One of the DOPEST emcees you NEVER heard passes...

My first exposure to JAX was as the hype man to MARS ILL on "Breathe Slow" off their sophomore album Backbreakanomics in 2004. the universe indeed works in mysterious ways, because i didn't know that was him until today, when i learned that he was gone. Jax died early this morning of natural causes, according to his long-time friend, emcee Craig "The Flux" Wonda.
over the last year, i've become a big fan of Jax's crew BINKIS RECS, and was impressed with the self-proclaimed "One Man Gangstarr," who made beats and wrote rhymes for his own records, as well as for his peoples in the Binkis crew. he was a first-rate lyricist, and encouraged his fans to look forward, frowning on imitation of old school artists even as he managed to embody the best of golden-era street hop sensibilities.


i especially recommend that hip hop purists (by any possible means) get their hands on Sharper Images, the only album of his extensive (for an indy rapper, anyways) catalog that i have had the pleasure of hearing, because it's dope! Fans of underground crews like Lootpack, Foreign Legion and Artifacts will enjoy the dead-serious commitment to fun-filled music on Sharper Images and Binkis Recs' The Reign Begins.
our heart goes out to his close friends (which i'm sure he had many) and family. i never met him, but his continued contribution to the culture will surely be missed.
Rest In Peace, Jax...
-gM

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