A new EP and first in an ongoing 12-part series from Flint, Michigan host/producer Jon Connor. Over the past 20 years, he’s been on a roll with hits including The Calling, Vinnie Chase, and the SOS trilogy, as well as The World’s Finest, Redemption, While You Were Sleeping, and Unconscious, which paid homage to some of Jon’s influences. He even signed with Aftermath Entertainment for 6 years before leaving after Vehicle City was eventually shelved, leaving Food for the Soul & 24, produced by KLC of No Limit Records’ in-house production team Beats by the Pound, and having Smitti Boi produce I.
“Pray” opens with a gospel sample about how everyone around him wants to smoke cigarettes because they have no money and advises them to talk to God, while “Holy Holy” adopts a trap vibe, subtly asking God to bless a child who can persevere. “The System” takes the prosperous route by admitting he doesn’t feel he needs to find support to keep his authenticity alive, while “Drown in Chaos” starring Jarren Benton finds the pair talking about mental stress.
Emilio Rojas and MRKN SX join Jon on “Hello from Miami” starting in the second half with an affectionate request to the bartenders not to treat them like novices since the pair had been mastering their Ws for over a decade before “Living Your Truth”, enthusiastically thanking the guys above for all the lessons they taught him in his youth. The “People’s Hymn” ended and I spent the last few minutes talking about making this music for young people and ended by wishing everyone a “Happy New Year” and prosperity to his loved ones.
A few months ago at the release party for Foul Mouth’s solo debut album Everybody Goes Crazy Once, Jon Connor told me about half an hour before the show that he would be releasing a new project every month in 2026, marking an exciting start for the rest of the series we’ll be watching through next winter. Needless to say, Smitti Boi’s production distanced itself from the dirty Southern sounds of the ’24s and was more spiritual in subject matter than the previous summer’s LP.
Score: 8/10
