East Coast
underground rap
at its finest,
All of the Above
showcases why
J-Live
is so beloved by fans of literate, well-mannered
hip-hop
. The focus here is on lyrics, through and through, and
indeed serves up a linguistic feast for astute listeners. The pretensions of
-- from its
Coltrane
-esque cover art, to
's disdain for commercial-minded rappers, to his thoughtful liner notes -- might turn off some listeners, particularly those less discerning ones who don't share his high-mindedness. But that's why
is an underground release: it's an album for a select audience that prefers intellect and understated beats over bombast, boasting, booty, and bluntedness. ~ Jason Birchmeier