Reuben Vincent
By: Rosa Mendoza
Reuben Vincent’s Welcome Home isn’t just another release from a promising young MC—it’s the moment he steps fully into the lineage he’s been groomed for since childhood. Blending boom-bap roots, spiritual depth, and the discipline of a true craftsman, Vincent delivers a project that bridges generations of hip-hop lovers while signaling the arrival of an artist built for longevity. Through the mentorship of 9th Wonder, the backing of Roc Nation, and the grounding force of his own emotional intelligence, Vincent proves he’s not simply “next”—he’s actively shaping the future of the genre.
Enter Vincent
When reviewing this album, I really wanted to shy away from the cliché music-journalism angles we see everywhere. Here at JUJU, we review things holistically. As energy-curious people, I wanted to share this project with you from my angle—how I digested Welcome Home, and most importantly, how I’ve deduced that Reuben Vincent is great for hip-hop.
To save you the Google search, I’ll share the essentials. Reuben Vincent was born on December 30, 2000 and raised by a Liberian mother in a West African household in Queen City, USA (Charlotte, NC). At the age of 13, Vincent connected with hip-hop legend 9th Wonder, who was instantly floored by his talent. Sensei 9th Wonder planted a million seeds in young Reuben’s mind—things to master, artists to dissect—and made a promise to reconnect once Vincent’s voice dropped. If that’s not the beginning of a kung-fu movie, then what is?
Reuben Vincent’s freshman and sophomore albums, Myers Park and Boy Meets World—both boom-bap masterpieces—were released in 2017 and 2020 under Jamla Records. These projects showcased his prodigy status and craftsmanship, leading to a deal with Roc Nation. After signing in 2021, Vincent dropped three albums. Love Is War where he showed us he isn’t just a backpack-niche artist rather a versatile and sophisticated young emcee here to stay. Then came General Admission, an ode to his tangible African roots where he played with afro-beats motifs and Welcome Home, where 9th Wonder delivered on a promise he made to a young boy.
Welcome Home
Welcome Home is a lot of things:
A cinematic and heartfelt coming-of-age story with notes of The Prodigal Son and Brown Sugar.
A refreshing audio voyage for hip-hop lovers who’ve been tuned into the genre for decades.
An homage to the hip hop sound of the early 2000's, a pivotal point in the genre’s development.
A masterful ode to hip hop made by a Gen Z-er for his contemporaries.
A work of art showcasing the astute emotional intelligence available to men today.
A reflection of the transformative love, spiritual genius and tenderness present in grounded woman of color.
On a spiritual level, it is an energetic baton-passing between 9th Wonder and Vincent—two Capricorn men with an undying love and respect for what hip-hop is, has been, and always will be.
Leaving Home
Welcome Home intentionally led me down the Reuben Vincent rabbit hole, each project confirming that whatever pocket Vincent chooses, he shows out—his talent is truly limitless.
But my eyes are on the evolution of Reuben Vincent. The evolution of the Capricorn man who has made dropping projects of this caliber look easy at such a young age. Capricorns are undoubtedly the master craftsmen of the zodiac. The difference between being an enthusiast and being a craftsman is the total immersion required to become symbiotic with your work. Vincent clearly lives in the studio—there is no divide. Frankly, there aren’t many young men who can lock in and produce five superb hip-hop albums and then some during the peak of their youth. Vincent has been focused all while existing in the fringe of underground, slowly becoming a staple in a hip-hop-lover’s repertoire, all while being micro-dosed the notoriety he knows he rightfully deserves. You need a heart of gold, a checked ego, the support of a solid tribe, and—most importantly—a connection to the divine to learn the lessons he’s mastered so quickly.
As an astrologer with 20 years of experience watching the signs evolve, I’d say the most promising part of Reuben Vincent is his open heart and emotional intelligence. In Welcome Home, you hear him reference concepts like twin flames—a spiritual framework often misunderstood, used effortlessly by Vincent. Throughout all his projects, you can hear a young man who acknowledges his own infinite wisdom, one who has the insight to carefully listen to the stories of those who came before him, exercising the self control to dabble in the waters rather than ignorantly swim.
As a woman, one thing I’ve witnessed is the dustiness that plagues a man’s life when his ego tells him he’s too big—or too small—for the love of a good woman. That being said another thing Reuben Vincent has going for him is the love and respect he’s shown to the woman the universe has placed on his path. Regardless of orientation, when the universe puts someone in front of you to love, it is the calling of an evolved being to follow that and make that love their pilgrimage. Love heals, and healed people heal people.
In the future, I can foresee Vincent’s sound getting a little darker and sexier. My only concern is him getting too comfortable proving he’s a prodigy verbally instead of stepping into new terrain as an overall music producer. On social media we see hints of his stepping into production work, which I believe could be the tool that unlocks the music I sense he is capable of making in the years to come.
Vincent has all the ingredients to create something we’ve never heard before—foresight evident in his mesmerizing glare, Southern roots, a strong grasp on his African lineage, rhythm, encyclopedic musical knowledge, a growing curiosity for production, the love of an emotionally astute Black woman, the support of Roc Nation, and divine mentorship from artists like 9th Wonder and Young Guru. Reuben Vincent is building hip-hop’s future in real time.
Welcome Home is both Vincent’s and 9th Wonder’s due diligence to the game. Vincent proves he has enough car to start a renaissance, while 9th Wonder gains exposure to a younger audience in a way that honors the sound he’s mastered for decades. Digging into Reuben Vincent’s body of work speaks for itself—he’s put in the work. His lyrics speak to an audience of hip-hop lovers who are locked in mentally and spiritually, in a world where so many “leaders” in this genre use their clout to further pollute our communities. All that being said: Reuben Vincent is a rap prodigy—woke without being corny, hungry without being thirsty—and great for hip-hop.