Universal Concussion

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In a genre in which wild lifestyles are often considered a prerequisite to the music, B.B. Jay has shown that living a life of love also translates into rap. His recent success proves that he is not the only one who thinks so. An independent single in 1998 landed him a considerable fan base and a record deal. As well, a friendship and collaborating partnership with M.C. Hammer put B.B. Jay in a megashow with artists such as Ricky Martin, Will Smith, and Britney Spears. His debut record, Universal Concussion, blends masterful hip-hop artistry with a message that brings hope, healing, and challenge. Full of songs that are written to cross into all walks of life, B.B. Jay takes an unyielding stand on spiritual and social issues in a direct and sensible way. The force of his vocal sparring backed by the solid beats and extraordinary arrangements puts B.B. Jay into a heavy-hitting league of his own. --Israel Button

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B.B. Jay debuts with Universal Concussion, a lush hip-hop production which lays down an old-school foundation for rapped lyrics that owe more to the preaching of the Black church than anything happening on the street. With a cadence that recalls another Brooklyn native, the late Biggie Smalls, Jay has a deep vocal resonance on songs that are direct about faith in the risen Christ and the hard life of those who have yet to come to that shining truth.

While there are bold beats, much of the backing music leans toward soulful R&B orchestrations, which sound OK, but in the company of Nelly, Black Eyed Peas and Outkast leave the braggart claims of tracks like "Hot Ta Def" and "Don't Be Mad" without support. While a verbal game of one-upmanship is standard operating procedure in this genre where rhyming and timing skills tell the tale, one must ask just how well that fits with the teachings of the gospel. Its noble that Jay aims at street folk without succumbing to vulgarities and supports the integrity of women in "For the Ladies;" however, he also appears to embrace a prosperity doctrine that lacks support.

Sophisticated and slow enough to be easily understood, the title track and "Out of Control" will allow non-rap fans a low threshold to get inside Jays world, while "His Love" and "One Way" translate easily to the pulpit. But, he's going to need fresher metaphors, funkier sounds and bit more grit to compete with the street. -- By Brian Quincy Newcomb (c) 2001 CCM Communications, Inc.

Universal Concussion,B.B. Jay,Jive,East Coast Rap,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop,Urban

Universal Concussion

Average customer rating:

Bitin' Biggie, or just influenced by?

B.B. Jay is the Gospel Sound of Biggie

Gansta Gospel??

BB jay

Great album, also shows room for growth

Universal Concussion
B.B. Jay
Manufacturer: Jive
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music
East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00004TY8V
Release Date: 2000-09-12

Tracks:

Intro
The Raucous
I Told You So
Universal Concussion
One Way (The Real)
His Love
Don't Be Mad (Who Da' Blame)
For The Ladies
Hot Ta' Def
Ain't What I Used To Be
Okeedoke
Out Of Control
Po' No Mo
Word Iz Bond

Amazon.com

In a genre in which wild lifestyles are often considered a prerequisite to the music, B.B. Jay has shown that living a life of love also translates into rap. His recent success proves that he is not the only one who thinks so. An independent single in 1998 landed him a considerable fan base and a record deal. As well, a friendship and collaborating partnership with M.C. Hammer put B.B. Jay in a megashow with artists such as Ricky Martin, Will Smith, and Britney Spears. His debut record, Universal Concussion, blends masterful hip-hop artistry with a message that brings hope, healing, and challenge. Full of songs that are written to cross into all walks of life, B.B. Jay takes an unyielding stand on spiritual and social issues in a direct and sensible way. The force of his vocal sparring backed by the solid beats and extraordinary arrangements puts B.B. Jay into a heavy-hitting league of his own. --Israel Button

Customer Reviews:

Bitin' Biggie, or just influenced by?.......2005-07-01

B.B. Jay is a man with a heart for God. If you take nothing else from his Jive Records debut Universal Concussion, at least take that. Also know this, while this may be his debut, he is not a new jack. B.B. Jay (born Jarvis Cooper) has been writing since he was 16 and his song Pentecostal Poppa received airplay on BET and certain radio stations.
The first thing I noticed while listening to B.B. Jay is his vocal similarity to Biggie Smalls. The bass in his voice, and the style of his flow are very close to that of the late Chris Wallace. I'm not saying that he raps like the Notorious, I'm merely saying that the qualities of his voice are similar. This is an important line to draw, because the two artists are a million miles away from each other lyrically. B.I.G. throughout most of his career never let listeners forget that he brought himself to where he was. B.B. Jay realizes that this is not the case in his life, and in a similar manner never lets the listeners forget that God gave him many gifts, not the least of which was a career in rap. Lyrics such as "Don't be mad 'cuz I'm fat like that. Don't be mad 'cuz I'm blessed like that" and "I hate to say I told you so, but didn't I? Tell you I was gonna blow-up and be the bomb. Everybody had mad jokes when I was strugglin. Now I'm fat like that, what, word to God" from "Don't Be Mad (Who Da' Blame)" and "I Told You So" respectively, point to his position that everything he's received have been blessings from God.

However, the subjects of BB Jay's songs aren't all about the blessings he personally has received. The topics have a wide range, going from the love of God (His Love), the way to get to Heaven (One Way), and a sentimental look at the female of the species (For the Ladies). He also deals with his rise from poor, both materially and spiritually (Po' No Mo, Ain't What I Used To Be). The wide range of topics is important, because there's a good chance that any head willing to give a listen will find something that speaks to their heart.

There are minor problems with the disc. Some of the beats (The Raucous, Universal Concussion) will definitely rattle the bass while in your ride, but some of the production leaves a little to be desired. The beat on "Don't Be Mad" works well with the vocals on the chorus, but the texture doesn't seem thick enough under the verses. It seems like the vocals totally overwhelm the beat. The keyboards on "Ain't What I Used To Be" don't really do anything but give the song a muddy feeling when they're under the verses. Like I said, these are minor problems, and if the rest of the disc weren't so good, I might not have even been able to pick these things out.

B.B. Jay is the Gospel Sound of Biggie.......2004-12-19

What else can I say? B.B. Jay is one of my favorite Christian rappers to date alongside Prime Minister, NuWine, Corey Red & Precise, The Cross Movement, T-Bone, Lil Raskull, etc.

For those are real fans of Biggie or else gave away his CDs for HHH, This is the one you gotta copied from man. You see B.B. Jay doesn't cuss on this record right here. Y'know he talks the message to the Lord.

On the song "Don't Be Mad (Who's da Best)" or sumthin, he tells the other rappers to keep it real w/o being condemn or hatin on nobody. Yeah B.B. Jay can rock y'know what I'm sayin? This is a classic to the holy hip-hop community.

To all rap fans that hated hip-hop and/or not seen the face of God on this record, urge you to give Christian rap a shot.

I recently download the entire album the last time I was on christianbook.com and then again on Amazon.com just to see it's any good.

This is a must-have 'cuz I recently got it online yesterday.

I hope that he'll put out another album next year 'cuz fans wanted a peace of him.

Gansta Gospel??.......2002-08-01

Like most said, this is a tight album. From a pure cursory listen it camoflages itself as a typical Gansta Rap album. However, once you listen to the lyrical content, you see where this brother is coming from. His cadence and synchopation reminds me of Notorious BIG and Tupac as well. In either case, as another reviewer put it "This is where the simularity ends." From an airplay perspective, don't expect to hear this in regular rotation on a Christian/Gospel station nor on Urban stations either. This is not due to his talent, but more toward people not having an appreciation for what he is trying to do. The Gospel station folks may find his "testimonies through rap" too real or urban. Check out "Ain't What I Used to Be" to see my point. The urban stations may find his rap too positive or preachy as well. Which puts this album in a very special niche...folks who can appreciate Hip-Hop Gospel or as he puts it in "Hot Ta Def", "that's that cat who raps Gospel rap." My favorites are "Ain't What I Used To Be", "Who Da Blame", and "One Way" "Word Iz Bond" is cool to because he raps about the 10 Commandments. His album (and others like it) spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a younger generation in a manner they can relate to. Can't fault him for that. 4.5 stars rounded to 5!

BB jay.......2001-08-01

BB Jay's CD is on point! His beats will definitely will keep the listeners head bopping. However throughout the CD, BB Jay repeatedly confronts his 'haters'. Yea, he finally made it, but I don't think we need to hear it throughout the songs. Otherwise I'm really feeling this CD. I recommend it to all those who want hip-hop and not his slop. Ya'll should definitely get this album. Listen to #6. Peace!

Great album, also shows room for growth.......2001-06-11

I was skeptical. I first heard B. B. Jay's "Word Iz Bond" on WoW Gospel 2000 and liked it a lot, but that wasn't enough to make me spring for the CD. When I realized that he's the guy rapping on Mary Mary's "I Sing" though, that nailed it. I had to buy this CD. I'm not even slightly disappointed. Generally, my measuring stick for a decent CD is, does it have three really good songs on it and a couple more that are okay?

Well, there are eight really good songs on this, four more good ones, and one I can do without. That's phenomenal. Best songs: "The Raucous," "I Told You So," "Universal Concussion," "His Love," "Don't Be Madd," "Ain't What I Used to Be," "Out of Control" and "Word Iz Bond." The one I can really do without is "For the Ladies" -- not because it's got a bad message, but because the lyrics are trite in places, and the hook is kinda weak.

A few more criticisms: B. B. Jay gets kinda cocky in places on this CD, as is typical in hip hop, and refers to himself in rather grandiose terms. Usually he gives God the glory for his success, but still, it gets to be a bit much at times. Also, as another reviewer notes, there's some of that "prosperity gospel" here -- the suggestion that serving God will make you materially wealthy. Of course, that's not always true.

Anyway, all told, this is a very strong album. There is room for growth in B. B. Jay's message, but that's true of all of us. Also, production could be stronger in places, but that's nitpicking. This one belongs in the pantheon of the best Christian rap.

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