By Adam Wakefield

With over 40 invited guests present, Jack stood before them and said Self Medicated - on sale to the public on Friday, 29 April - had been the result of many hours of hard work by everyone involved in its production.

“It’s been nearly two years, a year and a half-plus in the making to get this record where it is today. A lot of ups and downs, good times, bad, but its all in the music which I think is a good thing,” he said before an audience including label representatives, friends, media and fans.

He thanked Puma Select for the opportunity to hold the session at their store and Sony Music for putting the session together, noting how he appreciated Sony's support and hoped “we can do something special with the record”.

Jack reserved special praise for Don Juan, arguably the best dressed person in the room, who worked with him on the album.

“Don and me have been doing this music for too long actually. He’s always stuck with me whatever the crazy idea might be happening in mind. You have my back,” Jack said.

The last thing Jack said prior to track one, Fear The Rush, filling the room was while the sound is a little different, and might be ‘local-sounding’, it was 100% local, with Jack stating, “We doing it for SA, Joburg, Cape Town and wherever else.”

With the pleasantries out the way, Fear The Rush began, followed by Faded, Blow, Rocknrolla (one of Jack’s favourites on the album), and then Fall, which Jack said was likely his best single and stylistically, with Fall being one of his first attempts at a new vocal style, where he was going in the future.

Gold Plated, released last November as a “leak release” and which has garnered significant radio play since, followed, with the song being about fake people within the music business. “If something is false, it's gold plated, not real gold,” Jack said about the song.

Running Late, Burning Man, Insecure, Air Up There and Mercy rounded out the session.

The verdict? If you liked Notes from the Wild, Self Medicated is a worthy heir and compliment to Jack and those that worked with him. Even if you haven't listened to Notes from the Wild but enjoy hip hop, check out Self Medicated. You won't be disappointed. 

Self Medicated will be available for purchase on iTunes on Friday, 29 April.

For more information, visit www.rossjack.com. Alternatively, connect with him on Facebook or on Twitter.