Queens, New York emcee/producer-turned-author J-Zone has maintained a notable Hip Hop career dating back to the late 1990s. In 2005, Zone, who was also a member of The Boss Hog Barbarians with Celph-Titled, last released A Job Ain’t Nothin’ But Work in 2004 on Fat Beats Records, in conjunction with his own Old Maid Entertainment. This week, the man who released a cult classic in 1999’s Music For Tu Madre announced a break in his hiatus with The Peter Pan Syndrome.
In the near-decade since, Zone retired from traditional emceeing and self-released instrumental projects, and side efforts with a Chief Chinchilla alias. He also produced for Mr. Lif, Cunninlynguists and Organized Konfusion’s Prince Po. In 2011, Zone self-published Root For The Villain: Rap, Bullshit, And A Celebration Of Failure, garnering acclaim from the likes of ?uestlove, Slug, Chuck D, and HipHopDX.
In a press statement this week, the signature sarcastic Zone wrote, “What inspired my return to music? Reality! Ever try getting on LinkedIn or going to a job fair with a Gumby haircut and your primary experience being running around a stage in a rabbit fur coat? I did. Ever enter the work force for the very first time in your mid-thirties and try to ‘behave,’ ‘assimilate,’ ‘move up’ and “grow up,” only to go broke, become a misanthrope and go postal after seven months, write a book and become even less willing to grow up? I did.”
Named The Peter Pan Theory, J-Zone’s fifth studio solo album is made with what called “broken 30-year-old recording equipment,” and planned for September release. Now a drummer, Zone confirmed that the effort also revives his Old Maid imprint. Though no specific calendar date was confirmed, Zone’s website and pre-order page notes the effort will come on limited cassette tape (with download card), digital download and limited CD. He added, “A small run of vinyl is a possibility for later in the year, but not confirmed yet.”
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J Zone Is The Future!
HYPED To Cop His New CD!
who?
It’s underground if you never heard of him that’s the point.
if you ain’t heard of j-zone u ain’t been a hip-hop head for very long..
what lol said. I just hope he drops some of those earlier beats. They were DIRTY…zONE can spit some nice bars when hes in the mood. “BUSTED ASS FLATTER THAN A SPRITE WITH A CAP OFF”
I fucking love J-Zone. Glad to see him back
For real, J-Zone ftw. Pimps dont pay taxes turned me on to him way back when…havent listened to that in a minute. I guess I have something to do today.
Bring back Al shid and Huggy Bear to do the rappin tho. Zone is a beast on the mpc.
Yes sir! Shid was nasty on the MIC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJxKnpYo70M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqeIiF0DlTg
Well, COtdamn, this is a beautiful thing!!! I knew Zone would come back!! One of the ILLEST fuckin producers to EVER DO IT! If you don’t agree, you don’t know shit!
This just made my muthafuckin day!! This dude was like the underground DRE of production. Or the underground Premo (I guess Premo is considered underground now). This dude might possibly have the most unique production sound in hip hop, next to Premier. Can’t wait for this shit!!!!