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".
Just James
J Moss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not one to place the blame on others.
I'm not one to take the easy way out.
I'm just a man trying to do the best I can.
The greatest commandment is to love one another.
And even more, love the Lord even better.
When it's all said and done,
Take my hand and understand
I'm human.
I keep thinkin' bout where I went wrong.
It's keeping me awake at night all alone.
But what I realized underneath all of us are really just the same.
I'm just James.
I lived another day to tell somebody
If you're in trouble we can pray about it.
And I don't really need to know what happened.
But since I love you I can feel your sadness.
I'm a witness God can set you free.
'cause I remember what he did for me.
When it's all said and done and your rainy day comes,
I'll take your hand and understand that you're human.
James (repeat)
Jesus (repeat)
He's working on me.
I keep thinkin' bout where I went wrong.
It's keeping me awake at night all one.
But what I realized underneath all of us are really just the same.
I'm just James.
He's working on me. He's working on me.
He's working on me and not through with me yet!
The song "Just James" by J Moss is a reflection on the importance of love and accepting oneself as human, complete with one's flaws and mistakes. The singer declares that he is not one to make excuses, blame others, or take the easy way out. Rather, he is simply a man trying to do the best he can. The song emphasizes the need to love one another, as well as the importance of loving God. The singer acknowledges that he has made mistakes, but at the end of the day, he is just James.
The song's chorus repeats the statement "He's working on me" both in reference to Jesus and the singer himself. The singer expresses introspection and insight into his own flaws and mistakes, pondering where he went wrong, keeping himself awake at night with these thoughts. However, the singer also recognizes that at some level, all humans are the same, and such introspection and self-improvement are part of being human. The singer then uses his own experiences to help others, offering to pray and support someone through their own struggles. The song is a reminder that no one is perfect and that we all need help and compassion at some point.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not one to make excuses.
I do not avoid taking responsibility for my actions.
I'm not one to place the blame on others.
I am not someone who accuses others for my mistakes.
I'm not one to take the easy way out.
I am not someone who avoids doing things that require effort.
I'm just a man trying to do the best I can.
I am just a human being who tries their hardest to succeed.
The greatest commandment is to love one another.
One of the most important things we can do is love each other.
And even more, love the Lord even better.
We should love God even more than we love each other.
When it's all said and done, And when a rainy day comes Take my hand and understand I'm human.
When everything is said and done, and when you are in a difficult situation, know that I am human and I can help you.
I keep thinkin' bout where I went wrong. It's keeping me awake at night all alone.
I often think about my mistakes, and they make me feel lonely and troubled.
But what I realized underneath all of us are really just the same. I'm just James.
Despite our differences, at our core we are all human beings who make mistakes, and I am no exception.
I lived another day to tell somebody If you're in trouble we can pray about it. And I don't really need to know what happened. But since I love you I can feel your sadness. I'm a witness God can set you free. 'cause I remember what he did for me.
I am here to offer support and prayer in times of hardship, and while I do not need to know the exact details of your situation, I can understand your pain because of my own experiences. I am a witness to the power of God to bring freedom to those in need.
James (repeat) Jesus (repeat) He's working on me.
I repeat my name and Jesus' name because He is still working on me.
I keep thinkin' bout where I went wrong. It's keeping me awake at night all one. But what I realized underneath all of us are really just the same. I'm just James.
I still often think about my mistakes, and despite our differences, we are all just human beings who make mistakes like me.
He's working on me. He's working on me. He's working on me and not through with me yet!
God is still working on me, and He is not finished helping me yet!
Contributed by Matthew C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ozimede Feyikemi Ayodeji
on Good & Bad
Not completed