There are artists who follow the rules, and then there are those who rewrite them. Jah-Femi Telewa belongs firmly to the latter. A multi-award-winning Poet, Author, Rapper, Composer, Songwriter, Inventor, Philosopher, Digital Marketer and CEO, he is a rare example of a polymath using every facet of creativity to shape a singular and seismic artistic identity. His presence reverberates across genres, technologies and ideas. His voice is not merely heard, it is felt.
The arrival of his newest album “Of Hip-Hop Alternative, the First Chronicle: Thus It Began” announces a bold new chapter not only for him, but for modern music itself. This is not just a debut of a new sound. It is a manifesto. A boundary-breaking fusion of orchestral grandeur, literary-poetic vision and the rhythmic core of hip-hop culture.
Across his multiple verified Spotify profiles — Jah-Femi Classical, Jah-Femi Lofi, Jah-Femi Rock, Jah-Femi Electronic, and Jah-Femi Telewa — he has proven he can masterfully navigate a spectrum of emotion and sonic texture. But this album is where all of those worlds converge into something cohesive and transformative. It’s here that we see the architect at work. The philosopher building an audio universe from the ground up.
From the opening moments of “Sweet Crystals” featuring The Monster Opera Music Group, the listener is thrust into the album’s grand vision. Lush harmonies meet vigorous lyricism. Theatrical orchestral surges swirl around pounding drums. It immediately signals that Jah-Femi has forged a new frontier. This is hip-hop that thinks like cinema and feels like theatre.
This multi-genre layering never weighs the album down. Instead, it gives it flight. Strings sweep upward like a curtain rising. Warm acoustic pianos glide beside subtle horn flourishes. Basslines rumble beneath. Electronic touches crackle in the edges of the mix. Every element belongs. Every detail is intentional.
The album’s tracklist reads like a tapestry of collaboration and concept. Twelve compositions, each its own chapter in an unfolding mythos: “Sweet Crystals” ft. The Monster Opera Music Group, “Roll With Whatever” ft. Christian C, “Shining Stars” ft. Avery Kadish, “I Could Get You Back” ft. Jaime, “Lookest Like”, “Pleasantries” ft. Sophie Kray, “Like Boom It’s Doom”, “Quantative Lingo – Radio Edit” ft. Femolala, “Last Chance”, “Kinda Luv IT” ft. Chatty, “Pies & Leather”, “GOD’s Love 2” ft. The Monster Opera Music Group.
Each title feels like a doorway into its own emotional landscape. Each feature adds color and dimension to the vast sonic world Jah-Femi constructs. It is impossible to overlook the synergy between Jah-Femi’s unmistakable baritone rap delivery and the powerful female vocal features that color the record. Avery Kadish lends a marvelous pop-soul clarity to “Shining Stars.” Jaime stretches emotional longing into melodic ache on “I Could Get You Back.” Sophie Kray brings delicacy, grace and an intimate glow to “Pleasantries.”
And then there is The Monster Opera Music Group, who elevate the experience into the operatic realm on both “Sweet Crystals” and “GOD’s Love 2.” Their dramatic choral passages give the music a sense of spiritual magnitude. It is as if every song is a sermon, a spectacle, a revelation.
Despite these fwature contributions, the narrative always centers on Jah-Femi himself. His writing is articulate and philosophical. His flow is agile and choiceful. He shifts seamlessly between meditative reflection and commanding urgency. He raps like someone who has lived and thought beyond the surface. Who has studied the human condition. Who can turn complexity into a compelling hook without losing its depth.
What makes “Of Hip-Hop Alternative, the First Chronicle: Thus It Began” particularly striking is its accessibility. Many experimental projects aim for innovation but forget to invite the listener inside. Jah-Femi does the opposite. He builds aural wonder-worlds, while ensuring you never feel alienated by its sound design.
Standout tracks like “Roll With Whatever” and “Like Boom It’s Doom” hit fast and enthralling. “Quantative Lingo – Radio Edit” brings sharp wit and rhythmic electricity. “Kinda Luv IT” is a sonic delight wrapped in layered vocal production. “Pies & Leather” digs deep with soulful guitars and strings as well as street-smart vocal charisma. Each track carries an emotional or narrative hook that feels instantly engaging.
Yet beneath that initial appeal lies a complexity that rewards repeated listens. The musical arrangements are rich with detail. The themes weave into a larger motif with creativity and divine purpose. This is music made with patience and craft. Music that respects its audience enough to challenge them, but also delights them along the way.
With a title like this album’s, one can’t help but wonder what comes next. The use of “First Chronicle” suggests not just a new era, but the first entry in a wider anthology. A blueprint unfolding. A universe expanding.
Jah-Femi is an artist who does not merely create; he constructs foundations for what his future artistry could look like. He treats music not as a product but as a philosophical proposition. What happens when genre walls fall away? When intellect and emotion coexist? When opera embraces hip-hop and poetry moves to a resonating bassline? The answer lies in this record.
“Of Hip-Hop Alternative, the First Chronicle: Thus It Began” proves that innovation does not require abandoning structure, and boundary-pushing does not require chaos. The album is meticulously thoughtful without ever sacrificing warmth or groove. It is grand yet grounded. Future-looking yet rooted in tradition. This is music for thinkers. For dreamers. For anyone who believes in artistic evolution.
Most importantly, it is music that takes hip-hop to places it has rarely ventured, and does so with respect for the genre’s cultural heartbeat. Jah-Femi doesn’t just challenge the norm. He elevates it. As an introduction to his rising empire of sound, this album stands tall. As a bold declaration of purpose, it rings even louder. Thus it began. And thus, a creative independent voice in global artistry steps forward: confident, intellectual, and visionary. If this is the first chronicle, we cannot wait for the second.
OFFICIAL LINK: https://jahfemitelewa.com
