Hear the horns blow, the bells toll. Jake The Snake returns with his third release, amply titled Strategy Of The Crown. The momentous project features appearances from Ras Kass, Devin The Dude, Trife from Theodore Unit, Loose Notes, Toussaint, and of course the Boston super group of which Snake is a part, The Greater Good. While many artists find themselves stuck on attempting hit singles or watered down mixtape freestyles, on this project, J The S reintroduces listeners to the lost essence of the album with a foundation of classic east coast production perfectly blended with the current musical style heard today. With the albums 1st single, Crabs In A Barrel feat. Devin The Dude, already going to ..1 and ..2 on the two premiere college radio charts, Rap Network and Rap Attack Lives, the 2nd single, Kilograms (I Know) feat Ras Kass, promises to drive Strategy Of The Crown even farther. The Snakeman has delivered a full album, listenable from start to finish, a rarity these days in hip hop. His smooth charisma and picture painting style is evidently felt throughout. With standout tracks like From The Heart, Real, and In God We Trust, Snake walks the fine line of prophesizing without preaching, living up to his axiom of saving the babies. Joints such as Kilograms and Daylight promise much of the Snakeskin-Adidas rocking, third-person talking, smooth style J The S is famous for. Although there are various song topics which Snake demonstrates his unique creativity, you still get a thematic feel throughout Strategy Of The Crown. Some of the island flavor infused in the Snakemans music can be traced to his childhood home on the Island of Nevis in the West Indies. During adolescence he was relocated to New England and Jake eventually found his way to Boston. Although both of his parents were in the picture as a youngster, domestic differences would see Jake living with his mother, just the two of them in a small, humble setting.
"My mother had different boyfriends and guys coming through the house, but most of em was scumbags." explains Snake, "So I was the man of the house since a young teenager, holdin down my moms, just like she always did for me. I get along with my pops now", adds Snake, "he went through alotta the ill shit Im doing now, so he is like an older homey with advice."
Music became an outlet for J The S, to express the realities he had seen, and communicate with the people whom related. Since then he has shared the stage with a list of renowned hip-hop artists such as KRS One, Boot Camp Clik, Kool G Rap, AZ, Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa of The Wu-Tang Clan, Devin Tha Dude,The Beatnuts, Pharoahe Monch, Royce Da 59, Brand Nubian, Tame One, and Dead Prez. After winning numerous battles, such as the 2003 invite only Super Bowl battle, and displaying his songwriting ability on his first two releases, The Arrival, and Year Of The Snake, the Most Venomous strikes back with an epic album. Jake continues to make cracks towards wider commercial appeal while maintaining his true school roots. Strategy Of The Crown proves why Jake The Snake has the sound and the style poised for major commercial success. The King Cobra has found his throne.
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