The Best Part
Encyclopedia
The Best Part is the debut album by underground
rapper, J-Live
. It was recorded from 1995 to 1998 and featured production by Prince Paul
, DJ Premier
, and Pete Rock
. Due to problems with his record label, Raw Shack Records, J-Live left the label and the album was shelved. J-Live moved to Payday Records, but when Payday's parent company London Records
was bought from Universal Music Group
by WEA
, the album was again shelved. In 2001, copies surfaced as bootlegs and several were of such high quality it was rumored that J-Live himself was behind them. By the fall of 2001, after five years of label problems, The Best Part was finally officially released on Triple Threat Productions.
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
rapper, J-Live
J-Live
J-Live is an MC, DJ, and producer from New York.-Early career and The Best Part:...
. It was recorded from 1995 to 1998 and featured production by Prince Paul
Prince Paul
Paul Huston, better known by the stage name Prince Paul, is an American disc jockey and hip-hop record producer. He was also a founding member of the Gravediggaz where he used the name The Undertaker.- Biography :...
, DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
, and Pete Rock
Pete Rock
Peter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth...
. Due to problems with his record label, Raw Shack Records, J-Live left the label and the album was shelved. J-Live moved to Payday Records, but when Payday's parent company London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
was bought from Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
by WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
, the album was again shelved. In 2001, copies surfaced as bootlegs and several were of such high quality it was rumored that J-Live himself was behind them. By the fall of 2001, after five years of label problems, The Best Part was finally officially released on Triple Threat Productions.
Track Summary
Tracks | |||
Track | Title | Producers | Additional Performers |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Outside Looking" | Young J-Live: Anthony Glover Emceeologist: Tanya Gerber |
|
2 | "Intro" | Emmai Alaquiva | Host: Takhim Allah |
3 | "Got What It Takes" | 88 Keys | |
4 | "Don't Play" | 88 Keys David Kennedy David Kennedy David Anthony Kennedy was the fourth of eleven children of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy.-Life:... |
Vocals: Ike and Swave of CVEES |
5 | "Vampire Hunter J" | Grap Luva Grap Luva Gregory Phillips better known by his stage name Grap Luva is a hip-hop producer and rapper primarily active during the 1990s as a member of the group INI His first appearance was as a guest... |
|
6 | "YES!" | Alaquiva | |
7 | "Them That's Not" | Grap Luva Elliott Thomas |
|
8 | "Kick It To The Beat" | Pete Rock Pete Rock Peter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth... |
Verse 1: Probe.dms Verse 2: Asheru Asheru Asheru, born Gabriel Benn, is an African American hip hop artist, educator, and youth activist. He is widely known for performing the opening and closing themes for the popular TV series, The Boondocks, as well as his pioneering and innovative efforts to forward the Hip Hop Education... |
9 | "Wax Paper" | Prince Paul | |
10 | "Timeless" | Chris Catalyst Probe.dms |
|
11 | "Get The Third" | Catalyst Probe.dms |
|
12 | "School's In (Remix)" | 88 Keys | |
13 | "R.A.G.E." | DJ Spinna DJ Spinna DJ Spinna is an American hip hop music artist and producer, who, according to Allmusic.com, has "remained strictly an underground artist despite his astonishing talent."-Biography:... |
Vocals: Understanding Allah and Takhim Allah |
14 | "True School Anthem" | DJ Spinna | |
15 | "Inside Looking Outro" | Alaquiva Kennedy |
Emceeologist: Gerber |
16 | "The Best Part" | DJ Premier DJ Premier Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru... |
|
17 | "Play" | 88 Keys Kennedy |
|
18 | "Braggin' Writes (Revisited)" | Kennedy | |
19 | "Epilogue" |