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Epilogue

from The Best Part by J-LIVE

/
  • Streaming + Download

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  • 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.

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  • 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

Epilogue

What does it take to be a great emcee? If you
Ask me its much more than mastering ceremonies.
Because a lot of masquerading cornballs don’t
Realize it also means mad creativity. In
This day and age of mediocrity, there’s two types of
Rappers that you recognize and hear. But I prefer the
Ones with the lyrics of the year than the gimmick with the
Gear and the right puppeteer. Now you could be the
Next Rakim Shakespeare. You’re still ten
Steps away from having a career. You step up to the
Plate to earn respect from your peers, and end up on
Deck for the remainder of your years. I suppose this means
Greatness takes blood sweat and tears. It also takes an
Industry that doesn’t breed fear, by pumping al this
Mindless crap up in your ears, and limiting the
Contrast of what you get to hear. You gotta
Recognize it’s a determined idea. A righteous young
Mind is a devil’s worst fear. But when you wanna
Give the people peace and satisfaction, everybody’s
Momma wants a piece of the action. So now I fall
Victim to supply and demand. Immaculate
Conceptions born illegitimate. Destined to
Be the greatest story ever missed. Which means its meant to
Be for whoever’s hearing this.

WHEN ITS
ALL SAID AND DONE IT SHOULD BE HEARD AND SEEN TILL THIS
COLD HEARTTED GAME FORCES US TO CHANGE TEAMS WHILE THE
LUST FOR THE LOOT SPREADS OUT LIKE GANG GREEN. SO THE
HAVES CHASE THEIR TAILS WHILE THE NOTS CHASE THEIR DREAMS. AS THE
YEARS CHASE THE DAYS PASTS AND FUTURES MEET FATE LIKE YOUR
FIRST BORN WAITING FOR POPS RELEASE DATE.
POSTPONED MEANWHILE I ACCUMULATE MEANS TO
REVISE AND REVIEW WHAT WAS JUST HEARD AND SEEN.

Its been stated that I
Rhyme like god and I build like a poet. One
Hand wash the other like lady Macbeth. Flip
Styles like Bella Corolle. Warm hearted cold
Blooded. I write like opposite left. I left
Opposites right here they left off. My rights left
Right wingers left of right besides me. Left my
Right hand man cause he left what’s right. And I
Reserve the right to write till I’m free. Cause I
Free styles with my pen, that yawl couldn’t if you
Freestyled all day long literally. This
Literature designed for one orator,
Stays on the head emcees emsee, that I
Be the emcee’s emcee. Cause I m saying
What I m thinkin’, accept when my mind’s blinking.
My eye’s open, even when my eye’s drinking. I’s
A socializer, but more so with those wiser.
Ask yourself why’s a music so
Misused it’s self contained and not self
Sustained. I myself contemplate this,
Till I make myself complain. Shall my
Raps stay maintained rapped in cellophane
Till they’re unwrapped by humored consumers?
Emphatically no, so I rap wherever I
Go, and let it grow up in your brain like a tumor.

Refrain

Ayo you
Really think you know me well? There’s more to me than your
Mind got room for. And much much more
Than a clever verse or two. That’s all you know about me?
You ain’t even knowing that. You think I give a fuck
Whether or not my records sell? You damn right but see that
Ain’t the way I’m keeping score. If one million people
Said it does that mike it true? You judge my music by
Whether or not my pocket’s fat? Well fuck you and the
Cash cow you’re milking moo. It ain’t yours but the
Job pays well don’t it? And if you’re lucky you could
Even get to taste a drop. We’ll see who’s happy when you’re
Old but you’re not grown. You see me? now
Yeah, you see me later too. Fucking you up when the
Vantage point change don’t it? I know its hip but you
Determine if its hop or pop. You’re just a man without a
Voice pass the microphone. I know the diff between
Written rhymes and freestyles. But see for me it’s like,
Having sex and making love. And you should know by now I’m
Married to the pad and pen. But I’m entitled to cheat
On her every now and then. Will your children know their
Hip hop history? Will the songs you hate be
Shrouded in mystery? Don’t step to me with your
Stats and your date smarts. You know your neighborhood by
Street signs or landmarks? I’m not talking bout the
First record ever made. I’m talking bout the first
One that ever made you. The first records that I
Played never played me. And I can still play’em
Today cause they stay true. You notice how I’m only
Speaking on the timeless? It makes sense now and
Then yeah now and then. Cause right now its making
Picture perfect sense and then. Its making picture perfect
Sense like it did now. Cause right now its making
Picture perfect sense and then. Its making picture perfect
Sense like it did now.

Refrain

credits

from The Best Part, released May 1, 2001
Epilogue
Beats by J-Live
Produced by J-live
(J.Cadet) Only Child’s Brother’s Music / ASCAP

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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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