J-Live was born and raised in Uptown Manhattan, New York City. After making… Read Full Bio ↴J-Live was born and raised in Uptown Manhattan, New York City. After making a home for himself in Brooklyn upon graduating from SUNY at Albany, J relocated to Philadelphia in 2003. "Moving to Philly was more for the family than any kind of career move. But the whole music scene here and the hip hop community here have embraced me with open arms since I arrived. I've gotten a lot of support from so many different artists and dee jays. This city is jam packed with talented and beautiful people."

J-Live started his career by releasing solid 12" such as "Longevity", "Braggin' Writes", and "Hush the Crowd", which earned him a spot in The Source's "Unsigned Hype" column.

Recorded mostly at J's own Triple Threat Studios in Philadelphia, The Hear After actually seems to have taken on a life of its own. Guest vocalist on the album, include up and coming artist, Kola Rock, Cvees, and the soulful sounds of Virgin recording artist, Dwele. The album features production by Floyd the Locsmif (Atl), Hezekiah, James Poysner (Philly), Probe DMS, Fire Dept., (NYC), 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. Me 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 its no coincidence that it's a theme that becomes obvious listening to it. But there are songs about almost every aspect of my life from growing up in the city, to raising kids, touring heavy, 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, "Braggin' Writes." J-Live is also known to produce beats.

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 [[artist]Public Enemy], 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 imagine 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 for a few years.

Making music for the walkmans as well as the Jeeps, J-Live made a mature, sonically sophisticated album. "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."

Year Formed: 1995
Official Site: http://www.j-livemusic.com/

Braggin Writes
J-Live Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Every day is mayday
So you can talk your shit on how you're wettin' MC's
With mad blood stains but I'll bet you can't stand the rain
I'm lookin on your brain with disdain
Go back and reflect on my endeavors, black, I can't complain
It's like some ill shit, consistent with the way I make you feel
The ends stay revealed while the means I conceal
And those who try to steal get decapitated
You want to snatch my H2O type flow, that shit evaporated
I displays my credentials over instrumentals
And my potential, increases at a rate that's exponential
It's detrimental fucking with my thesis
The penetration's exact, like amniocentesis
I rip your rhyme to pieces after draining out your fluid
My vocab is fluent, yours is evident of being truant
I know you want to make moves but, son, you best to take a second look
Before my knight takes your rook

'Cause everybody's rapping and only few can flow
So why the hell they trying to deal with Live I don't know?
I handle true MC's on their block or at their show
So if you come with bullshit please keep it on the low

'Cause, yo, I got the hairsplitting, self-written unbitten style
That leaves the competition running scared and shittin' in their pants
You best to set it off 'cause, black, it ain't no second chance
Once I'm open, all you doing is hoping that the Live one
Will put the mic down, but, son, don't try to snatch it after
The laughter won't cease from the comparison, how dare you, son?
Step around the booth when I'm on
The microphone magician says poof, you're gone with the wind
There's no trace of your friends
'Cause you don't know where the beginning ends or where the end begins
But you see that's the difference, you get sold, I get paid
Black, I told you, get paid
If you're broke I'll have to rain on your parade
You belong in Special Ed if you think you got it made
J-live with the mic is like the chef with the blade
'Cause suckers get sliced and sautéed
Yeah, you thought your joint was fly
But the flight was delayed because

'Cause everybody's rapping and only few can flow
So why the hell they trying to deal with Live I don't know?
I handle true MC's on their block or at their show
So if you come with bullshit please keep it on the low

Yes, everybody's rapping and can't nobody flow
So why the hell they trying to deal with Live I don't know?
I handle true MC's on their block or at their show
So if you come with bullshit please keep it on the low

'Cause, yo, I'll take the brain matter of pretenders
Through my mental blender and then return to sender
My pen don't pretend to offend, I intend to render MC'
Hanging loose like a fender bender
You recommend regardless of your gender
That you strike fucking with J-Live from your agenda
And remember that whoever lends a helping hand to defend ya
Will get burned to a cinder
As I end the, reign of whack MC's with their suicidal tendencies
Rendering me sick with the thoughts of killing enemies
But then I return to reality
Metaphorically murdering MC's when they battle me
You can't rattle me
I'm not your average snake slithering through the grass
I surpass the serpent as I head to class

You consider me crass as I wax that ass, style's no joke
But you best believe I gets the last laugh

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of J-Live's song Braggin' Writes, he opens up about his impeccable use of metaphors and style of rap that has been developed deep within the Earth's core. His exhale of rhymes is compared to the eruption of a volcano, while his inhale is as seismic as an earthquake. J-Live declares his capability to run through anyone's crew, no matter where they're from, be it Dallas, Los Angeles or wherever he resides. The everyday struggle of staying on top of the game is compared to a mayday warning, bringing in a sense of urgency and seriousness to his craft. J-Live takes pride in his raw talent and consistency, making him stand out in the crowd. He further warns his competitors from trying to mimic his flow, stating that his vocab is fluent and that theirs is that of a truant student. He completes the verse by declaring his superiority over those who try to challenge him and snatch his crown.

In the chorus of the song, J-Live highlights the fact that anyone can try to rap, but only a few can flow. He doesn't understand why some even bother to challenge him, as he believes he can handle any true MC in their block or at their show. J-Live's style of rap is unique to him and nothing like biting, and he asserts that competition should just keep it on the low if they're not willing to put in the work that he has. The second and last verse continues with J-Live's confidence in his ability to slay his opponents with his self-written razor-sharp lyrics, leaving them shaking in their pants. J-Live issues a warning to his competition, telling them to set it off cause they won't be getting a second chance with him. His rap style is compared to that of a chef's knife skills, slicing and sautéing those that dare to step up to him. J-Live concludes the song with a sardonic remark saying that anyone who thinks they have it made, belongs in Special Ed, and the Live One shall reign supreme.

Line by Line Meaning

For underground metaphors
My lyrical content is focused on clever, subterranean comparisons and wordplay

You can scrape an inch below the turf, for what it's worth
Even a little bit of digging below the surface will reveal my depth as an artist

My style's been developed in the core of the Earth
My flow and delivery have been refined through years of hard work, like molten lava at the Earth's center

The exhale's volcanic, the inhale is seismic
When I breathe, my exhales are explosive like a volcanic eruption, and my inhales shake the ground like an earthquake

So brothers just panic when he Live one arrives with
When J-Live steps onto the scene, other artists should be intimidated and feel the need to step up their game

The natural ability to run through your crew
J-Live can easily lyrically defeat anyone in the room, without even trying

From 2-1-4 to 2-1-3 to 2-1-2
From Dallas, to Los Angeles, to J-Live's hometown

In other words, from Dallas, to L.A., to the place where J stay
Reiterating the cities mentioned previously

Everyday is mayday
Every day is a crisis, with J-Live constantly having to defend his title as a skilled MC

So you can talk your trash on how you're wettin MC's
Other artists may brag about defeating MC's, but J-Live is not impressed

with mad blood stains but I'll bet you can't stand the rain
You may be able to talk the talk, but you can't handle the pressure when challenged by J-Live

I look upon your brain with disdain
J-Live has no respect for the inferior lyrics of other MC's

Go back and reflect on my endeavors black I can't complain
J-Live is proud of the work he's put in to become a talented MC

It's like a raw deal, consistent with the way I make you feel
J-Live's flow is like a difficult situation, leaving other MC's feeling inferior

The ends stay revealed while the means I conceal
J-Live's ultimate goal is to be recognized as an accomplished MC, but he keeps his methods secret

And those who try to steal get decapitated
Anyone who tries to copy J-Live's style or lyrics will be lyrically destroyed

You want to snatch my H2O type flow, but it evaporated
Others may try to mimic J-Live's fluid flow, but it disappears quickly

I displays my credentials over instrumentals
J-Live showcases his skills over beats

And my potential, increases at a rate that's exponential
J-Live's potential for growth as an artist is limitless

It's detrimental questioning my thesis
Challenging J-Live's skills and talent is harmful to your own reputation as an MC

The penetration's exact, like amniocentesis
J-Live's flow is precise and surgical, like a medical procedure

I rip your rhyme to pieces after draining out your fluid
J-Live will lyrically dismantle anyone who tries to compete with him

My vocab is fluent yours is evident of being truant
J-Live's vocabulary is extensive and polished, while other MC's sound uneducated

I know you want to make moves but son you best to take a second look
Other MC's want to challenge J-Live, but they should think twice before doing so

Before my knight takes your rook
J-Live will easily defeat other MC's, as if playing a game of chess

Cause everybody's rapping, and only few can flow
Many people claim to be MC's, but only a select few have true skill

So why the hell they trying to deal with Live I don't know
It's foolish for other MC's to try to challenge J-Live

I handle true MC's on their block or at their show
J-Live is capable of defeating other skilled MC's, no matter the location

So if you come with bull kid, keep it on the low
If you're not a skilled MC, don't even try to challenge J-Live

Cause yo, I got the hairsplitting, self-written unbitten style
J-Live's style is unique, intricate, and self-created

that leaves the competition running scared and shaking in their pants
Other MC's are intimidated by J-Live's skills and talent

You best to set it off cause black it ain't no second chance
If you're going to challenge J-Live, make sure you bring your best performance, because you won't get another opportunity

once I'm open, all you doing is hoping that the Live one
Once J-Live is freestyling, other MC's can only hope they don't get lyrically destroyed

will put the mic down, but son don't try to snatch it after
Other MC's may try to steal the mic from J-Live, but he won't tolerate it

The laughter won't cease from the comparison, how dare you son
J-Live will continue to laugh and mock other MC's who try and fail to compete with him

Step around the booth when I'm on
J-Live is a force to be reckoned with when he's performing

The microphone magician says poof, you're gone with the wind
J-Live will lyrically destroy other MC's, making them disappear like magic

There's no trace of your friends cause you don't know where the
Other MC's will lose all their supporters after being destroyed by J-Live

beginning ends or where the end begins
Other MC's won't know what hit them or how it happened

But you see that's the difference, you get sold, I get paid
Other MC's may sell out their integrity for success, but J-Live stays true to himself and still succeeds

Black I told you, get paid
J-Live emphasizes the importance of financial success in the music industry

If you're broke I'll have to rain on your parade
J-Live will humiliate other MC's who are struggling financially

You belong in Special Ed if you think you Got It Made
Other MC's who are delusional about their skills and success belong in a special education program

J-Live with the mic is like the chef with the blade
J-Live's skills as an MC are as impressive as a chef's knife skills

Cause suckers get sliced and sauteed
Other MC's will be lyrically sliced and diced by J-Live

Yeah, you thought your joint was fly but the flight was delayed
Other MC's may think they're doing well, but they're not even close to J-Live's level

because
Transition to chorus