Album Details

• Artist: J. Period
• Album: The [abstract] Best Vol. 1
• Label: RBC Records
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: carlita on 2012-03-23

Media

Long live the mixtape. It's been a hotly debated subject in the media, on blogs, message boards and in the legal system between DJs, artists and record companies. As a music fan, it's easy to pick a side. Where else can you get previously unreleased material including remixes that are often way better than the originals? Obtaining the music through legal venues, there's nothing better. Having gotten quite a lot of buzz as the go-to mixtape DJ in the press, I needed to hear if  J. Period  lived up to the hype.

Approached by the legendary Q-Tip (a.k.a Kamaal the Abstract) of A Tribe Called Quest and solo artist/producer fame to do this mixtape, J. Period pays a deservedly deferential tribute to the musician and the man. Skillfully drawing the best out of his mixtape artist in a collabo situation, there are tidbits revealed in the random vignettes that will come as
surprises to even the seasoned Tribe expert. The "Kapelka vs. Gelfitefish" piece, "RIP Hood" story, the "Native Tongues" interlude and the "Busta Rhymes I Have Arrived Scenario" behind the scenes snippets go hand in hand for those who loved the "Beats, Rhymes and Life" documentary, recounting a critical period of music in hip-hop history.

Enhancing what was already brilliant to begin with and I still recommend exploring each album individually, J.Period amazingly collected legends in their own right for this dope tribute to the artist, lyricist and producer to deliver a one-stop bodega (as opposed to shop) "press play and let it go from start to end" hot mix. "Boomin in ya, Boomin in ya, Boomin in ya jeep" is exactly what you're going to want to do with this mixtape/album.

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