On May 27 [click to read], Brooklyn emcee, producer and deejay J-Live will be releasing his fourth full-length album, Then What Happened? on BBE/Rapster Records. Today, J spoke to HipHopDX about the release, which chronicles his move from Philadelphia to Brooklyn, his divorce and the state of his career.

The most evocative song, “The Last Third,” follows a progression in a series of songs J-Live has recorded that have chronicled various romantic relationships of his life. “Get The Third,” appeared on 2001’s The Best Part [click to read]. “The Fourth Third” appeared on 2002’s All Of The Above. “Coming Home” then appeared on 2005’s The Here After [click to read]. Now comes the last entry in the series.

It just kind of made sense, that, ‘Aight, this is the way it is now,’ sort of record,J-Live told HipHopDX this morning. According to him, the “thirds” were never intended to be a series. “Had it not been for the specific experience behind ‘The Fourth Third,’ I wouldn’t have named it then. No, I wasn’t going for [EPMD‘s] ‘Jane’ part one, two and three.

AD

AD LOADING...

The song uses metaphor, such as athletic jerseys and legal terms to explain the goings-on throughout recent times for the artist. The emcee added that he was inspired by Marvin Gaye‘s acclaimed 1977 divorce album, Here, My Dear, a royalty gift to his ex-wife, sister of Berry Gordy, the founder of Gaye‘s then-label, Motown.

The beats for Then What Happened? include work from Evil Dee, Nicolay [click to read], DJ Jazzy Jeff, Oddisee and DJ Nu-Mark. Guests include Chali 2na, Oddisee and Posdnous of De La Soul.