J-live has long gone un-noticed in the commercial and underground world of hip hop. It would be a lie for me to say he is one of the most talented to ever touch the mic, yet j-live, im 99 % sure, is better then most rappers YOU have ever heard.
Of course a rapper like J is not going to recieve any recognition in today's ringtone mania industry full of gimmicky songs with no substance and meaning.
Yet, here we go on the track details on the album voted 'Hip Hop Connection' magazine's album of the month June 2008 (a very prestigious uk hip hop magazine).
1.) One to 31 3:29
This song has a real classic golden age hip hop era feel about it. It contains old skool type scratches coupled with voice samples. J talks of knowledge he has gained over the years. He comes across as genuine and intelligent as he talks of the LACK of knowledge he gained from his father. What's more he states that we should utilize our time on earth as best we can. This song proves to be quite deep and thought provoking, J goes onto delve into how record labels brain wash the market by oversaturating it with crap gimmicky songs.
2.)Be no Slave 2:50
As far as the beat goes, and old soul sample proves the perfect backdrop as this short intro brings a double meaning with its title. There is obviously more then bragging rights on J's mind. After a lot of label (record company) trouble, aswell as a consumer market that is only looking for ringtone downloads J refuses to be a slave. He promises to 'man up in ways boys aint prepared to' and has dumb rappers in his scope with this track promising nothing less then the
purest form of hip hop.
3.) The upgrade (feat. Posdanous & Oddisee) 5:59
Fresh beat with old skool scratches and and old soul sample providing the vocals. This equates to a nice combination. This song is all about upgrading ones life and Hip Hop itself. J talks of taking his career to the next level. 'I write where im at like postcards or something.' J's wordplay is average by his standars on this track however it proves to be a laid back cool song. The featuring artists are not completely overshadowed with a nice set of verses between them.
4.) It don't stop 4:28
This song takes a fun approach to remind us that J has no intention of making music for the mainstream. Classic vinyl scratches are the backdrop to an eloquent love letter, penned by an artist to his first love, hip hop. And as the title may suggest, hip hop won't stop, 'who in they right mind think they can put a stop to hip hop, it don't stop till i stop.' He continues to rhyme of a culture that has surpassed racial and social barriers.
5.)The Understanding 4:38
One of my favourtie beats on the album, punchy and funky at the same time, allowing anyone who spits on its flow to sound nice. J rhymes once again about how he attained the knowledge he beholds and how he inserts this knowledge, into his music. He sites his parents, peers and environment as having biggest impact on his 'understanding.' 'It's ill coz my role models are my peers now.' 'As life keep testing and stressing we keep planning and bringing these planets to a better understanding.' I really liked this soothing beat, and think most would enjoy this smooth track.
6.)The last third 4:24
This song begins with a funky beat that will instantly have anyone with a pulse, nodding their head. A real jazzy tone is set in this song with saxophones accompanying the song at the halfway point. Although one of the best beats on the album, in my opinion it is one of the weakest songs. Lacking real direction and purpose with no real concept it seems another 'love letter' to hip hop has faded in to black.
7.) Ole (feat. Oddy Gato) 4:45
One of the best intro's to a song i have ever heard, let alone to a J-live song. There's a very Latin American feel to this beat as you might expect with a name like 'ole'. J after all is Latin, despite often being mistaken for an African American. A latin guitar rhythm is playing at an upbeat tempo as trumpets blare out while J calls for everybody to repeat 'OLE!!!!' Here J talks of his average boring life over what is as i stated an above-average beat, although we are unable to tell whether he is taking on a persona, or infact talking about his real life. Moreover, proceeding J's verse of his student-like life J is invited to a latin party where things really begin to liven up. The up-tempo beat is the perfect fitting for this song discussing fun and the trials and tribulations of everyday life.
Basically on this track J is rhyming about how you are what you hold. The amount of money you have can say alot about you, your possesions mental or material make up who you are. 'see this mic, its a real emcee holdin it.,' he talks of holdin the mic and hip hop and how hip hop makes him who he is. The beat is a nice drum loop with blaring trumpets at points although it can get monotonous aftera few minutes. Overall a decent song but not the best on the album
9.) Oowee 4:21
Another heavy kicked funky beat althoug, there is no real underlying concept or substance in this song. J's flow and rhyme skills on this track are uncharacteristically dead with nothing really standing out. J-live comes across by no means neccesary as a ladies man. Therefore this track telling the tale of him trying to get a girl's number comes across as boring and a useless track for the album. The 'oowee' hook in the chorus sounds cheesy and J proves that he can not pull of the ladies man bravado.
10.) The Zone (feat.Chali 2na) 4:05
First impressions of this song, it sounds very commercial, a song you might find on mtv etc.. desapite the hollering of 'i dont give a fuck if they play me in the club' this song seems like it could be aimed at that target group of club goers. Basically J and chali are boasting about the women and attention they get in the club. This most definately doesn't suit J-live and proves to be one of the weakest tracks on the album. Dj omar does a decent job on the production side with a nice beat, too bad J couldn't follow with the lyrics. I hate it when emcees just spend a whole song boastin, however that may jus be my preference, i would much rather hear a real life story or hood stories of everyday life, ahh welllll.
11.) We are! 3:16
One thing to sum up this song is FUNKY!!! In that old soul type of way. An old soul sample is funked up to provide the melody as J spits over a background voice hollering 'We are here!' J talks of 'as long as the mic is here we'll be here' (rappers). Humourous wordplay entertains throughout with lines such as, 'call me a bully, coz i'll only fuck a pussy.'
12.) Simmer Down 4:43
A laid back bass guitar type beat laces this track as J warns rappers who's 'hands can't cash the checks' their mouths are making to 'simmer down'. The concept could have been nice yet the production along with J saying nothing of any real interest results in an average, sub-par, by j's standards, track.
13.) You out there 5:03
This song discusses the evolution of hip hop, from vinyl to cassette to CD to mp3, whats more technology like itunes. What's more he continues to state that he still has alot of evolving and growing to do within the industry and hip hop. As a finale he states that any haters or points he missed, he'll 'catch on the next album.' He urges people to express themselves, 'if you out there, get yourself seen, if you out there, get yaself heard'. A nice finale to the album as J wraps it up, the beat is smooth though not the best on the album, but overall a good end to a pretty decent album by anyones standards.
Ultimately, a nice comeback album (as such) by J-live, by his standards its a fairly decent album, production was nicem though on a couple of songs it seemed as though J was going down the commercial route a little. I would hate to see a rappers of J's caliber sell-out so i would hope to see less of this in the future. But a real nice effort by that latin guy nobody knows, j-live.
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