Jeph Stand

The Prelude

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:44:00 +0000

J-Free (Beats)

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:29:00 +0000

That's what Asterisk called me. I didn't like it at first, this was...2 years ago...but now i'm starting to think it's kinda dope lol

So here's a collection of free beats that I'd like to go viral. Download them, rap over them, bootleg them if possible, just spread it around.

...Most of them didn't take long to make anyway.

"Slice'n'Dice" ft Barack Obama
http://www.zshare.net/audio/64554579dcb043a4/

"Hijack" ft Grandmaster Flash
http://www.zshare.net/audio/645548244a6f257b/

"Jokes" ft Dave Chappelle
http://www.zshare.net/audio/64554884a768a2eb/

"Twinkle Twinkle" ft Little Star
http://www.zshare.net/audio/6455492591adf946/

heh...

My, Peoples...

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:45:00 +0000

All of the people below I have personally reached out to, either in person, over the phone, or through the net to let them know that they've inspired me as a hip-hop fan and as an artist.

So I really encourage people to do the same for these artists that put out their music to the world for free, it's the least we can do to show some appreciation.

I'm not bootlegging--all of these artists put their projects out for free. Click on the pictures to download their album/mixtapes.

Dice - Delusionz Of Grandeur

j. lately - Straight Outta Somewhere

Blinks - How Was Therapy?

Black ELement - A Major Minority

Jelani - Wait, You Can Rap?!?

Gotdion's Mighty Morphin Mixtape Vol. 1

And there's plenty more artists that I would put up like Young Man Pit's "Essence Of Life", and Overflow's "The Renaissance", and Blue Scholars' - Bayani but they probably won't me permission to upload their music :(

The Middle

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:42:00 +0000

Download "The Middle" by Jeph
I dont know who produced it
but it was on the Pac Div mixtape
and yes, I looped it.

so...

I'm in the middle of alotta things...

that includes: a mixtape, an album, and the middle of my game.

Now when say i'm in the middle of my game...

...i don't mean that.

I'm basically saying I don't think i'm at the top of my game, but i damn sure didn't just start doing this. I'm not in my prime yet, and I haven't reached the height of my potential. I've been doing this for a lil over 5 years, and when people try to tell me I should be shooting for the top and sending out , I often disagree...and not just out of modesty.

It's all about timing.

So imagine me knocking on your door every day like "hey, check out my new painting!!!".lol...

If I'm only getting a little better every day, the opportunity for the first impression diminishes, and my work starts looking like spam mail.

And some people are gonna disagree with this and say "jeph, you gotta go out and grind everyday!!".

Yeah, ok, but it's not about how hard you work...it's about how smart you work. I respect other artists grinds, but if you say you write 3-16's everyday? ...

that sounds like certain work ethic yall might know too well

But some people are still good at it, irregardless, that just tells me that they could be doing way better if they put more time into it. It's amazing how you can gain perspective by waiting and practically letting the art create itself.

So after this self-assessment...I think i've proved that I am not procrastinating! lol

However

The man Dice brought up an important point: I still need to put up more music. And I agree cuz it has been a while. But I wanna keep some of this upcoming mixtape music fresh, So I can't put up the songs i wanna put up just yet...matterfact...i'm wasting time...

i'ma start recording right now

8/8/09 - re-upped the track with vocals turned up more

After The Beep

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:15:00 +0000

For anyone that might pass by this site, if you hear my stuff and wanna give anonymous feedback, be sure to block your number (i mean...if you want) and this number will go straight to my voicemail.

I'll also be giving people this number for drops etc

Messages are recorded and I may use em in a track. So hit me up!

(443) 579-JEPH

No Ideas Original

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:54:00 +0000

"There's nothing new under the sun, it's never what you do but how it's done..."

and the music industry is not the best place to go if you're looking for that. Why? Well...it's an industry...

I grew up listening to the radio like anyone else, it was the source for all the new music. One of my favorite shows was DJ B who would actually scratch and mix new records instead of just shouting. He made it exciting and I still have tapes of his show and would still enjoy them today.

After graduating high school, around the time of Napster, I guess the music industry was slowly becoming asphyxiated because it seemed to give light on alot of shallow, incredibly basic music. I still remember my last day of radio...when they were breaking a new record on 92Q:

Chicken Noodle Soup - Webstar Feat. Yung B

I thought it was I was being Punk'd.

So I made a conscious decision to stop listening to the radio. But even now when I try to check on what's in the top 10, or what's hot, it always seems to sound familiar...either like the same hit from last summer, or something that I made and deleted because I was ashamed of it.

But I really wonder, do music fans ever feel like they're being ripped off when you hear the same song over and over? Let's check this out real quick...

This is 2005-2008:

Yeah...that's the music industry...

so if you think that was too analytical...well... I actually do that alot, and i have tons of other examples. But at the same time it motivates me to not make the same mistakes...

and it's not so much that they are mistakes, because all of those records did great, but the thing is, those records were NOT risky at all....because those music heads KNEW that song sold last summer, and it can sell again as long as people don't care about originality...

I'd rather take those risks with my music, and if people don't like it, it's cool, i still do it because I love it.

"Alien Blues" (Instrumental)

http://www.zshare.net/audio/6173442287f3ca6e/

Gentle Giant + Jeph "I Lost My Head"
http://www.zshare.net/audio/617348452e850174/

bring it back, bring it bring it back, if you
seen my head rollin by you--bring it back to the/
rightful owner to everyone's bright idea
it always sounds familiar everytime i hear ya track/
that's the truth, you can't tell me that aint true
whatever they call new, i'm feelin the deja vu, on some.../
"i can't quite place this but i,
think i made this a couple years ago and then erased it"/
no offense--all you rappers no offense
for spittin them sick rhymes
i can trace the origins of.../
where you got the style
(the influenza)
don't make me map it out now you remember/
lemme stop, lemme lemme stop
hip hop: you my peoples
i don't mean no friendly fi-re/
but can we raise the bar a little higher?
higher? (higher?) higher?
hold it-- right there./

Attempts to be...(3)

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:06:00 +0000

(1)

Original Version

My Version

Respect goes out to 9th...it's not too hard to mimic, but i could not figure out the method to his madness.

(2)

Original

My Version

this one was a little easier. I made it very quickly. still, sample ends in a weird way, so i respect Alc's style

(3)

Original

Mine....

Click here to listen to Jeph - Attempts to be Kanye2.mp3

Alright...honestly now...i made that mimic version in 2004...cut me some slack lol

Once again, imitation = flattery + good practice.

balance that with No Ideas' Original and you're good.

but...sometimes, it can go terribly wrong

this is a beat i started to make, and then stopped in the middle, because it sounded like someone else's...

Click here to listen to problearipoff.mp3

let's see if anyone can figure out what this is a rip off of...

My Lost Tapes

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:47:00 +0000

[my old room/studio in bmore. 2003. 17 year old Jeph]

I just found alot of my old stuff, and wow...

turns out I lied on the 88.9 interview, because my first beats date back to 2002, not 2004

I sh!t you not, I even made my own breakdancing game.

"Dance Pheeva (2003)".exe
http://www.zshare.net/download/589508845656afaa/

Looking back, I'm realizing that even my old stuff was experimental and somewhat complex. Yes, the beats aren't compressed and don't have the greatest mixing of elements (alot of times missing bass lines), but they were never regular drum patterns or rhymes, it was my own brand of weird...here is one of my first recorded songs:

Jeph "MiniXL" (2004).mp3
http://www.zshare.net/audio/589509566cffcd92/

Anyone who's heard The Album (2007) might feel like they've heard that verse before, and I did that on purpose. If you couldn't tell yet, I reflect on the past very often. I think about how good something was, how stupid I was, how much I might miss it, and always how much I've grown. I've always believed in the importance of knowing your origins in order to progress in the present and future. The intro really said that more concisely, as my very first words were:

"...uh!...before you see where I'm goin....I want you to see where I came from..."

So I won't get overly reminiscent, but it's always good to take a quick walk down memory lane.

J to the efficient

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:44:00 +0000

I recently mentioned on the WEAA interview that the equipment I was working with was 'modest', but really...I've come a long way.

Ahk said I didn't have to get into details over the air, but Ima get into a few now.

I started out making beats in 2004 on a computer with a Pentium 2 processor, and it couldn't have been more than 1GB of ram. I even wrote a few bars about the experience:

"and I make beats on a pentium 2/
if you got an MPC, I envy you/
because when I lay the hi hats and want to add a crash/
before the cymbal splash, my damn computer crash/"

Part of my style of making beats is that I like to layer alot. I can't just settle for one kick and snare, I have to pan atleast a couple in order to get it to sound right. So I would be layering alot in these beats, and when I play it back after arranging notes and stuff, when it got to the crash, the computer would actually hiccup and therefore fduck up my producer playback experience.

So I was able to get a slightly better computer, but that was around the time I started using higher quality instruments via VST plugins, so it was another burden that exacerbated this lag problem I was having. Even after using the M-Audio MobilePre, the computer would glitch up after a few minutes. I was able to cope with it for a while, until I started making beats a little differently.

I've always been drawn to behind the scene type videos, so when I saw this video, I was amazed.

I obviousely am used to software based productions, alot of clicking and very minimal preformance aspect. But when I saw how efficient other people were doing it through keyboard sequencers, I wanted to be able to do that. So alot of newer beats in which you hear a drums, a piano or other melody in it, most of the time was recorded live...sortof like the above video. It was just 10x more fun and efficient this way.

Heh...

I still remember chilling with Asterisk one day and we decided to collab on a beat, he's directing me to add shaker tracks and stuff like that. At one point he's trying to describe something and I didn't get it, so he's like "aight holdon gimme the keyboard, lemme show you what I mean".

LMAO

Because of the lag on my computer, it made him look like dude had NO rythym whatsoever. It was pretty unfair, but it definitely reminded me that what I had been used to...was not how making beats was SUPPOSED to be at ALL. [because I'd become accustomed to this lag, and my playing style had already been naturally offset to account for it].

I really needed to upgrade my stuff...

So when I said on the radio that my equipment was 'modest'...that's what I meant...It's not really up to par.

Now FINALLY, there is hope!!!

It might not seem like much in the pic, but thanks to VelvetHog's guidance, I've been able to get some decent computer parts over the past 5 months.

It's ending up being like around $650...but once again I bought it over the course of 5 months, so it's not really setting me back...

(Time + Money saved)

And people might ask "Jeph, why don't you just save up for an MPC1000 instead???"

Well...for that matter, why don't I buy an XBOX 360 too?

because I knew I could satisfy both needs and way more? It's a no-brainer when you think about it for the long-term.

So I've come along way equipment-wise...It used to take a huge burden just to make a simple beat.

So basically...this new computer is gonna help me make beats alot more efficiently...and I'm trying to make that word my middle name.

J to the efficient...

J to the effortless...

Now i'm off to bmore to celebrate my 23rd birthday, newer and improved Jeph coming soon!!!

---

PS -- Who's idea was it to make Earth Day on MY birthday??? Jeeeeezzz....

88.9FM Strictly Hip Hop Interview w/ Jeph

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:06:00 +0000

My first interview...I was nervous straight for the entire 3 days prior to "on-air" time.

Jeph Interview - Strictly Hip Hop

That first one might have cut out too early...check out the bottom link if it does

http://www.zshare.net/download/57110085f1d3d353/

And by the time I was in front of the mic, I'd calmed down alot...so IMAGINE how nervous i was BEFORE the interview, if I was still kinda nervous DURING.

But Big Ahk is a cool guy, I wish I had a video of his facial expressions, i don't know why, it was real animated and kinda funny. I think he was just trying to get me to calm down.

And shoutouts to Lyricist aka Jewel there too. She's supported me from the jump. This interview wouldn't have been possible without her reminding me to submit my stuff in. I think we have a very compatible music taste as well, so I'll be checking what she's listening to more often.

So close to getting this new computer set up, once it's on...it's gonna mean I can make beats ALOT more efficiently. And I have so many ideas...

Real Quick... (a few beats)

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:39:00 +0000

1/29/2008

more updates zune

sike hehe...i wouldn't do that to you

Games Playing Roles

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 03:18:00 +0000

Listen to this as you read...

I love music.

But before I fell, I was actually addicted to something else: Video Games. It started as far back as I can remember, and got really crazy in middle school in the N64 days. I was really attached, probably a little mentally dependent on that type of stimulation it provided. I can still remember turning down opportunities to go out with some friends (including a girl I had a crush on) to finish Final Fantasy VII...

I think the timer had me at like 140 hours when I beat the game...

whoa...

So it got real deep throughout High School...that's all I really wanted to do. And little did I know that since hearing games like Chrono Trigger, I was already beginning my transition out of the addiction.

My fixation on games must have peaked when GTA: San Andreas came out...because I had been following all previews and news on it 6 months before it even came out, and when I picked up my reserved copy and brought that joint home...it was everything I'd expected...

and I put in alot of time in it....

...and kept spending more time playing it....

...and remember this was the first year after I graduated from High School, and I can still remember that winter being extremely dark for me...actually...not to get too personal...but at one point might've believed in atheism...I wasn't lying when i said:

"I gotta be the laziest/ ...you can be a hustla, but i'm so laid back that i might be an atheist/ maybe it's the basement that i reside in, life down here's like Gilligan's Island/" -"Whick Whack"

This was around the time when I really developed my new identity, because I was sick of myself. I felt like I wasted so much...regretted so much... invested all these years in video games, and I felt like i didn't really have much to show for it. Unintentionally, I was getting into this cheesy beat making program called Fruity Loops, and it was way more fun than any video game...and it just felt good overall.

So this new identity had to be me, but not the same me...if that makes any sense. It had to represent who i wanted to be, and the best parts of who i really am simultaneously. I was tired of regretting things, I needed to be more productive....so I became Jeph. Originally it was this:

Jeff
Embracing
Productive
Habits

It worked in every way imaginable. This was my artist name. Anytime I do something creative, It's by Jeph. It's sortof like my alter-ego, who I am, and who I want to be.

See me/hear me

Different/same

This identity suited my non-categorical ass...I'm not always what I seem to be...don't get me started on that tho...

So believe me when I say, it was a conscious decision as an 18-year-old, to put down the game controller to pick up the midi controller. But as I transitioned into making beats and then music, I remembered all the Video Game soundtracks that were inspiring to me, and I didn't even know it would remain bookmarked in my audiological memory. Some of the most memorable:

Bomberman (N64)
Final Fantasy VII & VIII (PSX)
Chrono Trigger (SNES)

I never owned a Sega, we had Nintendo, but GotdioN did some remixes and reminded me that Sonic the Hedgehog had a pretty damn good soundtrack as well. Later on, I noticed Charles Hamilton sampling the game, which is awesome too.

but Chrono Trigger's OST is amazing. I never even played the whole game myself, I'd just watch my brother Mike play it, and it was like a movie to me. The soundtrack was very moving, and you gotta remember...dude programmed all this stuff in MIDI!!! That is possibly the most insane part. It sounds so great, and they used those cheesy low-quality midi sounds.

I feel like it's only right that I pay homage to video game music...seeing as though it was very memorable in my childhood. So here's my version of "Secret of the Forest" from the Chrono Trigger soundtrack, adapted from the midi, with my selection of instruments, new drums, and a couple other changes. I just wanted to do a lil justice to it past the cheesy midi...

cuz damn...Secret of the Forest?

...this composition by Yasunori Mitsuda is damn near "The Soundtrack to Everything"

iono, it seems to fit in any type of situation in a movie

Yasunori Mitsuda - "Secret of the Forest" (Jeph Remix)

and since i've been gone for awhile, here's another video game sampled beat...

Jeph - Paq Man (instrumental)

(originally made 1-1/2 years ago for MD rapper "Paq Man"...but he didn't have the money to pay for it...so...if he reads this blog, he's basically gonna get it for free. lol)

SFS MIXTAPE UPDATE
-working on doing something with a Gentle Giant track
-more Hall and Oates lol
-"Balance"...gotta get the other people to record...my verse is done
-"Baesikz" might go on here, i hope to have more than just the chorus, maybe Pit?
-tons of ideas i just need to make happpapapapaeeennn

SFS ALBUM
-i've worked more on it...but...i need to find my niche...so it's moving faster than a snail
-"Trix" is gonna be a slick track...can't WAIT to write/record
-I'm taking such a long time, i gotta make this timeless, otherwise just put it out now

OTHER
-"SupaDupa" instrumental was on a local radio show as part of their segment for critiquing submitted beats...unfortunately i was asleep...but I'm gonna try to find a recording.

RANDOM SHEEIT
sometimes i get obsessed with other artist's music temporarily, but i realized...i get obsessed with my stuff too...

if this is the cycle? i'ma keep it goin like a cypher.

I Can't Shake This!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:18:00 +0000

(this image was not photoshopped)

The art of improvisation, needs to be used more often.

I'm sure alot of people wouldn't believe me when I say freestyling taught me how to hold a conversation, and i'm talking about more than just talking to girls...how about going into job interviews?

Because you have to realize, I grew up a very shy and internal kid, I wasn't very outspoken, always labeled quiet...in fact, I was nominated for being the most quiet person in high school (I didn't win though). So when I say that sometimes I forget how to talk, I'm telling the truth. My thoughts are always there, but talking is completely different, and I'd end up talking........
.....like
....um......you know...........really kind of slow.

And never getting to the point.

Freestyling was a tool to help purge these words, and create a natural rhythm in my speech. It's sort of like running with ankle weights, and then you take the ankle weights off, and you run alot easier, freestyling is my ankle weight for speech.

I can't shake my love for improvisation...I think i've actually become a bit obsessed with it to the point where I procrastinate because I want the pressure for a freestyle. Shouts to Marsh, Owen and Bass...what do we do when we get drunk? Beatbox and freestyle...that's pretty much it (and suprisingly they actually still sound good when we're sober listening to the recording).

So it would be cool if i could incorporate a freestyle in the album somehow...i know Pit did that on his, and it worked pretty well in my opinion...until then I will continue to freestyle daily with D-I-C-E ... cuz you never know what you gon get when you roll with 'em!!!

Here's another 'kid in the candy store'/'jeph on the mic' exclusive:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/51124520928ce895/

Is He Really Ready?

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:37:00 +0000

Is he really ready to be president ... ?

...Are you really ready for my answer?

Is Jeph even ready to do this album ... ?

...Am I even ready to go to work???

Am I? uhmm...

One of the songs on SFS is gonna be about that topic. I've been told that I second-guess myself alot, and especially when it comes to jobs, i never really feel like I'm ready. In order to stand for something, you gotta be confident, right?

That's why I'm writing a song about what I go through to get ready to leave the house every day. A very simple and common example... Everybody hates that sinking "oh shit, i just forgot my wallet" feeling, and personally I hate it so much, I actually created the chorus to this song before I even knew I would create such a song.

Speaking of getting ready, I got a few more verses both for the album and for the mixtape. Feeling pretty good about it...starting to narrow down what the protein and vitamins of this album is gonna be, the rest is probably gonna be supportive material...but i got some ways to go before i'm...hmm...ready?

Here's a recently recorded song that will be on the mixtape, I originally made the beat after a hiatus, so why not drop this song after one right now?

Yea yea yea yea talk about me...

"Speak Greazy"

(Jeph Version)

[zshare] Speak Greazy_Jeph Version_.mp3 - 4.12MB

"Speak Greazy"
[Original Young Man Pit Version off "Essence Of Life"]

[zshare] Young Man Pit - Speak Greazy.mp3 - 3.00MB

My version can't really compare to Pit's this time, they're completely different subjects on the same subject. I'm doing almost a freestyle but focusing on slander, as this is sorta like V2.0 of "The Unheard" off The Album(2007).

Pit's is a story, and I think the best way to describe how he presents these verbal images is by calling it a comic book. It's something you'd have to pay attention to from the beginning to the end...speaking of the end, that shit is intense!!! As yall could hear, i didn't even attempt to contest Pit's story telling skills on this one, he murdered it, so i chose a different direction.

"More money more problems" ?

No money more problems too...lol

J.E.Pundit.Heretic

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:00:00 +0000

and I say that because, if club was a church, i look like a heretic.

and every once in a while I'll find somethin i can rock with, but it's never somethin I fully relate with... but sometimes i think i get too energized off hating that which I am not a part of. I criticize various aspects of it, meanwhile it doesn't matter because they're too busy doing their own thing.

Touche.

I had to tap into that energy somehow...ok, truth is, i inadvertantly tapped into it; making a beat using the cliche Lil Jon synth sound on purpose, almost as a joke, but then somehow finding it comfortable to flow a lil more braggadaccio.

The tone of my voice on this song is confident, but the lyrics suggest i should have no reason to be. That mixture is mysteriously intrigueing. For example, I couldn't have been considered a popular kid in school, but I think the way I carried myself modestly yet still dignified reserved atleast a little respect from everyone. If I were to drop the modest demeanor and show out, I wouldn't feel right, i would be a poser, and I would be banned from the 'cool club'....hypothetically...

"Banned".mp3 [Preview]

My resume of club tracks is ...hit or miss, you tell me. This next track i produced and wrote a hook for, sent it to Pit, he did it right, i swear that guy can adapt to anything. But just so yall get an idea of what I would have done were it just me, check out the original 'jeph version' of Pit's song "Something To Prove"...which...by the way, i was so insecure about, i don't think (to this day) i even told him i did a verse at all lol...

"Assume".mp3 [Jeph Version]

"Something To Prove" [PIT Version]

SFS: The Pre-Album Mixtape + PNDF

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:40:00 +0000

"bear with me, i been on my grizzly....."

lol

I've decided i'm definitely going to make a pre-album mixtape for SFS...Dice suggested i call it "SFS: The Prelude", and I like that...but I want it to be as obvious as possible--because the album most likely will be for sale, but this pre-album mixtape will be free and promotional.
I gotta admit i got the idea from Nas' N*gger mixtape, and I think some people (including pre-August 2008 jeph) think that they can work on an album for forever, and then drop it and expect people to be as excited as I am.

Nope.

That type of thing doesn't work in these times anymore--not even for big name artists. You gotta have a TON of promotional material, so for me, this blog, the myspace, and the mixtape is nowhere even close to being enough. A painter once told me it takes people atleast 25 times hearing about a product through media before they actually feel safe buying it, and I believe it. Marketing is freaking hard...

So aside from that, another project I'm going to be putting together is gonna be a compilation of all my battles. Crazy right? Alot of yall didn't even know i battle like that, huh? Well, I GOES IN!!! Whether it's beats or rhymes--or both, I always strategized, emotion alone isn't reliable. So I might name this one J.E.P.H. - The Battle Mixtape. But people will enjoy this one, I plan on doing a little commentary too.

And it's been a while, so here's a new one

Purple Ninja DJ Fist! - Read Yo Mine ft Jeph

http://www.zshare.net/audio/18029390ae490e9f/

Rations of Collabo

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:46:00 +0000

You can barely see me @ 0:22, but i'm participating in this very weird and funny group beat-boxing cypher lol

...see? I can be a team player!!!

Contrary to my last entry, I have, on a few occasions, been able to successfully collaborate with other artists in a productive manner. In the past, I was discouraged from collaborating because of a few failed attempts with producing/co-producing beats, so when I met up with Rhetoric from Graffiti Vocab and was able to sit down and put together a beat successfully, I was so energized that I 'stole' the beat and immediately recorded an impromptu freestyle to it after he left.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/16693967715b3c94/

(sidenote: when i freestyle, i always mean improvision, what you're hearing is live, and i don't focus on punchlines, or even rhymes, first priority is rythym. It's a great process for innovating new styles, and it's the only time I would 'FORCE' the art)

So that was the first successful J.E.P.H. collaboration, the latest and greatest collaboration is with fellow Baltimore producer Nights, whom upgraded the hell out of one of my beats. Check out a preview:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/166943578d1b0e41/

And to make it even better, I just got off the phone with my brother and 'other half of Beat Genetikz' and we're now planning on incorporating his guitar skills in the beats. For those that don't know, he's plays electric guitar in the band FFHH, but has been an advanced guitar player for a while now. I actually have a specific track for the SFS album that I think would be greatly benefited with a guitar solo, and i'm excited to see how we can work that out.

Why not add icing to the cake? I met this dude at my part-time job who produces and I think we have some common ground as far as perspectives on music. I heard a couple tracks from him and i got a pretty good vibe off of that, so there's a possibility that we might collab in some form in the future.

Things are looking pretty good, me gwan keep yiu posted.

Why My Shell Fish On This Shelf Is So Selfish

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:56:00 +0000

...because I've always had this tendency to do everything myself...but it can be good or bad--depending on which personality you ask.
"J-E-P-H!" [Throwaway Beat] (2007)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/157971560879054e/

Jibberish Cypher (2006)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/15796693fb6e21a8/

Group Cypher (2005)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/15796719cec3f8ac/

Pit - Cut The Games [JEPH Remix]

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:34:00 +0000

Originally produced by my colleague GotDion, I had the acapella so I thought I'd take a stab at it.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/14999199ec446b05/

Maybe instead of makin an entire PurpNinj mixtape, i'll just combine everything...

"Stands For Something" (2009) (2nd)

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:38:00 +0000

So I have been focused on ways to efficiently create an environment that is, as Ra Scion says "conducive to producin" music.

With this upcoming album, i recognize that I am not the type of person that can write a song on demand. Sometimes I'm not in the mood, and sometimes I consciously realize that I am not 'in the zone'. With this being said, I can not force music. I once had a discussion with Pit about this, explaining that I can't just make the music, it often feels like I'm being summoned. Because yes, I can improvise on the piano or listen to some quiet storm songs, but i am usually aware when my inspiration is most receptive. So just for kicks, I 'forced' a beat. i was ofcourse aiming for something hot, but I wasn't expecting anything because I wanted to prove to Pit that I can't just make a hot beat when I want.

Well...life is so beautiful because of it's unrelenting unpredictable...ness. I love a good twist in a story.

I ended up coming up with a beat that night, sent it to Pit, and this is what we got:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/14779294ae6e9e03/

So the point of that is that I can never predict when the best time to make music..BUT...I can make it as comfortable as possible. For example -- food always helps so i often eat some fruit or crackers while i'm making beats. Also when if i've been recording vocals for a while and my voice gets dry I chew gum to balance out the saliva proportion. Not only that, but I can look up movies that are related to the topic of my song, the better the movie, the more inspiration and motivation and energy I have to create. And of course listening to good music always helps. I prefer to listen to music that is not rap when i'm consciously searching for inspiration--so that I don't unconsciously bite another rapper. Speaking of which, I purposely have not got Kanye's Graduation, 50 Cent's Curtiis and Lil Wayne's Carter III because of those reasons lol. So many people bite these guys' style, and I make music so...yeah i think I can sacrifice that. There's a ton of good music out there that isn't like mine :)

Most recently in the progress of S.F.S., I learned a new technique to help with the process of writing lyrics (which most of the time aren't written--they're typed...this is the 21st century people!). I don't want to reveal what this technique is just in case it jeopordizes it somehow. But along with that, is this thing i'm doing where I type of stray lines or thoughts that go with the beat, because for those that don't know...the beat is usually the boss of my music--it tells me what to write, and it's up to the different parts of my brain (supervisors) to translate this to my rythym section in order to properly have a synchronized, syncopated, and successful J.E.P.H. song.

Progress on the album:
-2nd and 3rd verse added to 'MOTS'; instrumental enhanced
-Stray lyrics added to 3 instrumentals; 1 chorus and 1 hook added
-2nd track of the album has been placed with concept documented
-A piano melody has been created (it would be perfect for an outro but it's still young)

To Do
-talk to producer "N" about a beat
-blueprint RiskAssessment and possibly get "C.S." to feature
-stand for something...

Childs Play (Instrumental) [FREE BEAT]

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:15:00 +0000

inspired by the uninspiring...which is why it's free...

I'm borrowing Mark's midi keyboard but i didn't even need it.

I barely used the axiom on this except for a lil modulation wheelie.

Check out hypersonic vst...i use it for just about everythingAnd this is the playlist for the beat--probably looks more complicated than it is

and that's it for now....this beat is free...endure!

...i mean enjoy

http://www.zshare.net/audio/1422161412426faf/

Lookinfome ft Javi & Flex

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:08:00 +0000

http://www.zshare.net/audio/138994582c4b7ba6/

This one is interesting because all 3 of us on the track have these sidenotes:

-The guy on the first verse (Javi) approached me about a collab; i said cool and we agreed on this track that i already had recorded a chorus and verse to. Javi wrote and recorded his whole part in less than 20 minutes...

-I made the beat a year ago January 2007, wrote and recorded also around that time, so i was worried that it may be outdated, no problems with that though, apparently the beat preserves freshness like a damn twinkie.

-guy on the 3rd verse (Flex The Monsta) got the track....finished everything in less than 20 minutes as well. Turns out he got a pretty good freestyle within 3 takes. I know it wasn't the most intellectual side of him, but it IS a sick flow and swag and i've always been a fan of dude's music so i was kinda honored to have him use a new and unique style over one of my beats. Success.

i'm 85% happy with how this came out :-\

Would like to see this on the hiphopfame mixtape...but nah it wont go on my album.

"See I pimp with probability I get my math on
cuz i be runnin my game like marathons/
don't get mislead of this song
I was gettin some head--some headphones/
So make sure that you hearing me right
Before you start lookin for me like a stereotype/
Just cuz im very polite
don't mean we gotta skip the marriage ceremony tonight/
Woah...slow down shorty
If you that fast then you really not for me/
In high school you called my style corny
Now you got me cornered to the wall cuz you want me?/
Huh?
I got a good memory, and you were blockin all my **** like the FCC, wha?
Let her sing to the the hook in the beat
J - E - P - H she been lookin for me/ well here i am!"

A Star Is Born...

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:53:00 +0000

"1 time fo ppl dat wont feel this
2 mo fo J.E.P.H.!
even mo fo the ppl dat wont leave you alone
only and AFTER you see fame

This is how a star is born
listen closely while im flowin
this is how a star is born
listen closely...y-yo he...

.put a lil swag in ya .pimp cup
but som1 .already did that so .switch up
thro a set finger .twist up
been done that one re.mix some

re...REMIX in the .middle of the track or the song
whatever you call .that that i rap on

8 bars in the .verse think i got it
till i .say im ballin cursed 8 .ball in the pocket

scratch

lemme .start it again
.like i got a.d.d. ...wait
content .gone with the wind
my apology thas just j e p...H
from .baltimore
you wont say like voldemort
that you feel till they tell yall

"oh look a star is born..."

uh oh he did it again
he puttin money on the fact
he 'ont fit in a trend/
cuz i used to rock a 36
frontin like it fits
til my waste line took offense/
t-t-took a chance and
took a few cents to DTLR
lemme tell you what i saw
b-b-by Allah you gotta be kiddin me
smallest size i could be
pickin is xtra large?
(i'll try another store)
how bout abercrombie
whoa, that does not say xtra small...
yall piss me off, got me lookin like a pessimist
as i exit the mall

cuz all i got is 3 20's
and i aint spendin any
on a poser clothingline
that's supposed to represent me
...man forget it cargo khakis
plain white-t from jc penny

...goodbye!"

Attack Of The Clones Cypher

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:46:00 +0000

A completely sporadic, off-beat and improvised cypher that I will probably sample later on to make ....another beat!

As you can hear...

I haven't been able to abandon that 'kid in a candy store' feeling whenever i'm on the mic so....yeah... :-\

Attempts To Be Timbaland

noreply@blogger.com (Jeph) — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:49:00 +0000

My cover version of Madonna - 4 Minutes ft Justin Timberlake & Timbaland.

Imitation = Flattery + Practice.

got more comin from 9th Wonder and Alchemist