People familiar with the player on this page, or with the live show will have taken in songs like GET OUT, OFF THE RADAR, and BY THE TIME YOU FIND ME I’LL BE GONE. These were all early compositions by the RIOT. And they help form a large portion of the HIDDEN RICHES element of the still shelved thin.KING. SOON COME. (with hidden riches)ep(s).

Well the RIOT CONTINUES, and moves fast. Faster than I can keep up with in truth. So I’m thinking lets start rolling some of these out for the good folks who keep checking in. (YOU! And YOU! And YOU!). So here we go. Two fresh of the 8-track.

First up, THE BUILDER! Featuring the fabulous TANIKA CHARLES on the second verse, THE BUILDER! Is a shout out to the producers we know and love, the ones “working all night, but still ain’t earned that respect”! (Looking at you NaNa, JUNIA T, RICH KIDD, GIGZ, etc…)

The second, JUMP HIGH, is a collaboration with REY DE LA CASA. Anyone who managed to check the set at the MANIFESTO Festival in Toronto caught us performing a vocal version of this joint. A lot eager heads wanted to know who produced it…WE DID. And here is the instrumental for your audio pleasure. Until next time my Good People. Enjoy. Introducing….theTORONTO CITY RIOT. (Click on the Bold Type bellow for the songs).

the BUILDER!

theTORONO CITY RIOT featuring Tanika Charles

JUMP HIGH

REY DE LA CASA and theTORONTO CITY RIOT

thank you to JUNIA T and SHAUN CHRISTIE (KINGWEST STUDIO) for the quick mixes.

LONG LIVE THE ROUGH DRAFT.

LONG LIVE THE RIOT.

Hello good people. Hope this finds you well…
Throughout Autumn ijamesjones.com will be introducing new features… including, the poet.TREE. and, “carry my notebook” (a look back through the notebooks that i have loved and the times that spawned them) and the wayout (a look inside my work/living space and the work that goes on there), “ Last Night An 8-Track Saved My Life” – King.Dumb. Records. (raw music. Ideas. And rough drafts. All fresh from the 8track).
As the month progresses we will be launching “WELCOME TO THE WAY OUT- VOL.1” (a free online mixtape filled with brand new joints, rough drafts and brainstorms…all fresh off the 8-track…featuring production by Dj NaNa, Dj Cypha, and Junia T and Crook of the Smash Brovaz).
The falling leaves will also see news regarding the return of the Honour Rebel Society, introductions to my bands and new projects like the Toronto City Riot, Rey De La Casa, and the Trouble with Danger. As well as a look back on some of the highlights of the last few months, including hosting the 1st Canadian Appearance of NYC’s Dj Moni.
And finally, for those who are asking when the record “thin.KING. SOON COME. (with hidden riches)” will be ready…the answer is soon (i’ve always liked the autumn months!!)…
Thank you for staying in touch
To quote from the new smash by my boys Smash Brovaz w/ Zaki Ibrahim…. “we’ve only just begun”.
Talk soon.
One.
i.

What to say… what to say?
It’s been longer than it should have been, hasn’t it?
The computers in my life stopped talking to me, my wallet is trying to negotiate a peace treaty.
But here in the lab, the wayout (Parkdale, Toronto), we’ve been busy, busy.
I’ve fallen in love with my 8-track. The possibility. The Rawness.
It has become my lifeline.
Ideas come fast. That is the idea. We aren’t just working on a record, we are working on Records, on Music, on whatever has to get out of the system right NOW.
It has got us pulling out the instruments again. Experimenting. Improvising. Building. Ignoring genre distinctions. Just trying to make it sound like it feels.
I say we, because my obsession has a tendency to draw in anyone who finds themselves here at the wayout. This is what we do.
These records are King.Dumb.Records.
These songs, these ideas are not final. They are platforms. Building blocks. You will here them again.
I’ve always been fascinated by raw materials. There is a purity in a rough draft that has heart where it lacks finish.
And so, i. Share. You can take them or leave them.
I’ll be leaving them here for the curious.
Here is a sample of things to come from King.Dumb.Records.
Enjoy. (click on bold type).

DARK OF NIGHT.
All parts played by i.james.jones.
Project To Be Announced.
King.Dumb.Records. ’09.

RELAX. (rough mix).
Words. i.james.jones. Beat. Crook (Smash Brovas)
“welcome to the wayout –vol 1” – Aug/Sept. ‘09
King.Dumb.Records. ’09.

The Greatest (Unofficial Rough Mix)
Words. i.james.jones. Beat. Dj Nana
Project to be announced.
King.Dumb.Records./ Ear2Much.

**Thanks to Junia T of the Smash Brovas for the quick mix.

Last Night An 8-Track Saved My Life. (King.Dumb.Records.)

“thin.KING. SOON COME. (WITH HIDDEN RICHES). “Ep(s). , i.james.jones.’ debut release with DISTRICT SIX MUSIC is nearing completion. Busy at work at KING WEST STUDIO with SHAUN CHRISTIE, putting the finishing touches before the record goes to master.

“SOON COME” features beats by JUNIA T , CYPHA, and ROYCE BIRTH, and appearances by TANIKA CHARLES, OBIE, REVEREND ORTEGA LOUIS SHONE, NIC CARLINO FROM THE TROUBLE WITH DANGER, and the debut of THE TORONTO CITY RIOT

DISTRICT SIX AND HONOUR REBEL PRESENT THE FIRST SINGLE
“WHEN I WAS YOUNG”

PRODUCED BY JUNIA T
FEATURING OBIE AND TANIKA CHARLES

SOON COME. LATE SPRING.

“WHEN I WAS YOUNG”

PRODUCED BY JUNIA T
FEATURING OBIE AND TANIKA CHARLES

[DOWNLOAD THE SINGLE] – right click and save as

[DOWNLOAD THE RINGTONE] -MP3 -  right click and save as

THE FIRST SINGLE FROM THE SOON TO BE RELEASED “thin.KING. SOON COME. (with hidden riches)” EP(s).
(DISTRICT SIX MUSIC).

(see SOON COME. Thin.KING.SOON COME. (with hidden riches).

“the time ain’t coming, if the time ain’t now”…

The last few years have been harder than I ever would have imagined as a younger man. Unfortunately, and despite our best efforts, that statement rings true for so many people I know. It is not just the artists. So many of us have spent our lifetimes working towards goals we dreamed up in our younger years. Success seems so much closer when you lack the perspective to define it. Small victories can provide much comfort to a man that hasn’t figured out just what is at stake. Something happens as we age.

We tell our children they can be anything they set their mind to. I haven’t quite figured out what time frame is given to our children to make their dreams reality, but those of us still struggling to bring their dreams to fruition as we get on in years can certainly tell you,that somewhere along the way things change.

As we get older, supporting voices can become questioning ones. The validity of your dream, your talent and your drive to succeed with it, can become fodder for reality checks.

I’m not sure what point it happened, but at some point “you can be anything” became “maybe you should think realistically”. Though those words most likely come from caring voices they still deflate, (and while everyone needs those people who keep their head on straight), hitting that wall of doubt can be enough to break one’s will.

Now, let me say for certain, I have always been my own worst enemy. My focus has waxed and waned at times, my determination to make the most of every opportunity has been found lacking on occasion…needless to say, I’ve earned my reality checks.

Their was a point a few years ago, where after trying to build a life for myself which wasn’t built around music, I couldn’t be happy in life unless I took a fair shot at making some kind of living by doing the things through which my spirit has always communicated. I had become overwhelmed by the odds stacked against my building an artistic life that could provide enough to begin a family.

In truth, I’m still very much overwhelmed by those odds. But I know now, that this is what I’ve got, and thus, this is what I’ve got to do.

I must work to make it work.

I can be a very stubborn individual. I am still not interested in working with people with whom i share no deeper connection. I still believe that my success can only ever be measured by the well being of the people around me (my fellow Honour Rebels). And I will be damned before I let commerce decide the merit of the projects my spirit follows.

I refuse to believe that these principles are any thing less than the foundations on which I will build my success.

And since I’ve always desired to change the definition of what is possible and what isn’t, well, to quote the track “when they say I won’t make it, I gotta use it as fuel”.

I dedicate this song to all of my people who struggle against the tide of doubt.

(and remind them, that just because you’ve fallen down and it seems the world is tilted against you, that there is no time limit on reaching your dreams).

And so, it is my pleasure to share with the world “when I was young”. If you’ve felt how I feel, you already know…we’ve “got to really be something”. Be strong. Be smart. Be ready.

I’d very much like to thank Obie and Tanika Charles for lending their vocals to this song, and of course Junia T for the beat. (Much respect also to Shaun at king west studio for his engineering work and the mix).

People, these are some of the most talented individuals I’ve ever worked with, and their involvement is an absolute honour. Their contributions are essential to the fabric of this song and I am so grateful that they were able to make real what I heard in this ever cluttered head of mine. Check out their links as soon as you’ve finished reading this. They will not disappoint.

I’d also like to thank Jose at Honour Rebel for working out the ringtone, and just generally being the man.

WELCOME TO www.ijamesjones.com 2009!

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT….

OKAY, OKAY,…..

CHECK 1, 2…

IS THIS THING ON!!!?

WELCOME TO THE ONLINE HOME OF I.JAMES.JONES.

(HONOUR REBEL/ DISTRICT SIX, TORONTO/ WORLDWIDE).

before i. say anything more, i. would like to thank CORDATA of KINGWEST STUDIO, and my man JOSE of the HONOUR REBEL SOCIETY for making this site happen. (also, DAVE G. @ DISTRICT SIX MUSIC, and JOE FERRARI for helping me get organized and on the path towards world domination).

as time goes by, there are so many people i want to introduce you to, and so much work that we are doing that i. want you to know about….

but for now, know this…

i. am more excited now than i have ever been, about what i.’m doing, about what is going on around me, about the place i. see us headed to.

nothing has come easy. i.’ve come to suspect that nothing ever will. but i.’ve learned to not let that stop me.

i. don’t fit into too many boxes. i. don’t like rules, so i. often break them. i. believe in making something out of nothing, and doing it my own way, regardless of expectations.

to quote from my myspace bio (www.myspace.com/ijamesjones )

“ i. am a believer in working with the youth, my comrades, my heroes, my family, good intentions, good people, good ideas, and good music.”

i.’ve learned you are only as good as those you surround yourself with, and these days, i.’m proud to be surrounded by the best.

i.’m humbled by the support i.’ve recieved, and by anyone taking the time to check out what i.’m working with.

with that comes a responsibility….to keep doing it…to the best of my ability, i. will. i. can promise you that.

keep checking in, the site will be updated regularly, i. promise i.’ll keep that goodness coming.

music. writing. videos. ideas. news. opinions.

you’ll find them all here….at www.ijamesjones.com

sincerely,

i.james.

work. honour. courage. love.

i.’ll see you around….