J-Zone, a rapper/producer who stepped into the underground NYC backpack scene in the late 90’s, never really blew to the point where he became a household name. But for those of us who were paying attention, he was one of those artists you couldn’t help but admire. He made music on his terms, with a deep love of hip-hop culture and witty humor that shined through in everything from his sample flips to his album cover art. And sure enough, at the turn of the century, the truest of the true began to gravitate towards his production style, beckoning him for tracks. In the wake of his autobiographical release, Root For The Villain, which we all at UpNorthTrips co-sign with extreme vigor, it’s a must that we feature J-Zone as our first guest artist on The 10s, highlighting his 10 personal favorite J-Zone outside productions (shit he didn’t rap on). Shout to J-Zone for showing love and contributing to UpNorthTrips. Real recognize real. Zone out!
1. Al-Shid “M.A.T.H.”
Album: “The Big Hit/M.A.T.H.” 12 Inch
Year: 2002
J-Zone says: “I’ve worked with a diverse mix of MCs, from legends to one-song ponies. That said, Al-Shid is the greatest MC I ever worked with. Celph Titled too. I just had a musical chemistry with those two cats that was effortless. Shid was ahead of his time. This shit is super clever; he inspired me to really put in time with this song. Not just hooking up the beat, but producing it, and paying attention to details. It’s like a lo-fi Timbaland beat drunk off a Long Island Iced Tea. It’s the all-around best song in my discography, period.”
UNT Quotable: “One thing you should know if you’re thinking ‘bout stacking, putting your bitches before riches is considered subtracting.” -Al-Shid
2. CunninLynguists “Cocaine”
Album: Strange Journey Volume Two (Mixtape)
Year: 2009
J-Zone says: That’s my favorite beat of mine, period. Whenever people who’ve never heard my beats ask me to play one, I play “Cocaine.” I found the sample in a record store in Europe and lost my shit when I put it on the turntable. I made the beat before I even unloaded my luggage from that trip.
UNT Quotable: “It goes one for the junkie, two for the feigns, triple for the beams that help weigh out their dreams.”
3. Luke f/ The Notorious B.I.G. “Bust A Nut (Remix)”
Album: “Bust A Nut (Remix)” (ITunes only)
Year: 2008
J-Zone says: This was an ITunes only / promo only remix I did in 2008. I always felt “Bust A Nut” was the greatest Biggie verse of all time. It’s so ignorant, crass, and playfully misogynistic; I love it. He said “I like em educated, so I can bust off on their glasses.” I had to remix that shit! The beat sounds like J-Zone went clubbing. I was listening to a lot of old Twin Hype records at the time for inspiration and wanted to make something catchier and faster than what I was accustomed to, but still grimy. Late in my career, I finally went over 100 BPM (laughs).
UNT Quotable: “Biggie bang bitches from barbeques to Bar Mitzvahs.” -The Notorious B.I.G.
4. Lonely Island f/ E-40 “Santana DVX”
Album: Incredibad
Year: 2009
J-Zone says: That’s the first and only J-Zone beat on a major label. People used to tell me I was buggin’ when I said I wanted to work with E-40, because I make “backpacker rap.” I was told “backpacker rap” is any sample-based rap that doesn’t sell and nobody gets shot in the song lyrics. So I was happy to hear 40 on my shit and prove ‘em wrong. The Lonely Island dudes are mad cool, funny, and knowledgeable about hip-hop. I get no royalties on this because the dude I sampled took all my publishing, but song is my best chance of getting a gold record.
UNT Quotable: “Might slap a bitch with my hair.” E-40
5. Biz Markie “Chinese Food”
Album: “Chinese Food/Do Your Thang” 12 Inch
Year: 2004
J-Zone says: That was when I had “made it” in my mind. Biz inspired the entire J-Zone aesthetic, so I was pumped to hear he wanted to cop a beat from me. I’ll never forget that session. Biz was like, “Yo man, I thought you’d be Chinese!” Meeting the rap heroes of my childhood and adolescence was my greatest achievement.
UNT Quotable: “The type to wear Timbs to a wedding reception.” -Biz Markie
6. Tame One “Tame As It Ever Was”
Album: When Rappers Attack
Year: 2003
J-Zone says: I always dug this joint, but I primarily included it for fans of my stuff. Everyone always seemed to like it and rappers always told me “give me a beat like you gave Tame One.” I used to hate when rappers asked me that, but looking back I can see the appeal. It’s one of the few J-Zone beats you can throw on and just rap to. It’s got enough bugged-ness to sound J-Zone-ish, but it’s not completely overboard like the rest of my stuff (laughs). Tame is a dope MC.
UNT Quotable: “I do it for the buzz and not the hype, cuz.” -Tame One
7. Al-Shid “Mild Riot”
Album: Chief Chinchilla: Live @ The Liqua Sto
Year: 2008
J-Zone: Al-Shid delivered the best circa-1990 Ice Cube impersonation I ever heard on this. It was on my Live @ the Liqua Sto album, which sold 47 copies in it’s first month for sale. It’s safe to say not many people heard it (laughs). That beat perfectly embodied that Sir Jinx type of sound that those St. Ides commercials had, and that’s what I was aiming for with that project.
UNT Quotable: “Malt liquor diet, that’s what I’m on.” -Al-Shid
8. Celph Titled / Boss Hog Barbarians “Celph Destruction”
Album: Every Hog Has Its Day
Year: 2006
J-Zone says: Celph just destroyed this, no pun intended. I remember playing the beat at a Beat Society showcase and the crowd went nuts after having no reaction to my beats up to that point. It sounds absolutely nothing like what I typically do; it stands out.
UNT Quotable: “Your whole roster is fruity.” -Celph Titled
9. Masta Ace “Gimme Gimme Gimme”
Album: Hits U Missed Vol. 2
Year: 2005
J-Zone says: I take pride in knowing I made a beat that made Masta Ace talk shit about triflin’ women. I gave him the beat and as soon as he kicked me the rhyme, I was like “people are gonna say J-Zone told Masta Ace trash these hoes (laughs).” Doggin’ out the chicks ain’t usually his lane, but he freaked it. That beat was originally a remix for the Nappy Roots’ song “Aw Naw”, but Atlantic Records rejected it.
UNT Quotable: “Pay attention please, it’d be nice if you listen, because that young pussy ain’t worth the price of admission.” -Masta Ace
10. Al-Shid “190”
Album: Pimps Don’t Pay Taxes
Year: 2002
J-Zone says: This is one of the first songs Al-Shid and I made together, and the first thing I recorded in my home studio after I built it. Shid used to get bent at shows and rush rappers on stage (laughs). He was a nut when he was drunk and this song always brings back funny memories of him liquored up. I found the main loop on an old fitness instruction album when I was looking for dialogue to sample; I was buggin’ when I heard the shit.
UNT Quotable: “Acting like I know you, who the fuck you supposed to be?” -Al-Shid
words by @stanipcus / mix by @unitedcrates / graphics by @CNTRBND
