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/
Who Do You Call
J-Live Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better take a chill and observe the skill
of the man who can, so understand god damn
I got a masterpiece a master plan and a brand new
way to attack the wack cut 'em down to size
to realize LL's back
Don't sleep I'm too sweet to repeat a beat
a lyric or rhyme I wouldn't waste your time
So you deserve a line rougher than rough enough is enough
I'm, gonna slaughter choke ya smoke ya like a sauna
You don't really wanna
But if you wanna battle on here's a lesson, stop 'fessin
I'm a lethal weapon, you better get to steppin
off the stage, and outta my face
You're too light ? save the bass
[Chorus]
Why do you think they call it dope?
Why do you why do you think they call it dope?
It seems like people-'ll never understand
On the microphone I'm not your average man
I cool out sometimes, I save my best rhymes
and then the toy boy thinks that he can come and get mine
Let your friends gas him up, talk trash and make bets
then gets played like those kids who tried to rob Goetz
You don't know what I'm sayin? Yo check it
Give me any microphone and god dammit I'll wreck it!
I'm coldblooded I'm about to mutilate
Last year before I left I told you to wait
But you couldn't stay loyal started goin astray
Thinking Tom, Dick, and Harry can mess with Cool J
Is you crazy? I'm booming, got the talent of two men
The stamina and skill in battle to kill a few men
The heart of a lion, the loyalty of a soldier
I wreck your whole mob then tell ya I told ya!
[Chorus]
Cause I don't jab around you, I come inside
Bob and weave, deceive until you get tongue tied
Brawl for all give a lyrical display
and next time you know better than to get in my way
"Yo whassup wit LL?
Will he ever make another 'Rock the Bells'?"
Yo brothers is coming up, "I think he's falling off
I don't think he's still 'hard as hell'"
See, this is the attitude, of ignorant ones
cause they don't know, all them MC'sll get done
One or two might say, "Yo L'll be back"
but the rest they be sucking on sugar smacks
Talking that crap about who's better than me
You think so? Just let a MC
make me mad enough, to really wanna battle
I put a L on his ass like he was cattle!
[Chorus]
Just cause I make a love song, or say a simple rhyme
"Boom, move over L, it's Miller Time"
I don't know whether to laugh, get ill or get wild
Cause brothers don't realize, I got so many styles
like tripling up the words, confusing all the nerds
Heard put my sights on mics and ? flipping above the word
to the mother, no other
MC brother, can mess with Ladies Lover
I'm original, I'm bright under color
And when I get on the mic, yo I burn rubber
Can't stand criticism, give 'em an exorcism
Been rocking for years, now I have wisdom
The way I'm kicking the lines you can hear my tongue twist
and it'll have your neck spinning like you're spineless
I'm picking 'em up, throwing 'em down
Hyping 'em up and slowing 'em down
All of these words with only one tongue
Shaking 'em up and then baking 'em up
Smash boom bash scraping 'em up
Now you thought that was hard, I just begun
Cause I'm a roll on the microphone
And take control just like Al Capone
I'm notorious, you're foolish if you sleep on me
Cause I'm too slick to let a rapper get sweet on me
Try to make a move for my heavyweight belt
You get played like the Wizard of Oz witch, you melt
Yo I'm crazy dope, with super hype lines
and a lot of hype lines make one dope rhyme
[Chorus: x2]
Cause that's what it is
Why do you think they call it dope?
Why do you why do you think they call it dope?
Why do you think they call it dope?
The lyrics to J-Live's song "Who Do You Call" showcase his confidence and skill as an MC. The song opens with a warning to other MCs to stand back and observe his mastery. J-Live declares himself a "lethal weapon" and challenges anyone to battle him. He asserts that he is too sweet to waste time with weak words and delivers rhymes that are rough and powerful enough to slaughter his opponents. The chorus questions why the term "dope" is used to describe something exceptional and remarkable, suggesting that J-Live is the embodiment of that greatness.
Throughout the song, J-Live expresses frustration with those who underestimate him and doubt his talent. He coolly dismisses those who try to challenge him, comparing them to the kids who attempted to rob Bernhard Goetz, a notorious figure in New York City in the 1980s. J-Live asserts his skills as a lyricist and rapper, claiming to have the talent of two men and the ability to destroy his competition.
J-Live addresses the criticism he faces for making love songs and simpler rhymes, but he confidently asserts that he possesses multiple styles and techniques. He showcases his ability to manipulate words and confuse his listeners, noting that his tongue-twisting lines can leave their heads spinning. J-Live warns his opponents not to underestimate him, as he is notorious and always in control.
Overall, the lyrics to "Who Do You Call" depict J-Live as a highly skilled and confident MC who demands respect and recognition for his talent.
Line by Line Meaning
Warning, MC's stand back
Attention, other MCs should step back in awe
You better take a chill and observe the skill
You should relax and witness the incredible talent
of the man who can, so understand god damn
The man with unmatched abilities, so comprehend, damn it
I got a masterpiece a master plan and a brand new
I possess a work of art, a well-thought-out strategy, and something completely fresh
way to attack the wack cut 'em down to size
method of dismantling weak rappers and exposing their true insignificance
to realize LL's back
to recognize that LL is back in the scene
Don't sleep I'm too sweet to repeat a beat
Don't underestimate me, I'm too skilled to reuse a beat
a lyric or rhyme I wouldn't waste your time
I wouldn't waste your time with mediocre lyrics or rhymes
with weak words, that's for nerds, you never heard a rhyme
I don't associate myself with weak words, that's for amateurs, you've never heard such rhymes
So you deserve a line rougher than rough enough is enough
You deserve a harsher line, as enough is enough
I'm, gonna slaughter choke ya smoke ya like a sauna
I'm going to defeat you mercilessly, suffocating you like in a steam room
You don't really wanna
You don't truly desire that outcome
But if you wanna battle on here's a lesson, stop 'fessin
But if you insist on battling, learn this lesson, stop pretending
I'm a lethal weapon, you better get to steppin
I'm a dangerous force, you better walk away
off the stage, and outta my face
leave the stage and get out of my sight
You're too light ? save the bass
You're too weak, stop pretending to be significant
Why do you think they call it dope?
Have you ever wondered why they refer to it as 'dope'?
It seems like people-'ll never understand
It appears that people will never comprehend
On the microphone I'm not your average man
When I'm on the microphone, I'm not your ordinary guy
I cool out sometimes, I save my best rhymes
Sometimes I relax, reserving my most impressive rhymes
and then the toy boy thinks that he can come and get mine
Then some inexperienced rapper believes he can challenge me
Let your friends gas him up, talk trash and make bets
Allow your friends to hype him up, talk nonsense, and place bets
then gets played like those kids who tried to rob Goetz
but then ends up being deceived like those children who attempted to rob Goetz
You don't know what I'm sayin? Yo check it
You don't understand my message? Well, listen carefully
Give me any microphone and god dammit I'll wreck it!
Give me any microphone, and I'll destroy it, damn it!
I'm coldblooded I'm about to mutilate
I'm ruthless, I'm about to brutally defeat
Last year before I left I told you to wait
Last year, before I took a break, I advised you to be patient
But you couldn't stay loyal started goin astray
However, you couldn't remain faithful and started drifting away
Thinking Tom, Dick, and Harry can mess with Cool J
Believing anyone can challenge Cool J
Is you crazy? I'm booming, got the talent of two men
Are you insane? I'm prospering, possessing the talent of two individuals
The stamina and skill in battle to kill a few men
The endurance and expertise in combat to defeat multiple opponents
The heart of a lion, the loyalty of a soldier
The courage of a lion, the faithfulness of a soldier
I wreck your whole mob then tell ya I told ya!
I decimate your entire crew, then inform you that I warned you!
Cause I don't jab around you, I come inside
I don't play games with you, I directly confront you
Bob and weave, deceive until you get tongue tied
Dodge and trick you until you're left speechless
Brawl for all give a lyrical display
Engage in an all-out fight, presenting a display of lyrical skill
and next time you know better than to get in my way
and next time, you'll learn to avoid crossing my path
Yo whassup wit LL? Will he ever make another 'Rock the Bells'?
Hey, what's happening with LL? Will he release another song like 'Rock the Bells'?
Yo brothers is coming up, I think he's falling off
Hey, other artists are rising in popularity, I believe he's losing his edge
I don't think he's still 'hard as hell'
I don't believe he's as tough as he used to be
See, this is the attitude, of ignorant ones
Observe, this is the mindset of ignorant individuals
cause they don't know, all them MC'sll get done
because they lack knowledge, all those MCs will be defeated
One or two might say, Yo L'll be back
A couple of people might claim that LL will return
but the rest they be sucking on sugar smacks
but the rest of them will be disappointed and humiliated
Talking that crap about who's better than me
Engaging in meaningless discussion about who is superior to me
You think so? Just let a MC
You believe that? Just allow an MC
make me mad enough, to really wanna battle
make me angry enough to genuinely desire a battle
I put a L on his ass like he was cattle!
I defeat him so decisively, as if he were livestock!
Just cause I make a love song, or say a simple rhyme
Just because I create a romantic tune or say something straightforward
Boom, move over L, it's Miller Time
Boom, step aside L, it's time for Miller to shine
I don't know whether to laugh, get ill or get wild
I cannot decide whether to laugh, become aggressive, or go crazy
Cause brothers don't realize, I got so many styles
Because people don't understand that I possess numerous styles
like tripling up the words, confusing all the nerds
such as repeating words thrice, bewildering all the geeks
Heard put my sights on mics and flipping above the word
Heard, I focus on microphones and excel beyond expectations
to the mother, no other
to the highest degree, there's no one else
MC brother, can mess with Ladies Lover
MC, no one can challenge Ladies Lover
I'm original, I'm bright under color
I'm unique, I shine brilliantly in the midst of others
And when I get on the mic, yo I burn rubber
And when I grab the microphone, I leave a lasting impression
Can't stand criticism, give 'em an exorcism
I cannot tolerate criticism, I expose their flaws
Been rocking for years, now I have wisdom
I've been performing for years, and now I possess wisdom
The way I'm kicking the lines you can hear my tongue twist
The way I deliver my lyrics, you can hear my tongue twist
and it'll have your neck spinning like you're spineless
causing your head to rotate as if you had no backbone
I'm picking 'em up, throwing 'em down
I'm elevating the crowds, then bringing them back down
Hyping 'em up and slowing 'em down
Energizing them, then calming them
All of these words with only one tongue
All these words spoken with just one tongue
Shaking 'em up and then baking 'em up
Jostling them and then completely overwhelming them
Smash boom bash scraping 'em up
Crushing, booming, and scraping them thoroughly
Now you thought that was hard, I just begun
You considered that challenging? I've only just started
Cause I'm a roll on the microphone
Because I'm unstoppable on the microphone
And take control just like Al Capone
And assert dominance, similar to Al Capone
I'm notorious, you're foolish if you sleep on me
I have a notorious reputation, it would be foolish to underestimate me
Cause I'm too slick to let a rapper get sweet on me
Because I'm too skilled to allow a rapper to become overly confident
Try to make a move for my heavyweight belt
If you dare attempt to challenge me for my prestigious title
You get played like the Wizard of Oz witch, you melt
You will be defeated like the Wicked Witch of the West, melting away
Yo I'm crazy dope, with super hype lines
Hey, I'm incredibly amazing, with extremely energetic lines
and a lot of hype lines make one dope rhyme
numerous energetic lines contribute to a fantastic rhyme
Cause that's what it is
Because that's the essence of it
Why do you think they call it dope?
Have you ever wondered why they refer to it as 'dope'?
Why do you why do you think they call it dope?
Why do you, why do you believe they label it as 'dope'?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SIMON, SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@EvanLovett
J-Live, man - criminally underrated. One of the most intelligent and dopest lyricists all-time.
@nicolastullis
2023 still bumpin this tune
@terencemccants8358
J Live is the of MC that represent real true hip hop just like DeLa Soul.
@thedons4270
This is a classic! still one of my favourite tunes! This is the real shit right here!
@benjamm1nn
I hadn't listened to J-Live in a while and then this song popped up on my Pandora...now he's back at the top of my playlist
@SjoeperdKnoepert
Wow a sample from Augustus Pablo, never heard it before! Rastafari!
@aiutaladigestione
Augustus Pablo - East of the River Nile ...So dope.
@canaroo6650
I found this song from season 1 of The Wire. Good show and good songs.
@MsVolak-PalmTours
My favorite !
@palmtours9475
Love this music so much, i had your CD about 10y already, still love to listen it