J-Live 'The Hear After' album

At the forefront of New York's independent hip hop scene since the mid ‘90s, J-Live was one of the first artists to achieve real success without significant airplay or a major label push. He relied strongly on grassroots promotions and old fashioned hard work, as well as his stellar lyrical skills. For years, J-Live has remained an independent music icon taking his time to release quality albums. This year, joining forces with Penalty/Rykodisc, J-Live prepares to drop what may be his most sophisticated, conceptual album so far, The Hear After.

Recorded mostly at J’s own Triple Threat Studios in Philadelphia (J recently relocated to Philly from New York), The Hear After actually seems to have taken on a life of its own. Guest vocalists on the album include the soulful sounds of Virgin recording artist Dwele and up and coming artist, Kola Rock, Cvees. The album features production by Soulive, James Poyser (Philly), Floyd the Locksmif (Atl), Hezekiah, Probe DMF, Oddisee (DC), and J-Live himself. “The title is a play on words. People think of the here after as the after life or somewhere you go when you die. Like heaven or hell. Personally, I see heaven as being at peace with yourself while you’re alive. I see hell as the path you choose in life as opposed to a place you go after death. The album is called The Hear After because I’m at peace with myself musically, and I’ve been through hell to get that way. This is what you “hear after” all that has transpired so far. This is what I’ve been working to accomplish since the last album.”

Like J’s last two full length records, The Best Part and All of the Above, The Hear After covers a wide range of thoughts and emotions both musically and with its subject matter. “If you were to look at the whole thing, you would see a story line about an artist trying to maintain and expand his career and still be there for his family. That was the biggest struggle while making the record, and it’s no coincidence that it’s a consistent theme on The Hear After. But there are songs about almost every aspect of my life from growing up in the city, to raising kids, touring heavily, building and teaching, politics, party and bullshit. I can’t just spit about one thing for a whole record. That’s not my style."

J-Live has been rhyming and mixing since the age of 12 but he has made much more of a name for himself as an MC than as a DJ. “I definitely focus on rhyming more. Growing up doing both, it was easier on the pockets to be an MC. Records and equipment can get expensive. But I love spinning." One of the highlights of his entertaining live show is when he rhymes and beat juggles on the turntables simultaneously, performing his classic, "Bragging Writes." A triple threat, J-Live also produces. He combines some of the tastiest samples with emotion moving raw beats and occasional live musicians to construct the most original tracks and heart stopping beats.

For example, on the captivating intro song “Here” J enlists the services of the world renowned Jazz group Soulive, to remake Love Unlimited Orchestra’s rendition of “Theme from King Kong”. Riding the beat so perfectly, it almost sounds as if his voice is another instrument. It grabs the listener by the shoulders and demands that you sit up and pay attention to the complex word play. Of course there are party cuts, "Aww Yeah" and "Harder" destined to be dance floor anthems and show favorites. "Weather the Storm" delivers stunning, astute, political commentary against the backdrop of a menacing beat with eerie overtones.

J-Live has always used music to get his messages across. He explains, "I grew up listening to everything from BDP to NWA, to PE, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Nice and Smooth. Whether the music was pimped out, gangsta, militant or whatever, rappers had something important to say to kids like me. And I listened intently. As a 5%er, I can’t even vocalize how much of an influence hip hop had on the way I see the world."

Case in point, J’s favorite song on the album, "Audio Visual" is so descriptive it's a song "in 3-D". From the quirky, key accents to the thick-ass bottom running throughout the song, J-Live paints a colorful, picture of his life on and off the mic. "Brooklyn Public" is his ode to his days as an educator. Earlier in his career, J-Live taught middle school English/ Language Arts in Brooklyn.

J-Live has produced a sonically sophisticated, mature album, fit for Escalades as well as iPods. "I feel like I represent hip hop’s middle class. Seems like everybody’s either crying broke or screaming rich or both. I try to speak to the people in between. The everyday hard working fun loving hip hop heads."

The Hear After is going to be one of the best albums of the year for J-Live, for hip hop, for music period. Whether you’re new to J’s music or hip hop’s independent scene, or a long time dedicated fan, there are beats and rhymes, stories and vibes, to enjoy from now till The Hear After.

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J-Live - The Hear After