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You will be missed my brother! Binkis Nonstop!
Please leave a few words if you knew the man. Talk about your first “Binkis” moment.
also hit up his famalam peoples blogs
Jax of Binkis Recs suffers heart attack onstage and dies
November 4th, 2008 by Rodney Carmichael in Music news
Jax of Atlanta’s legendary indie hip-hop crew Binkis Recs suffered a heart attack while onstage at Lenny’s last night and was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital.
According to close friend and Binkis crew member Flux da Wondabat, Jax was performing the title track from his 2007 solo album, Sharper Images.
“He was performing onstage and he just passed out in the middle of his verse,” said Flux. “We went to the emergency room and then they came out and gave us the word.”
Formed in 1997, the Binkis Recs trio (Jax, Flux, Killa Kalm) quickly established itself as a true alternative to the commercial, crunk sound that defined Atlanta near the end of the millennium.
“Atlanta is weird because it’s two scenes,” N.Y. native Jax told CL in 2005. “It’s the natives and the transplants. And the scene that most people know — the OutKast and Ludacris — are all from here. A lot of us on the underground level are from somewhere else.”
The group’s name still speaks volumes — the acronym BINKIS stands for “Before Ignorant Niggas Killed Intelligent Songs.” They released several CDs, including 2003’s The Reign Begins. Though most failed to register commercially, their impact among Atlanta’s independent hip-hop scene is still felt.
“Binkis Recs paved the way for what a lot of younger Atlanta hip-hop musicians are able to do right now,” says former ATF Records label mate and friend, J-Mil of Collective Efforts. “A lot of people don’t even know that DJ Drama got his start with these brothers.”
While he was reminiscent of rap’s golden era, Jax believed in pushing music forward, as evidenced by these lyrics from the song “Shift,” featured on his ’07 release: “‘88 is not coming back/Nobody can replace Rakim or G. Rap/Slick Rick or Kane/’94’s gone/You can’t imitate Nas, Biggie or the Wu-Tang/It’s just not the same/What you should do is take lessons from the eras passed/The eras made/And apply it to your own era/Leave a legacy using your own lyrical weaponry.”
Jax had recently purchased a home with his fiancé, whom he planned to marry before year’s end.
“A lot of people forget what kind of sacrifices independent artists make in an attempt to give people options in music. Jax gave his life to the culture, and that’s a hard thing to do,” says J-Mil. “While I want to celebrate his life, I can’t help but miss the brother. I know I’m not alone.”
As for Flux and the Binkis Recs crew, “personally, he meant everything. He embodies what Binkis is; he was Binkis,” says Flux. “As far as hip-hop is concerned, that’s what Binkis is and what hip-hop is. We just continued on with the creativity and enjoyed doing it and having fun.”
Click here to see more photos of Jax.
Click here to visit Jax’s MySpace page.
Click here to listen to music from Jax.
and prayers go out the Stewert family.
ATLANTA (AP) — Def Jam Recordings says the executive that succeeded Jay-Z as the head of the legendary hip hop music label has died.
The New York City-based company said in a statement that executive vice president Shakir Stewart died on Saturday.
In Georgia, Cobb County Police Detective Bill Macauley says Stewart was taken Saturday afternoon to a suburban Atlanta hospital after suffering from a gunshot wound.
Police found Stewart after responding to a call of a shooting at an undisclosed address. No arrests or charges were made.
Neither police nor the county medical examiner’s office released how he died.
Stewart signed such artists as Rick Ross and Young Jeezy to the label before being named in June to the post once filled by Jay-Z.
The Hip Hop community lost a great emcee and a legendary man! Jax was a beast, and one of the nicest, smartest, funniest guys you could ever meet. Since I found out, I can’t even go to sleep. It’s 7am my time, and I’m WIDE awake. We gone miss you Jax. They’ll never be another like you!
I send my prayers out to his family, his fiance, as well as the Binkis Records Family past and present.
Mannn… this one hurt.
I just got the word of Jax passing from Rasta Roots an hour ago. I can’t believe it! As a man I have grown to understand how much we are connected. Jax was a very good friend. He really touched many people. My Binkiss Mode mixtape was inspired by him and his crew. I’m honored to have shared the laughs and support he always gave me. He was loved in the Atlanta music community and will never be forgotten. As I fight to contain my tears while I type this message, best wishes go out to his wife, family & friends. May his spirit & purpose for which he provided live on. We Love you Jax!!!!!!
This is a huge loss. I met Jax a couple of times living in ATL and he was always very very cool and straight up hilarious. Many of my favorite hip hop tracks included Binkis Recs … he was a great emcee. He will surely be missed.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all he touched in the hip hop community.
Lisa, Flux, Killa… I sparsely have words for how much of a shock this is?!!
I know Jax to be a really honest and loving man and MC as well as a
a good friend. I can say that my life has benefitted from your presence. I
send blessing to the rest of your family as they lay you to rest. Hip-hop is
how you lived and passed, your life inspired us all, one love.
mad love to jax, yo. that was my man, loved eating pasta with him every time we were in atl together.
TO THE FAMILY OF THE BROTHER JAX, LOVE AND LIGHT! ALL RESPECT DUE, THE MESSIAH FAMILY WILL FOREVER HOLD YOU IN THE LIGHT!
Rest in Hip Hop Paradise Jax…
Lisa, my heart is aching for you. Please know I am thinking of you and your family at this unfathomable time. I keep seeing you guys in my mind and I hope to pay my respects to you in person. With love and prayers for strength, jewell
Jax,
You did it like no one else has or will. The TRUE definition of an EMCEE and a great example of a real man. Your legacy will forever live on through those of us who were around to witness your greatness.
your man lucky
Wishing Lisa and family continued strength and love…May Jax shine 4eva! Thinking of you, Rasheeda
J.F.K. – JAX FOREVER KING!!!
Jax AKA Jax The Axe
aka Reggie Jaxson
aka Belly Savalas
aka Marvin Slaye
aka Jax Da Ripper
aka Chris Thurston
We gone miss you man.. your music and personality will forever live on in our souls. I will personally make sure the world never forgets your name.
the Jedi always x-sists, that’s quintessential Jax. You were a lyrical influence, a conceptual genius, an inspiration who’s blood type is mcee. You were a true friend and brother, I consider you my family, you have impacted my life in ways to vast to recount. Dearest Lisa, Thurston family, Binkis Recs family, may you all be comforted in this time by the legacy and light that Jax blessed us with.Jax forever king, a Hip hop legend in his own right. Most high and ancestors guidance and I- tection. Ises
To my brother, my friend and my inspiration. I remember all of us sitting with “label dude” when I was trying get the guys (Binkis) a deal. That was one of the many times we were close to “make it”. Because of Binkis I started High Water. I am going to miss you calling me and being loud as shit on the phone, singing Su Su Sucio!!! I really miss you man! I am so sorry I wasn’t calling as much lately, I am really sorry. I was looking forward to your new excuse as why the album wasn’t done.
To Lisa, Flux, Killah, Mafioso, Kaos, Cognito and all his family; my heart goes out to you all. This shit really hurts, I never thought it could hurt this hard but it does.
To Jax: words can’t not express what you meant to me, from the 1st Squeeze radio anniversary at Nuyoricans, my first time in ATL, this whole label thing, meeting Kaos and the whole crew to just talking on the phone about live and music. I really love you and it kills me that I never got to tell you.
Binkis for Ever!!! Jax Forever King!!!
Edit
Lehrl Gregor wrote at 7:05pm
i’m seriously smashed .. jax of binkis recs passed away . my deepest condolence to his wife + family . jaxforeverking!
letz not forget his name . jax the axe, action jaxson, the ill conceptionist and lyrical master, deeply rooted + waaaay ahead of his time, the first emcee i’ve worked with. i can’t believe it. passin the song we did together, to … Read Moreput this piece back into the community right where it belongs. download it here http://drop.io/lehrlgc
r.i.p. jax *
We are speaking on a Brother who 99.9% of the time he was smiling or laughing! I got to know this brother during the time I lived in ATL and I must say he is definitely one of the most creative cats I know. Jax always had soooper brilliant ideas and insight on many things music just happen to be the one we connected on. I just got to meet his fiance earlier this year during the A3C festival in ATL and to hear this news today is like WOW! I honestly have not been able to do much today other than reflect on the times spent building and how many people this cat has touched.
JAX FOREVER KING Forreal! Keep shining on em’ Brother! We Love u and will definitely miss u 2.
Always Bless
John Robinson aka Lil Sci (Scienz of Life)
i couldnt believe this when i heard the news this morning. i just saw jax last week before i left to go outta town. Jax is on of the most stand-up guys that I know. He was always positve and genuine. The world will never see another like him. My condolences go out to Lisa and the Family….JAX FOREVER KING
I can’t really believe this, you and your music will definitely be missed.
Jax is a legend…not just musically, but also as a consistent ray of sunshine. All the way back to Marco’s Pita on AUC strip…his smile made you check your frown and wonder what hell you’d been frownin’ bout anyway. Thank you for that simple miracle…you will be missed and remembered as a good, heartfelt man, an innovative artist and a way-paver for this independent music shit…bless your family.
R.I.P. Jax you will be missed. Condolences go out to his entire family.
I know you asked for the first Binkis experience….I have a few, but I’m a little fonder of the last time I saw Jax. We go back to ’96/’97 when Marco’s Pita was in the basement of the copy shop on the AUC strip. I never caught anything less than a positive vibe from my dude. The last time I saw him was early September….I was back in Atlanta fresh off the wings of my wedding (my wife, Nzinga, directed his first video). We met at AmDex’s crib and just chopped it up for a few hours and it was great, because all the years we’d known each other, we never had a chance to sit down and really get into each other’s heads. Besides being hilarious (which we all know about him), he was also genuine, heartfelt, a kind spirit, attentive listener and even greater conversationalist. All of those things manifested in his music, which made him a true artist. He was so happy to be getting married soon and Nzinga and I gave him hope that young Black love is where it’s at. Because of that, my heart aches for his lady, I know they were building something special…something I can relate to. Although we weren’t close friends, I know that Jax never fronted, he was ALWAYS 100% real, he carried positivity with him at every turn and he enriched the lives of those around him like a compassionate individual…THAT’s a life well-lived, and something I can only hope to accomplish in my short time here. It’s gonna feel weird going back to ATL and not being able to call him and check on my ol’ war buddy….
If I would have known that last Tuesday would have been the last time I would see Jax I would have put my business aside for 5 minutes to build with the brother more then the “hey, what’s up” line. I constantly consume myself with work that I sometimes forget to stop and enjoy life. What I wouldn’t give to go back a week in time and find out what Jax had going on in his life.
such a topsy turvy world…Jax was like a big brother figure, making fun and setting an example for how to hustle. That’s the word I’d think of to align with him. From Pita days to the breaking battle, he could make an impression with or without speaking. Much love to his family and lady.
My prayers and thoughts are with Lisa, Flux and the Thurston Family. I met Jax while we were students at CAU. We met while I was dating one of his good friends. That relationship ended but Jax remained my homie. He always had something inspiring to say to me when our paths crossed and was always a gentleman! We would joke about my cooking and he would clown me about my New Orleans accent. I am gonna miss running into him in Atlanta and my random Myspace messages. He will be deeply missed by a community of people who loved his spirit and his smile. Lisa, he had no problem expressing how much he loved “his girl”. I pray that you find peace and comfort during this challenging time. Flux, hold your head.
I always looked up to Jax because he was a visionary. The first time I met him was at the AU Center. Binkis and Mafioso and myself were performing at the auditorium that day. The joint that Binkis rocked that will forever stick in my memory is Beat You in The Head! That was a classic! I also remember tagging along with Jax and the Binkis crew for the video he shot for ‘Who’s Jax?’ That was my first experience seeing how a music video was done. Now to hear about my man passing…..its hard to come to grips with that. Jax, You’re energy will be missed but your memory will live on. My condolences, love, and prayers go out the family. Rest in Peace, homey.
jax always seems to have more love than his body could hold! it radiated everywhere. i’m honored to have had 10 yrs in his presence.
Wow the first time i heard of Jax or of Binkis I was chilling in Little 5 with Lil Sci ( John Robinson ) at More Dusty and I bought a How Many Lumps Cd and played it to death. That was the night Jam Master Jay Died. On my next trip to Atl I met Jax and we clicked from there. We would joke and laugh with Killa and Flux . Those brothas stay on top of their game. It was always cool linking up with him, working on music, talking about sneakers. He called me this Sunday and left a message. I was on the Subway didn’t get to call him back. Now its Tuesday and i got the call this morning. We will miss you Jax. Prayers go out to you and yours. I still can’t believe it
I couldn’t believe it when I heard about JAX, our city and hip hop lost a great talent, every time I saw him he had nothing but smiles, may you rest in PEACE, my thoughts and prayers go to his family and close friends!
i love jax that is nothing no one can front on… we built laughed ate smoked drank chilled in a bboy stance ate real tacos so these cats can boycot Mcd;s ecorded mixdown perform lived experienced came up got respect in da city dissed niggas praised niggas and a the end of the day shred a fragment of life together… now he looking down on me sayin mafi stop fronting dont slow down keep goin.. mofongo… as he would say…. but look it aint about me believe dat but dont forget jax;s favorite dj and binkis alumni dj mafioso.. the only regret i have is not being on that stage to help a brotha up but jax knows i was always there when he needed me.. we are and will continue to be the buford hwy bombers!! ya heard.. i always wanted to take jax to the spanish club to get his merengue on… but he would always front on the idea… id be like jax all da girls gon be on your dilsnik cause you look more dominican than me but he was always sayin ………nawww them spanish chiks aint gonna give a nigga love.. i will contibute to the memoires if you wanna hear more cause trust there are more stories to go..
My brother JAX. I pray for your fam, who I know will feel the void of your absence. In your memory I hope we all can celebrate your life by living striving to celebrate our own talents, leaving a positive legacy for those who com after us. You are loved by many and will be missed by many equally.
Glad to have known you.
Stay strong fam.
My mind is so blown about the loss of this vibrant young man. I had the honor of working with him during my tenure at Fat Beats Atlanta and man he made me laugh. He just made up words and saying for everything. It doesnt make sense to me – my
heart is gonna be soar for a while over this one. Many many shouts to my boy Flux -you, Jax’s fam and Lisa are all in my prayers.
I’ve shared this memory with a few people already and I think that er’body
should know it too… It was the late 90′s and we were celebrating Jax Bday
and we got an ice cream cake. The place was 2384 Adina, Binkis! The
whole crew plus some was in the place to be. We had BBQ going, music
playing and jokes everywhere!! Time comes for singing happy bday…
we trying to keep it on the lo and surprise a brother. Everything is going smooth as can be, we get Jax inside the crib and spring the cake on em.
Only thing is, we were surprised to see the cake 1/4 melted… ice cream
cake and birthday candles don’t go together.
This is a moment where alot of people would feel kind bad that their
bday cake got hurt up… but not Jax, he’s the first one to start laughing!
That’s the kinda dude Jax is, not was, IS! He was always the one with an
olive branch, he’s a peaceful man and I know he is resting in peace.
Christopher Thurston was my cousin. We grew up more like brother and sister in Queens NY in Rochdale Village. I have many childhood and adult moments that I will replay in my mind over and over of my cousin….laughs ( really chris crackin on me….). He was a beautiful black man… intelligent and humble. I would like to thank each of you for your kind words and thoughtful memories. You may not realize how you touch his family members who are struuggling to hold on in this difficult time. We appreciate your support. We will miss Chris a.ka. JAX
Chris was a poet, an artist, and a musician. He is gone too soon. Please use his legacy to love those close to you.. for this lifetime is short and tomorrow is not promised. Please continue to share your stories.. as they are the only things that help to hold back the tears. RIP… Christopher Thurston.. love ur cuz.. Tia-shon
Its been many hours now since I got the news about Jax and im still at a lost for words. This whole thing seems so surreal! A huge hole was just placed in our music scene in Atlanta and more importantly my friendship with you Jax! The only solace that I can find in this whole thing is knowing that you’re in a good place now. You’re in good hands and im sure the jokes haven’t stopped!
My love and condolences go out to you Lisa, Flux, Killa, Maf, Mike, and the rest of his family and friends. May God keep you all close during this difficult time and in the future.
R.I.P my brother JAX…you will be missed but NEVER forgotten!
Damn! A long long time has gone by since I saw Jax and although we were never that close I remember him fondly and the news of his passing was shocking. Like many people who commented before me, I too take a lot of special people in my life for granted and it sucks that it takes something like this to happen before I do anything about it. Rest in peace Jax and my condolences to your family and Flux. My heart goes out to you.
Wow. First of all, rest in peace to Chris Thurston, lovingly known as Jax.
A Jax memory:
One day I ran into Jax at a show and we traded info. We ended up talking about collaborating, so we set up a day and I trekked to the Binkis laboratory with a duffle bag in tow carrying my analog 8 track with some beat tapes. We knocked out a joint called “Scare Tactics” in 2 hours flat, played it back and me, Jax & Flux all gave it the thumbs up. We chopped it up for a while and came to realize that Jax and I had both learned to make beats on the same equipment. In fact, Jax talks about this on his Mass Comm podcast. The old school Gemini sampler with the 5 buttons, 24 seconds of sample time, with the little blue Tascam 4 track! We joked about having broken equipment sitting in our closets, and Jax called it the “Equipment Graveyard”, which is a term I use to this day. When it was time for me to leave, Jax requested that I call him when I got back home to let him know that I made it alright. I’d never had anyone other than a family member ask me to do that. That was deep and it let me know how loving of a person Jax was and is.
Jax was such a dynamic mc and humble person that many people don’t realize that he was nasty with the beats too. “Eyeam” is a looong time favorite of mine, that joint is BADONGAS! His catalog is insane. If you think about it, the Jax and Binkis Recs movement is Atlanta’s own version of what Living Legends did on the West Coast. I was just talking to Quote Naj two weeks ago about Binkis and Naj remarked about how prolific Jax was and how my man has MAD ALBUMS! Jax loved hip-hop. I never met a cat so happy to be emceeing. I’m comforted in the fact that Jax seemed to enjoy every single minute of life as he always expressed immense joy when I saw him. You couldn’t help but smile when you saw the cat. And you never knew when he’d hit you with the, “Wooooooow”! To me, that meant he was really listening and really open to give you genuine and enthusiastic feedback.
We will miss you, Jax. This is a big loss for ATL hip-hop and the genre of hip-hop at large. This is a loss on the physical plane, but I’m happy that you’re in a better place and not here in pain. We’re in pain because we miss you, but we’re glad that your soul can rest.
To Jax’s wife, the Thurston family and the Binkis family, I send my deepest condolences and upmost love to you in this trying time. You are definitely in my prayers.
JAX FOREVER KING!
Respect the Catalog!
“Observe”
“JFK: Jax Forever King”
“Sharp Images”
“Black Capitalism”
“The Sharpener”
“Sharper Images”
Rest in peace, brother.
- Moon
Jax has not simply passed away.. there is no such thing.. He lives among us and within us all …for eveything he has showed us we will express, live and carry on to show to the next and the next … just keep bangin that binkis and my man will keep smilin.. big ups to Flux who is being solid gold and helping us all cope and realize the moment and plan for the future..Without Flux no jax w/o Jax and FLux no BInkis w/o Binkis … well that will never happen …BUT. big ups to the Thurstons thanks you for your beautiful creation big ups to the brother he always always i mean always talked about.. we with you …..Big up to Mrs. Lisa Thurston and big up to fam and all those sharing…we must make it a point to keep in touch and continue to build jax got us here its up to us to go farward…. we are here for a reason.. let us fulfill our potential.. Love ya AJAX
I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has called me,prayed with me, and let me cry on their shoulder. I am by myself. a widow. We actually got married 10/17, but 11/22/08 was going to be the official wedding date. I miss him. I wake up crying. He was a GOD SENT!!! He was made for me, and there is no one that can replace him. He died doing something that he loved. We had our “lil chats” about this music thing and he always told me that he was not doing it for the money or the fame, but for the love and the feeling he got from it!!! He was my best friend, my teddy bear, my heart, my husband, MY LIFE!!!! I am truly grateful to him and all that he has provided me with. He is at Murray Brother Furneral home in ATL. I am trying to arrange a visitation/viewing for Thurs 11/5 or Fri 11/6. I will keep everyone informed of the exact date. He will be going home to NEW YORK !!!!! Thank you to everybody for everything!!! He loved and cared for all of his “family” and he will be watching over us!!!
Peace and blessings to my “family”
Lisa “ms. JAX”
Chris (Jax) was my cousin, and my best friend. we were born a couple of months apart, and grew up together. He was more brother than he was cousin. We were never separated growing up and he was the best man in my wedding. I still cant believe that he is gone, and I dont know when I will stop shedding tears for him. I always remember him making everyone laugh and was you can never leave an opening for him to crack a joke on you. it was all in love though. His music was legendary, and was and will always be what true Hip Hop should be. I voted yesterday, and I brought him with me as I hope many people that knew and loved him did as well. Lisa, you know the family got you, and you will always be a part of the Gilkes/Thurston/Dickson crew. We love you and are keeping you in prayer daily. I know he is watching over all of us, and he doesnt want us to be sad that he is gone, celebrate him, and honor him and his Music. My brother I will miss not being able to talk to you or text you the way we used to. I thank you for being my brother. I love you and will keep your spirit with me always. RIP JAX FOREVER KING, BINKIS FOR LIFE !
RIP to the brotha Jax, thank u 4 representing the art 2 the fullest all the way 2 the end, it was a blessing to have u rock on Juggaknots UYC’s Crazy 8′s, JAX 4 ever King Binkis-peace, love, and blessings-Matic Ent.
My motherfuckin man JAX the AXE! Never have i met someone who made me feel happier to be alive. Dude was a great example of how to live, how to love and how to grind and never stop working. Thank you for teaching me things I will never forget. I will never forget you my friend.
As Jax only brother I would like to thank eveyone for their words and expression of their sympathy. My family was very un-aware as to how many people he had encountered and touched. He was truly a symbol of inspiration for me as well. From the Thurston family Thank You.
ok this is very hard my name is stuart aka stuthebarber i am a friend of the fam in NY i used to chill with his brother cruen he just told me th awful news and i am sorry i never got a chance to see him since ive been living here in GA i remember cruen in rochdale NY and cris would be there in the apartment just chillin makin jokes he never rapped then thats why when cruen said he was arapper down here i was so surprised but you always seem to change when you leave the nest but anyway i am not surprised on how you all loved him cause he always was a cool guy and he will be missed i was just asing his b rother about him about a month ago and was going to try to see him but now i guess i will have to see him off not the kind of reunion i wanted but i know the lord has him and he is watching all of his friends and family right now i give my condolences to his sweet mother which i know is hurting right now his father who alway had good advise when you needed it and his brother cruen who worshiped the ground cris walked on and viseversa he will truly be missed but never forgotten and to his wife i didnt know her but if she was with him i know she was special people so try to use his memory as a reason to smile and not cry cause you that is how he would have wanted it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!stuthebarber……peace.
I got the word yesterday while i was on myspace from taj. I had the pleasure of meeting this brother in 04 at scribble jam, He was genius and very creative with the music. R.i.p. Jax i know your smiling down upon us with the ancestors now.
It’s taken me a couple of days to post, still trying too rap my head around this? I just talked to my mans last week, You will be missed but not forgotten. Jax was one of the most positive people I feel I’ve had the pleasure of knowing never a time that I saw him did he not have a smile and at least 1 joke or something funny to spit at me. Jax was on the next chapter in life marriage new house the brother was doing his thing. That’s what he and I talked about more than anything else, “LIFE” and “Responsibility”. Atl. Hip hop has lost a great talent and I’ve lost a good friend. Lisa my prayers are with you and your family in your time of grief.
Damn… the first time I check your site and I’m shook… Jax was cool, and I recently saw him at whole foods and was telling my wife how dope of an M.C. he was…
i met Jax and the homie Corey (Spice) when we were all in college in the late 90′s- late teens, early 20′s. They always had me laughing- because together they were fools, lol. when i met flux and kaos later- along with mafioso- well lets just say there was a whole lotta silly going on.
jax was so committed to this hip hop thing, and the fact that he died on his second home- the stage- it makes this sudden tradgedy a little less heavy on my heart.
before i knew jax, i knew chris. i had my own nickname for him, which was “rock,” because of his big ass head, lol.
he was a great MC, but a greater friend. he always had a positive word- and i can’t really remember a harsh one coming from him- well, unless you were a wack MC.
he and Lisa were like a hip hop George and Weezy. Lisa always kept jax on point- a real ride or die chick. and when he was on stage, more than likely she was standing to the side of the stage in her Binkis tshirt taking pics.
my last time seeing jax on stage was on 10/28 with kaos opening up for Sean Price at the Masquerade. that time was no different, only this time, he was supporting the homie kaos- as it was his set.
the last time i saw jax was on Nov. 1. it was in passing and we didn’t verbally speak- but we gave each other a salute- which is what he always give me before we would embrace. that or he would hold up his right fist and say “black power!”
jax forever king will always hold his crown in my heart. much love to lisa, flux, killa, kaos, nito, H and everyone else who was not just an acquaintance, but a friend. I’m most honored that jax and I are- i say are because he is still here amongst us. not in the flesh- but in the mind, spirit and heart.
RIP My Brother. My prayers and love go out to all the friends and family and anyone who had the privilege to know Jax. He was so selfless, I remember visiting with him on serveral occasions and he and Flux would be working on some songs or artwork for the next album and I wanted to learn how to make beats. Jax, no matter how busy, would hand over the headphones and begin to teach. His ear for good music is unmatched and his passion and appreciation for life was contagious. Jax was, a thinker, a comedian, an entertainer, a scholar, a poet, and creative. As I remember my friend who happens to be one of the Greatest Mcs ever, he left us while living his dream, doing what he loved.
Your Legacy will live on-
I don’t know where 2 start when speaking about Chris aka Jax. I remember being up at the Beatz & Lyrics show hanging with Dj Rasta Root when Jax entered w/his binkis fam, they did the most animated interview that I’d ever witnessed. Fun yet intelligent and honest. I remember Jax kicking a freestyle and I asked Roots: Who the hell is that kid spittin? Dude is straight fire! Later that summer, I would see him up at Fat Beats working, that told me right there he was hip hop all day and all nite, the type of individual who was hungry not just to get on, but also had the passion for making a difference in this rap game. So I bought a few records, and we began talking about NYC. I knew from his swagger that he had to be from up top. He reminded me of a young Ghostface from Wu who was already in my top 10 of mc’s, not to mention Roots and I were looking for the next it mc!
I figured hey I won’t be young forever so get your Berry Gordy/P-diddy on and look for new talent, I had a few mc’s in line and felt Jax was that dude even though he already had the streets buzzin’ with the Binkis movement. His head was in the right place and his hustle was incredible. I respected everything about him, and decided to get his face and name known outside of Atlanta (where he had it locked). We took him to Detroit to record,we did shows in Dc and Cali, but he really enjoyed himself in Japan. There he was Jax “ICHIBAN”. The future looked promising and bright but soon after that I became ill and moved to Cali where my doctors were. For the past four years while trying keep my spirits up, I’d tell Roots get Jax, work w/Jax, keep him hungry, cuz when I come home to the “A” we gonna smash. He was going to be Roots’ and my version of Big Pun, Diddy 2 BIG, he was ill like that! His spirit was always up, on a scale of 1-10 his personality and energy was a 26! Just this Sept my wife gave me her kidney, I’m happy, I’m re-cuperating and I was looking forward 2 getting w/Jax and Roots so Roots and I could executive produce his album and Roots gave me the call that Jax was performing when he collapsed, I felt like doing the same as well! To his parents, family, friends, and fiance’, may God be with you all, sorry I couldn’t make it, but know that Jax was my little brother, and one of the most loyal dudes I know! I guess its a QUEENS thang! I love you Jax, that’s on everything I own, cherish and then some!!!!
I’m happy that you were atleast doing what you loved before your untimely passing! That should a lesson 2 us all! Honor your craft, live life like there’s no 2morrow! See you when I get there Jax! Linden 2 Rochdale represent, represent!!!!!!!
PHIFEY!!!!!!!!!!!
days later… i still can’t believe it. it’s so hard to comprehend.
i have always known and called him chris.
back in the day, i would joke about his dimples… he’d always say, “but i’m still hard, son!”
we met in 94 at CAU in front of pfeiffer on the yard. and have been friends since.
whenever i was in atl i would make it a point to see him and craig. my visits won’t be the same.
my prayers go out to his family, fiance, and other friends grieving the loss. i pray for strength, comfort, and the ability to find the blessing.
reality is setting in, and my heart feels the void from a friend (and friendship) lost.
chris is cannot believe you’re gone.
what a wonderful spirit heaven gained.
much love, marna
This shit is gon’ f@ck wit me for a long time…. i’m tryn’a act like this didn’t happen, like someone’s tellin’ the worst lie that any liar could lie about. The irony of you goin’ out on-stage… doin’ the one thing you loved to do the most… so much that you never waited for someone to do it for you. Sometimes i wondered what drove you to the point you never stumbled from the reality side of this rap shit… i don’t wonder no mo’… you wasn’t focused on it… rarely were and never showed it. You had your mind right & i’m just now realizing it…
I have so much unfinished business witchoo kid… was “H” deliquent with Jax? …all the damn time!! Your ideas ran too far for me to stay in the lane with one of many. Everything i’ve started witchoo couldn’t have been finished without added help. I know i took your creativity for granted… thinking i’d always get around to it was the worst thinking i could’ve had around you.
My love goes out to Flux… you and him were like what Nito says, “the Odd Couple!” Losing your rhyme partner from choice can find a way to be restored… but i don’t know about losing him altogether… this shit is showing me how to appreciate what little left that i’ve got. Kalm, you know what the business is… you plus Jax & Flux made The New 3 Stooges! Yall niggas shoulda done stand-up fo’ reals!!
My love goes out to Lisa… it felt so good talking to Jax on some grown man shit. The hard work on the new house, the “i aint move from Buford Highway cuz Binkis broke-up”… ..the whole “i’m bout to git married and whoopty-whoop nigga!” My brotha was about to transcend and finally see things that older broke-ass B-Boys keep chasing everyday. The rare conversation that i know me & Nito were waiting to hear come from his own mouth… you were gonna be the one to deliver it to us girl. I love you… i never got to tell Jax that but it feels the same to say it you now.
Jax was a true inspiration for me when I worked around music in HMV. Binkis Recs always checked their album sales there and during down time, we’d trade science on this HipHop enigma of dual personalities… real vs fake. I always felt that there was something divine about this brother and Flux as well. I hope that when we view his life we will also understand his purpose and become influenced by the brilliant legacy he left behind just as I was when he was alive. My heart goes out to friends and fam and I know his journey will be peaceful as he ascends to the hereafter.
Peace…. YQ