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/
MCee
J-Live Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Straight from New York where black music was modernized
J-Live all wise and civilized
Always energized
All rights reserved and recognized
All rhymes supersized and come with fries
FOR THE FAT SHIT!
Stacked with fat backed opinions
Timeless selections for your listening pleasures
Where rhymes be the bars minutes or miles can measure
Can you believe I do this shit for a living?
Politic and positvin' and get paid for poems given
On records, tapes, cds, MP3s
Radios, shows in the states and overseas yo
It's ill cuz my role models are my peers now
And my thoughts'll be in your ears for years now
I'm trying to play my cards right
Cuz despite joys and pains I felt
Several hands were dealt
Yet I live good, look good, eat good, dress good
Stroke good, rest good
Even if I didn't
I could think good, write good, spit good, rock good
No need to knock on wood
Know why? Cuz I'm a
[Chorus x3]
"M.....C"
"E-M-C-E-E" [Rakim]
[J-Live]
Know why, cuz I'm a
Master of Ceremony Making a Comeback and Moving the Crowd with Mad Charisma
Most of y'all Cornballs Mingle at Concerts Making a Claim but you know who is the ["MC"]
More Concentration on My Cadence Might Cloud your Mind Controlling your Movement Capaciously
My Capacity to Massacre Crumbs and Motive Change Most Certainly Makes you Consider me
Champion, Microphone is Consistently Modelling Candor of Magnificence
See My Conduct is Mute to Cajolery, I Maintain with Clamency and Manificence
Cunning and Marvelous, Crafty yet Malevolent to all the Cultivators of Mindless Crap
I Really Recognize the Rude Ramblings of those Random Riff Raffs cuz they just Rap and I
[Chorus x4]
"The M" [cut up]
"The C" [cut up]
"The MC" [cut up]
[J-Live]
["M"] I gonna let you in on how I
["C"] On the day to day doing what I do to these
["M"]-icroscopic sitopic ass
["C"] Now naysayers think they can stop it I
["M"]-ake money and made money even when I
[C]ouldn't make music, I was still makin dollars
And ["M"]-brace doubt, taking no as a vitamin
[C]onstantly moving motivating and proving
[M]any are called but few get chosen
[C]lowns posing in a post and get frozen
[M]ore often than not I get hot like
["C"]4 on the stage blowing up the spot
Just for ["M"], her, you and then All of the Above
It's [C]ontagious how the crowd show me love
With a ["M"]-I-C in my hand
[C]oming to a venue to you, I better make you say
[Chorus]
The J
The L
The I
The V
The E
In the song "MCee," J-Live raps about his life as a master of ceremony (MC) a profession he chose to follow as a career. He is confident about his skills and abilities as an artist and his hard work is paying off as he is paid for the poems he writes, which he describes as political and positive. J-Live talks about how he stands out from other artists in terms of his wisdom, and the timeless selections he makes for the listeners. He sees himself as always energized and productive in his duties, as he moves crowds with his mad charisma. J-Live's song is exceptional, indicating a quality of the MC industry that he represents.
Through his lyrics, J-Live breaks down the term MC and its definition. He uses the chorus Rakim's "E-M-C-E-E" to show what the term means before breaking down each letter to its definition in the following verses. M is for the master of ceremony, C is someone who moves the crowd, and the last E he explains his cadence and capacity for killing music with his beats. He portrays himself as a master of ceremony on a mission to educate and entertain his audience, especially in concerts where some rappers come with no sense of purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Straight from New York where black music was modernized
I come from New York where black music was made contemporary
J-Live all wise and civilized
Always energized
All rights reserved and recognized
All rhymes supersized and come with fries
I am a wise and civilized rapper who is always full of energy. I have reserved and recognized my rights as an artist, and my rhymes are always big and come with a side of attitude
FOR THE FAT SHIT!
Stacked with fat backed opinions
I am all about that heavy, impactful music and I have a lot to say with lots of passion and conviction
Pinpoint accurate reflections
Timeless selections for your listening pleasures
My music is reflective of my own experience and totally on point. It's music that will still be relevant for years to come
Where rhymes be the bars minutes or miles can measure
Can you believe I do this shit for a living?
My music is so full of rhymes that they measure up in both time and distance. It's hard to believe that I am making a living doing what I love
Politic and positvin' and get paid for poems given
On records, tapes, cds, MP3s
Radios, shows in the states and overseas yo
I am political and positive in my message, and I get paid for my art. You can find my music on records, tapes, CDs, and MP3s, and I perform all over the world
It's ill cuz my role models are my peers now
And my thoughts'll be in your ears for years now
I'm trying to play my cards right
I love that my peers are now my role models, and I know my music will continue to resonate with people long after it's written. I am always trying to make the right career moves
Stacked with fat backed opinions
Pinpoint accurate reflections
Timeless selections for your listening pleasures
Where rhymes be the bars minutes or miles can measure
Can you believe I do this shit for a living?
Politic and positvin' and get paid for poems given
On records, tapes, cds, MP3s
Radios, shows in the states and overseas yo
It's ill cuz my role models are my peers now
And my thoughts'll be in your ears for years now
I'm trying to play my cards right
Cuz despite joys and pains I felt
Several hands were dealt
Yet I live good, look good, eat good, dress good
Stroke good, rest good
Even if I didn't
I could think good, write good, spit good, rock good
No need to knock on wood
Know why? Cuz I'm a
I have a lot to say about the world around me, and my music reflects my opinions and experiences. My rhymes are always on point and will continue to be relevant in the years to come. I am making a living doing something I love, and my music is available in all formats and played all over the world. Despite the ups and downs of life, I am doing well and thriving. I am a talented artist, and I don't need luck to continue creating great music
Master of Ceremony Making a Comeback and Moving the Crowd with Mad Charisma
Most of y'all Cornballs Mingle at Concerts Making a Claim but you know who is the ["MC"]
More Concentration on My Cadence Might Cloud your Mind Controlling your Movement Capaciously
My Capacity to Massacre Crumbs and Motive Change Most Certainly Makes you Consider me
Champion, Microphone is Consistently Modelling Candor of Magnificence
See My Conduct is Mute to Cajolery, I Maintain with Clamency and Manificence
Cunning and Marvelous, Crafty yet Malevolent to all the Cultivators of Mindless Crap
I Really Recognize the Rude Ramblings of those Random Riff Raffs cuz they just Rap and I
I am a true master of ceremony who has an amazing connection with my audience. While many people are posing as MCs and trying to claim the title, I am the real deal. I focus on the quality of my performance and how it moves people. My rhymes are sharp and intense and allow me to challenge the status quo. I am a champion when it comes to the microphone and keep it real at all times. I am able to ignore trivial accolades and maintain my focus on my music. I have a sharp wit and know who is for real and who is just pretending
Know why, cuz I'm a
Master of Ceremony Making a Comeback and Moving the Crowd with Mad Charisma
Most of y'all Cornballs Mingle at Concerts Making a Claim but you know who is the ["MC"]
More Concentration on My Cadence Might Cloud your Mind Controlling your Movement Capaciously
My Capacity to Massacre Crumbs and Motive Change Most Certainly Makes you Consider me
Champion, Microphone is Consistently Modelling Candor of Magnificence
See My Conduct is Mute to Cajolery, I Maintain with Clamency and Manificence
Cunning and Marvelous, Crafty yet Malevolent to all the Cultivators of Mindless Crap
I Really Recognize the Rude Ramblings of those Random Riff Raffs cuz they just Rap and I
I am a true master of ceremony who has an amazing connection with my audience. While many people are posing as MCs and trying to claim the title, I am the real deal. I focus on the quality of my performance and how it moves people. My rhymes are sharp and intense and allow me to challenge the status quo. I am a champion when it comes to the microphone and keep it real at all times. I am able to ignore trivial accolades and maintain my focus on my music. I have a sharp wit and know who is for real and who is just pretending
"M" I gonna let you in on how I
"C" On the day to day doing what I do to these
"M"-icroscopic sitopic ass
"C" Now naysayers think they can stop it I
"M"-ake money and made money even when I
[C]ouldn't make music, I was still makin dollars
And "M"-brace doubt, taking no as a vitamin
[C]onstantly moving motivating and proving
[M]any are called but few get chosen
[C]lowns posing in a post and get frozen
[M]ore often than not I get hot like
"C"4 on the stage blowing up the spot
Just for "M", her, you and then All of the Above
It's [C]ontagious how the crowd show me love
With a "M"-I-C in my hand
[C]oming to a venue to you, I better make you say
I am going to share some insights into my life with you. Day by day, I am doing what I do and succeeding despite the haters who try to bring me down. Even when I couldn't make music, I was still making money. I thrive on doubt and use it as motivation. I am always on the move, taking on new challenges and proving my worth. I know that only a few will really make it. Others pose and try to take glory, but they will be quickly forgotten. When I hit the stage, I am on fire, and I love the energy that the crowd brings. I am always striving to be the best I can be, and I want to give my listeners an unforgettable experience
[Chorus]
I am proud to be an MC and celebrate my art with every performance
"The M" [cut up]
"The C" [cut up]
"The MC" [cut up]
These three phrases celebrate the art of the MC and are repeated to emphasize their importance
The J
The L
The I
The V
The E
These letters spell out my name, and show that I am proud of my work as an MC
Contributed by Jordan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.