Save for collaborating with Roc Nation’s Neisha Neshae for their song “Stuck in a Dream”, J. Jackson was relatively slower to release music in 2017 than in recent years. Instead, Jackson spent the year perfecting his craft as an artist & performer, opening up for Curren$y on his national Pilot Talk Trilogy tour. During his time away, songs by J. Jackson like “Eastside Story” dominated airwaves from terrestrial radio in Detroit to satellite station Shade45. That was until Jackson released new music and visuals for his single “The Beginning” featuring production by legendary hip-hop producer Ski Beatz (Jay Z, Curren$y, Stalley).
The Eli + Visual Index directed video opens with Jackson emerging from a smoky haze in a nondescript warehouse. His signature Cazal frames and throwback Tommy Hilfiger gear are colorful and murky, much like Jackson’s rhyme style. The video opens with Jackson giving us a rare glimpse of his wide smile before he plays the dozens with the lives of his haters with lines like “I heard your sneak-diss but wasn’t gon say sh*t, you live in ya mama’s basement, ya cable is basic” and then moves right along to assaulting the classic yet jilting production of Ski Beatz. It isn’t until towards the end of the video when Jackson casually reminds the haters in the audience that he is “doin albums with legends that y’all {redacted} is sampling.”, alluding to his forthcoming debut album produced entirely by Ski Beatz.
The hookless joint carries the energy of a freestyle cypher as Jackson touches on transcending local scenes by quitting his job to move to the east coast and pursue his destiny. With a gravelly voice and confident flow, 2015’s winner of Detroit’s Best Lyricist is a clear example of what happens when you bet on yourself. Visit www.jacksoneverything.com to check out “The Beginning” and more from J. Jackson.
Dean Garcia, Jr. is a Detroit native and a lover of hip-hop. He runs a brand management company and writes about it in his spare time. His favorite activity is archiving and “curating” pictures on his IG and and making novice attempts at afrofuture collages. Follow him at @art.dealer.dean & his firm @humbleflei for your favorite weird stuff, obscure 90’s music & the latest in Detroit Hip-Hop & beyond.
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