J-Live - "The Best Part"

“The Best Part”, the debuted album by the ultra-talented J-Live was released in 2001 on Triple Threat Productions.  Originally slated to be released in 1999, due to difficulties with various labels wasn’t released until a couple of years later. J-Live gained some early buzz after appearing on the Stretch and Bobbito show and with his single “Braggin’ Writes.”  He parlayed that buzz into lining up a superstar cast of producers for his album, including Prince Paul, Pete Rock and DJ Premier. J-Live, a true triple threat (Rapper, DJ and Producer) actually did all the cuts on the album other than the title track which was handled by DJ Premier. If you ever seen J-Live in concert than you’ve probably seen him do his thing rapping while holding down the tables simultaneously. “The Best Part” is a return the essence of Hip Hop music.

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Chris: I wanted to review J-Live’s “The Best Part” because it was an album that I was really fond of when I found the bootleg on AudioGalaxy back in the day. As you reminded me, it was recorded between 1996 and 1999 but wasn’t officially released until 2001. Although its official release was delayed, it sounded a lot like the other “underground”, ‘backpacker” shit that was popular around that time. What do you remember of hearing J-Live and “The Best Part” for the first time?

Mike: Discovering this album happened pretty randomly for me. A friend gave me “The Best Part” swearing I would dig it. I knew nothing regarding J-Live’s come up, crew or affiliated artists but one glance at the producer credits and I was down to give it a go. By the way, the OG album cover was way cooler.

Chris: Yes! Love the play off of NBA Live

Chris: Kind of cool, the assortment of producers that contributed to this project. 88-Keys, Grap Luva, Prince Paul, DJ Spinna, Pete Rete and DJ Premier. How do you feel like the album flows? Do you have a preference between albums with several different producers or an entire album with a single producer? I like the tracks that Grap Luva produced, I’d like to hear what they could come up with for an entire album. Did you know that other than the title track, J-Live did all the cuts himself?

Mike: Considering the cast of producers J-Live utilized, the album flows seamlessly. J-Live picked timeless producers that gave him a backdrop to lay down his raps and it gives “The Best Part” a cohesiveness that’s close to as if it was produced by a single producer.

I would prefer to work with a cast of producers in the same vein, working toward the same sound as opposed to picking a single producer. The multi-producers give “The Best Part” a wider dexterity and textures that breaks up the monotony of J-Live’s sometimes forgettable flows.

I definitely see the potential of J-Live working exclusively with Grap Luva, as I feel “Them That’s Not” is a standout track.

J-Live – “Them That’s Not” (Produced by Grap Luva)

Chris: Interesting. I kind of enjoy J-Live as a lyricist. Not overly complicated but he’s a decent storyteller, has nice battle raps, there is social commentary and I dig his metaphors on songs like “Wax Paper”

J-Live – “Wax Paper” (Produced by Prince Paul)

Mike:  What you appreciate about J-Live’s content is probably my main beef with his approach to penning songs.  Seems like a generic tradeoff of all the staples of traditional Hip Hop content, but not stamped with a distinguishing identity. I don’t feel like I know much about J-Live after playing “The Best Part” in its entirety.

I have a question for you. If someone asked you to describe J-Live’s music, what would your response be?

Chris: I’d describe it as laid back and mindful.

In November of 1995, J-Live appeared in The Source as their “Unsigned Hype” for that issue. This question is slightly off topic but how important was The Source for you as a medium for expanding your knowledge and interest in Hip Hop music? Not that they were all that hard but I used to finish those crossword puzzles in one sitting.

Mike:  The Source had a miniature influence on my album choices. I mainly looked at the mag for Chino BYIs (whatup CHINO, whats up with your Knicks?” “Graff Fix” section.

Chris: Did you have any favorite tracks?

Mike: The legends involved came through and lent their signature sounds, which are the brightest moments on the album. Prince Paul’s “Wax Paper”, Pete Rock’s “Kick It to the Beat”, and Premier’s title track, all left a very Hip Hop classic vibe.

Chris: Yes, “Kick It to the Beat” with that cool Harvey Mandel sample!

J-Live feat. Probe.dms and Asheru – “Kick It to the Beat” (Produced by Pete Rock)

Harvey Mandel – “Baby Batter”

Chris: How do you feel about “The Best Part” now verses how you felt about it back you first heard it?

Mike: I don’t want to sound like a negative Nancy as far as this joint goes but truthfully it isn’t an album I yearn to bump currently. The All-Star production line up doesn’t save an otherwise forgettable rapper. The best part of “The Best Part” is when the album ends.

Chris: I wouldn’t go that far but aside from a couple of tracks, “The Best Part’s” value really didn’t hold up for me either. Still think it's pretty good.