Black Friday is the eleventh mixtape by American hip hop recording artist Jay Rock. It was released on November 26, 2010, for free download and then on December 7, 2010, via iTunes and Amazon.com, under Top Dawg Entertainment.[1] It was Jay Rock's last mixtape before the release of his debut studio album Follow Me Home.
The mixtape was interactive as it gained some of its tracks thanks to fans' feedback on Twitter and fans also helped shape the album cover.[2] Music videos were released for "No Joke", "Diary of a Broke Nigga" and "Get on Your Shit".
Lyrics, production and themes
The lyrics stay true to the typical rags-to-riches street narrative style, adding a sense of regularity to the mixtape, though it rarely crosses over into redundancy, thanks to Jay Rock's delivery.[3]
The production embodies astral atmospheric sounds that evoke feelings of an urban cement dreamscape over the traditional hip-hop elements.[3] "Walk by Me" production was described as trademark G-Funk synth on steady loop over the deep groove of drums and bass.[4]
The mixtapes themes were described as "street" related and Rock's rapping was described as "reality rap".[5] Ology described the mixtape as a "street narative"[3]