In this period James developed as a keyboardist and burgeoning songwriter. He was also learning first-hand the business of music. He attended Michigan State University for two years, but the desire to write and perform was too strong, and he left to seek a career in music.
Musical career
Upon his return to Detroit, Moss signed with a small local Christian label Aviday Records[1] and released two albums to little fanfare. Yet, during this time he became acquainted with Paul Allen and Walter Kearney. The three began working together as PAJAM. Moss spent the mid-90s touring with The Clark Sisters and was signed, along with Karen Clark-Sheard, his cousin, to Island Records in 1996 to record a solo album.[1] While a proper release never materialized for Moss before Island Black Music shut its doors,[2] Clark's became a smash and introduced the Gospel world to the production powerhouse of PAJAM.
Over the next seven years, the PAJAM team became Gospel music's most prolific hitmakers. However, Moss' desire to perform never went away, and in 2003 he and Allen began writing songs for what would ultimately become The J. Moss Project, released in September 2004 on GospoCentric Records.
Though PAJAM's work has been seen as a revolutionary blend of gospel and hip-hop style, The J. Moss Project is a surprisingly traditional affair. The set largely relies on familiar arrangements, and keeps its focus on Moss's clear tenor voice and strong backing choir vocals. The album made a grand entry with the upbeat lead single "I Wanna Be".
The disc includes a number of upbeat gospel numbers such as "Don't Pray and Worry" and "Psalm 150". J. Moss' lithe falsetto at times draws comparison to the likes of Prince and Tonéx on "Livin' 4". There are also several gentle ballads such as "Give You More" and the album's anthemic single "We Must Praise" that display J. Moss' range as a vocalist and songwriter.
V2... The J Moss Project
Finally, on April 3, 2007, J Moss released his second album V2... The J Moss Project through GospoCentric Records. Appearances made by contemporary Gospel group 21:03, Moss's cousin Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, Kirk Franklin, his cousin Karen Clark-Sheard, Marvin Winans of the famed Winans family, Byron Cage, and American comedian Steve Harvey. Three bonus tracks were originally thought to be regular album tracks. The bonus tracks are "Florida", "73 Degress", and "Everybody Ain't Got a Word". Of the album tracks on this release, an instant standout is the track "Dance", featuring Kirk Franklin, which riffs off of an infectious sample of Morris Day & The Time's early 1980s smash "777-9311".
Abundantly
J Moss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It would be like the sky that's never sunny
It would be like the bee that can't make honey
Or maybe like the fallin snow that never melts
Like always hearing of your touch but never felt
It's like the vase that holds no flowers
Never wanna sleep with out you
Never wanna wake with out you
I never wanna part with life abundantly
Never take a chance with out you
(Cause) I'll never do my best with out you
I never wanna leave this life abundantly
Hallelujah
{verse 2}
It would be like the game that has no end
Like knowing loves behind the door you cannot enter
Like knowing joys in a mornin that never comes
(Kinda like) What life would be if God didn't send his son
It's kinda like a heart with no love flowing through it
{chorus}
(I) Never wanna sleep with out you
(And I) Never wanna wake with out you
(No) I never wanna part with life abundantly
Never take a chance with out you
(Cause) I never do my best with out you
( Oh Father) I never wanna leave this life abundantly
{chorus}
Never wanna sleep with out you
Never wanna wake with out you
I never wanna part with life abundantly
Never take a chance with out you
(Cause) I never do my best with out you
I never wanna leave this life abundantly
Since you came in my life your source of my abundant living
The song "Abundantly" by J Moss is a powerful ode to the importance of the presence of God in one's life. The verse highlights several metaphors of what life would be like without God, such as a sky that is never sunny, a bee that cannot make honey, or snow that never melts. These comparisons imply a state of emptiness and unfulfillment that can occur when one is without a connection to a higher power. The line "Always hearing of your touch but never felt" emphasizes the void that exists without God's presence in one's life.
The chorus reiterates this message of reliance on God, as the singer declares their desire to never sleep, wake, or part from life without His presence. The repetition of the phrase "life abundantly" highlights how crucial God is to our overall sense of fulfillment and happiness. The second verse continues with the theme of emptiness without God, describing the feeling as a game with no end or loveless heart.
Overall, "Abundantly" is a beautiful reminder of the importance of God's presence in our lives. It uses impactful metaphors to describe the emptiness that can exist without Him and emphasizes the need for a deeper connection to a higher power.
Line by Line Meaning
It would be like the sky that's never sunny
Life without you is like a sky that's always gloomy and never bright.
It would be like the bee that can't make honey
Life without you is like a bee that can't fulfill its purpose of producing sweet honey.
Or maybe like the fallin snow that never melts
Life without you is like snow that never melts instead of becoming the water that nourishes the earth for new growth.
Like always hearing of your touch but never felt
Life without you is like always hearing of your comforting touch but never experiencing it firsthand.
It's like the vase that holds no flowers
Life without you is like a vase with nothing to hold, without any beauty or purpose.
Never wanna sleep with out you
I never want to go to sleep without the comfort of your presence.
Never wanna wake with out you
I never want to wake up without the hope and joy that you bring to my life.
I never wanna part with life abundantly
I don't want to lose the abundance and richness of life that you provide.
Never take a chance with out you
I won't take any risks in life without your guidance and support.
(Cause) I'll never do my best with out you
I know my best is only possible with your presence and help.
I never wanna leave this life abundantly
I never want to lose the abundance and fullness of life that you provide.
It would be like the game that has no end
Life without you is like a game that has no resolution or purpose.
Like knowing loves behind the door you cannot enter
Life without you is like knowing that love exists, but being unable to access it.
Like knowing joys in a mornin that never comes
Life without you is like anticipating joy in the morning, but it never arrives.
(Kinda like) What life would be if God didn't send his son
Life without God's son would be a life without hope or purpose.
It's kinda like a heart with no love flowing through it
Life without you is like a heart with no love or passion flowing through it.
Since you came in my life your source of my abundant living
Since you entered my life, you have been the source of my abundant and fulfilling existence.
Contributed by Dylan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ozimede Feyikemi Ayodeji
on Good & Bad
Not completed