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Ready 2 Live: Oran Juice Jones II’s Ready 2 Live
Review by Jonalyn Fair ( @jonalynfair )
A deep, conscious rap album. Most enjoyable. IF—and I cannot stress this enough—
—if you feel the need to compare this album, don’t do it casually. Compare it only to Kanye’s College Dropout, Late Registration, or Graduation. Nothing else even comes close.
Let’s talk about the production. Where. The. Hell. Did he get these beats?!? The creativity, the layers, the soul—this album feels like it was touched by something greater than just a studio.
It’s 35 minutes, but those 35 minutes will change you. You’ll feel this album in your chest, your spirit, your memories.
Through the lens of Oran Juice Jones II—a 39-year-old Black Native American man—the album explores his experiences with a rawness, truth, and depth that feels timeless yet urgently now. His voice carries not just his story but the stories of generations. The pain, the joy, the struggles, and the triumphs are all laid bare.
TRACK-BY-TRACK REVIEW
I Wish I Could Be a Little Kid
This track hit me in the gut. Juice reflects on the innocence and joy of childhood—before the weight of adulthood, race, and expectations settled in. It’s nostalgic, yes, but not in a cheesy way. Instead, it asks: what happens when we lose that purity? The track left me questioning my own journey.
I Put That on Everything
Every. Single. Line. Hits. This is storytelling at its rawest. Mookie doesn’t just rap—he confesses, preaches, and teaches. This song is the soul of the album.
Malcolm & Martin
This track pairs the legacies of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. with modern-day struggles. Oran Juice Jones II weaves their ideologies into a critique of the present, asking us if we’re ready to carry the baton they left behind. It’s haunting.
Jonalyn Fair
dope review, Jonalyn!!!