JCK (aka James Castady-Kristament) has been producing his brand of hip hop since 2002 with songs being picked up by radio stations and music TV. It’s easy to see why he gets so much interest after listening to his latest album, The Bees.
He makes music that stands out from the usual bland, radio friendly pop masquerading as hip hop that seems to be paraded endlessly in the media as the next big thing. JCK isn’t afraid to step outside the boundaries of the genre and use ideas from other musical styles to craft his songs.
His subject matter is yet another point of difference – dark and edgy, yet at times hilarious (like on the opener Rise of the Emo Clones) it’s refreshing to hear.
There are moments where he lapses into cliché, such as on the track Killer which stands out for its excessiveness and blatant violent overtones, a contrast to the majority of the album.
It’s the tracks where JCK raps about things close to his life, or makes entertaining observations on things he’s seen or pop culture, that show his real talent.
The Bees is an album that takes some time to get into, but overall is worth listening to.

"JCK is song writer rapper and producer James Castady-Kristament. JCK has gone through many incarnations over a musical career spanning 9 Years, including female vocals and partnerships. His enthusiastic energy and passion for the world of hip hop is obvious and is reflected in his music. Having already established himself as an artist in the Australasia region via television and radio and having released several singles and a self titled album, JCK is an artist that is destined for an international audience. JCK´s clever and advanced mixture of traditional and modern hip hop and sense of national pride, creates a sound that is diverse from its American and European counterparts."
Abby Britten proffesional Hip Hop dancer and choreographer.
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