Infinite Sounds UK: Album Review: Jacket Fulla Medalz by Timbo King x Ras Ceylon Prod. by Dawit Justice

Jacket Fulla Medalz

Timbo King x Ras Ceylon

Prod. By Dawit Justice

Now, this album only came to my attention recently and courtesy of John Dugan aka JD Hip Hop Reviews. It was originally released way back in 2025 with a digital release and then later in May of 2025 with a physical release and a digital re-release.

Jacket Fulla Medalz comes from Brooklyn emcee Timbo King (Royal Fam) and Sri Lankan born emcee Ras Ceylon. The project is produced by Dawit Justice, for Medal Gear, and features cuts from Selecta Kram. The album also brings together lyricists from both coasts of the US with guest appearances from Buckshot, LA the Darkman, Prodigal Sunn and Tragedy Khadafi.

Just before I get into my deep dive of the album, there is a line I’d like to quote from the promotional material that sets this one up nicely, With its raw delivery and timeless production, Jacket Fulla Medalz stands as a decorated testament to lyrical warfare and conscious resistance—designed for those who still believe in message-driven hip-hop. For me that says such a lot about the approach this album takes.

Let’s get into Jacket Fulla Medalz…

We begin with the big orchestral sound of Enter which mixes strings and a heavy drum beat that kicks your adrenaline levels into high gear from the get-go. This into sets the overall tone of the album with a sampled vocal, which I am not going to pretend I know the source of, that really speaks volumes about the militant stand this album is going to take, know where your from, your history, and stand up for what is right, regardless of how some mat look at you for the strength of your convictions. With the expectation built, Stolen Legacy brings a sound that has cuts, piano and vocal samples underpinning the pounding beat, giving this one a sound that has this Italian vibe to it brought by the piano notes. With cleaver wordplay Timbo and Ras give us a look in their understanding of how African culture has been overlooked, obscured, or even erased by scholars and historians. This is not just look at past events but, more recent events too and the rise of artists like themselves raising awareness. It is also worth noting that there is a book with the same title as this track by George G.M. James that explores these concepts in more detailed format and is likely a read worth seeking out if you want to know more. Next up. Is the albums title track Jacket Fulla Medalz. Bass and horns feature but are softened into the background by a heavy drum loop that gets you head nodding; there are also some slick cuts to round things off. Here Timbo and Ras give us a display of their individual lyricism in a way that shows you the power and the strength of their resolve. The complex nature and power of their words hits hard and idea that failure is not an option, goes to prove that outcome and lasting impression of the album is their focus.

Wylin sees the first guest appearance as Buckshot steps up to the mic. Dawit Justice brings a beat that guitar vibes as the base sound with the head nod beat getting your body moving; the horns on the bridge just adds an extra level to raise you up. Wylin is a slang term and one that has a few meanings. A couple that seem to fit here are unpredictable and extreme, the reason I say that is that the militant focus here gives you pause to understand both the unpredictable and extreme nature of both how the wordplay is delivered and, how you need to act, to be able to bring awareness to the subject matter that is being suppressed by the establishments. Three The Godway sees LA The Darkman and Prodigal Sunn feature alongside Timbo and Ras. Dawit brings a heavy sound that mixes piano notes taking to the forefront from the pounding drums. This gives you a backdrop sound that brings the vocals as the focus when they drop. This one has that posse cut vibe as each emcee drops a solid delivery of intellectual lyricism. There is still that deep aspect that brings a focus to raising your fist, standing up for justice and leading the charge in bringing a greater awareness to just what that justice means. We get to the mid-point of the album with Brownstonez where the sound switches to a jazz infused sound, one that immediately outs you in mind of smoky speakeasies, places where it was free to speak openly. This one takes you back to that time but also brings the present day into focus too. There is talk of the actions of the police and of fascism too. Subject matter that makes you think as you listen, making you wonder just how much has changed in the last seventy or eighty years or so. This is all still apparent in modern times; it is just how it is delivered that has changed.

The Coolest brings a beat with strings and guitar vibes that has a sound that puts you more in mind of those Wu-Tang beats. This one is look at the situations and mind state that shape you as you grow. There is a lot here that also focuses on the types of foods that feed your body and mind rather than just the flavours you crave. Being the coolest has changed a lot, whereas once it was all about peer pressure and looking good to others, now it is all about feeding you body what it really needs but also feeding the mind. It’s On In hits with a heavy beat that has this piano vibe that tweaks your nerves, just a little, giving you a sound that sparks your focus, seemingly bringing a clarity, like wiping mist from a window. That idea of clarity works well here as this one is all about taking some time away from all the heavy stuff and having a night out just enjoy yourself in whatever way that transpires. Tragedy Khadafi features on Frontline Generalz where the beat pounds and organ sounds carry you along, giving this one and overall sound that will work wherever you are listening at. This one sees the emcees standing as the frontline against the system, a system that is flawed and corrupt, and something that so many of us can associate with no matter where we come from. People the world over know how the system can fail them and leave them in a place where every day struggles are commonplace and system only works for those who run it or who profit from it. Here the generalz lead the way in the fight to hold these people to account and raise up the rest of us.

Go On mixes heavy drums with an electronic sound that puts you in mind of old eight-bit computer game sounds. This gives us a vibe that seems to keep you rooted in reality, never letting the drumbeat take you away from the moment. What I take from this one is a message that says invites you to focus on where you are headed in life. Never allowing anything to let you stray from that path you are forging. Realising your goals is a huge part of life and while our goals might change, subtly, from time to time, it is important to always stay focused and never lose sight of what is most important. We come to the albums penultimate track Curtainz, which sees Dawit give us a heavy pounding sound with piano notes that have an almost eerie quality, giving this one a sound that keeps you rooted in the hear and now, giving attention to what is being said. It’s all about the gritty reality of living in NYC and the impact that street life has. There are no punches pulled here as everything is laid bare for all to see. There are no rose-tinted glasses here to help you put a positive spin on things, this is the grim reality that truly exists. The album closes with Exit, the outro that has that same sound from Enter and rounds things off in a way that leaves you in no doubt about life is like beyond the front door, especially for certain ethnicities and peoples within society. Who you are and what you stand for can make you a target and that is one of the very real aspects of today’s society.

Lets get real with this one, there is a lot to like about this album, the production, the wordplay, the delivery, all is top notch and gives this album a side that is a pleasure to listen to, but when you move on from that aspect and begin to really listen to the lyrics, you realise that there is a darkness to the album. The darkness that comes through here is from the fact that there is still a fight going on between minorities and ruling bodies. Here, the focus is on the ethnic minorities but, it can also apply to other minorities in class and more because the system looks down on everyone, some more than others, there is little doubt there but, what is key here is that even if you are not classed as an ethnic minority, there is a lot to this album that speaks to you about the struggles of everyday life and what we experienced to get to where we are now. This album hits differently here in the UK because its focus is on American society where so many ethnic communities are looked down on and their roots and histories are changed and removed from what is taught. No community should have to suffer that and be required to dig for the truth.

Timbo King and Ras Ceylon have laid the facts bare here in a way that shows we still seem to be no further along in correcting these things, than we were thirty or forty years ago. Growing up with Hip Hop has shown me a lot about how people are treated by the system, and it seems astounding that we still see those same things now, that people are held back and judged due to the colour of their skin. That is one of the all-consuming messages that comes from this album, and one that you can’t avoid as you listen.

Like I said, there is also a lot to celebrate here too. The passion and fortitude that is shown by Timbo, Ras and the guest artists is second to none as they deliver their messages in a way that shows a dedication to showing the truth of society and raising people up by installing in them a power to stand up and be heard, and that brings with it a deep almost spiritual aspect with it. You can’t see the darkness you do not know the light too, for one does not exist without the other, and while there might not be a lot of talk about the light here, it does shine through in a way you might not realise until the album is over.

The wordplay has a depth and a strength that shows this was not written just to sell a few records. This is an album that was written to educate and make you think. That means you have to truly listen to those complex lyrics and see how they impact you. The production from Dawit Justice draws from and celebrates the golden age of Hip Hop and also pays homage to that Wu-Tang sound too, giving you a sound that is packed full of a passion for the sound and a raw power that hits with every beat.

This is one of those albums that you just have to give time to and see what it says to you, and I can see why it made so many waves when it had its original release.

My huge thanks to John Dugan for sending this one my way.

I’ll see ya next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy or stream here:

https://royalfam.bandcamp.com/album/jacket-fulla-medalz

https://rootsnculture.shop/product/timbo-king-x-ras-ceylon-x-dawit-justice-jacket-fulla-medalz/

https://music.apple.com/us/album/timbo-king-presents-jacket-fulla-medalz/1811599685

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