J-Live: How Much is Water?
Mortier Music
With How Much is Water? rapper, DJ, and producer J-Live frames his latest conceptual outing around his relationship with two primal elements: music and water. One nourishes the mind. The other keeps the body alive. Both are most refreshing when they come with a clear, concise flow. Songs such as “Warm Currents,” “Microphone Stamina (ft. Ekundayo),” and “The Seven Sees” push J-Live’s classic boom-bap allegiance into an expansive sonic terrain, putting a modern spin on nostalgia. “Ya Momma So Black” is a socially conscious anthem that flips the traditional insult on its head, and the album’s title track poses the question “How much is water?” — i.e., what is the value of music? J-Live is more concerned with asking questions but the answer lies somewhere between free and priceless. ★★★★☆