Johnny J -1994- I Gotta Be Me (Shade Tree)

• Johnny J also knew how to rap !!!
• Discover the funky and sexy west coast vibe of 2Pac most important producer
• Fully produced by Johnny J, featuring Y?N-Vee, Syke...
  

In front, three members from Y?N-Vee with their specific dressing
Capucine Jackson, Johnny's wife, in red, Syke in the background

Discogs page of the album

LISTEN or grab it there

 

1. Something She Can Feel

2. Diggin' Um Out

3. I'm A Better Man

4. Why You Want Me Now ?

5. Get Away From Me

6. P.O.P. (Got Control Of Me)

7. Better Off feat. Mel-Low, 213 & Fire/Fly (chorus)

8. It's A Wonderful Day feat. Dangerous D, Tara Kessler & Lil E

9. Shake Dat Ass

10. Say Whatcha Gotta Say feat. Nic Nam & Vayne (Y?N-Vee), Boe, Big Syke, Maniak & Tim-Tee, MC TNT

11. Love's The Way

 

Produced by Johnny J, co-produced by Charlie Mack

Featuring chorus by Boe (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11).
Additional vocals by Capucine Jackson (1,2,3,6), Y?N-Vee (2), Nikki (4,6), Prop'a Vee (4,5)

 

West Side G-Funk producer

Before producing for Tupac, Johnny J early produced for West Coast artists : most of the first album of MC TNT (here featured) in 1988-1990, the two first albums of MC Candyman with his superhits "Melt in your Mouth" and "Knockin Boots" in 1990-1991. Then some songs for the latino rapper Biggy Smallz and of course the whole Evil Mind Gangsta's album (Big Syke, Mental & Domino).

At the time of recordings of his album (1993-1994), Johnny J had produced half of the first project of Thug Life album (cf. Thug Life Original, only a small part will be published in mid 94).

 

Music given to 2Pac

"Better Off" has the beat that Johnny J will re-use for "Picture Me Rollin'" in 1996. Johnny J will also give the beat of "It's a Wonderful Day" to 2Pac for "Everything They Own", a song recorded for his second Death Row album (cf. Euthanasia Supreme).

Let's notice that Johnny J had produced the Mel-Low song "Return of the Player" for his eponymous album in 1993 (it seems that the promo album edited by Def Jam and with Redman participation in 3 tracks, never knew an official release before 2017...), a song that uses the same music than Outlaw Immortalz "Penitentiary Bound" (is there a Pac verse ?). In the same way, he gave 2Pac a beat he used in "Nobody Rides 4 Free" for the original Biggy Smallz, a latino rapper (not the Live Squad member who died in early 94). And it became the unreleased "If There's a Cure" with Snoop Dogg.

So we could say that Johnny J gave everything he could to 2Pac. It was sure that like many, he felt that 2Pac would be one of the most important hip hop phenomenon.

 

 Thanks to "Thuglife living nigga 2Pac"

Evil Mind Gangsta's (Big Syke, Mental, Domino & Johnny J) -1993- All Hell Breakin' Loose (Organize Records)

• Big Syke's first group with Mental Illness, Domino & Johnny J !
• Recorded from 1990 to 1992
• Released as a street tape in the streets of Inglewood in 1992.

Discogs page

Listen in YouTube

Side 1 :

1. Intro

2. Livin' in the Edge

3. Get It Strait *

4. Got To Get Paid *

5. I'm That Nigga (Domino)

6. Not My Girl *

7. Riden A Double Murda Beef

Side 2 :

8. I Wish U Would *

9. N Misery (Mental)

10. What Else Cana Nigga Do *

11. Evil Mind

12. U Tripin' Bitch *

13. All Hell Breakin' Losse

 

Produced by Johnny J, Charlie Mac & Big Syke.

Probably recorded mostly in 1992.

* solo tracks by Big Syke

Big Syke's beginnings are less known than his later works, although it is probably better, more fresh and rough, closer to Thug Life style. The "closest road dog" is already the deep voice we know (just listen to "Riden a Double Murda Beef"). He is the prominent persona here with 6 solo tracks and 4 other songs. He's taking an important part in the production too.

Johnny J has already produced significant tunes for MC T.N.T., (Bustin' Out, Mr. Dynamite album), Candyman's (album Ain't No Shame in my Game), but he is the main ingredient here in the sound identity. You can hear the departure from N.W.A. old L.A. sound to a more funky/soul even jazzy thing like in "U Tripin' Bitch" that will characterize 2Pac later sound.

 

Mental Illness : Probably you already heard that name in Tupac's songs ("Mental, rest in peace"). He died not a long time after the release of the album, in August of 1993. What is particularly interesting, if you listen to his verse in "Livin' in the Edge", you will hear this famous sentence re-used many times by 2Pac :

 

My only fear of death is coming back reincarnated.
Mental, "Livin' In The Edge"

 

It seems that Mental's style and text (you can hear a bit of Eazy-E) had important influence over Tupac, over the Me Against the World intimate mood :

Will I live today and live in sorrow (?)
Or will I get love and die tomorrow ?

Mental, "All Hell Breakin' Loose"