Album Review hhnlive.com J-BRU - Identity Crisis Reported by: NA/ 04/15/2007 What does it say about the Canadian Hip-Hop scene when some of the most exciting music in the country is coming from the east coast of Canada? We're talking Halifax, Nova Scotia here folks. It's a long way from Brooklyn or Compton, but the east coast Canadian MC's are demolishing beats and ripping mics without much fanfare outside of their scene. Next-up is the booming voice of J-Bru. Critically acclaimed east coast MC Classified handles production work on six of the album's tracks. This proves to be a wise move for J-Bru as Class' kick heavy, soulful beats compliment his thick, powerful vocal stylings. "Put My Work In" and "What R We Doin'" feat. Eternia are two great examples of the strong combination that is Classified and J-Bru. But this isn't to say that Bru doesn't step up and help his own cause as he handles the boards on the painfully soulful "Ghetto Life" and heartfelt "I Love You Ma". As he moves forward, J-Bru will need to work on his flow. "Things Ain't The Same", "Lost Soul" (a horrible spoken word track that is totally unnecessary) and a blatant attempt at radio play with the atrocious "It's Rainin'" all bring the to the forefront some of J-Bru's weaknesses as an MC, which mostly revolve around his flow as his lyrical content is for the most part always on point. In what has to be considered a shocking turn of events, the critical acclaim for Canadian Hip-Hop has shifted to the east coast of Canada thanks to artists like Classified and J-Bru. And it's deserved because these MC's are pouring their souls and lives into the music and making Hip-Hop the way it was intended to be made. From the heart.