HipHop is like a collecting tank for tragic heroes, and since the publishing of »Root For The Villian« J-Zone’s biography (or rather his merciless picture of the industry), he has become something like the Commander of Chief of those failed by life. Originally, the Indie-icon from New York City wasn’t even planning on playing the »Game« anymore – which is probably why his comeback-album is so remarkable! Why should a grown man, who officially vilifies the music industry, still keep on making music? Because it’s what his heart tells him to do – it’s the »Peter Pan Syndrome«. »Sometimes I wonder that myself: Your are born in the seventies and still doing this hip hop shit !?« is how Jay comments on the passionate youthfulness of a rap-pensioner on »Rap Baby Boomers«. In his usual acidness, the 37-years-old musician trashtalks himself through 22 tracks in a great act of painless exposure – humorous, reflective and bizarre. He raps about the hoity-toity attitude of some of his newly rich MC-colleagues (»Jackin’ For Basquiats«) or about slimy body lotion R&B (»Black Weirdo«). His comical imitations of stereotypical rap-characters, like »Chief Chinchilla« or »Swagmaster Bacon«, satirize today’s state-of-the-art from the viewpoint of a man who has nothing to lose but his temper about nowadays’s music business. And all around his midlife-crisis set to music, J-Zone has come up with complex arrangements in the artistic style of »3 Feet High And Rising« or »The Cactus Album« by 3rd Bass. There are recorded drum-settings, synth-sounds and pointedly placed sample-snippets from his treasure trove, all reminding the listener of the fact that HipHop used to rattle and clank. It’s crazy, especially crazily entertaining. There’s still plenty of time left to grow up.
Peter Pan Syndrome
