''Highway Robbery'' is a 2014 collaborative album by rappers

Freeway A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway and expressway. Other similar terms ...

State Property State ownership, also called government ownership and public ownership, is the ownership of an industry, asset, or enterprise by the state or a public body representing a community, as opposed to an individual or private party. Public ownershi ...

and

The Jacka Dominick Newton (August 12, 1977 – February 2, 2015), better known by his stage name The Jacka, was an American rapper from Pittsburg, California. The Jacka began his career as part of the rap group Mob Figaz. He was killed in a shooting in O ...

of the

Mob Figaz Mob Figaz is a Bay Area hip hop group formed by C-Bo in 1997. The members consist of Husalah, Rydah J. Klyde, and The Jacka from Pittsburg; Fed-X from Richmond; and AP.9 from Oakland, California. Their first album, ''C-Bo's Mob Figaz'', was a ...

. It was released on September 16, 2014. The album was preceded by a mixtape entitled ''Write My Wrongs'', released on October 14, 2013, which served as a prequel to the album.

Background

On September 10, 2013, the pair released a music video for the track "Combine The Coasts" from their upcoming mixtape ''Write My Wrongs''. The release was in anticipation for their album ''Highway Robbery'' announced for a November release, to be preceded by their mixtape release in October. Guest appearances announced for the project included Freddie Gibbs, Paul Wall, Cormega, Trae Tha Truth, Ampichino and Mob Figaz members Husalah and Rydah J Klyde On September 17, the cover and tracklist were revealed for ''Highway Robbery''. The album was slated for a November 12 release. The pair had previously collaborated on the tracks "They Don't Know" on ''

Tear Gas Tear gas, also known as a lachrymator agent or lachrymator (), sometimes colloquially known as "mace" after the early commercial aerosol, is a chemical weapon that stimulates the nerves of the lacrimal gland in the eye to produce tears. In ad ...

'' (2009), "Real Hood" on ''Gobots 2: D-Boy Era'' (2010), "Both Coasts" on ''The Indictment'' (2011), "All Kinds of Em" on ''StatikFree'' (2011), "Freedom Writers" on ''The Sentence'' (2012), and "So Many Animals" on ''The A.R. Street Album'' (2012). The first of which having been recorded when the two first met in "like 2002 or 2003" when the Jacka reached out to Freeway who was visiting the Bay Area at the time. The Jacka revealed to ''

Vibe ''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down productio ...

'', the bulk of their music had been recorded as far back as 2006 and 2008. "We’ve recorded so much material together that we had to do something with all these songs." Their mixtape ''Write My Wrongs'' was released on October 14. The mixtape was intended to convey tracks that had not made it on to the album and sneak peaks into the upcoming release. Their aforementioned collaborations also appeared on the mixtape, including remixed versions of "Real Hood" and "So Many Animals" on new production. The mixtape was mixed and hosted by DJ Child. Freeway and The Jacka launched the "Highway Robbery" tour in late 2014 which was cut short due to the untimely death of The Jacka in February 2015. The duo performed a
The Crocodile
in Seattle/Washington in September of 2014 wit
Remy R.E.D
as guest Dj. And at Karribbean City in Oaklsnd/California with Dj Quest Live.

Reception

''Highway Robbery'' received positive reviews from music critics. Jayson Greene of ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...

'', referring to the album, stated "the bulk of the music is low-key, liquid, and unmistakably bluesy. The guests that float through are on the same wavelength." Greene praised Freeway's return to form and his chemistry with the Jacka, stating "he sounds incredible; more importantly, he sounds palpably at home and the Jacka is his most natural partner since

Beanie Sigel Dwight Equan Grant (born March 6, 1974), better known by his stage name Beanie Sigel, is an American rapper from South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He first became known for his association with Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records, releasing his debut ...

." He rated the album 7.9 out of 10. Will Chase of ''BlackGrooves.org'' praised the production "driven by The Jacka’s ear for a diverse range of beats. Familiar Bay Area names like Jeffro, Young L and Traxmillion lay bluesy, lush arrangements incorporating everything from soft synth pads to Middle Eastern percussion to Daft Punk" supplemented by a diverse guest list which drew upon acts from all over the country. Jeff Baird of ''PotHolesInMyBlog.com'' delivered a more mixed reception. "Freeway and Jacka have an innate ability to resonate with their listeners as they navigate that territory ocumenting street life and struggle.There’s a sense of authority gained when one has endured a similar struggle, and that powers much of the album" but criticized tracks such as "Shuckin & Jivin" and "Just Remain" as being "ill-advised, which drastically hamper the album’s built-up rhythm." He rated the album 3.5 out of 5.

Track listing

''Highway Robbery''

''Write My Wrongs''

References

{{Authority control 2013 collaborative albums 2014 collaborative albums The Jacka albums