j-live - lyrical giant
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photo by steed media service
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Emcee, Then What Happened?
Before it was cool for rappers to become CEOs, New York emcee J-Live was taking the industry by storm on the mic, behind the boards, on the one’s and two’s and in the executive ranks as the founder of Triple Threat Productions. J-Live’s discography spans 10 years and he has performed alongside legends like KRS-One, Pete Rock and the Wu-Tang Clan. Having recently moved to Atlanta, the versatile artist took time to speak with rolling out about being a Southerner, the city’s hip-hop takeover and André 3000. –gavin philip godfrey
1) What’s the biggest lifestyle adjustment you’ve had to make since moving to Atlanta?
Biggest adjustment? Seeing as how we’re at war, [have] a crazy president and gas is going up to four dollars and whatnot, the Iron Horse transition is definitely something to take hold of. Five miles to the supermarket, 10 miles to the package store — everything is real spread out [in Atlanta]. Like Katt Williams said, ‘You’re at the gas station making life decisions.’
2) How do you assess Southern dominance in hip-hop?
New York is definitely the heart and soul of it, but the fact is every different region, every different culture, every different lifestyle has its own sound, and that’s the beauty of it. I kind of grew up on OutKast and I’m a big T.I. fan. They call it the new Motown, they call it the new New York, they call it a whole bunch of stuff because the sound down here has really taken pop culture by storm and that’s a beautiful thing.
3) How have Southern artists influenced your music?
André 3000 is one of my favorite emcees, hands down. Lyric for lyric, pound for pound he’s like Pernell Whitaker. Don’t get me started! People will tell you it’s more about the beat down here, but that cats that are true to it and know the roots of it and the ethics of it, definitely got some lyrics for you.
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