''7th Avenue'' is the major-label debut album by

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

KJ-52 Jonah Kirsten Sorrentino (born June 26, 1975), better known by his stage name KJ-52, is a Christian rapper from Tampa, Florida. The "KJ" part of his name refers to his old rap alias, "King J. Mac,"

, and his only release before signing to

BEC Recordings BEC (Brandon Ebel Company) Recordings is a Christian rock record label that is an imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. The label was formed in 1997 in partnership with the EMI Christian Music Group. The label promotes bands with more adult Christi ...

. The album notably contains little to no pop influence, instead favoring underground and

old school hip hop Old-school hip hop (also spelled old skool) is the earliest commercially recorded hip hop music and original style of the genre. It typically refers to the music created around 1979 to 1983, as well as any hip hop that does not adhere to contem ...

. The album was largely recorded in 1998, shopped to labels in 1999 and finally released in early 2000. The original version released in 2000 initially sold only 20,000 copies and was considered a "failure" by the label. KJ was dropped soon after. In 2004, 7th Avenue was re-released by Essential after seeing the success of KJ's second release, Collaborations. The 2004 edition quickly sold 50,000 additional units and became a cult classic amongst fans. The re-release contained bonus tracks including "Lift Me Up," "All Around the World", "Need Someone", "It's The S.O.I. (Remix)", and "12 Round Knockout." All skits, as well as the songs "Cipha All-Stars" and "They Know Not" were removed for the re-release.

Track listing

2000 version

# "The Greatest M.C. (Intro)" # "1, 2, 3" (feat. Yankee Man) # "Keep It Moving" (feat.

Knowdaverbs Michael Boyer II, better known by his stage names Knowdaverbs and later Verbs, is a Christian hip hop artist. He has recorded for Gotee Records. Background He started rapping at the age of twelve, and spent time dancing with GRITS during the ...

) # "The Hardway" # "Keep Ya Head Up" (feat. Brook Ross) # "Melvin's Not Here (skit)" # "Do What I Do" # "The Greatest M.C. Continued (skit)" # "We Rock the Mic" # "Cipha All Stars" (feat. Goldinchild, Imagine, Supplanta, Urban Disciple) # "It's the S.O.I. (Sons of Intellect Anthem)" (feat. The Ambassador, Phanatik) # "Mickey Cakes (Skit)" # "Integrity" (feat. Bonafide of

GRITS Grits are a type of porridge made from boiled cornmeal. Hominy grits are a type of grits made from hominy – corn that has been treated with an alkali in a process called nixtamalization, with the pericarp (ovary wall) removed. Grits are of ...

) # "This is Love" (feat. Amani) # "They Know Not" (feat. L.P., Passion) # "The Greatest M.C. (Outro)"

2004 re-release

# "1, 2, 3 (feat. Yankee Man)" # "Keep It Moving (feat. Knowdaverbs)" # "The Hardway" # "Keep Ya Head Up (feat. Brook Ross)" # "Do What I Do" # "We Rock the Mic" # "It's the S.O.I. (Sons of Intellect Anthem)" # "Integrity (feat. Bonafide of Grits)" # "This is Love (feat. Amani)" # "Lift Me Up" # "All Around the World (feat.

Pigeon John John Kenneth Dust (born John Kenneth Dunkin: November 30, 1972), better known by the stage name Pigeon John, is an American rapper based in Los Angeles, California. He is a former member of L.A. Symphony. Early life Pigeon John claims that his ...

John Reuben John Reuben (born John Reuben Zappin; January 14, 1979) is an American Christian hip hop artist signed to Gotee Records until late 2010. Reuben has sold over 200,000 copies of his first four albums.Breimeier, Russ (May 2002)"John Reuben - ''Hind ...

)" # "Need Someone" # "It's the S.O.I. (Remix)" (feat. The Ambassador & Phanatik of Cross Movement) # "12 Round Knockout"

References

KJ-52 albums 2000 debut albums Essential Records (Christian) albums {{2000-hiphop-album-stub