Instrumental Hip Hop at it’s Finest
J Rocc’s new album Some Cold Rock Stuf is an instrumental journey that ranges from upbeat, soulful, funky dance tracks to more dreamy, jazz-inspired, mellower tracks.
J Rocc, began his career as a turntablist in the mid 80’s. He soon became the founder of the legendary hip hop group, Beat Junkies and landed a spot as the host of “The Fantastic Four Radio Show” on the popular LA hip hop radio station, Power 106. Since then, he’s been on tour with Madlib and he represents the independent record label Stones Throw. J Rocc, a local gem, has paid his dues and truly made and art of an appreciated but frequently overlooked element of hip hop.
Some Cold Rock Stuf is a two CD set filled with break-beats and jazz infused mixes that remind you how decadent instrumental hip hop can be. The albums are refreshing and not bogged down by the fluff and nonsense you might hear on the radio. It’s nice to take a moment to think about what you’re hearing. Notably, one of the CD’s in the disk set does not have a track list or a name. Since there are minimal lyrics and words to listen to, the listener is left with the task of interpreting the music in their own way or to not worry about interpretation at all. Sometimes its better to just listen and enjoy. No clues, no instructions, just a non-stop party for your listening pleasure.