Jake spent his first years in the West Indies, where his father hustled and both parents mingled with the popular musicians of the time. Domestic and economic situations changed for the family, so they relocated to Massachusetts. Throughout his youth, Jake was introduced to criminal elements on the street and at home. A volatile domestic situation and flawed role models inspired a notebook full of rhymes and dedication rarely seen in young artists.
Despite coming up in Boston behind underground icons such as Mr. Lif and Esoteric, J the S remained faithful to blacktop Hip Hop. As a result, he became a regular show opener for artists like Kool G Rap, AZ, Cormega, The Beatnuts, Boot Camp and Wu-Tang. To date, Snake has amassed a solid foundation. Before he could legally buy alcohol, he graduated from the local battle circuit and begun to script vicious narratives.
In just four years, J the S dropped two internationally distributed full-length albums and a pair of venomous mixtapes, landed singles on Rap Network, Rap Attack Lives and CMJ charts, and enjoyed rotation on more than 300 college radio stations including Boston’s renown WERS, where he earned “Artist of the Month” honors in June 2007. Beyond his East Coast ethos, J the S is also marked by his experience as a middle school teacher and his socially progressive mission, which has landed him on bills alongside dead prez, Brand Nubian and KRS-One.
“I love and rep Boston, that’s my home,” J expresses, “but I also grew up in the West Indies, on the islands of Nevis and Montserrat, then around other parts of New England, so I feel lucky to have a little broader perspective on things. There is a lot of Hip Hop and urban music history in Boston, and a lot of variety to this day. I strive to walk my own path, and I feel proud as an artist coming out of Boston carving my own lane. Because I've lived other places, I’ve been able to travel through this music, and I try to make music for the world. I want to talk about issues that everyone can relate to.”
On the strength of his 2006 album, Strategy of the Crown, which featured guests including Ras Kass, Trife da God and Devin the Dude, J the S followed up with his DJ Vlad-hosted Year of the Snake Vol. 2. The sequel to his Peter Parker-hosted Vol. 1, the mixtape proved that he could rock consecutive projects with – or without – headliner associates. Featuring limited assists from Boston cronies such as Loose Notes and his own Greater Good crew, J the S gave fans enough original material to choke on until his next endeavor.
In March of 2008, J the S dropped the project When In Rome. Beyond cameos from the likes of Joell Ortiz, Skyzoo, Slaine and Ras Kass, the powerful street album introduced rap fans to an MC whose pilgrimage to Hip Hop’s pinnacle was a long, disciplined and rewarding journey. The Joell Ortiz assisted single “Do You” peaked as 1 song nationwide on the two premiere college radio charts nationwide, Rap Attack Lives and Rap Network, aside from garnering commercial radio attention and mixtape love.
Despite the recent apathy of Hip Hop fans seeking that “missing” piece to the music, J the S feels confident that he delivers the right balance of what people want and what they need in the genre. “When people say 'something is missing', it’s usually those who are bored with the state of music, or aren’t getting what they want from the music at the time,” he explains. “I have my personal opinions of what’s missing from Hip Hop right now, so I try to bring those missing elements - but everybody wants different things. What I bring to the table is a mix of the story telling and picture painting, so you can visualize what I'm speaking on, so you can feel like you're right there with me. I bring a voice of pain, of intelligence, and of hunger to improve.”
J’s new project My Will is a street-friendly prelude to his upcoming full-length album The Last Days. Presented by DJ Warrior and Peter Parker, My Will features original production from the likes of MGI, Stu Bangas and Raf Moses, and impactful guest appearances from Saigon, Kool G Rap, B.o.B., Donny Goines, Emilio Rojas and The Greater Good crew.
“My Will is a perfect transition for my album The Last Days, because there are a lot of messages that I have on this project that segue into the concept of my official album,” asserts J. “I feel The Last Days is my best work to date, no question. When it hits, it's gonna be serious - but these are serious times, right?”
He might be an anomaly, but J the S is poised to be a factor in Hip Hop’s return to form, while expanding his realm with new sounds. If he can pull it off in Boston, where pushing Golden Age street styles is less common than being a Republican, he can do it anywhere.
www.myspace.com/jtheshiphop
Eyes Wide Shut
J the S Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Discovery of life, laughing all the way
Your eyes wide open to the day
See the world in a different way
No prejudice or hatred, only openness to being loved
Welcome to the day, it's all gonna be OK
Things that make you wonder, wide awake
Eyes Wide Open truth and faith
Eyes Wide Open. It's going to be alright
Welcome to our fate, smile child it's not too late
Carry all the weight of the human race
Reaching for a shooting star
Reminding us, who we are
The purity in your smile, no fear, or judgment.
only love
Child of a brand new day, hope is on the way
Things that make us wonder, are we awake
Faith that keeps us going, Hope that makes us stronger
Love that makes us ponder brings us grace
Eyes Wide Open a brand new day
Eyes Wide Open amazing grace
Eyes Wide Open show us the way
Eyes Wide Open. It's gonna be alright
You're going to be OK.
We're going to be alright
The lyrics to J the S's song "Eyes Wide Shut" convey a message of optimism, hope, and love. The song welcomes the listener to the world and encourages them to come outside and play, emphasizing the discovery of life and the joy that can be found in it. The opening line, "Welcome to the world," sets the tone for the rest of the song, inviting the listener to embrace the experiences and opportunities that life offers.
The lyrics highlight the importance of having an open mind and seeing the world in a different way. The phrase "Your eyes wide open to the day" suggests that by being open-minded and accepting, one can perceive the world with clarity and understanding. The song celebrates the absence of prejudice and hatred, emphasizing the need for love and openness to be embraced.
The chorus, with its repetition of "Eyes Wide Open," reinforces the concept of being awake and aware, both physically and metaphorically. It suggests that truth and faith are essential in navigating through life's challenges, and that by maintaining this sense of awareness, everything will be alright. The lyrics also speak to the future and convey a sense of hope, with lines such as "Welcome to our fate, smile child it's not too late" and "Child of a brand new day, hope is on the way."
Overall, "Eyes Wide Shut" encourages the listener to approach life with an open heart and mind, finding solace in love, hope, and faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to the world Come outside and play
Embrace life and participate in it fully, engaging in joyful experiences
Discovery of life, laughing all the way
Explore and uncover the wonders of existence, maintaining a sense of humor throughout
Your eyes wide open to the day
Approach each day with a sense of awareness and openness
See the world in a different way
Perceive the world from a unique and fresh perspective
No prejudice or hatred, only openness to being loved
Reject prejudice and animosity, instead embracing the possibility of receiving love
Welcome to the day, it's all gonna be OK
Embrace the present moment, knowing that everything will turn out fine
Things that make you wonder, wide awake
Encounter intriguing situations and remain alert and attentive
Hope that keeps us going, brings us grace
Hold onto hope as a driving force in our lives, providing us with grace and resilience
Eyes Wide Open truth and faith
Maintain a perception that is open to truth and guided by faith
Eyes Wide Open. It's going to be alright
Keep your eyes wide open, knowing that everything will turn out fine in the end
Welcome to our fate, smile child it's not too late
Accept and embrace our destiny, maintaining a positive attitude that it's never too late to find happiness
Carry all the weight of the human race
Shoulder the burden of the collective human experience
Reaching for a shooting star
Aspire for something extraordinary and reach for the highest aspirations
Reminding us, who we are
Serve as a reminder of our true selves and core values
The purity in your smile, no fear, or judgment. only love
Appreciate the pure and genuine nature of your smile, devoid of fear or prejudice, only filled with love
Child of a brand new day, hope is on the way
Embrace the dawn of a new era, knowing that hope is on its way
Things that make us wonder, are we awake
Encounter thought-provoking situations that prompt us to reflect on our state of wakefulness
Faith that keeps us going, Hope that makes us stronger
Hold onto faith as a source of resilience, and allow hope to invigorate and empower us
Love that makes us ponder brings us grace
Experience love that encourages introspection and provides us with grace
Eyes Wide Open a brand new day
Maintain a state of full awareness, embracing each new day with anticipation and clarity
Eyes Wide Open amazing grace
Observing the world with keen awareness, encountering moments of extraordinary grace
Eyes Wide Open show us the way
Looking at life with open eyes, seeking guidance and direction
Eyes Wide Open. It's gonna be alright
Remain fully aware and optimistic, knowing that everything will turn out fine
You're going to be OK
Assurance that everything will be fine, providing comfort and stability
We're going to be alright
Collective reassurance that everything will work out well, offering solace and confidence
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Michael J. Valentine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Pisciarino
Here we go again
0:00 Podcast Opening, usual Jay Dyer Info.
1:08 “What you talkin ‘bout Wills?”
2:35 Humor makes life better
5:28 Milton Kane?
5:55 Eyes Wide Shut (slow, dull, but symbolism is compelling)
7:26 It’s multiple things in one
9:27 External Factors/Nicole Kidman
13:16 “You’ll need an Ermine Cloak”
15:30 Alice
17:30 Hollywood Decoded on Gaia Tv
19:14 2001 disagreement
20:37 Paul McCartney Sag, Alex Jones, (Same person, different, clone?)
23:05 Madonna, The Oscars, Benny Willis as a child singer/actor
25:30 Michael Jackson
28:58 Home Improvement, Tim Allen
30:00 The dark path of Bryan Bansaw
31:26 Jay’s stand up comedy history
34:38 Movies parallel real life
35:58 EH1 and EH2
38:21 Clue
39:10 Faux threats, The Hollywood 10
40:48 How much is intentional?
43:48, 49:00Donald Trump
46:50 Military corruption is at the top
48:12 Britain, Saudi Arabia, ISIS
52:23 Capitalism and Socialism are Dialectics (2 sides of the same coin)
56:00 Usury
57:30 Debate topics
1:00:48 Outro
Daniel Berdichevsky
I think eyeswideshut was meant more for our generation 20 years later, Tom cruise was going deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole, and back then people were just not into that......today everyone is following tom cruise into the rabbit hole
Yamz for you.
This is one of your best talks on EWS yet. I'll be subscribing to jays analysis shortly. Keep up the good work.
Pocahontas FTW
Thanks for what you do jay it is surely appreciated
Michael Pisciarino
Here we go again
0:00 Podcast Opening, usual Jay Dyer Info.
1:08 “What you talkin ‘bout Wills?”
2:35 Humor makes life better
5:28 Milton Kane?
5:55 Eyes Wide Shut (slow, dull, but symbolism is compelling)
7:26 It’s multiple things in one
9:27 External Factors/Nicole Kidman
13:16 “You’ll need an Ermine Cloak”
15:30 Alice
17:30 Hollywood Decoded on Gaia Tv
19:14 2001 disagreement
20:37 Paul McCartney Sag, Alex Jones, (Same person, different, clone?)
23:05 Madonna, The Oscars, Benny Willis as a child singer/actor
25:30 Michael Jackson
28:58 Home Improvement, Tim Allen
30:00 The dark path of Bryan Bansaw
31:26 Jay’s stand up comedy history
34:38 Movies parallel real life
35:58 EH1 and EH2
38:21 Clue
39:10 Faux threats, The Hollywood 10
40:48 How much is intentional?
43:48, 49:00Donald Trump
46:50 Military corruption is at the top
48:12 Britain, Saudi Arabia, ISIS
52:23 Capitalism and Socialism are Dialectics (2 sides of the same coin)
56:00 Usury
57:30 Debate topics
1:00:48 Outro
hesmanification
Great interview. Just ordered volume 2 on your website as a result :-)
Jasper Kensington
What he said about Brian Bonsall…that kid was an amazing actor! I first noticed him in “Mikey” & thought he was going to go far. Then he disappeared & showed up in Boulder. It seems like someone did something horrible to him along the way; what a sh|tty Industry!
Wistful Wraith
Leave it to Madonna to be hateful towards a group of 7 year-olds.
Max Frank
Just got your two books yesterday Big J, and began reading the first. Great work man.
Mighty Forces
Double awesomeness! Damn good content.
Daniel Berdichevsky
"madonna was a very rude person" I am not shocked at all