When Jadakiss hit the rap scene with his deafening group, the LOX, all hell broke loose. Why, you may ask, well, primarily because there had never been a hip-hip group in history who revolutionized the sound of hip-hop music as fast as they did. —They‚re the only group who knew how to precisely give you lyrical food for your mind while simultaneously making thongs shake and drop (check out the meteoric rise of their platinum Money, Power & Respect for evidence). Plus, they redrew the rap map and became an influential force in the musical genre. Now, as one of the toughest and tightest emcees to ever grip the mic, Jadakiss, the LOX‚s front man, is on the move to jump-start his solo career with his unprecedented album—Kiss Tha Game Goodbye—which, due to its brilliance, is destined to go down in history books.
The infamous Jason “Jadakiss” Phillips has built a career on the backs of wannabe wise guys unaware of his lyrical dexterity. He has been since early childhood. Word on his witty rhyme prowess began spreading thirteen years ago as a potential-laden twelve-year-old rhyme animal clawing at opponents on the tuff turfs of Yonkers, NY. Its not that his opponents were lyrically weak in any shape, form or fashion—, as they would come to battle equipped with some 16-bar ammo. —It‚s just that the born to kill Jadakiss would extinguish whatever little fumes they‚d create with fire lines that averaged 40-bars in length—all from the top of his head. “If anybody was winning a battle it was me,” says Jada confidently in reference to his early street, lyrical brawls. “I had millions of rhymes that just tore people‚s head off.”
Aside from the streets, Kiss says he perfected his wit and his rhyming skills during middle school cafeteria sessions. “I‚d make up little bits and started entertaining during lunch time. I was just messing around, but the people began telling me that I had talent.” A few years later, Jadakiss was afforded the opportunity to get into a recording studio and from that point on parlayed his talent into a remarkable career.
His reputation, like an uncontrollable epidemic, began spreading all over his hometown. World of his battle proficiency and lyrical genius reached the presently wicked Earl “DMX” Simmons, who, at the time, was already tagged with Yonkers legend status. And given Jadakiss incredible potential, X brought him and Sheek (Styles would later join the LOX) to Darrin “Dee” and Joaquin “Waah” Dean of Ruff Ryders, who in turn took the two down to Florida ‚s Jack the Rapper conference. “We wasn‚t signed to them or nothing,” Kiss recalls of the golden opportunity. “They just knew that we was from the same hood as X and they was feeling us. They gave us a chance and we killed it down there.”
Ruff Ryders immediately became Kiss‚ extended family. Kiss and the Ruff Ryders family would retreat to their Yonker‚s Power House Studios and literally eat, sleep and work together. His squad‚s hard work, which included a host of classic freestyles housed on DJ Clue tapes, would result in a deal with Bad Boy Entertainment. Their first release, Money, Power & Respect sold 1 million units. The album introduced the crew to the masses, and it gave a glimpse of the extravaganza that was yet to come. The album also provided a podium for hip-hop‚s community to experience the artists individually. Jada‚s catchy, clever solo cut “All for the Love,” which also highlighted the beginning of Swizz Beatz phenomenal career, initiated calls for Kiss‚ solo album˜the people wanted more of his musical blowtorch.
Jadakiss‚ resume kept on growing as he continued to work with highly acclaimed megastars, and everyone was watching closely. Along with the penning of Sean “Puffy” Combs‚ chart-topping “Benjamins” verse he delivered sure-fire bars on classic posse cuts such as Notorious B.I.G‚s “Last Days,” Jay-Z‚s “Reservoir Dogs” and Noreaga‚s “Banned From TV.” But after his solo gem on Ruff Ryders Vol.1 “Kiss of Death,” those solo requests turned into loud demands. The call, he says, haven‚t added any pressure. He rightfully feels this album will put him atop rap‚s podium. “I feel that I‚m one of the best, definitely,” asserts Kiss. “That‚s how you‚re supposed to think. They‚ re a lot of dudes that are nice and there‚s people that I looked up to before I even came into the game, but that‚s how I feel about myself. I got to make a strong impact in the game.”
The celebrated, late Notorious B.I.G. also admired Kiss‚ wordplay. “He pulled me aside and told me that he wanted to work with me. He wanted me to write some songs for Cease‚s album. After he passed things got discombobulated.”
In order to make that strong impact he talks about, the 25-years old MC has expanded his arsenal. ˜So much that he has recently been collaborating with other super artists for added dimension (Sunshine Anderson‚s “Heard It All Before” remix, the DJ Clue mega hit “Back to Life 2001” featuring Mary J. Blige and Mya‚s scorching hit “Best of Me”). His other incredible hits also includes “Got It All” (featuring Eve) and the charged-up “Fiesta” remix (featuring R. KELLY). Now, Kiss is taking his career one stop further toward stardom. Along with his jab and move punch lines aimed at hip-hop junkies, Jadakiss‚ Kiss Tha Game Goodbye cuts to the aforementioned other audience˜cuts that‚ll undeniably put him in ranks among the heavyweights. The charged-up radio smash hit “We Gonna Make It” electrified airwaves throughout the country. Swizz‚s maniac Trinity keyboard mastery provides much spunk to the semi sexual, semi comical “On My Way” and the biographical “Feel Me” is arguably Kiss‚ best work to date. The track, a 40-bar summary of Kiss‚ entire life, will prove to be some of the best storytelling hip-hop has heard this year. On “All For Love,” Kiss said, “When you think of me, you think of a problem,”—which Œtill this day has proven to be true.
Kiss Tha Game Goodbye has appeal. His ability to mix gangsterism and braggadocio is absolutely first-rate. Jadakiss‚s menacing voice and thunderous production create a masterful musical atmosphere that thrills and intimidatesa — a superb blend of hard-core sounds and sensibilities.
