Formed in 1991 in the County of Kings, this DJ/produceremcee combo in the tradition of Gang Starr and Pete Rock & CL Smooth showed enough promise to spark considerable, though ultimately unconsummated, major label interest. Such apparent setbacks would prove fortuitous, though, as the Jay I Gees found themselves amongst the important participants in a burgeoning NYC underground hip-hop movement alongside pre-Rawkus indie crews like Co Flow, Natural E and Bobbito Garcia’s Fondle ’Em camp. As subsequent releases more than aptly demonstrated (the metaphorical minded “Chandon”; a “World Is Yours”-esque paean to self-determination, “Iz You Dee”; the purist manifesto “Hip-Hop” etc.) being beyond real wasn’t just a philosophical ethos but a musical one as well – Spinna’s predilection for Moog synth riffs, vocal chorales, and other inventively chopped and diced samplescapes complementing Krim’s gravelly verses with an otherworldly air.
Jigmastas dropped a single LP – 2001’s Infectious – during the
duo’s most active period. But the collection of non-album material that forms
the core of this fine sequel (or prequel given the bonus inclusion of so many
essential early singles) that you now hold in your possession serves as a
reminder of the potency and timelessness of their talents. From
Spinna’s classic breakbeat dissections on “Lyrical Fluctuation 2000”
through Kriminul’s effortlessly fluid performance on “Thief’s Theme”
some might call this that vintage NY boom-bap. A more
accurate, and complimentary, descript is that it simply sounds like the
Jigmastas.
Long may they keep on rockin’.