J57 ‘2057 EP’ and ‘The Ports EP’

J57, MC and producer from the Brown Bag AllStars collective, dropped two EPs, The Ports EP and 2057 EP, on his website www.J57Music.com, both featuring smoothed-out, sample-driven, scratch-heavy, NY-style production and an assortment of MCs who, in almost all selections, perfectly compliment the well-crafted beats.

Along with obligatory, but solid features by his BBAS comrades such as Soul Khan, Koncept and The Audible Doctor, other strong performances from artists like Rasheed Chappell, Homeboy Sandman, Action Bronson, Mayhem Lauren, Sene and Silent Knight round out these two highly listenable compilations.

Standouts from 2057 EP include “Elite Status, which has J57 on the mic along with Rasheed Chappell and “The Main Event,” featuring Chappell, Mayhem Lauren, Action Bronson, Maffew Ragazino Sr. and DJ Brace, and from The Ports EP, the jazzy “Do Earth,” featuring Von Pea, Charlie Smarts, Andrew Thomas and Jefferson Price and “Craft Brewed,” with Silent Knight.

The Ports EP hold special meaning for the J57, dedicated to Bryan “Ports” Coyle who passed away in March, 2012. In the EP’s “liner notes,” J57 credits his friend for introducing him to the indie hip hop scene and teaching him the technical aspects of rapping, closing out his dedication with, “There would have never been a J57 if there had never been a Ports. Dedicating this project to him is the very least I could do.”

Both EPs will appeal to fans of J57 and the Brown Bag movement, as well as those who pine over the lack of more traditional-sounding, NY-styled hip hop. For them, these EPs should be an easy purchase. Check out the 2057 EP and The Ports EP at www.J57Music.com.