J-Zone Retires From Rap w/ Historic Show

Not only did last weeks Juggaknots/J-Zone/Louis Logic show at CBGB's mark the final rap show for the legendary indie nightclub, it also served as J-Zone's unofficial New York City "retirement party". Rocking a $5,000 fox fur and a suit, he was up for the occasion. But the highlights of the last hurrah in his hometown were his onstage guests. Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley, former collaborator Al-Shid and a host of fine young ladies all joined the Zone in his final romp. The highlight of the night according to Zone himself"Cee-Lo was in town for the week and had gotten at me a few days before the show about singing the hook for my song "Disco Ho" cause it has Dick $tallion doing the falsetto on there. $tallion couldn't make it, I needed a replacement. I was shocked he was feelin the song and was down to do it, and he's a real cool brother for comin through and doin that for me. I'm grateful for him, Al-Shid, Danger Mouse and everybody showin love. They made it so I can't possibly unretire from doin rap shows in the NYC area, unless I go completely major like opening for them Laffy Taffy people or something. I can't top last weeks show."While it's on for new things for Zone- ("I'm deadin the J-Zone rappin thing, at least on an indie rap level"), he will still do DJ gigs, producer showcases and an occasional rap show overseas or out west ("I'll still do a show as a rapper in Cali, Europe or Canada because I get a lot of love there and I turn the trips into vactions"). Although he'll finish up 2006 with a spot date in nearby Canada, he is turning his focus to doing more production, behind the scenes music endeavors and other odds and ends like small indie movie roles and sportswriting for the future."I'm just tired of the indie rap thing and need a change. 8 years is a long time to be stuck in the same spot, and it's kinda taken its toll both professionally and personally. It was fun for a while, but you can only do shows in a fur coat buggin out on stage while everybody else is all serious battle rappin and freestylin for so long before you feel it's a lost cause. A lotta people didn't get it anyway. To keep interested in music, you gotta reinvent sometimes. I wanna do more instrumental records. I'm ready to do beats for singers, more pornos, strip club music, women's deodorant commercials, whatever. And not feel the need to be the J-Zone character 24/7, stay behind the scenes. I'm gonna try to stretch my limits and find more success and have more fun elsewhere. Maybe J-Zone the rapper will be back one day, but only on Jimmy Iovine's payroll!"