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/
How Real It Is
J-Live Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah... ladies and gentlemen...
Know what time it is... (it is a man's world)... time to do this
You better be taping this (don't front, girl.. come on)
*laughs* But you're probably not... are you?
You are?? Alrite, then.... that's what I'm talkin bout (you see?)
Always prepared... that's why they call him Two T's
Welcome to my world...
[starts rapping]
Where the quarter always gives you one life
So you better push your buttons just right(welcome to my world, world)
Where any given second, anybody can get it
You better hold on tight [echoes out]
'cause life can take a turn for the worse
And have you switching from the Coupe to the hearse
You better peep this verse
The streets ain't no joker, man...
The sidewalks might get you first
So wherever you rest you better don't sleep
'cause like Denzel said, you could either be a wolf or a sheep
And that ain't even criminology
I'm talkin bout the everyday 9 to 5 people, still gotta fight the evil
You could ride the fast lane or the train
The illest weapon you can load ain't your nine, boy, load your brain
You ask a real live gangsta and he'll tell ya the same (you know)
A lot'a dummies die young, man, simple and plain (fa'real)
A lot'a kids want to show they got heart
So they wild out, skip class (come on man)
And trade book smarts for streets smarts (you know better than that)
But ask yourself, even if you got one target
Ain't you better off with two darts?
In my world of rent, bills, skills, business
MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS
(Welcome to my world of) Wins, losses, loyalties, promises
MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS
(Yo, yo, welcome to my world of)
Backstabbers, parasites, slanderers, politics
MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS (Y'all don't want to know)
y'all don't even want to know (nope) JUST HOW REAL IT IS
MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS (Welcome to my world of)
Bumps, bruises, scrapes, cuts, aches and blisters
Typhoones, mysoones, earthquakes and twisters
It's the picture my life fits in
My whirldwind rotates, elevates and transcends
Watch me shine in the streets like some fresh new rims
Watch my enemies retreat as I collect my wins
Every 25 thousand I start over again
To renew my history so skip repentin my sins
Here's some words of advice you can share with'cha friends
Tell em not to fall victim to the short term ends
Comin up fast, I'm sure you'll impress the skins
But if you're too deep you're guaranteed to catch the bends
You could spread news... north, east, west and south
My universe will expand way beyond New York
You got two ears, two eyes and just one mouth
So look and listen both over before you talk
I'm keepin all my enemies outlined in chalk...
On the blackboard, now did you get the wrong idea?
I suggest you change the currents in your atmosphere
Once you get yourself together I'll remain right here
Rent, bills, skills, business
MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS
Backstabbers [echoes... beat turns off]
Hold up... What the? What? Yo, yo Joe what you doin in the vocal booth, man?
Oh, aight [beat changes to a dance club beat]
Uhh... uhh... uhhh. uuhhh.. uhhh...
Just dance with me... dance with me
Ah.. yeah, just dance with me, dance with me, dance with me
What'cha know bout that? Uh...
Just dance with me, dance with me
Uh-huh... Uh-ha... c'mon! (We really don't have time for this...)[beat stops again]
(Let's get... let's get back on schedule, aight?)
[beat switches back]
Aiyyo it's all real, every inhale, every exhale
Every extra breath from birth's been a blessin
Plus I go through some professin and confessin (stay calm)
I stay grounded with common sense in my lessons (what?)
Life is a test, I'm studyin not guessin (true)
I learn answers, ask and answer questions
Like why is a chromosome, axis, cause and effect
So respect what the god's manifestin
You can't hesitate but you gotta be patient
And use wise words in every conversation
You gotta stack paper if you want to stop chasin
There's not much time for cartoons and PlayStation
It stays true throughout every nation
Whether you be Yetti or Haitin
You are truly a patient
Spanish or Asian, even African or Caucasian
Huh, even if you was born from claymation
To live out your birth right, it takes preparation
Your job as a man is to be the foundation
'cause All Of The Above will be caused by you
But yo, man... [cuts off]... shouldn't need no explanation... whoo..
Talk a lot, might as well just give it to em
Yo play the chorus of this shit, they gon' learn
Rent, bills, skills, business
MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS
Wins, losses, loyalties, promises (gon' have to find out the hard way)
F AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS (it's on you)
Backstabbers, parasites, slanderers, politics
F AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS (oh shit)
Fat booties, baby mamas, twins, triplets
F AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS
AIDs, Herpes, Gonorrhea, Syphillis
F AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS
["DJ DP One scratching"] [(J-Live talking)]
"D-D-D-D-DP ONE!" <-- Funkmaster Flex (DP One... bring it in)
[scratching] (Come on, we gon' rock)
[scratching] (Show em how... take em home)
The song How Real It Is by J-Live speaks about the harsh realities of life and the importance of being prepared for the worst while striving for success. The lyrical content of the song emphasizes on how life can take a turn for the worse and how one needs to be ready to face any situation. The artist also touches on the topic of the streets, and how quickly one can be caught up in criminal activities. He encourages listeners not to fall victim to the short-term gains of street life.
Throughout the song, J-Live highlights different aspects of life like love, sickness, business, and politics. He reiterates that it is important to face these realities and be prepared for them. The rapper also emphasizes that one should not hesitate to ask questions and learn from others.
J-Live’s choice to mix the beat throughout the song speaks to the complexities of life. The beat transitions from a smooth rhythm to a club beat, highlighting the different emotions the artist wants to evoke in the listeners. J-Live’s lyrics encourage listeners to maintain a positive attitude through it all, no matter how difficult the situation might be.
Line by Line Meaning
Where the quarter always gives you one life
Life is a game, but it doesn't get reset when you die, you only have one chance to do it right.
So you better push your buttons just right
Make the most out of your time, do things the right way so that every action counts.
Where any given second, anybody can get it
Life moves unpredictably, and at any given time, anything can happen to anybody.
The streets ain't no joker, man
The streets are serious and are full of danger if one is not careful.
You could either be a wolf or a sheep
You can either be the hunter or the hunted, and it's better to choose to play the former role.
You could ride the fast lane or the train
You can either take risks or play it safe by opting for the less extravagant things in life.
You ask a real live gangsta and he'll tell ya the same
Even Gangsters that no nothing of the ordinary world know that life is unpredictable and could be unforgiving at times.
A lot'a dummies die young, man, simple and plain
Most deaths of young people happen as a result of foolish decisions made by the individual, leading to untimely deaths.
Tell em not to fall victim to the short term ends
Always prioritize long-term goals over their short-term alternatives.
Every 25 thousand I start over again
After every business cycle, there's always new room for growth, innovation, and ideas, hence the need to always seek growth and development.
Huh, even if you were born from claymation
Regardless of your race and origin, everyone deserves the right to live, succeed and be given the right tools for prosperity.
To live out your birthright, it takes preparation
To achieve one's potential in life, it takes preparation and a high level of dedication and determination.
Wins, losses, loyalties, promises (gon' have to find out the hard way)
Everything in life has consequences; hence one has to learn a valuable lesson from the many life experiences that come along.
Fat booties, baby mamas, twins, triplets
Life has surprises, and even things that seem good at first might prove to be problematic.
AIDs, Herpes, Gonorrhea, Syphillis
There's a nasty side of life that people would only learn by experiencing the harsh realities that life can bring.
Chorus: Mess around and find out just how real it is
Life is real, and every action has a consequence.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind