Video: J. Stalin – “I Can’t Wait”

The Oakland Veteran and Entrepreneur Shares the Latest Video from the Upcoming Gas Nation 2, Out October 27th

10.13.2017

Critical Praise:

“As the owner of Livewire Records, West Oakland rapper J Stalin provides a place for the growth of incredibly creative, meat-and-potatoes Bay Area hip-hop. The label hosts gritty rubbery street music that navigates crack dealing devastation and grounded partying tracks with equal aplomb, with artists that range from Stalin himself to MCs like Shady Nate and Philthy Rich among others.” – SPIN

“J Stalin pushes the envelope by vividly reiterating his Mob Bay Area persona and turmoil of his harsh upbringing.” – XXL

“This is what Stalin does: he takes things–sounds, human beings, grocery stores–and warps them into something extraterrestrial. It’s eerie, but you’re dancing anyway.” – Passion of the Weiss

The Video:

One of the slickest, sickest, and most respected emcees in Oakland, J. Stalin specializes in telling street tales over lush, soulful instrumentals. Taking a moment away from his trials and tribulations to celebrate his accomplishments, Stalin shares the exuberant clip for “I Can’t Wait.” Riding atop an effortlessly funky, glimmering instrumental courtesy of L Fingaz, Stalin details the precarious nature of life in the streets, commenting on people from his neighborhood who had money and lost it and recounting some of the tough decisions he had to make to keep his status. The video itself is a cinematic celebration of Stalin’s current status as a respected and well-connected rapper in his hometown, intercutting shots of Stalin living it up in the club with widescreen vistas of the Oakland skyline. Premiered by Traps N Trunks, “I Can’t Wait” is the latest release from Gas Nation 2, Stalin’s upcoming album, following “Battery Acid,” the spacious and mob-flavored opening track for the album, premiered last month by The Boombox, and the emotional “In My Feelings.”

The sequel to 2008’s Gas Nation, Stalin’s first album recorded for Mac Dre’s Thizz Entertainment, Gas Nation 2 finds the veteran rapper in a less boastful and more contemplative mood, as he deeply explores his personal life with detailed street tales. Released in 2008, Gas Nation found J. Stalin in a vastly different stage in life–hustling on the streets to make ends meet, packing a gun (or “gas” in Oakland slang) every day, and caring for his 12-year-old sister after his mom moved to Las Vegas. Fast-forward 10 year later, J. Stalin is now an established rapper and a legitimate business owner, managing the catalogs of 10 artists on his Livewire label, and opening two profitable barber shops. For J. Stalin, the original Gas Nation was the beginning of his evolution into a unique artist and the start of his transformation from a lawbreaker to an upstanding member of his community. With Gas Nation 2, Stalin revisits the mindset of his younger self with the wisdom and perspective of his current self, creating a moody and thought-provoking collection of well-crafted rap songs. Featuring appearances from Berner, Philthy Rich, Lil Blood, Shady Nate, Lazy Boy, Joseph Kay, JuneOnnaBeat, KD, AK-47, and others, Gas Nation 2 releases on October 27th.

Watch “I Can’t Wait”: https://youtu.be/8msyAX42eEo

Check out the Traps N Trunks premiere: http://trapsntrunks.com/2017/10/19/video-j-stalin-i-cant-wait/

Pre-order Gas Nation 2: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gas-nation-2/id1290551814?ls=1

Gas Nation 2 tracklist:
1. Battery Acid (Prod. by Carter Boy)
2. One Thing ft. Young Mezzy (Prod. by JP Bangz)
3. Reality (Prod. by JP Bangz)
4. In My Feelins (Prod. by TD Staps)
5. I Cant Wait (Prod. by L Fingaz)
6. Making Hoes Mad ft. Shady Nate, Lazy-Boy, Joseph Kay and KD Tha Goer (Prod. by JuneOnnaBeat)
7. Big Deposits ft. Joseph Kay & Philthy Rich (Prod. by C Note Cash)
8. Play Me Feat June (Prod. by White Rocks)
9. Cocaine Histeria ft. Berner & Joseph Kay (Prod. by JuneOnnaBeat)
10. Like Me ft. AK 47 (Prod. by AK 47)
11. Remember Your Name ft. Joseph Kay (Prod. by Devious One)
12. So Dangers ft. Joseph Kay (Prod. by C Note Cash)
13. Night Rider (Prod. by Scorp Dezel)
14. Ya Momma House ft. Lil Blood (Prod. by Smiley On the Beat)
15. Undefeated (Prod. by L Fingaz)
16. Burn This Whole City Down ft. Mistah FAB & Joseph Kay (Prod. by White Rocks)