The Bronx, New York’s very own, Jokatech (a.k.a., Jason K. Addae) is currently nearing the midpoint of his second decade as a recording artist (13 years to be exact). As a jazz musician and hip-hop artist, he’s now recorded an astounding 19 albums.
We last took a gander at Tech for his 18th album, Standing on the Corner: The Unborn Soundscapes, an endearingly lo-fi-esque project for which we described Addae as a “…legit and welcome voice in an otherwise culture of poppy hooks and empty verse.”
Now, the rhyme-sayer from The Big Apple gives us #19: Love Fist.
HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…
Opening with the pure jazzy trumpet and funky rhythm of, Chompa Strut, this short little intro does what an intro track is supposed to do…it creates a desire for more.
“If I learn to step the right way, I can walk on a star
The life of a slave is more than circles and bars…”
—Jokatech, La Tekniq
OUR FAVORITE TRACK…
Black Boy gave me a nostalgic childhood memory of Vince Guaraldi’s musical work from The Peanuts cartoons. At just over nine minutes, Addae is afforded plenty of time to get comfortable, and fully express. It’s a great track to have on in the background while doing…whatever.
“It’s the Love Fist holding steady
Are you ready..?”
—Jokatech, Love Fist
A bit of old-school scratching takes the album’s tight, jazzy theme and gives it a soft-right turn toward a touch of hip-hop in the album’s title track, Love Fist—a symbol for a strong and focused brand of love.
“Without love, no power
Without music in our livin’, death of passion…”
—Jokatech, Let’s Be Free
A fitting end to a deep thinker/poet’s 19th album, Sharecropper, gives us a minute and a half of Jokatech’s gentle and reflective philosophy delivered in spoken word. The message is eloquent and simple: You have the choice to create or destroy with your own two hands; and this is a power worth contemplating…
“So it is with these hands that I turn the earth
These gifts from my creator, like the feet that took me this far
Even if I remain here forever, I could still touch the stars
I had nothing and wanted nothing but these hands—I still feel that way
There’s nothing like giving…with these hands.”
IN CONCLUSION…
Inherently positive. Creative. Spiritually wholesome and inclusive. Jazz, jazz, and more jazz. Jokatech’s (a.k.a., Jason K. Addae’s) 19th studio album, Love Fist, is first and foremost a jazz album. That said, when Addae does take to the pen, his lyrics are intelligent and articulate. He’s clearly a deep thinker whose primary interest is wholeness, togetherness, personal responsibility, and ultimately—peace.
The album has a softness to it. This context of the word “soft” is absolutely not to be confused with “weak”; for this softness elicits strength and confidence—two most powerful and rare qualities—particularly in today’s anxious and edgy culture. All in all, the album shows a growth in Addae which is uncommon and special.
WHOSE LOVECHILD…?
Us3 meets A Tribe Called Quest, with a touch of Vince Guaraldi…
BELOW: Listen to Jokatech’s latest album, Love Fist, and connect with his website and social media platforms. Please support Jokatech by visiting him online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
Follow, stream, download & connect with JOKATECH online:
