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The Best Part

from The Best Part by J-LIVE

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $3 USD  or more

     

  • The Best Part (2xLP Red Vinyl) Autographed
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    J-Live's critically acclaimed, historic debut album. Featuring a dream team production lineup of, DJ Premier, Prince Paul, Pete Rock, DJ Spinna, Grap Luva, Probe Rocket, and 88 Keys. With classic stand out tracks like, "Them That's Not", "Don't Play", "Vampire Hunter J", "Wax Paper", "Timeless", the title track "The Best Part" and more. Now available in this special double red viny limited edition.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Best Part via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • The Best Part 2X LP Original 1999 "Bootleg" Pressing (Signed Promo Jacket)
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    J-Live's critically acclaimed, historic debut album. Featuring a dream team production lineup of, DJ Premier, Prince Paul, Pete Rock, DJ Spinna, Grap Luva, Probe Rocket, and 88 Keys. With classic stand out tracks like, "Them That's Not", "Don't Play", "Vampire Hunter J", "Wax Paper", "Timeless", the title track "The Best Part" and more.

    Super rare first pressing from 1999. Live 99. Signed!

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Best Part via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Best Part via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • The Best Part 2X LP 3TP/Fat Beats Test Pressing (signed)
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    J-Live's critically acclaimed, historic debut album. Featuring a dream team production lineup of, DJ Premier, Prince Paul, Pete Rock, DJ Spinna, Grap Luva, Probe Rocket, and 88 Keys. With classic stand out tracks like, "Them That's Not", "Don't Play", "Vampire Hunter J", "Wax Paper", "Timeless", the title track "The Best Part" and more.

    Before moving from New York to Georgia, and changing the label name to Mortier Music, J-Live's imprint was called 3TP, Triple Threat Productions. These are the firsts of an old pressing of a classic. A rare SIGNED offering from the crates of The Live One.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Best Part via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • The Best Part 2XLP (Mortier Music Test Pressing)
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    J-Live's critically acclaimed, historic debut album. Featuring a dream team production lineup of, DJ Premier, Prince Paul, Pete Rock, DJ Spinna, Grap Luva, Probe Rocket, and 88 Keys. With classic stand out tracks like, "Them That's Not", "Don't Play", "Vampire Hunter J", "Wax Paper", "Timeless", the title track "The Best Part" and more.

    These are extremely rare black vinyl test pressings of the limited red vinyl run by Mortier Music circa 2019.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Best Part via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Back by popular demand, J-live's debut album in CD format. With new cover design from the original photo shoots. A special twist on a classic album.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Best Part via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $20 USD or more 

     

  • Cassette + Digital Album

    Never before released on tape... Until now! J-live's debut album in cassette format for collectors, boom boxes and vintage car stereos. With new cover design from the original photo shoots. A special twist on a classic album.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Best Part via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $20 USD or more 

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    J-Live's critically acclaimed, historic debut album. Featuring a dream team production lineup of, DJ Premier, Prince Paul, Pete Rock, DJ Spinna, Grap Luva, Probe Rocket, and 88 Keys. With classic stand out tracks like, "Them That's Not", "Don't Play", "Vampire Hunter J", "Wax Paper", "Timeless", the title track "The Best Part" and more. Now available in this special double red viny limited edition.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Best Part via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $35 USD or more 

     

lyrics

The Best Part

Emcees out there, pipe down and listen here.
Its J-Live and I brought Premier. And the
Crowd don’t hush no more they say yeah. HELL
Yeah with there hands up like they don’t care. True
School styles light up the night like Time Square. GZA
Said it this is not an 85 affair. Its the
Grand opening of a long career that’s been
Planned and developed for about ten years. Let the
Scene blur out selector press rewind just to
Show’em who’s flattop groove in 89.
Thirteen still lacking b-ball skills to shine but I
Got mine when I went home to write rhymes. Mastered
All possible tactics of pause mix. Saved
Up, copped my first Gemini starter kit. Like
Rocky these hands trained on the cheap shit. For every
Other dee jay, they was bound to skip.
Meanwhile now, for every new dawn I caught, my
Emcee style developed at the speed of thought. So hip
Hop was the vessel that convinced my heart, space and
Time make today’s son tomorrow’s star the best part.

Ten
Years, ten crates and ten rhyme books later, my
History daily renewed on its equator.
Supreme mathematics is now the translator as the
Stakes and the skills and the love became greater for an
Art form that spread from east to west side to
Coast to hemisphere look how hip hop grew. But its
Still the proverbial sad clown of music.
Exploited by many understood by few. I do the
Knowledge to the game from a birds eye view. If I ain’t
Have the stomach for it I’d a been passed threw. Cause every
Level I examine from A AND R to zigga zigga
Prove an emcee ain’t got a goddam clue. So let the
Babies be great. Break down the bare essence and
Build to born styles that’s dope and brand new. Let no
Man put asunder what the Bronx creates, Manhattan
Makes, Brooklyn takes, and peace to Queens to. Cause the
Strength of any Nation always been the babies let’em’
Learn from the elders that were strong and smart. So hip
Hop will be the music that still don’t quit. When the
Next batch of emcees prove to be the best part.

We’re gonna
End it like this in the place yawl, its like
This yawl and you don’t stop. Ayo
East to West I’m a contender with the best.
More or less you’re a pretender just confess.
Sell your mic and buy a bike because you’re weak. Or
Take a hike, when the J-Live starts to speak.
Save that shit for the toilet and watch me flush.
My styles a snow blizzard yours is just the slush.
My rhyme’s a red wood tree, yours is just saw dust.
I’m like a pizza, and Shit you’re just the crust.
So now you see the place I been is the place I’m at.
Dig up a seventh grade rhyme style and bring it back.
So when you write your first rhyme tell me how you feel.
Cause back then we wasn’t thinking bout a record deal.
But now a days when a kid wanna emcee.
Its like just another job in the industry.
So why you in it for the pocket or the heart cause
Today’s star gotta be tomorrow’s sun the best part.

credits

from The Best Part, released May 1, 2001
The Best Part
Beats by DJ Premier
Produced by DJ Premier
(C. Martin, J. Cadet)
Works of Mart Music / ASCAP, Only Child’s Brother’s Music / ASCAP

license

all rights reserved

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about

J-LIVE New York, New York

J-Live's music has been a staple of inspiration for listeners of underground hip hop for over 20 years. His discography includes more than 15 full projects, as well as countless guest appearances. The artists and producers J-Live has recorded and toured with are a who's who of hip hop icons from DJ Premier, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Prince Paul, The Roots, Black Star, Wu Tang Clan, and many many more. ... more

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