I Love My City
Okay, I'm gonna start this blog off like this - if you can't INSTANTLY recognize the skyline above, you will probably be LOST for the rest of (or the majority of) this post.
I bought myself a Zune today. If you don't know, that is Bill Gate's answer to Apple and there g-darn iPods. It's pretty cool, but I digress. So, I was perusing through the Zune Marketplace looking for music to download, because you know I always pay for the music that I *borrow* from the internet ... (If anyone was watching me they would think I was delirious because of how I am laughing right now...) Anyway, as I was looking for music, a So So Def AllStars CD came up, and one of the intros was done by Edward J. Now, I haven't heard Edward J's voice in YEARS, so I was really tickled. I called my cousin with the song playing in the background, and I was like "I bet you don't recognize this voice" and after listening to it for a while she answered dryly, "um, you're right. I don't."
WHAT?!? Are you serious? This is the point where she kindly reminded me that I am (and I quote) "like 6 years older" than her, so of course she doesn't know anything that I am talking about. So I called another cousin of mine, who is also younger, but who knows everything about Atlanta ... he was clueless also until I reminded him of a line from a Young Jeezy song that mentions Edward J.
Ok, so, let me school a few of you ... King Edward J is one of the mixtape innovators in the city of Atlanta. He made mixtapes when they were really on TAPES. You could buy them at Candler Rd. Flea Market ... that in itself is back in the day! (LOL)
There really is a point to this blog. Atlanta is a mecca for music ... not even just rap and hip hop anymore, but all music. Edward J, DJ Smurf, Playa Poncho, all of these guys are pretty much Atlanta music legends .... how is it that our parents don't let Marvin Gaye be forgotten, yet someone 6 years younger than me doesn't know who Edward J is? I think that speaks VOLUMES for the trendiness of rap music. I could play some of these Kilo, Playa Poncho, and Raheem the Dream songs to my daughter and she would probably laugh at me. No, she would definitely laugh at me.
Do these people, who are the originators, the innovators, and the ones that put Atlanta on the map (in Atlanta, anyway) deserve to be retired and forgotte forever so that groups like OutKast take all the credit as being the first Atlanta rappers? Now, don't get me wrong, I love OutKast as much as the next Ga-Bred person, but if you ask them who they were listening to before they started rapping, I bet somewhere in that list will be something about an Edward J tape.
Ok, maybe this blog didn't have a point. Maybe I just wanted to show my age and sit back like my mother used to do- complaining about the state of music.
I can't believe she didn't know who Edward J was.
Man, that is so funny because just two days ago I was telling a friend of mine the same thing about Edward J and he couldnt remember a thing. I had a heap of Edward J tapes back in the days and ended up either lending them out or losing them along somewhere along the line. My dad actually installed the alarm system in the one on Candler Rd.(there were two or three Edward J shops)so he brought me home a few tapes one day and thats how I got turned on. I remember Slow Bass, Pillow Bass, Bedroom Boom, etc. Kizzy Rock was one of the Dj's as you might remember, and he just brought back a Pillow Bass if you were interested. I bought it at South Dekalb Mall in Decatur but you can find it online. I actually found your site looking for more J-Team music. But it was just funny to see that someone else remembers him. You have got to be 30ish to remember Edward J! Get back with me though @ slickyagi@yahoo.com
Reply to this
I hear what you're saying Southern Honey. How quickly we forget. The memories I have listening to those "bedroom boom" J-Tapes always put a smile on my face. I'm glad there are still a few of us out there who haven't forgotten and remember how much we miss it when the DJs on the radio do a mix that takes us back. If I look hard enough I bet I could still find a J-Tape. The problem would then be, what am i going to play it in.
Reply to this
I've been searching all over for some Edward J tapes! I moved to Atlanta in 1988 and one of the first things I remember was listening to an Edward J tape. I was all East Coast and all coming from Boston, so the only southern rappers I knew was the 2 Live Crew and Luke Skywalker. I thought all southern hip-hop was wack until I heard Edward J. Plus, KRS One somehow can't get the ladies on the dance floor like the bass music could....
Reply to this
I bumped into Kizzy, before i went back to Iraq and he said that allot of those mixes are lost. If anybody has good copies or know where to get them hit me up @ djcoolheat@gmail.com
Reply to this
I also found this blog searching for Information about King Edward J. I don't have any of his Tapes but If anyone Does has any Edward J tapes and wants them converted to Cd, I will do it for free. I do have tons of classic Atlanta Rap on Mp3 if anyone wants anything just email me. Shy D, Damage, Raheem the dream, Kilo, Tony MF Rock, The Hard Boys, success n effect, ect. this stuff is way out of print so i don't mind sharing. djrichierich@gmail.com
Reply to this
Wow its amazing to know that its a lot of people besides myself looking for Edward Jay Mixtapes...DJ Smurf was my dude..Boy I miss them days..
Reply to this
if anyone comes across one let me know. it's crazy how his name is never mentioned
Reply to this
Maaaan, I can't believe this, I have been kicking the exact same sentiment as all of you for the longest and it too has fallen on DEAF EARS. I can't believe people have the nerve to just write Edward Jay out. I used to chill at the shop in McAfee Plaza all the time. I even remember his FIRST joints, with the little chipmunk voices called "Tricky and Vicky." (lol!) I remember DJ Mann before he was Shy D's DJ, and the Lady "Never Shady" (Lady DJ). I remember DJ Smurf before he became Mr. ColliPark. If noone else pumps Edward Jay up, it should be him with all the success he has had with Soulja Boy and Yin Yang Twinz and everybody else he has produced for and assisted. One of my good friends is Magic Mark "the Party Spark." He is just as in the dark about the whereabouts of Edward Jay as I am. Somebody told me he was a deacon at some church in Lithonia???? I dont know how true that is, but I'm with everybody else, if you know of anybody with some old jay tapes I would DIE to have a copy of them PLEASE!!! Not just Pillow Bass and all of the slow sh*t, but some of the crunk sh*t as well!!!!!
Holla at me PLEASE @ completeduo@gmail.com. I may be contacting all of yall soon if possible because I think that this is a relevant issue for real. And yes, I am 38....AND WHAT!!!!!!!
Reply to this
I am so in need of some Edward J mixtapes right now....
hit me back if you guys have anything...
Reply to this
Yo I have been looking for anyone with any kind of King Edward J ,The J-Team Or the Lady J tapes and it's depressing to know that no one even really gives King Edward J his due. It's a crime and a shame that no one BIG UP'S King Edward J, If I find some I will definitely hit this page up and let my folks know what the haps is, aight Duddy!!
Reply to this
Just to let you all know, the J tapes are now on CD. Playa Poncho placed all of them, including Pillow Bass, on CDs. Kizzy Rock was selling them at his 2nd annual Freaknic party last week. All you have to do is add Kizzy Rock as a friend and tell him Neal Sent you.
Reply to this
Its just like comic books. You took them for granted back when you had them. Then you grew up and 20 years later wished you had them. I had sooo many J tapes and now none. And it seems like noone else has them either. Uggghhhh! Music is like a time machine for me. I can instantly be taken back if I heard is voice to Candler road and the guy behind the counter playing a sample of the tape before you bought it and hanging out at the Krystals up the street. Man those were the days!!!!
Reply to this
thanks...
Reply to this
thanks...
http://www.hamariweb.com/love_sms_messages12.aspx
Reply to this
Great pic.Can you provide more?
Reply to this