Through a cloud of smoke, appears one of hip hop's most rare and undiscovered gems, a raw talent with a venomous tongue known as Jay Love. Born into a long line of musicians, it was inevitable that he make his mark with music despite discouragement from family who knew all too well about industry rule number 4,080.
Breaking into the underground rap scene toward the end of what he refers to as the "Golden Age" of independent hip hop, Jay Love released his first 12" record in 1998 alongside his producer, The Avid Record Collector, and fellow emcee, Born Talent. Constellation featured the instant underground classics, "Tagz Up" and "For All The Heads". It was released on his own imprint, Golden Apple Records, completely independently.
The single was well received on NY radio, getting regular spins on WNYU (The Halftime Show and Stretch Armstrong & Bobbitto (89.9FM). It was even touched by DJ Premier himself when he was up at HOT 97.
Attempting to strengthen his label, Jay Love put out a mixtape of original samples courtesy of The Avid Record Collector. The mixtape was known as "The Essence". Then, reuniting with his college drinking buddy Louis Logic, The Odd Couple was formed. In 2001, The Odd Couple released "Pimp Shit" b/w "Por Que" on Solid Records/Golden Apple Records. The record was an immediate success and spawned the notion of putting together a complete album.
In October 2004, The Odd Couple LP entitled "Alcohol/Ism" hit shelves worldwide in stores such as FYE, Sam Goody, Coconuts and Barnes & Noble with the assistance of Brick Records and Traffic Entertainment Group.The album was well received by the public, however it never lived up to its potential due to poor promotion.
Currently Jay Love is hard at work, with producer The Avid Record Collector, on his solo debut which he promises to be a very personal album with a completely different tone than fans might expect from the recently dissolved Odd Couple. With half of the album already completed, Jay Love is seeking to solidify a distribution deal with Universal. Until then, expect to hear a lot from the emcee as he has been busy making many guest appearances, some of which include Sam The Sleazebag's, "Whatever Happened To The Emcees That Could Rhyme?"; a New York to Paris compilation, "Fuck All Volume 2"; Born Talent's The Essence; Equinox's album; and Cimer Amor's album.
