28 Mar 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Jdubs - 'The Keynotes' Album Review

14 Apr 2010 // A review by River Tucker

Jdubs - The Keynotes CD Review

Jdubs is Ben James along with Charles Kickens, Pacific Heights and P-Money with Shapeshifter's Devin Abrams mixing and producing much of the content for the release on his Truetone record label brings you 'The Keynotes', a CD of quality Hip Hop featuring the vocal talents of MC Aeries, Sacha Vee and Lisa Tomlins.

I like the packaging for this CD. The Scrabble title, subdued colours and hand written text making a good statement; I don't need to be loud to stand out.

Track One is short but sweet and entitled 'Introjuice' with political samples to make you think. Scratching stabs are effective.

Track Two 'Ubii' has cool head nodding laid-back beats with uplifting rap and dulcet female chorus lines that give the song scope. Ah!

Track Three 'What You Want' steps up a level holding true to the Hip Hop format. Good to see the genre going so strong. I liked the Nightrider hi-hats at the end.

Track Four '12 Roses' is an interlude of violin samples and vocal stabs.

Track Five 'Buttajazz' has lovely Piano with tight rap and straightforward back beats. Lyrics are well delivered with a positive message. The chorus line mixed hot works well, this song perhaps the most commercially viable on the album.

Track Six 'Boxes' is the epitome of chilled out Hip Hop, with a crisp maraca taking the place of the hi-hat cutting back in time with the rapping. There's an interesting reversed oboe sample holding the melody together. Massive!

'The Keynotes' CD has relaxed jazz influenced Hip Hop where you can hear everything that's going on. Most suited to chillin on a Sunday afternoon or driving to the coast with the windows down and the sounds up.

Track Seven 'Jacks Interlude' is another short track which is my favourite on the album taking the laid back music into the realms of the spiritual. Phat beats are interspersed with jazz flute and funky bass, plus nice rests and vocal/sneer interplay. Choice!

Track Eight 'Pages' has some sweet chords and muting on guitar with scatting rap which is a bit more in your face, great lines like "I relax and speak from my soul" being a catch phrase for the idea behind the whole album if you ask me.

Track Nine 'Got That' didn't really work for me.

Track Ten 'Butter Jazz Reprise' reminds me of waking up in the morning, easy and warm. Seriously talented piano and violin samples are wicked!

Track Eleven 'Smuffle' is brief but effective in its intro for the next track.

Tasty record scratches at times give this CD a retro feel. There's definitely a well produced New Zealand flavour overall which is really nice to hear as well as a decent dollop of political commentary. These guys aren't trying to be like anybody else though or copying American Hip Hop, although there are hints of some of the best styles in the genre throughout.

Track Twelve 'Lifeline' brings out the alternate beats touched on by previous tracks. Skilled rhymes hold the beat down.

Track Thirteen 'Spaceworm' is written and produced by P-Money and gives a good style change to the CD. Rhyme phrasing fits perfectly and lyrical content is excellent. Much appreciated.

Track Fourteen 'Yesturday' has slightly darker melody lines and slow beats. This interlude song softly melds the mind into mellow euphoria.

Track Fifteen ending the CD on a high note and is aptly titled 'Outrojuice'... yum!

There's no killer hooks which has its own charm. Beats and song pauses work expertly into the rhymes, which is where the strength of this CD lies. Levels are perfect with superb rapping, samples, composition and excellent effects throughout. If you want to see where NZ Hip Hop is at, go out and buy 'The Keynotes' by Jdubs today.

Reviewed by River

 

About Jdubs

JDubs - aka Ben James - began making music at just 13, MCing and eventually hosting RDU's $ Mix hip-hop show before catching the attention of Shapeshifter's Devin Abrams.

The breakthrough came when he was offered a spot alongside partner-in-rhyme MC Aeries on Devin's third solo album as Pacific Heights.

Dubs' work impressed, and now comes his crafted release out on Shapeshifter's record label, Truetone. JDubs uses music as a tool to gently but powerfully push a message of love and forgiveness - with a view to waking people up to the system that controls the way they think, feel and act.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Jdubs

Releases

The Keynotes
Year: 2010
Type: Album

Other Reviews By River Tucker

Album Review: The Death Spell
12 Dec 2023 // by River Tucker
There’s a real whisky drinking, bare knuckle fighting edge to the self-titled debut album by The Death Spell, kicking off with Nail You Higher Than Before. Obviously, song lyrics are in your face on this track, especially for any Christians in the audience, but you couldn’t ask for a better intro to the musical style of this Auckland-based band.
Read More...
Beastwars - Gig Review: Reign of the Beast @ Whanganui Musicians Club, Whanganui - 13/10/2023
15 Oct 2023 // by River Tucker
If you're into metal music, the Musicians Club in Whanganui was the place to be last Friday night for a feast of auditory delights to satisfy even the hungriest of souls. Brought to you by Lost Art and Panhead beer, Beastwars and Shepherds Reign headlined an epic concert that was set to bring the house down on the first leg of their not-to-be-missed Reign of the Beast tour.
Read More...
End of an Empire - Album Review: Best Laid Plans
25 Sep 2023 // by River Tucker
It’s been a couple of years since End of an Empire released their favourably reviewed debut album, Within, Without in 2020. Since then, the Wellington-based four-piece have obviously put their time to good use by writing Best Laid Plans, which is arguably one of the finest Hardcore releases to come out of New Zealand this year.
Read More...
The Rising Tide - Gig Review: Inferno - Youth Rock & Metal @ The Stomach, Palmerston North - 5/08/2023
07 Aug 2023 // by River Tucker
It’s not often that you get treated to a mid-winter concert where nearly every metal genre is being performed. But that’s exactly what happened at The Stomach in Palmerston North last Saturday night where four bands gave it their all in a rip-roaring all-ages show that will undoubtedly leave the hundred or so people who attended with lasting impressions.
Read More...
Mammuthus - Album Review: Imperator
18 Jun 2023 // by River Tucker
If you like your stoner metal super-sized and embellished with a nice touch of doom, then Mammuthus’ latest release, Imperator, is definitely the album for you. Seven tracks of deliciously down-tuned, guitar-driven heaviness smash into your eardrums like a well-oiled and relentless steam train.
Read More...
1 Drop Nation - Single Review: I'm Home
08 May 2023 // by River Tucker
When it comes to reggae music 1 Drop Nation's latest single, I'm Home, hits all the right notes. Soulful melodies, tight rhythms, and on-point vocals impart a feel-good vibe that will get you chilling or up and dancing, whatever mood you're in.
Read More...
Gig Review: Devilskin @ The Royal, Palmerston North - 28/04/2023
30 Apr 2023 // by River Tucker
It was well worth getting in early to catch Devilskin’s exclusive VIP performance at The Royal in Palmerston North last Friday night. Following on from a successful show at Homegrown, Devilskin has embarked on their much-anticipated nationwide Let Me Breathe tour, brought to you by The Rock, after a short hiatus that, if anything, has made their current shows all the more sweet.
Read More...
Gig Review #2: Homegrown 2023 @ Wellington Waterfront - 18/03/2023
21 Mar 2023 // by River Tucker
The weather gods must really love live music because they fully turned it on for the Jim Beam Homegrown music festival in Wellington last Saturday. Not only were the tunes absolutely fantastic, the crystal clear blue sky followed by a twinkling starry night set a magical scene for thousands of beautiful party people to enjoy some of New Zealand’s biggest bands performing across five stages on the capital’s spectacular waterfront.
Read More...
View All Articles By River Tucker

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
    Ariana Grande
  • BEAUTIFUL THINGS
    Benson Boone
  • END OF BEGINNING
    Djo
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • TEXAS HOLD 'EM
    Beyonce
  • STICK SEASON
    Noah Kahan
  • PRAISE JAH IN THE MOONLIGHT
    YG Marley
  • CARNIVAL
    Kanye West And Ty Dolla $ign
  • SATURN
    SZA
  • LOVIN ON ME
    Jack Harlow
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem