The Return of The Super Villain- Literally

 

Next year it would have been 10 years since Trademark Da Skydiver released his last solo album, Returnof the Super Villain.

We still don’t really know what happened in the Jet Life camp, as the founding members Curren$y, Trademark, and Young Roddy have never really spoke on the issue that originally drove them apart. Trade was the first to go, follow shortly by Roddy, and today JLR is probably the weakest it has ever been. With the apparent phase out of Street Wiz, and TY’s current jailtime, there just aren’t many members left.

Curren$y of course seems rather unbothered, and solely focused on his joint project with Jermain Dupree.

When Young Roddy and Trademark released Family Business in 2016, the pair were relatively sedated. Only changing their raps just enough to omit the Jet Life talk that was always featured in years prior, the album was a welcome addition considering another year without a project from Trademark. While Roddy was constantly putting out new music, Trademark had gone dark since 2014’s Return of The Super Villain.

And, whether the trio wanted to admit it or not, their split was affecting them all. Their troubles were thought to be at their end in 2019 however, as the last normal year brought us Plan of Attack. In that review, an elated Oracle carefully laid out how he became a Jet Lifer and what had transpired up to that date. The album was a success, and Trade even relinquished his veto on his prior JLR records, as they all began to populate the streaming sites once again.

The old times did not last long however, as the trio separated once again just as quickly as they had come together.

This time last year, we were gifted Young Roddy’s Never Question God, which, while widely successful, only featured Curren$y and Trademark individually, and not as a trio. While this was not what I hoped, I was simply glad to see them both featured.

The beginning of the year was off to a hot start, with Trade randomly going active on his IG to announce that he and Roddy would be releasing a new EP in February, titled DayOnes.

For those that don’t know, Trademark Da Skydiver, otherwise known as Flamingo Barnes, is one of my all-time favorite rappers. Calm, cool, out of the way, and minding nobody’s business but his own, Trademark is a prime example of how you can stay true to your art without selling out. While he is far from a household name, he is a legend in the underground, and many longtime Jet Lifers have felt his absence sorely since his departure.

Return of The Super Villain was an instant classic, and while it has been spun a ton, there is only so many times the same record can be played. With Trade’s non-existent social media presence, it was unclear as to whether he would be heard from again. Content to just chill, Trade has never been pressed to release music, so when the EP was announced, The Oracle was more than ready for it.

At just over 21 minutes long Day Ones, is a short but effective EP, and Trademark was surprisingly transparent on his raps this go round. On the opening record, Check Point, both he and Roddy seem to take shots at who can only be the Jet Life General.

“Last team was trying to bench a nigga, they aint wanna let me in” – Young Roddy

“Me and my nigga Route Keep it 100 we aint never switchin…. No ties to them other guys no mo but I’m still eatin” – Trademark Da Skydiver

Trademark absolutely bodied his verse, stating that his absence was a result of him going through some things, but he knew that he was missed. And while I was so glad my boy was back, I was disheartened to hear a chance at a JLR reunion was farther away than ever.

Curren$y will always be a staple in any ORR playlist, however the General neglected to comment on Day Ones’ release, without so much as a nod to its drop.

The Oracle was disappointed once again.

I have always been an advocate of reconciliation. I know this is not always possible, as some lines cannot be uncrossed, but the last thing I want to see is another Migos situation.

If they do not reconcile sooner rather than later, it may be too late.

Curren$y is without a doubt a household name in the independent era but, he could not have been so successful without Roddy and Trade.

And so, with that in mind, I will dispel my disappointment in the recent turn of events to simply celebrate that we actually do have some new music from TMS.

For years I have reached out, as most fans before me, mainly just to inform him of the exist of a dog named Mingo, and to let him know his records are still spun around this way.

These efforts were finally rewarded with one simple repost.

While it may have been almost a decade since his last solo project, we are just glad our boy is back.

So, if you are a fellow Lifer, or just want to spin a cool tape, ORR definitely recommends both Day Ones AND Return of The Super Villain for your next vibe.

And again, Welcome Back SV!

AND let this be yet another reminder- repair them relationships, before its too late.

- The Oracle 

3.3.23