Now, We Jerk
Now is the time on Passion of the Weiss vhen ve dance. In addition to my daily routine of chopping o’s, smoking lye and Optimos, and conspiring to kill hip-hop via MF Doom appreciation, for the last three months, I’ve been reporting on the jerkin’ movement that’s swept Los Angeles (no vaseline). Perhaps you’ve heard The New Boyz’s “You’re a Jerk,” the inescapable ear-worming single that branded the Victorville duo the face of the movement. But hopefully, my story illustrates why they’re just one of many talented kids that have helped make this the most exciting and interesting rap trend to hit LA since G-Funk.
It’s a cover story and a long one–5,000 words. So if you’re not into that whole reading ruse (and even if you are), I highly encourage you to check out the above video, produced by myself and Henry Choi, and directed by Jeff Cowan. Hopefully, this will be the first of many videos that we’ll create. In case you were wondering, no, that’s not me doing the narration–I only speak in double-time.
LA Weekly: We’re Jerkin’ (Starring The New Boyz, Pink Dollaz & J-Hawk)
ZIP: V/A–Jerkin’ With J-Hawk (Left-Click)
MP3: Cold Flamez-”Miss Me, Kiss Me”
MP3: New Boyz-”You’re a Jerk”
MP3: Pink Dollaz-”Don’t Need No”
MP3: Y.G.-”I Need Weed”
MP3: Tay 3rd-”I”
Stumble It!
August 6th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
This fad is of no importance.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Homeboy, this will probably go down as my favorite piece of music journalism this year. If you don’t have a book deal or something of that ilk before the year is up, I will have lost all faith.
See you at RTB, I hope!
August 7th, 2009 at 1:03 am
Jeff, I literally just walked out my apartment and down the block (at 12:50 am) to pick up a LA Weekly after watching the video.
“the most exciting and interesting rap trend to hit LA since G-Funk.” Big claim, especially given that jerkin’ is fairly new, but time will tell.
Great stuff dude.
August 8th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
isn’t this just an American tectonik?
August 8th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
jeff…congrats on a profesh story pal. Stoked that the valley has another claim to fame besides the karate kid. Looking forward to checking out the cover story. All of your hard work defly is vivid in the vid.
August 10th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
http://matthewafrica.blogspot.com/2009/07/jerk-songs.html
August 10th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Thought I’d comment here given the randomness of the LA Weekly comments.
Indeed - great article, Jeff. Took me a few breakfasts to knock it off - well written (as always) and very timely, which is always great. I wish I could read more stuff like this when it comes to music journalism. Well played, sir!