In Print  Home  Directories  Reviews  Get In Touch  Forums  Links  Gig Guide  

JDUBS: The Keynotes

Outside Cantab hip hop circles, JDubs was an unknown name when he lent his services to two Pacific Heights’ tracks on 2008’s ‘In A Quiet Storm’. Released on Shapeshifter’s Truetone Recordings, JDubs (Ben James to his parents) forms a distinct brand of conscious, forward-thinking hip hop on his own debut outing. While JDubs doesn’t operate with the same intensity as the colonial NZ probing of the Upper Hutt Posse, a significant component thematically is liberation of political and social conventions. Sounds like heavy stuff, but JDubs’ mellowed flow means it doesn’t deter from listener comfort levels. Beatmaking comrade Charles Kickens is an integral part of this album, feeding off shuffling jazz-laden samples and Dilla/Madlib stylings. Along with Kickens, Parks (Ladi6), Devin Abrams (Shapeshifter/Pacific Heights) and P-Money provide some top class production, met with vocal touches from Lisa Tomlins, Sacha Vee and MC Aeries. Stylish, smooth and soulful, a debut swathed in positivity.

Related Information