are as flat and monotonous as his subject matter (and beats that tend to follow suit), the only break in the humdrum comes from guest appearances by Approach, Joe Good and Archetype’s ID. But even with the extra help, this is one local album you can afford to sleep on.