Imagine that you are a DJ, a mixtape DJ whose mission is to keep the over-saturated mixtape game fresh.  Now imagine that you’ve already created genre-elevating works with Lauryn Hill, The Roots and Mary J. Blige, just produced a critically acclaimed mixtape with Q-Tip, and followed that up with the epic Messengers series featuring the up-and-coming K’Naan reworking various works of Fela Kuti, Bob Marley and Bob Dylan.

You’d be imagining that you’re J.Period and you would have a problem.  What do you do next?

The Madness (Onye-Ala) is the answer to that question.  On The Madness, J.Period pairs up with another burgeoning artist, Nneka, a Nigerian/German singer poised to release her first U.S. album, Concrete Jungle, in early 2010.  While those of us Stateside may not be familiar with Nneka’s work, we certainly are familiar with her influences Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Mobb Deep and Lauryn Hill.

J.Period and Nneka’s musical sensibilities blend seamlessly on The Madness and give us a glimpse of what’s to come from this new artist.  Standout tracks include “Walking” ft. Jay Electronica, “Suffri” (Nigerian in Berlin Remix) ft. Fela Kuti and “Strength/Kangpe” (J.Period Dubplate) ft. Big Boi.

Tracklisting:

1. Can You Hear? (Intro)
2. Let the Madness Begin (J.Period Exclusive)
3. Wake Up World (Interlude)
4. Wake Up Africa (J.Period Remix)
5. The Uncomfortable Truth
6. Untainted Love feat. Damian Marley (Interlude)
7. Spread Love (Brooklyn to Zion) (J.Period Remix)
8. Human Rights (Interlude)
9. Changes (J.Period Remix) feat. M-1 & General Steele
10. Conscious Lyrics (Interlude)
11. Gypsy/Infamous (J.Period Exclusive)
12. Hip Hop Comes From Africa (Interlude)
13. Walking (J.Period Remix) feat. Jay Electronica
14. In Transit (Interlude)
15. Show Love (J.Period Remix) f. Rakaa (Dilated Peoples) & Aceyalone
16. For the Good of Humanity (Interlude)
17. God of Mercy (J.Period Remix) f. Zumbi (Zion I)
18. Suffri (Nigerian in Berlin Remix) feat. Fela Kuti
19. Perseverance is Character (Interlude)
20. Strength/Kangpe (J.Period Dubplate) f. Big Boi (Outkast)
21. Heartbeat (J.Period Remix) feat. Talib Kweli
22. In the Heart of Man (J.Period Exclusive)
23. Symptoms of My Madness (Outtro)

[ Bonus Mix: J.Period Dubplates ]
24. Mind vs. Heart (J.Period Dubplate) f. 2Pac
25. Changes 2 (J.Period Dubplate) feat. Lauryn Hill & John Forte
26. Walking 2 (J.Period Dubplate) feat. Nas

Download here (click on the cover art to download zip file).

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