Remember the time when rap music used to be fun, carefree, conscious, with a message, and over some dope beats? Well, this is what you get when you listen to Preach Jacobs, emcee, journalist, and photographer hailing from Columbia, South Carolina. The Maple St. Sessions blends neo-soul and funk inspired hip hop that’s reminiscent of the classic sounds of the Native Tongues era.  Produced by Denz (of Cyberworks), who has worked with Marc Mack of 4Hero, and with Preach Jacobs spitting rhymes like his life depends upon it, the two are a great combo. The album recently got picked up by R2 Records based in London (the label behind Thievery Corporation, Louie Vega, and N’Dambi, and will be release soon. Maple St. Sessions is his second release, with his first being Garveyism, which was released last year to critical acclaim.  The music is so much fun, I’m looking forward to seeing Preach Jacobs’s show on the road. Do stop by his site and read his blog; he kicks a lot of knowledge.

Listen to a couple of tracks taken from Maple St. Sessions and the video for “Falling”.

“Forest Whitaker”

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“Cool Out”

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