J-Live released his debut solo album, The Best Part, in 2001. With production from Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Prince Paul, 88 Keys and DJ Spinna, to name a few, the 19-track project illustrated J-Live's unique approach to making albums—which often includes beat juggling while rapping. On Wednesday (December 14), J-Live announced the album is back on CD, vinyl and available on cassette for the first time.
"As much as the vinyl still sells and the album still streams, people still love the novelty of CDs and cassette—especially signed," J-Live tells RAPstation. "There’s a certain farm to table feel to it. Some people know how streaming pays and want to show appreciation and support for artists in a more direct way. Some people want a piece of history for their collection. I have a boom box with Bluetooth, USB, aux, radio and cassette deck. So it’s cool to have that format for the first time ever too."
The Spanish Harlem native, who linked up with Prince Paul in the 1990s and quickly formed a collaborative relationship with, went through hell to get the album out. Initially set for a 1999 release, the album was produced after he parted with Raw Shack Records and temporarily shelved. It was re-recorded after Payday Records and London Records split. After five years of label problems, The Best Part was finally released on Triple Threat Productions. These days, he looks at the challenging situation with a different lens.
"I was fresh out of college with a whole team behind me and a dream team of producers," he explains. "I was playing with house money. In the end, the delays just added to the legend of it. We made a classic that couldn’t be denied. I’m thankful."
New artwork from the original photo shoot is just the cherry on top. Signed CDs, vinyl and cassettes are available on J-Live's website here. Check out the full album below.
