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/
Got What It Takes
J-Live Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm coming to your city playing connect the dots
If you can't bite the apple then we brought the applesauce
WHAT IT MEANS IS the versitile still got the moxie
When it comes to
Shit you love, that gets true love
In places where nothing else does,
The underground rise above
The steam when we make shit hot, THANKS ALOT to
All those who know True School is a must
If the records in your crates don't collect no dust
And your steel wheels got no rust
Tables are turning towards
Brothers with hot lyrics that keep yours ears burning like
UNSPOKEN HEARD is down with us
C. V. (?) is down with us
Raw Shack records you just can't trust but
Rolling with the punches is a definite must
I'm number 7 on the mic,
Babydoll don't forget,
Some of y'all scratch your head like your scalp got lice
I live and die for it, just cause, not just cuz
So if it ain't justice then you get just ICE
See, at the date of this writing, yo my shit's on hold
At the date of this writing I'm predicted gold
If 500,000 love real rhymes and beats
I'll be halfway to platinum when it hits the streets
[chorus]
Do you got what it takes
To take what I got? (I think not)
Do you got what it takes
To take what I got? (I think not)
(I got street knowledge plus a college degree)
Do you got what it takes
(I got props as a DJ and a true emcee)
To take what I got?
(I got ????)
Do you got what it takes
(I got nuff respect in every time zone)
To take what I got?
So did you miss me? (YEAH)
Well, I missed you too.
Did you miss me? (for real?)
Yo, I missed you too
The hip-hop in my veins to which I stay true
Tradition's brand old, but the flavor's brand new
Now did you miss me? (word)
Then I missed you too
But if you diss me
You better know I diss you too
The hip-hop in my veins to which I stay true
Got crab mutherfuckers not doing doo-doo
Now do you think that you can handle my derogitory style
That knocks the wind out you like a flagrant foul
Oh, you drop some shit?
But I transform the crowd into fecofeliacs when move my vowels
And when you got to try to throw in the towel
I wet it, rip you with it, wait a minute, don't look now
Cuz I'm so amped up to set this off
We goin back in time to snatch out yer mother's (PUSH!) womb right now
Now, now, now, how's that for hostile?
Who's that that stated
The Live one that brag is the most overrated
Ain't I rated over most that brag?
Damn right, and one, now what?
See, yo, GIMME THAT MIC
What the hell you gon do with it?
You just mad cuz ??? and your shoes fit it
You need to find some lyrics that can fill these kicks
Until then, just refrain from riding my dick, until
[chorus]
Til you got what it takes
To take what I got? (I think not)
Do you got what it takes
To take what I got? (I think not)
Do you got what it takes
To take what I got? (I think not)
Do you got what it takes
Do you got what it takes
So don't call this a comeback (why J?)
Cuz that would imply that time would
Nullify the store for looking fly, guy (?)
But my juice on ice that says concentrate
Has no exporation date
No matter how long you wait
So you better in a cesspool with no BENCH
Tryna combat the STENCH
With a stick of inCENSE
Kid, it doesn't make SENSE
Claiming Live is past TENSE
Under false preTENSE
So repent with knees BENT
See, my time and my money's both wisely spent
I'm beyond fresh,
I'm heaven sent with a lemon scent
Cutting you up
Like Eric B. running for president
So a penny for your thoughts isn't worth a red cent
Now, you stepping in my realm of malicious intent
You get powerbombed like a Sid Vicious event
So ask yourself, when your rules and your back gets bent
Where your pride and your props and back-up went, cuz...
[chorus]
You ain't got what it takes
To take what I got (I think not)
Do you got what it takes
To take what I got? (I think not)
You ain't got what it takes
To take what I got
The song "Got What It Takes" by J-Live is about his skill in the rap game and his constant search for true hip-hop music, which he characterizes as the "True School." He starts by addressing "hot college radio spots" and declaring his intentions to play there, saying that if they can't appreciate his style, they can have the "applesauce," meaning that he has no need for them. He is saying that he knows he has what it takes to succeed in the true hip-hop community, where he is all about the "True School."
The True School is a reference to the old-school or underground hip-hop scene that emphasizes the importance of lyrical skill and storytelling, something which J-Live prides himself on. He points out that this type of music is overlooked or underappreciated in certain places where it deserves to be recognized, which he says is where the "underground rise above." He is saying that his music is for those who know the True School is a must and that he is one of the brothers with hot lyrics that keep your ears burning. J-Live makes reference to some other lesser-known hip-hop acts like Unsoken Heard and C.V., who are more in line with True School hip-hop.
In conclusion, "Got What It Takes" is J-Live's way of declaring his skill in the rap game and his dedication to the True School of hip-hop. He is saying that he knows his music is superior and deserves recognition, and he wants to share it with those who appreciate it. J-Live is confident in his skills and is not afraid to speak his mind on what he thinks about his music.
Line by Line Meaning
Ayo, calling all hot college radio spots
J-Live is calling out to all the popular college radio spots
I'm coming to your city playing connect the dots
J-Live is going to be traveling around and playing gigs
If you can't bite the apple then we brought the applesauce
J-Live is saying that he is versatile and that if you can't handle his music, he's got something else to offer
WHAT IT MEANS IS the versitile still got the moxie
J-Live is explaining that his versatility and talent is still strong
When it comes to
J-Live is about to discuss something that's important to him
Shit you love, that gets true love
J-Live is talking about the appreciation he has for music that isn't always popular
In places where nothing else does,
J-Live is talking about how the underground music scene is often overlooked
The underground rise above
J-Live is saying that underground music is breaking through
All the cream in this coffee mug, like what?
J-Live is asking his listeners to recognize the best of underground music
The steam when we make shit hot, THANKS ALOT to
J-Live is thanking those who help create a passionate underground music scene
All those who know True School is a must
J-Live is talking about how True School rap cannot be ignored
If the records in your crates don't collect no dust
J-Live is saying that if your music is good, it won't be collecting dust
And your steel wheels got no rust
J-Live is referring to those who are committed to DJing
Tables are turning towards
J-Live is recognizing a shift in the genre
Brothers with hot lyrics that keep yours ears burning like
J-Live is highlighting the importance of talented rappers
UNSPOKEN HEARD is down with us
J-Live is giving a shoutout to the hip-hop group Unspoken Heard
C. V. (?) is down with us
J-Live is giving a shoutout to a person or group named C.V.
Raw Shack records you just can't trust but
J-Live is saying that Raw Shack records is not trustworthy
Rolling with the punches is a definite must
J-Live is saying that you must be able to adapt in the music industry
I'm number 7 on the mic,
J-Live is saying that he is number 7 on the microphone
Babydoll don't forget,
J-Live is addressing someone named Babydoll
Some of y'all scratch your head like your scalp got lice
J-Live is saying that his music can be challenging to listeners
I live and die for it, just cause, not just cuz
J-Live is saying that he is dedicated to his craft
So if it ain't justice then you get just ICE
J-Live is saying that if you're not being just, you will receive punishment
See, at the date of this writing, yo my shit's on hold
J-Live is saying that his music career is currently on hold
At the date of this writing I'm predicted gold
J-Live is saying that he predicts his future music will be successful
If 500,000 love real rhymes and beats
J-Live is saying that if 500,000 people appreciate good music
I'll be halfway to platinum when it hits the streets
J-Live is saying that he will be halfway to a platinum album if 500,000 people appreciate his music
[chorus]
J-Live's chorus begins
Do you got what it takes
J-Live is asking listeners if they have what it takes
To take what I got? (I think not)
J-Live is saying that he doesn't think anyone can match his talent
(I got street knowledge plus a college degree)
J-Live is saying that he has both street smarts and a college education
(I got props as a DJ and a true emcee)
J-Live is saying that he has earned respect as both a DJ and a rapper
(I got ????)
J-Live's lyrics are unclear in this spot
Do you got what it takes
J-Live is again asking if listeners have what it takes
(I got nuff respect in every time zone)
J-Live is saying that he has earned respect worldwide
To take what I got?
J-Live is reiterating that no one can match his talent
So did you miss me? (YEAH)
J-Live is asking if people missed him
Well, I missed you too.
J-Live is saying that he missed his fans
Did you miss me? (for real?)
J-Live is again asking if people missed him
Yo, I missed you too
J-Live is again saying that he missed his fans
The hip-hop in my veins to which I stay true
J-Live is saying that he is dedicated to hip-hop
Tradition's brand old, but the flavor's brand new
J-Live is saying that the music he creates is a mix of old and new styles
Now did you miss me? (word)
J-Live is asking again if people missed him
Then I missed you too
J-Live is again expressing his feelings of missing his fans
But if you diss me
J-Live is saying that there will be consequences if someone disrespects him
You better know I diss you too
J-Live is saying that he will retaliate if someone disrespects him
Got crab mutherfuckers not doing doo-doo
J-Live is calling out unproductive and unskilled rappers
Now do you think that you can handle my derogitory style
J-Live is warning that his style can be offensive
That knocks the wind out you like a flagrant foul
J-Live is saying that his style can be overwhelming
Oh, you drop some shit?
J-Live is challenging another rapper's skills
But I transform the crowd into fecofeliacs when move my vowels
J-Live is bragging about the power of his lyrics
And when you got to try to throw in the towel
J-Live is saying that his skills are overwhelming
I wet it, rip you with it, wait a minute, don't look now
J-Live is threatening his opponent
Cuz I'm so amped up to set this off
J-Live is excited to start rapping
We goin back in time to snatch out yer mother's (PUSH!) womb right now
J-Live is using imagery to represent how he will attack his opponent
Now, now, now, how's that for hostile?
J-Live is gloating about his talent
Who's that that stated
J-Live is asking who doubted his talent
The Live one that brag is the most overrated
J-Live is saying that some people call him overrated
Ain't I rated over most that brag?
J-Live is boasting about his talent
Damn right, and one, now what?
J-Live is celebrating his talent
See, yo, GIMME THAT MIC
J-Live is demanding the microphone
What the hell you gon do with it?
J-Live is asking what his opponent will do with the microphone
You just mad cuz ??? and your shoes fit it
J-Live's lyrics are unclear in this spot
You need to find some lyrics that can fill these kicks
J-Live is saying that his opponent needs to improve their skills
Until then, just refrain from riding my dick, until
J-Live is saying that his opponent should stop copying him until they improve their own skills
[chorus]
J-Live's chorus begins again
Til you got what it takes
J-Live is saying that until someone can match his talents
To take what I got? (I think not)
J-Live is saying that no one can match his talents
Do you got what it takes
J-Live is once again asking if someone has what it takes
To take what I got? (I think not)
J-Live is once again saying that no one can match his talents
Do you got what it takes
J-Live is again asking if someone has what it takes
To take what I got? (I think not)
J-Live is again saying that no one can match his talents
Do you got what it takes
J-Live is once again asking if someone has what it takes
You ain't got what it takes
J-Live is saying that no one can match his talents
Contributed by Madison L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.