Review: J-Pros' Pacific Central

Hip Hop artists J-Pros prove that you can have your cake and eat it too. Filipinos R'Senull and Mercury are daytime techs and nighttime rappers whose last album before their latest release debuted in 2006. After a few years of schooling, the duo is back with their second album, Pacific Central, aptly titled from the two timezones where the artists wrote their songs - Seattle, Washington and Kansas City, Missouri. Both R'Senull, a respiratory therapist, and Mercury, a radiology tech, view their hip hop artistry as a "blessing". They'd rather gift it than profit from it.

Their newest album is a perfect example of hip hop storytellers, with songs of support to true hip hop artists working hard to get their music heard, coming of age and accepting responsibility, the all too obvious truth that not everyone who raps is a true hip hop artist, and a poignant song written to one of the member's grandmother. The group also has a shout out to fellow Filipino and pound for pound best welterweight boxer, Manny Pacquiao.

Coming of Age: The two songs on the album that speak to coming of age are Grown Past That and The Grudge. In Grown Past That, the artists admit the foolish acts that come with growing up and the realization that being an adult requires responsibility. In The Grudge, J-Pros tell the story of how one girl's responsibility to taking care of her family has affected her now as a grown woman. The Grudge also samples Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson.

True Hip Hop Artistry: While lots of hip hop artists are proud to collaborate with fellow rappers, few will admit the obvious truth that rapping does not necessarily make one a hip hop artist. Boston's Jimmy Marsh writes that his definition of hip hop is his way of moving and breathing. It encompasses everything he does. Brooklyn's L*A*W explains that Hip Hop is the culture of rap music. In other words, hip hop is defined as so much more than music; it requires talent and understanding more than anything else. J-Pros speak to that in their songs How Come (What Happened) and Too Many MCs. Further, their song Five Motives speaks of the support the group has for up and coming hip hop artists who embody the hip hop genre with lyrics such as "We got one for the peoples, two for the streets! We got three for them artists that's trying to eat! We got four for the lower class citizens of poverty, and five for the movement, so follow me". Five Motives also samples one memorable line from the Gangs of New York: "Each of the Five Points is a finger. When I close my hand it becomes a fist. And, if I wish, I can turn it against you".

Family: Despite the hard edge accompanying many of the songs on the album, JPros is not afraid to talk about family as one member laments the death of his grandmother, the matriarch who once held the family together and the grudges and jealousy that resulted when she passed in To Whom it May Concern.

Every song on this album demonstrates the talent the two have not only as songwriters but also as rappers. Their voices are clearly enunciated on every song, and their messages, meaningful. Even if listeners are not partial to hip hop, they will still enjoy this album.

The album is available to download for free at J-Pros website. It is also available to purchase at CDBaby, Itunes, Emusic, iLike, and Moozone. To learn more about JPros, please visit their website. Also look for them on myspace, youtube, and facebook.