J Live - Reveal the Secret EP It all started as a way to be heard. A way to transfer pure thoughts into speech, and speech into meaning. The spoken meaningful words then became something unique when told to the "break-beat" sounds of drums and melody being "looped" repetitively at some random Brooklyn street party...and everyone wanted their turn! Their turn to what? To RAP! That's how it started right? We've all heard the stories and watched the VH-1 docs on how hip hop began and yada yada blah blah blah. One thing happened shortly thereafter which has lost it's placed in today's commercial hip hop releases. The truth! The knowledge! The beliefs, views and opinions of the speaker! Not the audio speaker, the vocal speaker. Also known as the MC!
J-Live is a true MC. Not only does he use word play that could take some time to settle and digest, but he does it with finesse. All the while never losing his listener or digging a hole to deep to climb out of. This cat is simply solid. At first listen you will just go with the groove. "I mean, his material is fresh!" But guaranteed, something will hit you further down the line and then you'll understand..."This cat speaks!" Maybe it's the fact that he's also a Brooklyn Junior High School teacher. Yes, you read that correctly...a teacher! Not like KRS-ONE (well, kinda like KRS-ONE on the mic i guess but) he teaches the youth! And you don't have to attend his school to peep a lecture, many of them are available in his 4 studio releases including his latest effort, "Reveal The Secret EP".
Reveal The Secret is something that any fan of Hip Hop can appreciate. Whether you dig the smooth production of J-Live himself, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Marco Polo, DJ Spinna and others or the smooth poetic delivery of J-Live himself the MC, this small plate appetizer leaves you hungry for more. "Once Upon A Mic" tells the story of most MC's in the game today, struggling amongst the underground while the wack keep getting airplay and props. The standout track and 12" single "Practice" is pure genius. J brings to life the forgotten element that breeds success. We all practiced something in our lives. I'm practicing my penmanship and writing as I type this very article. I'm no author. I'm no editor. But I do write and I do PRACTICE!
J-Live is here to keep our heads noddin' and our minds open. His previous releases "The Best Part", "All Of The Above", "The Hear After" and "Always Will Be" have all lead him to where he is now: A dj turned producer turned MC turned label exec turned CEO turned RESPECTED! If you dig "Reveal The Secret" do some back catalog searching. It's worth your time!
