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/
Whoever
J-Live Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Wake up!)
To whoever finds this message
I remember the life I had in Guam
The beach, the way the water felt
The warm sunlight on my skin
Shit, life was pretty good
I really miss those days
But then again, I hated school
I hated how people shouted at
Me for looking different
Calling me names
Just because of my skin color you know?
But I didn't really care
As long as my mom and dad were smiling
I thought nothing could go wrong
What could go wrong?
Nothing, nothing
What could nothing
2007, February 4th
I was packing my things
And I was leaving for Korea
I didn't know why at the time
All I knew was I had to say goodbye
To the place I called home
And say hello to
Mister sun shine
I ain't got no time yeah
Mister fast car
I don't want no ride no
Mister city lights
I don't want no fight
I don't want to hide
I don't want to lie
And I want to know why?
Why I had to feel incomplete
Every second of my week
Like why I had to have 3 jobs
Just to stay on my feet
Why I had to enlist in the army
Before I could even speak
Or why my dad had to be diagnosed
With something he couldn't beat cancer
Honestly, it felt like death
But he was facing death
So I was confused
I remember asking myself
Where do we go when we die?
Hell? Heaven?
Do we enter a void?
Space? Reincarnation?
Where do we go?
Where do we go?
Where do we go?
Too many questions with no answers
Where do we go?
God I don't know!
Where do I go?
Now fast forward 5 years
Coming to you live
Lite cool
I guess a lot has happened since then
But here I am asking myself the same questions
The lyrics to J-Live's song "Whoever" convey a sense of introspection and contemplation about life, identity, and the uncertainties that come with it. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about the positive aspects of their past life in Guam, such as the pleasant experiences at the beach and the warmth of the sunlight. However, these fond memories are juxtaposed with the negative experiences of being treated differently and facing discrimination at school due to their skin color. Despite these challenges, the singer remained resilient, finding solace in their parents' happiness.
The lyrics then shift to a specific date in 2007, February 4th, when the singer had to leave Guam for Korea without understanding the reason behind it. This transition symbolizes a major change in their life, leaving behind what was familiar and venturing into the unknown. They express a sense of detachment from materialistic pursuits, rejecting the allure of material possessions, fast cars, and the city lights. The singer yearns for a sense of authenticity and transparency, wanting to live a life free from pretense and falsehoods.
As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the singer's internal struggles. They question why they constantly feel incomplete and burdened with multiple jobs just to survive. This reflects the challenges and sacrifices they have made to make ends meet. The mention of enlisting in the army before even having a chance to speak illustrates the harsh realities they have faced.
Towards the end of the song, the tone becomes more reflective and existential. The singer ponders the mysteries of life and death, questioning where we go after passing away. They confront the lack of answers to these profound questions and express their confusion and uncertainty. The song ultimately presents a sense of searching for purpose, understanding, and a place where they truly belong.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I dreaming?
Is this all just a figment of my imagination?
To whoever finds this message
This message is intended for anyone who comes across it
I remember the life I had in Guam
I can still recall the memories of my past life in Guam
The beach, the way the water felt
I reminisce about the beach and the sensation of the water
The warm sunlight on my skin
I long for the comforting touch of the sun's rays on my body
Shit, life was pretty good
Damn, life used to be quite enjoyable
I really miss those days
I deeply yearn for those moments in time
But then again, I hated school
However, I despised attending school
I hated how people shouted at
I detested the way people yelled and screamed
Me for looking different
At me simply because I appeared different from them
Calling me names
Mocking me with derogatory labels
Just because of my skin color you know?
Purely based on the color of my skin, you know?
But I didn't really care
But honestly, it didn't bother me much
As long as my mom and dad were smiling
As long as my parents wore smiles on their faces
I thought nothing could go wrong
I believed that nothing could possibly go awry
What could go wrong?
What possible misfortunes could arise?
Nothing, nothing
Absolutely nothing, nothing at all
What could nothing
What could possibly result in nothingness?
2007, February 4th
It was the date of February 4th, 2007
I was packing my things
I was gathering my belongings
And I was leaving for Korea
And I was departing for Korea
I didn't know why at the time
At that moment, I had no understanding of the reason
All I knew was I had to say goodbye
All I understood was that I needed to bid farewell
To the place I called home
To the location I considered my true home
And say hello to
And greet with excitement
Mister sun shine
The radiant presence of the sun
I ain't got no time yeah
I have no time to spare, yeah
Mister fast car
The swift vehicle in motion
I don't want no ride no
I have no desire for a ride, no
Mister city lights
The dazzling lights of the city
I don't want no fight
I don't seek any confrontations
I don't want to hide
I don't wish to conceal my true self
I don't want to lie
I don't want to be deceptive
And I want to know why?
And I yearn to comprehend the reason behind it all
Why I had to feel incomplete
Why did I always experience a sense of lacking?
Every second of my week
Throughout each second of my week
Like why I had to have 3 jobs
For instance, why did I need to hold three jobs?
Just to stay on my feet
Simply to manage to sustain myself
Why I had to enlist in the army
Why was it necessary for me to join the military?
Before I could even speak
Before I could even express myself vocally
Or why my dad had to be diagnosed
Furthermore, why was my father diagnosed
With something he couldn't beat cancer
With an unbeatable illness like cancer
Honestly, it felt like death
Honest to goodness, it felt akin to dying
But he was facing death
Nevertheless, he confronted his impending demise
So I was confused
And therefore, I found myself perplexed
I remember asking myself
I vividly recollect questioning myself
Where do we go when we die?
What is our destination upon death?
Hell? Heaven?
Is it hell? Is it heaven?
Do we enter a void?
Do we enter an empty nothingness?
Space? Reincarnation?
Perhaps space? Or maybe reincarnation?
Where do we go?
Where is our final destination?
Where do we go?
Where do we end up?
Where do we go?
Where is our ultimate fate?
Too many questions with no answers
An overwhelming number of inquiries without solutions
Where do we go?
Where do we truly go?
God I don't know!
Goodness, I honestly have no idea!
Where do I go?
Where am I supposed to go?
Now fast forward 5 years
Now jump ahead in time by 5 years
Coming to you live
Presenting to you in real-time
Lite cool
A chill and relaxed atmosphere
I guess a lot has happened since then
I suppose numerous events have transpired in the meantime
But here I am asking myself the same questions
Yet, here I am still grappling with the same inquiries
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Da Bin Hong, Gyeong Mo Kim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind