JAE SKEESE & CONWAY THE MACHINE SHOWCASES THEIR UNDENIABLE CHEMISTRY ON NEW ALBUM ‘PAIN PROVIDED PROFIT’

Conway The Machine has firmly established himself. In the last few years, the unrelenting Buffalo emcee has increased the pressure on some of the biggest stars in rap to improve their lyrical abilities while sitting beside his Griselda brothers Benny The Butcher and Westside Gunn. Conway has a vast and varied discography that includes everything from brief works like his 2020 EP with The Alchemist, LULU, to certified cult classics like 2015’s Reject 2.

God Don’t Make Mistakes, his Shady Records debut from last year, is only one example of his impressive body of work, but it’s becoming increasingly obvious with each release that he no longer feels the need to prove anything. He is currently attempting to promote his DrumWork label’s artists, with a focus on his protégé and first signee, Jae Skeese. Conway’s most recent collaboration with Skeese, Pain Provided Profit, strikes a balance between his seasoned presence and his mentee’s lyrical and technical prowess.

This EP’s skit, “Cocaine Paste,” establishes the mood. The following soundbit is taken from Kobe Bryant’s post-game 2009 NBA Finals interview: “The work is not done. Job completed? When a reporter asks Kobe why he’s not satisfied with a 2-0 finals lead, the basketball star responds matter-of-factly, “I don’t think so. The skit acts as a metaphor for Conway’s mentality, demonstrating that he has no intention of slowing down any time soon and that his work isn’t finished until the artists he’s nurtured can also shine.

Conway is his usual gritty and reflective self throughout the EP’s 24-minute running time. On “Metallic 5’s,” he raps with ease, “Look, Jae Skeese my accomplice and we leave evidence / A trail of n****s blood on the floor, a couple set of prints / I’m Heaven-sent, God of the grimy, this the New Testament.”

On “Stefon Diggs 2,” he slows down the action to consider his accomplishments and current global recognition. On the song’s hook, he boastfully states repeatedly, “My story is the motivation,” before Jae Skeese enters to riddle off tightly-rapped stanzas about how far he’s come. He raps with pride and admiration, “It’s hell that I made it out of with the one-liners / Had Justin Credible askin’, “Who you bring to Leakers?”

On “Le Chop,” the Buffalo combo trades 4-bar stanzas, with Conway rapping on his longevity in the game and Skeese thinking about his desire to do the same and be recognized as one of the best. Conway raps, “I just won another race / Ain’t no room on my mantel for no trophy, shit, I’m runnin’ out of space.” Conway is essentially handing the reins to a worthy emcee while simultaneously announcing that he intends to stick around for a while. Jae Skeese excels as a brilliant storyteller and outstanding technical rapper with the best look of his career so far.

Conway adamantly asserts his position as the best of his era over the joyful beat of “Promise,” which resembles a proud homecoming moment. He raps with obvious pride, “Conway and Skeese, can’t nobody fuck with the chemistry / This team I built is a dynasty, we on winning streak,” but by this time, this confirmation feels tiresome. The subject matter—a victory lap for mentor and mentee—can grow tiresome to the point of becoming pedantic, and that is one significant criticism of this EP.

Conway’s brilliance is further demonstrated by Pain Provided Profit, which also shows Skeese and DrumWork’s potential in the future. Conway is forced into a sink-or-swim mentality when Skeese is put in such close proximity to him for the first time. Fortunately, he executes lyrical backstrokes gracefully, demonstrating that he can compete with even the most tough emcees.