Episode 108: J-Zone

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J-Zone is a rapper, producer, musician, and author whose ability to find and chop the perfect sample is paired with a rap persona that combines raunchiness, self-depreciating humor, social commentary, and a deep love for all of rap history, including some of its more bizarre corners. And, naturally, an alter ego who just happens to be a four foot three, baseball bat wielding rodent named Chief Chinchilla.

His first album, 1999’s Music For Tu Madre, began life as a college senior project, but quickly caught on with the underground scene. He then released a ton of albums - with his Old Maid Billionaires crew, solo, with collaborators like Celph Titled, and even a record of malt liquor jingles.

But by 2009, he was noticing diminishing returns financially and creatively, and decided to get out of the rap game, a decision he explored in his 2011 memoir Root for the Villain: Rap, Bull$hit, and a Celebration of Failure. In a surprising turn of events, the book’s success inspired him to return to music to create his first new solo album in nine years, 2013’s Peter Pan Syndrome.

Tracks featured in this episode:

1. Slave, “Stone Jam”
2. James Jamerson (solo) - Bernadette
3. The Four Tops, “Bernadette”
4. James Brown, “Cold Sweat”
5. Public Enemy, “Prophets of Rage”
6. Funkadelic, “You’ll Like It Too”
7. Eric B & Rakim, “I Know You Got Soul”
8. The J.B.’s, “The Grunt - Pt. 1 & 2”
9. Slick Rick, “Children’s Story”
10. Schoolly D, “P.S.K. (What Does It Mean?)”
11. Raekwon, “Criminology”
12. Melvin Bliss, “Synthetic Substitution”
13. J-Zone, “Molotov Malt”
14. J-Zone, “Peter Pan Syndrome”
15. J-Zone, “Trespasser”
16. J-Zone, “Trespasser”
17. J-Zone, “Trespasser”
18. Phil Ochs, “Love Me, I’m a Liberal”
19. Scene from “Do The Right Thing” - “Better than Black People”
20. J-Zone, “Jackin’ for Basquiats”
21. Digital Underground, “Same Song”
22. De La Soul, “Pease Porridge”
23. The Boss Hog Barbarians, “Hog Hop”
24. Louis Logic, “The Ugly Truth”
25. J-Zone f/Huggy, “Orphan Babies”
26. J-Zone, “Chump Change”
27. Busta Rhymes & Leaders Of The New School Break-up on Yo! Raps (1993)
28. J-Zone f/Al-Shid, “Opposites Attract”
29. J-Zone f/Huggy, “The Trojan War”
30. Bobby Jimmy and the Critters, “Big Butt”
31. J-Zone f/Chief Chinchilla, “At the Bodega”
32. King Tee, “Do You Wanna Go To The Liquor Store?”
33. J-Zone f/Chief Chinchilla, “Bein’ A Menace”
34. J-Zone f/Chief Chinchilla, “Player Potion”
35. Mob Style, “Mob Style”
36. Pretty Tone Capone, “Can’t Talk Too Long On The Telephone”
37. Vaughn Mason & Crew, “Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll”
38. Mob Style, “Rough”
39. Lock Up: The Prisoners of Rikers Island
40. Tweety Bird Loc, “My D… Is Still Prejudiced”
41. J-Zone, “No Plan A”
42. “Fresh Dressed” The Evolution Of Fashion In Hip-Hop!
43. J-Zone, “Theme: To Love A Hooker”
44. Sprint Nextel commercial - Burning Couch & Benny Hill
45. J-Zone, “Time For A Crime Wave”
46. J-Zone f/Swagmaster Bacon, “Mo’ Pork”
47. J-Zone, “Molotov Cocktail”

Show notes:

1. Bass Player, “Style Study: Mark Adams of Slave”
2. New York Magazine, “Ex–Coke Kingpin Turns Up His Nose At Miramax Biopic”