Throwback Album Review: Mark J – An Everyday World - Pages

Let’s not beat around the bush: Mark J’s An Everyday World is one of the most complete albums I’ve come across in awhile. The New York native has put out six albums and it shames me to say that An Everyday World is just my introduction to the musical talent that is Mark J. Still, I can’t think of a better introduction to an unknown artist than An Everyday World, an album that’s about as flawless as they come.

An Everyday World is a diverse yet unified body of musical work. Though hip-hop in its foundation, An Everyday World is a smorgasbord of musical stylings ranging from rock infused tracks to sample based soul numbers to techno inspired anthems– all thanks to the hands of stellar productionists like Tony Stone, G-Styles, and Juice 20/20.

Simply put, An Everyday World successfully actualizes the potential for musical diversity that is only available in a genre like hip-hop. An Everyday World is hip-hop done right. While a lesser emcee would easily be overlooked amidst such grand and diverse production, Mark J shines all the brighter. Equipped with solid lyricism, intelligent punchlines, and a proclivity for addressing dense issues of faith, Mark J works magic on the microphone throughout An Everyday World.

The album starts with “Everyday World,” a jarring examination into the broken and sinful world that we live in as Mark J guides the listener through a series of grave questions. While each successive song on the album enters fresh territory, the track, “Merge” implicitly fits well the pensive thoughts of the intro as Mark J challenges listeners to combine their faith and lives. At the same time, Mark J uses the hard-hitting beat to engage the urban culture and their affinity for hypocrisy.

Throughout An Everyday World, Mark J astounds with the spiritual and practical density of his content. For those who think there’s a Jesus or Scripture Quota needed to render a Christian album effective, An Everyday World is evidence that an intelligent and talented mind can produce an edifying work without such rigorous requirements.

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