From the forthcoming LP His Own Self hitting March 17th.

New music from J-Live’s forthcoming LP, His Own Self, due March 17th. Peep the tracklist below:

1. Peace, Be Still
2. Mic Singletary
3. Pay It Forward
4. Old Shit
5. I Just Don’t
6. Get It Together
7. I Am a Man (American Justice)
8. Red and The Kid
9. Be Still, Peace
10. I Am A Man (American Justice) Remix
11. The Greatest Thing.

Directed by Primate Rhyme for Primat City TV. From the album, Around The Sun.

Directed by Raul Buitrago. Produced by Inspirmentalist. J-Live and Kurious help out. In the second clip, peep “Anything,” a leftover non-album track from the Hallways recording sessions.

J-Live is working on a instrumental album. “The Greatest Thing” is only a hint of what’s to come.

“In the wake of the recent, not so recent and far too consistent tragedies and travesties of justice concerning Black men women children and the police, J-Live brings you “I Am A Man (American Justice)”. The title, inspired by the iconic signs from the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Worker Strike, is a declaration of human rights. The song serves as J’s open letter to abusive police as well as their apologists and supporters.”

From J-Live’s full length album Around The Sun. Directed by J-Live.

When major labels stopped investing in acts that were built around sampling, those artists went the do-it-yourself route, resulting in the great indie hip-hop boom of roughly 1996-2006. This movement saw smaller artists pressing up their own vinyl and CD’s, and gave birth to this site as well. J-Live was a part of this school, who saw his major label debut shelved, despite boasting production from Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Prince Paul, and others. The album was mysteriously released independently via Triple Threat Recordings in 2001 – an obvious nod to J himself, who is each DJ, MC, and producer. He followed up quickly a year later with All Of The Above, a critically acclaimed LP that carried on tradition of the vibey Native Tongue sound, here provided by himself and DJ Spinna.

Yet despite these two early triumphs, J had a rough time as a solo artist following that. Follow-ups didn’t quite meet expectations, as J didn’t have the A-list production of his first two albums, nor the backing of a major label or heavy indie imprint. As the years progressed, downloading music became the new model, with many hip-hop heads choosing to pirate, rather than pay, leaving smaller indie artists like J to struggle.

This struggle is evident on Around The Sun, J-Live’s new album, which barely has cover art attached to it, and is released digitally via Bandcamp, with no word on when we might expect a CD or vinyl release. But they say that the best art comes from pain, and Around The Sun is J’s best work since his 2002 LP, All Of The Above.

The Oddisee produced “Money Matters” tackles this topic head on, which despite the title, is far from your typical “get paper” anthem. Instead, J breaks down the reality of his situation as a starving artist, without sounding like he’s complaining: “I’m trying to raise two queens and protect the king / since a rook like Bishop, I’ve been doing my thing / every night / and I know that every game ceases / I’m trying to be the hand that the moves the pieces….”

“Not Listening” also eyes the problems with the industry as a whole, as J likely zeroes in how many aging heads feel about hip-hop today. In the first verse, he describes listening to a talented new emcee, but quickly loses interest as said emcee isn’t saying anything. Even better, in the last verse he boldly confesses: “Saddest part about it is that I almost didn’t write this / there’s too many songs just already like this! / in the name of hip-hop, trying to represent / complaining about these rappers and their shallow content / like they Luke Skywalker and they taking down Vader / Ironically the dark side is calling you a hater / I won’t even go as far as to say it’s insignificant / I can’t even hate it, I’m simply indifferent….”

As evidenced, J is in top lyrical form here, but what makes Around The Sun great is that the production weighs evenly along side it. The sound of the album, provided by names like Oddisee, Spinna, The Audible Doctor, DJ Nu-Mark, and J himself, is very much in line with that of his early career. The album carries a unified sound from a series of different producers, and keeps intact the timeless sound of the indie hip-hop movement he helped create. Your favorite rappers want to make music like this, but are afraid to. Support a man that isn’t.

J-Live’s 10th release and 6th full length album, Around The Sun marks yet another growth spurt for the indie hip hop veteran. Around The Sun features a smooth yet gritty OG boom bap New York sound. It’s a cohesive work of art, but still an eclectic listen with a wide range of production as exhibited by the first two released tracks “Money Matters” prod. by Oddisee and “Not Listening” prod. by Korede. Listen to the entire thing below via Bandcamp, or purchase at iTunes.

Produced by PJ Katz. From the forthcoming album, J-Live Around The Sun. Available April 29th everywhere digitally.

Produced by Korede. From the forthcoming album, J-Live Around The Sun April 29, 2014.

On the 3rd sneak peek into Strange Journey Volume Three, Deacon The Villain trades verses with J-Live while Kno handles the beat and hook to reveal the concept for the project — space explorers sent on a strange journey to Earth from a distant galaxy to find intelligent & empathetic life. Do they succeed? Find out April 1st when Strange Journey Volume Three hits stores everywhere! Photography by Sol Exposure.

From the forthcoming album Around The Sun. Directed by J-Live.

J-Live & J Nolan spittin’ over Stalley’s, “Fountain of Youth”. This is the third released track from J-Live’s forthcoming mixtape This Is Chess Not Checkers. “Fountain of Youth” was originally produced by Kardiak and featured Rick Ross and Nipsy Hussle.

Not sure how we missed this one. The Livest One covers the Diamond D / Brand Nubian classic. And he does all three voices – Diamond, Jamar, and Sadat. Day One…..