Following a 2015 EP and appearances on numerous mixtapes by EarthGang, Sy Ari Da Kid, and Spillage Village, Atlanta-based rapper J.I.D made his full-length debut in 2017 with The Never Story, courtesy of J. Cole's Dreamville imprint. From the start, it's obvious that J.I.D isn't trying to emulate anyone else in the Atlanta rap scene. Instead of bass-heavy trap beats, his backing tracks are more organic-sounding and veer closer to smoky neo-soul, as he switches between swift rapping and romantic crooning. 6LACK guests on "8701," while "D/Vision" features EarthGang.