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/
The Upgrade
J-Live Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ехала сэлэбрэйт
(Сэлэбрэйт )
Саламалейкум
Ты не узнала меня год спустя это апгрейд
Общенье в угар , она мне безответно верит
Двигаю куда хочу мне открыты все двери
Все мои загоны
В рукаве есть козырь
В голове мозги
В кармане есть штуцерт
Я сделаю трии
На карту поставил всё
Ставки высоки
Да я залетаю во внутрь
Да я точно знаю кто эти люди
Пока с сигаретой у входа
Ловлю апгрейд, снова и снова
Жить на кислоте, для меня жто слишком жестко
Рядом пацаны, и пацаны все свои в доску
Там мой корешок цепляет какую то доску
У кого то вечер продолжиться очень жестко
Я начинаю апгрейдиться
И продолжаю апгрейдиться
Не дай мне остановиться
Я начинаю апгрейдиться
Че ты как сам мы танцуем под фейд
Бейби знает как получить апрегейд апргейд апргейд
Не играйся сука со мной
Не звони мне на телефон
Я не возьму его все равно
Я не возьму его все равно
The lyrics to J-Live's song "The Upgrade" speak to the desire for personal growth and progression. The repetition of the phrase "Upgrade" signifies the artist's determination to improve and elevate his circumstances. The opening line, "Как получить Upgrade upgrade updgrade" (How to get an upgrade), sets the tone for the song, emphasizing the pursuit of advancement.
The following lyrics, "Ехала сэлэбрэйт (Сэлэбрэйт) Саламалейкум" (Riding celebration, Salamaleikum), imply that the artist is basking in the success and recognition that comes along with progress. He declares that even after a year, others may not recognize him due to the significant upgrades he has made.
The line "Двигаю куда хочу мне открыты все двери" (I move wherever I want, all doors are open to me) suggests an increased sense of freedom and opportunities that have come with his advancements. He confidently asserts that he can go wherever he wants, indicating a newfound level of agency and control over his own life.
Throughout the song, the artist emphasizes his ambition and determination to keep pushing forward. The lyrics convey a sense of relentless pursuit, with lines such as "Я начинаю апгрейдиться и продолжаю апгрейдиться" (I start upgrading and keep upgrading) and "Не дай мне остановиться" (Don't let me stop). These lines reflect an unwavering drive to constantly improve and evolve.
In summary, "The Upgrade" by J-Live speaks to the desire for personal growth and progression. The lyrics convey a sense of determination, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of improvement in all aspects of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Как получить Upgrade upgrade updgrade
How to obtain the Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade
Ехала сэлэбрэйт
I was riding in style
(Сэлэбрэйт )
(In style)
Саламалейкум
Greetings
Ты не узнала меня год спустя это апгрейд
You didn't recognize me a year later, this is an upgrade
Общенье в угар , она мне безответно верит
Engaging in conversation, she blindly believes in me
Двигаю куда хочу мне открыты все двери
I move wherever I want, all doors are open for me
Все мои загоны
All my hustles
Встречаю с ноги
I greet them on my feet
В рукаве есть козырь
I have an ace up my sleeve
В голове мозги
I have brains in my head
В кармане есть штуцерт
I have a secret weapon in my pocket
Я сделаю трии
I will do tricks
На карту поставил всё
I put everything on the line
Ставки высоки
The stakes are high
Да я залетаю во внутрь
Yeah, I'm flying inside
Да я точно знаю кто эти люди
Yeah, I know exactly who these people are
Пока с сигаретой у входа
While smoking at the entrance
Ловлю апгрейд, снова и снова
I catch an upgrade, again and again
Жить на кислоте, для меня жто слишком жестко
Living on acid, it's too harsh for me
Рядом пацаны, и пацаны все свои в доску
Next to the boys, and the boys are all going wild
Там мой корешок цепляет какую то доску
There, my buddy hooks up with some board
У кого то вечер продолжиться очень жестко
For someone, the evening will continue very intensely
Я начинаю апгрейдиться
I start upgrading
И продолжаю апгрейдиться
And I keep upgrading
Не дай мне остановиться
Don't let me stop
Я начинаю апгрейдиться
I start upgrading
Че ты как сам мы танцуем под фейд
What's up, how are you? We dance under the fade
Бейби знает как получить апрегейд апргейд апргейд
Baby knows how to get the upgrade, upgrade, upgrade
Не играйся сука со мной
Don't play with me, bitch
Не звони мне на телефон
Don't call me on the phone
Я не возьму его все равно
I won't take it anyway
Я не возьму его все равно
I won't take it anyway
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Горбунов Кирилл Александрович, Мухамеджанов Исламбек Жонибекович, Макин Жанторе Курмангалиевич
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind