They go as far as recording a song specifically for the parents among their fans. The family-themed “Blue Moon” deals with different situations of separation, JT quipping, “I learned what it took to be a father from my mother,” and JB pleading, “I don’t really wanna be a bother, but can I come to see my baby more than every blue moon?” On “Broken Hearts” the singers display distant maturity while the rapper gets specific: “My audience ain’t grade school kids, no / it’s the one with two or three of ’em of his own.” Although they tour (and sometimes record) with a band now, their sound leans towards sparse R&B instrumentation that serves as the platform for a variety of topics. The new songs don’t exactly point into a new direction for J Trey. When the hook performed by guest rapper Bullet repeats, “I love it when the rain falls / I still shop at the same malls / I never chose to change y’all,” you get the sentiment – these local musicians are not easily knocked off course. Like many tracks by J3, it is simple but gets its point across. Rounding off the remixes is “When the Rain Falls (Remix),” a balanced tune that gets you in a traveling mood with its West Coast funk backing. These acoustic, folk-tinged offerings are contrasted by “The Playback (No Sleep Remix),” which combines the anthemic swing of the original with a heavy dose of rock guitars (some culled from the Beastie Boys’ “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”). Covering the soft rock classic, “Drift Away (Acoustic Remix)” opens the album on a similar note, while “Lover Lover (Remix)” remakes (and samples) the 1992 Sonia Dada song “(Lover) You Don’t Treat Me No Good” with extended on-topic raps from JT. “The Reason (Remix),” which praises music as a stimulant, is a straightforward hip-hop track, melodic bass and piano sprinkles creating a playful, jazzy vibe. The back-and-forth JB and Jasmine engage in may seem typical duet fare, but the way they get worked up (literally getting louder), makes their performance stand out. Says rapper JT on “Can’t Drop the Mic”: “We got a hot mic, pass it around, still tryina get down / The difference is we don’t give a shit now / about what them stupid labels say / And radio play, no way / pigs’ll fly ‘fore we see that day.” “Could’ve Been (Remix)” starts out like a standard slow jam, only to switch to a track radio would deem rhythmically too challenging. It seems early on J Trey developed an unapologetic temper that really fits their status as an indie act. Whole lotta second takes, a bunch of bad rhymesĬause to me ain’t nothin’ better than kickin’ it live” “Believe me, I tried about a thousand times The “Can’t Drop the Mic” remix represents the R&B lineage with funky bass licks, padded drums and warm keyboard layers joining to create a soft, slow bounce as the three vocalists allow themselves to be magnetized by the mic. Iowa trio J Trey wears the ’90s influence proudly on its sleeves on “Blue I Soul.” Comprising 19 tracks, the album is divided into a reimagination of earlier material through the remix lens and a second part presenting 12 new songs. The groundwork for the fusion of the two genres was laid even earlier, but the landmarks were erected in the 1990s. Still rap and R&B can look back on a long and fruitful relationship that resulted in hundreds of high-profile collaborations. With the death of Nate Dogg comes the realization that only a handful of singers are naturally at home in hip-hop.
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