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
$20USDor 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
$20USDor 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.
Subscribe
now to receive all the new
music
J-LIVE creates,
delivered instantly to you via the Bandcamp app for iOS and Android.
You’ll also get access to
subscriber-only
exclusives.
Learn more.
Once upon a
Time there was a brother named Castro. Had a little
Problem with his cash flow word. More than once upon a
Time he had a dream to clock mad dough. Only at the
Time it all seemed absurd. Then he saw a
Light bulb flash up in his forehead, shined so
Bright he had to close both eyes. Said whoever
Hit em for the average poor asshole ‘bout to be
Hit for they biggest surprise. Now meanwhile
Still short one pot to piss in not to mention
Any window to throw it out. Looking like
Who don’t you want and where’d it come from, sippin’ on
Chicken wings smackin’ on stout. Stepped to his
Boy at the label of the month like yo what’s the
Haps kid lemmie get a deal. Got a dope
Song sounds just like Soandso. Whatsisname
Wrote it for me even more ill. Make ya wanna
Holla like Marvin. Did I mention I’m starvin’, and quite thirst. Meaning what
Meaning that Imma do whatever it takes to make
Sure they play my hit first on the Bill
Board and last on the countdown, like contact on that show. So what’s
Up black yo how that’s sound? If you down then c’mon lets go. Down to the
Studio right now. Bring me that crate with told hits. Make that
Beat with the right sound so that crowd’ll wanna go get in that
Club with the deejay. He be on the radio all day. I get in
Cool with him even though he fake as a toupee. I’ll roll with
Ballers and thugs to make my image legit. Even
Though back in the days they told me I wasn’t shit. I’m at the
Cinderella ball now it just don’t quit. And fuck
That, I’ll shrink my feet, if the shoe don’t fit. I make it
Happen like hormones, you been forewarned. I got you
Mad now, cause I’m kicking that popcorn that blows
Up in a couple minutes. Expanding pockets till your
Girl’s hand’s all in it. I see your shorty staring
At me on the guest line. But these four back
Stage will do me just fine. All five ask for my
Joint on the request line. So if you stress me I can
Tell you through the grape vine. Its like this
THEM THAT’S
GOT SHALL GET THEM THAT’S NOT SHALL LOSE BUT MAN
YOU GOTTA GET IT WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD NOW IF
YOU COULD GET IT ALL THIS MUCH AND THIS FAST DON’T BE
TELLING ME YOU WOULDN’T CAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU
WOULD.
THEM THAT’S
GOT SHALL GET THEM THAT’S NOT SHALL LOSE BUT GOD
YOU GOTTA GET IT WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD NOW IF
YOU COULD GET IT ALL THIS MUCH AND THIS FAST
DON’T BE TELLING ME YOU WOULDN’T CAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU WOULD.
I’m number one but the
Bullet can’t hack it now. The Billboard need a
Full metal jacket now. You see my face all
Day till it make you sick. I got a hand full of
Cars you can take your pick. Now who’d a thought this
Bullshit song a have me seen, in every video and
Every other magazine, with more attention than a
Jet black drag queen at a convention with a
Grand dragon klansmin? Kids hang on every word I
Say like a damn feign. Its too bad I don’t
Stand for a damn thing. Their parents say I’m to
Nasty for their damn teens. But I ain’t write it so don’t
Ask me what the fuck it mean. I got some other shit to
Worry bout instead. The more money more
Problems like the man said. Ain’t like my phone is being
Tapped by the damn feds. But my accountant said I
Can’t get out the damn red. I heard the people getting
Tired of my song now. The album dropped so now my
Fans are getting hostile. I only had one
Song that got the style right. The guy who wrote it yo his
Album dropped last night. My pockets on slim
Fast and Jenny Craig. The same clubs and
Restaurants that kept me well fed, reject my credit like a
Muslim do Baorshead. Good thing my boss is my
Boy, so I ain’t gotta beg. But now he hollin’ at me
Like yo where the loot went. We ad to clear the damn
Sample when the loop went. We coming up type
Short like a indent. And I just learned a new
Word called recoupment. I gotta pay for the
Video equipment, and every other
Detail and red cent spent. Oh hell naw don’t tell me
Bout no fuckin’ fine print. But tell me this, how the
Hell I’m gonna pay the rent. I got a live in
Landlord so now I tip toe. In and out the crib to
Find a way to get dough. I can’t make another
Record, cause I can’t flow. But I can tell you a little
Story and that shit go. There used to be a
Brother named Castro. That had a little
Problem with his cash flow.
THEM THAT’S
GOT SHALL GET THEM THAT’S NOT SHALL LOSE BUT
GOD BLESS THE CHILD THAT CAN WRITE HIS OWN RHYME SOME MIGHT
CHOOSE TO PRAISE SOME MIGHT CHOOSE TO SNOOZE BUT
THE
STYLE THAT I USE IS THE STYLE THAT’S MINE.
REPEAT
credits
from The Best Part,
released May 1, 2001
Them That’s Not
Beats by Grap Luva
Produced and arranged by Grap Luva, J-Live and Elliott Thomas
(G. Phillips, J. Cadet)
Omari’s Uncle Publishing / ASCAP, Only Child’s Brother’s Music / ASCAP
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
supported by 30 fans who also own “Them That's Not”
As soon as I heard the song Like Really I just had to buy the album. Then I finished listening to all the songs, and knew I made a good choice. Oddisee is one of the best hip hop artists on bandcamp. Devin Anderson
