Album Review: "The Bootleg" (J. Bair)

J. Bair first came to my attention with the song and video, "10 Rap Classics." It was a great track when I first listened to it and it's still a great track that is still in rotation these days for me. He is back with his latest project titled, "The Bootleg," a mix of interludes, freestyles and complete songs.

01. "Shoot A Bootlegger"
02. Hard In The Booth
03. I See Right Thru You
04. Million Bucks
05. Inkredible
06. Hell Na
07. Never Was Feelin' Them
08. "Don't Even Buy Albums"
09. Triple Threat
10. Bair, Broxx, and Blackston
11. "Why Wouldn't You Buy A Bootleg?"
12. Hollywood Chick
13. #1 Fan
14. M.L.K. (Make 'em Love Knowledge)
15. Now Or Neva
16. There 4 U
17. "We Goin' Worldwide"
18. F U
19. "Much Respect"
20. The Cypher

"HARD IN THE BOOTH"
Technically it is the second track on the album, but really, "The Bootleg" starts with a song firing off a warning shot to those that rap about materialistic things. Which sadly, there's a lot of and let's be honest, they suck. So we have J. Bair here to call them out on it and announce that he's the complete opposite of it, and that's a good thing. Also, the beat on this is simply awesome.




"HOLLYWOOD CHICK"
A laundry list of the famous names and faces in Hollywood that J. Bair wouldn't mind hooking up with. Look, we all have celebrity crushes. If you say you don't, then you're lying to yourself. A fun track that reminds me of MURS and his self-proclaimed "situational comedy hip-hop." Eva Mendes...Rosario Dawson...yep, can't go wrong with those one.





"The Bootleg" contributes to the foundation of why I like J. Bair. His rhymes are sharp and just generally good. The variety of beats on here are some good stuff and it makes me wonder what sort of magic would've been made if he got to work with the late J. Dilla. I still hope that there'll be a follow-up to "10 Rap Classics," but until then, "The Bootleg" continues to display the talents of J. Bair and it's just a matter of time before more and more people are introduced to him. Hell maybe one day he and J. Cole will cut an album together and for me that'd be a great dynamic duo of what could be members of the next-generation of rock solid emcees.

J. Bair (official website)

Posted in: album reviews,j. bair,music,reviews