Dope Event! Come Out and Support West Coast Hip Hop
FOR DISCOUNT TICKETS CALL 714.612.0595!!!!
2ND STREET SKILLFEST SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH @ 2ND STREET JAZZ CLUB Presale Tix Avaliable @ Fat Beats LA 7600 Melrose Ave. Suite J 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Ph: 323.655. 8997
What is the concept behind "The Carry-On Experience"?
I get this question alot...and its one thats special to me...
In life, we've always been told that baggage is a bad thing. It holds you back in relationships and progression, or so we've been told. However, when you succeed in whatever you do at life, or "take flight", it's important to bring that baggage with you. That baggage made you who you are and prepared you for the successes to come...hence the concept of "the carry-on" baggage.
On this album, you'll be hearing rappers from all over America rappin' about their present situations and perspectives on life. Everything that the common man goes through is on this album. I encourage you all to take a part in this movement and download the album for free on September 23rd, 2008!
I promised to put yall up on good music; whether that’s new or old. I thought it’d be dope to do a segment every couple blogs on a classic Hip Hop album to school some of the young ones on the history of this Hip Hop Culture. So I’m going to say something real crazy here…in my humble opinion, the greatest Hip Hop album of all time does not start with Ill or end with Matic. It’s Ready to Die. Being a West Coast kid, I could’ve said The Chronic, or Me Against the World, or Doggystyle…but that would be lying. Ready to Die gives me chills to this day. I first listened to this album in its entirety during my Junior Year of High School, on my quest to hear all of the so-called “classic” albums. Nothing is touching this album. From the jump, Ready to Die establishes the component that is needed in every classic album (*take note rappers). It establishes an eerie vibe/setting. The album sounds like impending death. The LP has every kind of track you need as well: story-telling(Juciy), drug raps (10 Crack Commandments), a song for the hood (Everyday Struggle), and club tracks (Big Poppa). No slight to Illmatic, which is definitely top 3, but it did not have all of these ingredients. Not to mention, Biggie dropped one of the craziest lines ever without having the homo card pulled on him: When I met you I admit, my first thoughts was to trick/ You look so good, huh, I’d suck on ya daddy’s dick
Biggie Smalls being the illest is debatable…but in my book, he created the best Hip Hop LP…period. Here is my favorite track off the album:
*Note: Yea...I f*cked up....10 Crack Commandments wasn't on Ready to Die...I always mix up my Primo tracks...for some reason I think that Unbelievable was on Life After Death...probably because 10 Crack Commandments is one of the dopest songs ever, so why not be on the dopest album ever!
I promise to put you up on beats other than my own...
Check this cat out. He goes by "I Hate Trumaine". Just released his instrumental album "G.R.A.P.E.S." on August 16th for free download. Think a mesh of Kanye meets 9th Wonder meets Black Milk....dope, right?
I was offered the opportunity to write for a clothing line/blog site based out of the UK called "The189.com". Once you see the site and the vision, then you'll KNOW why I had to link up with them. Dope gear over there...you will catch me sporting the threads within the coming months.
I'm going to be running the "Music Scene" blog over there...giving you links and stuff to artists with dope music...plain and simple. I'll also be in charge of compiling The189.com mixtape. If you want to get in early and start submitting tracks, send them over to me at JansportJ@The189.com. I WILL listen to your tracks.
Keep checking in on this blog as well, I have some events coming up that I want everybody who supports me to be apart of. This blog will provide more personal music updates. "The Carry-On Experience" coming September 23rd, 2008!
So "The Carry-On Experience" will be my first official album. A year ago, I put a couple projects out, and had the nerve to call them albums. With the patience and detail I've given to Carry-On, it would be blasphemous to call these former projects actual albums. If you need something to hold you over until the album releases, check out these projects. Just think, if my career ever goes anywhere, these will be the most limited of editions, because I'll delete all traces of the links from my own promotion activities!ha So download them, because this will be the only place you'll be able to find these projects...unless you supported from the beginning and downloaded them :).
The Check-In
This is a project I did in May of 07. First ever. Pretty interesting joints/beats that I ended up re-doing. A remix project.
Extra Baggage
Project released in June of 07. A lot better than the first. Some tracks are even enjoyable! A remix project.
The Reagan Baby Mixtape
Probably the funnest project...I put it out in July 2007 (you can see how much effort I put into these projects). All beats contain samples from TV shows I watched growin up. A remix project.
This is my baby...closest thing to an album I've done. Baby-making music. Instrumental album
I don't blame you Hov...u put out 8 platinum albums. 2 certified classics (Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint). You watched your once independent Roc-A-Fella Records create a dynasty within the Hip Hop scene. Clothing lines, endorsements, sold-out Madison Square...I don't blame you for thinking that there was nothing left to conquer...I don't blame you for thinking it was time to pull the MJ and put your jersey up in the rafters.
But you should've known......there is no AARP for Hip Hop.
Ask Russell, Rakim, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, Reverend Run....these guys are still putting out product...regardless of the demand. Wanna know why?
Because you can't retire from expression.
Rap is the musical artform of Hip Hop, and probably the most powerful form of communication to the masses. Stating that you are done rapping forever is just about saying that you are done giving an opinion.
Oh for real? We'll check for you at the Forest Lawn then!
There is no need to formally retire from the game...step back. This isn't the NBA...you are not on somebody's salary cap and being forced to fill out retirement paperwork (unless you're under contract to put out more albums...smh at Tru3 Magic by Mos Def). Don't have the drive to make music anymore? Cool. Stop. Don't make a declaration. Just stop. Because I guarantee that something will happen in pop culture or in the game that will spark something in you. Word to Public Enemy.
So when you hear a rapper say that they are retiring...give em that old Hov quote ("We don't believe you, you need more people!)
Yea, I know the second half doesn't apply.
The Game- "I Love Dre" coming in 4th qtr 2009 Lupe Fiasco- "Yall Know I'm Better than 'Ye, Right?" coming in 1st qtr 2010
Yep...I know I'm already startin' some sh*t just with the title of this blog...allow me to explain...walk wit' a nigga man...(*Jay-Z)
Hip Hop has never lost a relevant Icon/Legend. That is not to say that we do not have deceased legends. What I am saying is that we have not lost a Hip Hop artist while they were considered a Legend...and in the rare case that I can remember off hand, they were not perceived as a relevant player in the game. Don't believe me? Let's get that one rare case out the way first...
Jam Master Jay: We all know that Jam Master Jay is a legend forever...not only as a DJ, but in Hip Hop period. He provided the scratches for the early commercial success of Hip Hop. And yes, he is mostly responsible for bringin' some rapper named 50 Cent into the game. Besides that, tell me what JMJ was doin between '94 and '02 (pause for wikipedia search)...exactly. The news of his murder struck a chord in us all, but it did not have the same impact as even debatable legends 2pac and Biggie
Okay...so that last line was contraversial huh...let's get these 2 giants out of the way as well.
2pac: Arguably the greatest musical writer of our era. 'Pac connected with the struggle. The day that 'Pac died was my Kennedy Assassination moment (as well as 9/11). I remember everything about that day (blue nike shirt, came in from playin football, channel 7, 430 pm news, hal greene reporting). However, people forget how 2pac was viewed on September 12, 1996. 'Pac received very little love back east due to the fabricated East-West War of the mid 90's. Everybody was takin' shots at him...Nas, Mobb Deep, BIG, Jay, Puff...legends command more respect than that. Is 2pac a legend? Undoubtedly. Was he considered a legend in 1996? No.
The Notorious B.I.G.: Same deal...common complaint about this guy prior to his death? He's only put out one dope album. And let's not pretend that Big was always considered the King of New York...I'm pretty sure Nas was comin' at him for the same crown, and had just about same following. If Nas dies on March 9th, 1997 with 2 good albums under his belt, maybe he's considered the greatest out of NY. Yes, Biggie is the greatest rapper of all time in my opinion. Ready to Die is my favorite album...ever. But he was not considered a legend when he died...so we still have never felt that impact.
Just to get the others out the way that some may try to argue...
Big L: 90% of his following hadn't heard of him until his death. Big Pun: Questionable if he is now, but definitely wasn't when he died.
So who would have to die within the next couple years for my theory to be de-bunked?
Jay-Z: Love him or hate him...consensus says he is a Hip Hop Legend...and he's still relevant Nas: Ditto Eminem: Ditto Dr. Dre: Ditto Diddy: Hate all you want...this dude is a boss/history book. There will not be another.
This is no disrespect to all of the fallen soldiers...just somethin' I really thought about one day...what would it be like to lose a legend...but the majority of Hip Hop actually sees them as a relevant Legend?!
We Don't Believe You, You Need More People Paul and Michael!!!
So in preparation for some beat-making, I was diggin' in the crates (or browsing through my external drive with music I downloaded my freshman year of college) and I came across a forgotten classic....pre-Brandy and Monica...a collaboration for all time...
Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson...."The Girl is Mine".
Before Mike had the nerve to buy the Beatles catalogue ("Stolen!" *NBA Jam) these 2 legendary artists combined on a track. So what would they talk about?! Peace on Earth?! A musical revolution?! Pull a Hov and Kells and proclaim to be the Best of Both Worlds?!
No.
They wanted to talk about hollerin' at the same chick. Naw, I'm for real.
At this point in time, I'm very confident Mike had seen one pair of breasts his entire life, and it was when he was teething.
The part that kills me is the last 40 seconds of the song, where Paul and Mike go at it over the girl. There are a couple things wrong with this:
A. If your paper is that long, and she's messing with another dude, move to the next (This applies to Michael and Paul...royalty checks forever).
B. If you are talking to the dude that is messing with your chick, something needs to happen. Michael should've called his goons (Jackson 5 assemble!) and handled it.
C. If you are fighting over a chick, and your voice is higher than hers...you lost her.
I'm declaring Paul the winner
She should've hollered at Tito...he's the realest nigga in the Jacksons. My boy said he lives next to him and his wife in apartments in Calabasas.
I gave in...Jansport J is making his entrance into the blogging game!!!
Why?
1. Exposure. Using all different types of media can only help getting my name and sound out...right? 2. Comedy. You won't know this unless you know me.....but I'm a random, funny dude....think a combination of Dave Chapelle, Phonte, Will Ferrell, and that nigga from the "Unforgivable" youtube series. 3. Boredom. I work, eat, beats, talk with my girlfriend, beats, sleep. That in-between time can be filled with something. I'll be talking about a bunch of raaaandom stuff that interests me. 4. Outlet to Showcase my Grammar Skills. Contrary to my AIM/Myspace dialogue, I am an educated dude. This is to make Pepperdine feel like they've done something positive for me...
And now for the updates: -"The Carry-On Experience" is slated to be released September 9th, because at this point, I am my own label. I'll try not to Atlantic/Interscope myself and push it back 30 times (smh Lupe, Game, Nas, and the infamous Pharell album, that seemed to get pushed back for 2 years!!!) It's going to be something special. Expect appearances from: Blackwater The Bench Mob The Cove Originals Prophit P.H.I.L.T.H.Y. Velosity
and more!
-Currently working on The Bench Mob project as well as The Love Ep with the homie P.H.I.L.T.H.Y.. Be on the lookout for that as well in early '09!
-Download the Digital Undaground Mixtape featuring The Bench Mob here!!! I promise I won't plug as much in the future...
That's a lie.
But it'll be dope sauce with a side of Fresh Fries!
