“The Reconstruction” marks the second release from DC Area soulster J. Pope. “The Reconstruction” sees J. Pope using poignant lyrics to tackle a range of societal woes and melodies of love and life, showcasing her ability to switch from smooth soul singer in one breath to an adept rap lyricist in another. J. Pope’s trademark political consciousness and seamless blend of hip-hip and R&B are key elements of “The Reconstruction” but are not the only exceptional things about the album. “The Reconstruction” heralds J. Pope’s foray into a new musical philosophy that mixes soul, funk, rock, hip-hop and the blues into a combustible combination that musically fuels her material. The album’s stomp-on-the-floor funk and hip-hop of yesteryear are cleverly polished with a modern veneer. This is an album full of up-beat sounds that reflect both the urgency of the song’s message as well as J. Pope’s unique “never to be denied” positive energy. Oozing with maturity and depth, J. Pope’s themes are of their time yet universal. She deconstructs the world around her and encapsulates those insights into songs. J. Pope cuts through. She’s more than a soul singer. She’s a voice we need now in R&B.