J-Zone details the making of his 6th solo LP (and 12th overall), Fish-n-Grits, from a musical standpoint. From producing, to brushing up on past instruments; to finding inspiration in unlikely sources like funk 45s and mom and pop drum shops; to demystifying the inner workings of a true independent hip-hop label, it’s a day in the life for J-Zone, self-proclaimed “jack of all trades, master of none.” When asked why he chose to give a candid look at his one-man operation rather than a traditional music video, Zone gave the tongue in cheek answer you might expect from him: “When I do hip-hop hand motions in the camera it doesn’t look convincing – and I don’t own enough outfits.”

With Fish-n-Grits, J-Zone visits all the stops of an artistic and musical journey that spans well over two decades. Comprised of both limited edition 7” vinyl-only releases (dating back to 2014) and all new material, Fish-n-Grits is equal parts vocal and instrumental. The New York native uses his rap time to pick fights with the delusional state of the music industry, gentrification, the good and bad of nostalgia, police brutality, political correctness and hip-hop’s generational conflicts, but never without his signature brands of humor and sarcasm intact.

As a student of samplers, drummer, multi-instrumentalist and collector of archaic studio gear, Zone was able to chef Fish-n-Grits into his most sonically versatile album to date. A stew of dirty, funky live drumming, bizarre samples, pulsating percussion and menacing bass that stretches in vibe from a circa 1969 funk instrumental to a twisted, analog interpretation of trap music, Fish-n-Grits has moments inspired by just about everyone. The Meters, Prince Paul, The Incredible Bongo Band, Project Pat, Public Enemy, George Clinton, Kool Keith, Bernard Purdie and Suga Free have all obviously carved out space in Zone’s music library, but the sound remains his own.

J-Zone’s zany alter egos (Chief Chinchilla and Swagmaster Bacon) also get booth time, as do long time collaborators Al-Shid, Prince Paul and Has-Lo. Serving as a bridge between Zone’s 2013 comeback offering (Peter Pan Syndrome) and a forthcoming group project with Prince Paul and Sacha Jenkins (SuperBlack), Fish-n-Grits captures his development as an artist and musician, with occasional nods to the past.

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