A year after the completion of “The John Heenan Project,” Ralph Jefferson, aka Jack Nastie, has announced the release of his newest album, “JackMoves,” on Saturday, with an album release party set for Friday night at Chris’ Club in Vallejo, beginning at 9 p.m.

Jefferson will take the stage around 10 p.m.

The Benicia resident is still with the RedCon-1 Music Group, but he is now the only civilian among veterans and active military members.

“Remaining on an independent label allows me to make the type of music that I want to make,” Jefferson explained.

He said with his new album he has experimented with some positive topics, and used some creativity in his sampling. For example, “I sampled a Johnny Cash song and made it into a hip-hop song,” he said.

One of the positive songs, titled “It’s Gonna Be Okay,” features Redcon-1 artists Soldier Hard and Brad Clay. “I tried to help motivate people that may be having a tough time and hope that this song can give them some hope to put them on track,” Jefferson said. “It’s more for the younger generation dealing with current issues.”

The new album also contains a song in honor of his oldest brother, Chad Jefferson, who passed away in 1996.

But, Jefferson said, there are still a couple of “locker room humor” tracks to keep up with his well-known “Jack Nastie” image.

Also on the new album is a “Benicia Boy” remix, for which Jefferson was able to get some Benicia talent to join in. “Cali Doja, who grew up down the street from me in West Manor, Charlie Spits who was once in a group called Dirtbag Click, and my longtime friend and former partner from the beginning of my career, Lerek” all perform on the track, he said.

Many contributing talents from “The John Heenan Project” — Kuzzn Bank, Soldier Hard, Sonu, Alicia Renee and Eugene Piernas — “all make a return for this album,” Jefferson said.

“And aside from who I already mentioned, G-Mo Skee, Yung Savv, Rey Fonder, Maskerade, and fellow Redcon-1 artists Marco Sanchez, Sug, & S Dot Hobbs are featured as well.”

Three versions of the album will be available. A limited edition “Digi Pack” has 20 songs, including a bonus song that will not be found anywhere after the limited edition packs are gone. “The bonus track includes an old song that was never released that I recorded with my friend and well-known rap artist named ‘The Jacka,’ who recently lost his life,” Jefferson said.

The standard version of the album has 19 songs and does not include the bonus track.

Then there’s “Gram’mas Copy,” which only has 13 tracks — “an edited version of the album. It has less tracks because some weren’t grandma-friendly at all, as well as three skits that I just didn’t feel Gram’ma needed,” Jefferson said.

On the non-musical front, Jefferson has had a few changes in his life. After finishing his contract as an environmental waste supervisor at Valero, he spent some time over the past year working at the Chevron refinery in Richmond. He is now finishing his job back at Valero, currently as a boilermaker. “I decided to learn something new and expand my resume,” he said.

Jefferson recently moved back to Benicia. “I haven’t lived here since 2003, and I am glad to be back,” he said.

“No other place I have lived since has given me that complete ‘home feeling’ like I have in Benicia.”

If You Go
The album release party for “JackMoves” begins Friday at 9 p.m. at Chris’ Club, 656 Benicia Road, Vallejo.