OJ Mountain

Jesse The Tree: How One Man is Cradling Hip Hop’s Four Principles

By OJ Mountain

When Hip Hop was invented in the Bronx in 1973, it was founded on four principles: Peace, Love, Unity, and Having Fun. Fundamentally, these are the emotions and feelings Hip Hop was intended to manifest within people. They ultimately were what enabled Hip Hop culture to develop and eventually permeate the mainstream, until it got so popular that it became ubiquitous with society itself.

Today, these principles have largely been abandoned in the psyche of the average hip hop artist, consumer, and fan. The genre and culture has been commercialized – bent and morphed into one of the most lucrative products late stage capitalism has to offer. This trajectory led to the infamous phrase “Hip Hop is dead”.

While this may be true of the Hip Hop you hear on the radio and in movies, the Hip Hop that stays true to the principles still exists. In fact it has always existed, and will continue to exist as long as human beings have access to microphones. All you have to do is do a little digging. And once you do, you’ll find people like Providence based MC Jesse The Tree.

Jesse approaches the genre in a way that makes it impossible to question his authenticity. He cares about the words he’s using as much as he does the reason he’s writing in the first place. Working full time as a therapist, he aims for his writing to be emotionally healing, and this sentiment bleeds through every bar. His lyricism is comforting and warm, as though he’s giving you an encouraging hug. There’s something uniquely wholesome about his music that I can’t quite put into words.

Perhaps these lines from his song “Albatross” could give you a better idea:

“No hands / pair of swollen glands / golden quiet measured by the way the river dance / turn a different misanthrope into my biggest fan / if you listen close / you could understand”

Or maybe this beautiful couplet on the song “Butterfly Tattoo”:

“No magnum opus I’m just passing over / maybe life is just a nap atop a tacky sofa”

This aspect of Jesse’s music represents the “Peace” principle of Hip Hop. His message inspires introspectiveness, encouraging one to see the beauty in one’s surroundings. In Jesse’s world, the simplest of things are given a vivid portrayal.

He started on his journey after being inspired by his older sisters playing a Guru tape for him when he was young. His family is a massive component of his ethos, and he writes about them often. While some of his lines mention them explicitly, according to Jesse, he’ll often reference slices of childhood memories that the listener wouldn’t necessarily pick up on. This is the source of the tenderness that infuses Jesse’s music – allowing for the second principle of Hip Hop to rise to the surface in full force – Love.

When I asked Jesse about what he likes to prioritize as an artist, he emphasized the importance of making real connections, collaborating, and writing with other artists. He’s eager to do things that keep his pen sharp, and working with other writers is one of the ways he likes to do it. Additionally, he attends as many shows as possible in order to keep up with new talent and maintain the connections he already has. This keeps him grounded and reminds him to keep questioning the reasons for his writing, what exactly he’s writing for, and how it affects others. It’s clear that Jesse understands the inherent value of people, and it’s because of this that he embodies the “Unity” principle of Hip Hop.

This brings us to the final principle, which is the most difficult one to truly master – Having Fun. In order to accomplish this, one must be immune to outside forces that may corrupt their creative process in a negative way. Having fun in a Hip Hop context, or even just in a creativity context requires practice and effort so that the artist can ensure they are remaining true to themselves. While mellow and relaxed, the production Jesse uses is suffused with passion and excitement. He understands that the best beats are usually the simplest, and this provides him with the perfect canvas for his colorful lyrics. The instrumentals on “BUG FLESH”, and “Mr. Elevator”, from his recently released album “Not Fade Away”, are an impeccable example of this. Currently 32 years old, Jesse is in a remarkable phase of his career. Reflecting on his evolution, he regards the music of his early twenties as a mere “trial run.” Today, he asserts with confidence that he is producing his most exceptional work to date. Faced with an industry and culture that pushes the narrative that one has to be young to pursue a creative career, this aspect of Jesse’s journey is hugely inspiring.

As Jesse puts it on his track “SHAKEDOWN STREET”:

“What’s the payout? / tangled and blue / never had a keen interest in the fountain of youth”

NYU’s Unlikely Music Mavericks: 3rd Ave’s Electrifying Performances and the Unique Soundscapes of “CYBERBULLY”

By OJ Mountain

It’s rare that a live show captures my true full attention. I often end up getting distracted, or the performer doesn’t quite have the stamina to make every moment of their set intriguing. So, it was an unexpected treat to witness an act that I was truly impressed by. A couple Saturday evenings ago, I found myself with a spare bit of time. I contacted a friend of mine to hang out, and he said he was going to a show in Bushwick to see his friends perform. Intrigued, I tagged along.

Pretty soon after we had arrived, a large group of people walked onto the stage, and my friend became super excited. “This is them!” he exclaimed. The group was clearly trying to make a memorable impression. They were dressed in eccentric outfits – sports jerseys, camo vests, chains, sci fi-esque glasses, and baggy clothing. One of them even had a device that shot bubbles into the air. Their stage presence and chemistry was something to behold. There wasn’t a single moment when at least one of them wasn’t airborne – flying around with a contagious wave of energy.

As I would come to learn, this group was called 3rd Ave. Though they knew each other informally at NYU in the music technology program, their group formed essentially by accident, after they all happened to win tickets to the Rolling Loud music festival via a giveaway through their school. After combining forces, they began to build a creative environment that feeds off collectivism. Each member contributes different elements based on need, instead of having designated producers and vocalists. Most of them if not all have the ability to produce for the group by themselves as they are all sufficiently talented, but they have mastered the art of splitting up tasks so that the final product is as polished and perfectly crafted as possible.

This would of course be irrelevant if their sound wasn’t there, but their sound is perhaps 3rd Ave’s most alluring quality, They manage to turn some of the most ubiquitous, familiar, and over-represented genres out there – trap, hyperpop, emo rap, and commercial pop – into a style that is undoubtedly unique and fresh. They almost manage to make you feel like you went back to the 2010’s in a time machine and were able to experience the Soundcloud era all over again.

Their most streamed release entitled “ackerman” is a perfect example of this. The beat is as simple as it gets – trap drums, booming bass, and a catchy flute sample. On paper it should just be another generic trap song, but it isn’t. The hypnotizingly infectious hook samples the fitness gram pushup test audio halfway through it, injecting it with charisma and nostalgia. Jaden, the first MC to take a verse on the track, does so in his signature whisper delivery, immediately forcing the listener to pay attention due to how unconventionally it hits the ear.Thai and Type Oh Negative attack the other two verses with punchy, effortless flows that glide over the instrumental with grace and swagger. The lyrics themselves are nothing revolutionary, but they still manage to jam pack in tons of quotables and charismatic lines. “Elastipussy, call her Ms. Incredible”, is a bar I won’t be forgetting any time soon.

Their recent album “CYBERBULLY” is their first full length LP, and it features an impressive diversity of production and vibes. It has cuts similar to “ackerman” on tracks like “BOP IT!”, to mind-warping hyperpop breaks on “TAMAGOTCHI” and “HOLD MY HAND // PIECES”, to jarring tracks with beats that are absolutely bonkers such as “???” that would fit perfectly in an expository scene of a depraved dystopian sci-fi flick.

3rd Ave. has immense potential, and should not be overlooked. The group is set to study abroad together in Prague this upcoming Spring, and there’s no telling how that experience will inspire their music moving forward.