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1. |
1.Peer Pressure
02:30
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2. |
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Artist(s): Dirt
Song: Chant
Word Count: 374
Producer: Fingaz (remixed: DJ The eatre)
Recorded: Area 12
Album: Plague (Rescue rec. 1999)
Dirts favorite Line(s): ‘they wanna take me to the river/ and give to me some cement Nikes!’, ‘I get crazy like a punk rock mohawk’, ‘hit up the army, light the fuse of the warpath’
This is by far the oldest song I wrote appearing on the PLAGUE album. It’s hard to pinpoint but I would put it in 93, NO later than 94. I remember writing it during the time I was in an old crew called ‘Quest 4 Souls’.
I can’t remember exactly why but I picked the American Indian culture as a background for the track. Growing up in San Diego there is a lot of celebrations and festivals centered around that community, and as a kid I always admired the fierceness of Indian warriors (the cowboys sucked!). The purpose behind this song was just a ‘warpath’ vibe so native American Indians just naturally popped into my head while writing.
With that said, I will tell you about an unusually funny memory I have about this track. This song seriously is the oldest on the album. Even the track was completed shortly after writing it. So all the way back in 94 I was doin small shows and rockin this track. One of these performances was at an outdoor community block party in L.A. city. So here I am in the middle of the ghetto jumpin around performing this one. BUT…few people know that the original song had me doing this crazy chanted chorus. Kinda like the baseball fans that chant at the Redskin Indian games. Well at this particular show a 300-pound, drunk Indian lady that was very upset with me approached me after wards.
She had got the feeling that I was mocking her culture. And, I kid you not, she almost killed me right there in the middle of the street. I tried to explain to her that I have alotta respect for the Indian culture and that is what the song stemmed off of. But she wasn’t having it (a scrawny kid tryin to tell a fully grown, fully intoxicated adult the depth behind a song)! She put a curse on me and my family then said that if I ever played that song again her spirit would hunt me down and choke me in my sleep!
It was a long time after that before I even dared to rock that song again. And even when I finally did, that ‘Chanting’ chorus was definitely omitted! It was crazy. I laugh about it now, but back then I was 17 years old and having a huge older woman threaten to kill me was a bit frightening.
When I toured with POD in 97 this seemed to be the favorite. I was used to Bboys and breakdancing. But alotta the shows I did with them was with other bands and I was the only hiphop act. So I used to get kids to start a mosh pit to this track! They all thought that was hilarious.
I have an old Rescue records comp from 94 that has this track on it. It’s actually not the album version because it was the VERY first time I ever recorded in a studio and it showed. Walkin to school in the hood and freestyling while someone else beat boxed was far different than sittin in that vocal booth with that scary microphone hovering over you. But lemme tell you! I learned how to master that mic quick!
Out of all the tracks on PLAGUE I think Chant had one of the most memorable beats. It was just an ill and raw track. Real gritty and street level. Slow moving but powerful like a flash flood.
I was always a Micheal Jackson fan when I was little (yeah! Shaddup!) and always wanted to scratch ‘Smooth Criminal’ in a song. That worked out well here too! Then some goof balls make a million dollars recently by doin a cover of it (Alien Ant Farm)!!
Out of all my tracks, this one has got to be the oldest and most history filled. To write a few paragraphs now doesn’t seem to do any justice. Chant is so old I can barely remember its beginning. Man! I’m getting old!
Chant was recorded a few times before the album version. And then remixed over a different beat, by The eatre, for the Upsetter Mixtape.
CHANT
I'LL STICK IT IN YOUR BACK, SON
I BEAT DOWN PARTIAL DARKNESS, LIKE THE RASTA'S
BEAT DOWN UPON THE DRUMS
AT THE NIYABINGHI PARTY
HA----HA
EMOBILIZIN' DARK AREAS
GOT EVERYBODY RUNNING , AND SCARED OF A
LITTLE BROTHA LIKE ME BECAUSE I USE MY VERSES LIKE THEY WAS A GUN
( CHICK-CHICK ) AND MAKE AN EMCEE RUN
MY STYLE IS INFAMOUS, KNOWN ACROSS THE MAP
I'LL BOARD YOUR SHIP AND TAKE YOUR LOOT LIKE THEM PIRATES
I GO PUBLIC TO THE ENEMY
DERIVE MY STRENGTH FROM GOD SO THE IMMORAL CAN'T BEAT ME
I EXCEED OVER THE DEVILS SILLY INSTRUMENTS
MY WAYS ARE POTENT, WHILE YOUR WAYS ARE IMPOTENT
SO GET YOUR CREW AND WE CAN GET IT ON
LIGHT A FIRE AND SING ALL NIGHT LONG
V.2
MY EXPERTISE IS DANGEROUS, LIKE THE WRONG END OF A SHOTGUN
BUT STILL DEVILS HAUNT MY CRANIUM
I BE BIG CHIEF-WHILE YOU BE LITTLE CHIEF
'CAUSE I SMOKE A SPIRIT WHILE YOU SMOKE A LEAF
I GET CRAZY LIKE A PUNKROCK MOHAWK
ANTAGONIZE AND HEAR THE SOUND OF THE TOMAHAWK
WICKED ALWAYS PLAYS THE OUTSIDE, NEVER STANDIN' CLOSE TO MY WINDPIPE
BECAUSE THEY MIGHT GET SNIPED
A PROCESSION OF LOCUST STANDIN' WITH INDIAN SPEARS
WAITIN' FOR THE DEVIL TO COME NEAR
HIT UP THE ARMY, LIGHT THE FUSE OF THE WARPATH
AND LISTEN TO THE WAR CHANT
THE FIRE IS BURNIN' WITHIN
TO CHASE ALL THE SNAKES FROM THE SNAKE DEN
AND LAY THE DEVIL'S WORLD DOWN LOW
AND WHEN HE SAYS WHAT THE HECK, I SAY.…
" YOU'VE BEEN HIT BY A SMOOTH CRIMINAL"
....(HEY YOU CAN'T GO IN THERE, THAT'S ABBADON'S OFFICE)....
V.3
A SHADY CHARACTER IN THE CORNER, HA
I SAID TO MYSELF THIS MUST BE THE ENEMY
I APPROACHED THE TABLE SLOWLY
HIS STINKIN' MEN STOOD TO THE BACK, AND SURROUNDED ME
NOW THERE'S MAD BROTHAS ON ALL SIDES AND ALL THE WHILE
ALL I SEE IS CROOKED UPSIDE DOWN SMILES
THEY WANNA TAKE ME TO THE RIVER
AND GIVE TO ME SOME CEMENT NIKE'S
I BUST A MICROPHONE OUT QUIOK
GUNS POINTED AT MY HEADD-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK
I LET MY VOICE SLICE THROUGH THE SILENCE
ALL OF THEM ARE SWEATIN' BUT NO ONE GETS VIOLENT
NO ONE LET THE BULLET DOWN THE SHAFT
BECAUSE I STARTED TO GO ON THE WARPATH
SCREAMIN.....
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3. |
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Artist(s): Dirt
Song: Breathe Deep
Word Count: 269
Producer: Fingaz
Recorded: Area 12
Album: Plague (Rescue rec. 1999)
Dirts favorite Line(s): ‘why do they wanna steal thunder (take what isn’t theirs), ‘if one cant stand how bout the other man?’ (if your gonna be weak, then we’ll get somebody else)
There’s not much behind this track. I just liked the beat initially when Fingaz let me peep it. It’s first impressions were of a dope Bboy type of track that all the crews could get down with on the linoleum. So that is what I eventually wrote with in mind.
I will however tell you the interesting story behind the name. It comes from the old ‘Dinotopia’ book. You gotta go back and check it out. It’s a fictional fantasy story about an island where dinosaurs never died out. Humans get shipwrecked on this island through out the ages and have to stay there because the way the currents flow around the isle, no boat is able to get out into the sea. So the main thrust of the story is about how man and dinosaur live on this island together in harmony (some of the dinosaurs can even talk).
Well the book I read was about a father and two brothers who get washed up on the island. Their boat wrecks and dolphins save them from drowning by swimming them to the land (which is quite normal according to the story). then from there, the 3 are opened up to the exciting world of Dinotopia (go get a library card and check it!) and so and so forth. Find the book and read the story yourself fool!
On the island people greet eachother by saying ‘breathe deep, and seek peace’. One day the younger son finally asks a native what exactly does that phrase mean and he is told that it is in reference to the dolphins that saved most of the inhabitants lives.
Dolphins are obviously mammals that need oxygen to survive, but yet they have been placed in the ocean surrounded by water. Well instead of complaining about it and being upset, they have chosen rather to learn how to adapt to their envioronment. They taught themselves to take deep breathes (breathe deep) and deal with the cards they have been handed (seek peace instead of being upset).
I just thought that was all cool. So much so that I even have a tattoo on each arm written in Chinese characters, one saying ‘breathe deep’ and the other saying ‘seek peace’. So when writing this track I used the name here again.
This track was remixed, by DJ Theatre over a new beat for the ‘Upsetter Mixtape’, 2009
BREATHE DEEP
1st breath
ANSWER THE QUESTION, "WHY DO THEY WANNA STEAL THUNDER?"
I MAKE YOU WONDER WHAT KIND OF CAT WANNA BE LIKE THAT
STICK MY FEET TO LEVEL PATH (ISA.26:7)
BUILD MY HOUSE HIP-HOP BECAUSE THAT'S MY HABITAT
MONOTHEISTIC
BRAIN PATTERNS NEVER SIMPLISTIC
OTHERS PACKIN' UP PIPES WHILE I'M PACKIN' UP MANUSCRIPTS
GROWTH LIKE BOTANIC-SATANIC
THOUGHTS ALL UP IN ME BUT I BLOW THEM LIKE VOLCANIC
2nd breath
SEEK WISDOM LIKE MAGI
HANG DEVILS LIKE HAMAN (Ester7:10), REVEALING PLOTS LIKE MORDECAI (Ester2:19-23)
MISTIFY LIKE VAPOR
EMCEE'S ARE RUNNIN' OFF THEY MOUTHS SO I GET THE MASKING TAPE
I DO NOT FRET BECAUSE OF WICKED (Psalm37:1) MEN
THAT TRAVEL SELF MADE PATHS AND ADHERE TO THEY OWN RELIGION
I KNOW THAT THEY DRINK AN EVIL GIN
AND WHEN THEY PICK UP MICROPHONES THEY ONLY SPIT OUT MENTAL POISON
I'MMA BURN IT UP LIKE GOMORRAH
CARRY MY SWORD AT ALL TIMES LIKE CONAN THE DESTROYER
I AIN'T DOWN WITH SPIRITUAL SLAVERY
MICROPHONE IS BLOWTORCH TO BURN THE SKIN OF ENEMY
AND LEAVE 'EM SUBDUED LIKE CANAANITE (Joshua)
WHO TRIED TO KILL ME WITH CAR-BOMBS BUT IT WAS ONLY MY PROTOTYPE
I'M AFFLUENT IN THE WAYS OF RHYMIN'
SPIT SEEDS FROM MY MOUTH AND WAIT FOR FERTILIZATION
I WREAK HAVOC LIKE THE 4RTH TABLET
A MASSIVE HEADACHE TO YOUR MEMBRANE
GET RELIEF FROM THE BIG CHIEF
EXTRACTING JUICES FROM THE TREE (TRI)
THE ANECDOTE-AAAHHH-TO THE SIN THAT YOUR IN
THEOLOGICAL LYRICS ACTIN' LIKE POISON
IF ONE CAN'T STAND HOW 'BOUT THE OTHER MAN
LET'S MAKE PACTS IN THE DARK AND SMUGGLE REAL STUFF LIKE CONTRABAND
PROJECTION LIKE GANG MAN CARRY GUN
VIBRATION FROM THE SON FILLS UP MY LUNG
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4. |
4.Man'oWar Inquiry
01:34
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DJ Theatre made joke calls to friends and Fam, acting as if Dirt got mad and broke up the Studio in a fit of rage.
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5. |
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Artist(s): Dirt
Song: Tough Love
Word Count: 731
Soundscape: 2211
Recorded: Redrum
Album: the Soon Coming collection
Dirts favorite Line(s): ’Peter call Thomas to touch the wounds please/ I’m breakin cats in half, like when monobrows get tweezed’, ‘whether it’s war or peace, imma get mines/ it’s been prophesied/ I make obstacles hop aside/ and in the avalanche I come down dancing in the rockslide’
In early November of 2002, after I had spent the month in Chicago writing and recording, I was contacted by 2211 about doing a show up in Monterey California. I reminded him of the gifts he had sent me a few years before: some beats he had made with, might I add, a mighty fine ear for sample selections. I had told him way back then that I wanted one beat specifically and, as usual, it got put into my ‘Beat Selection Wine Cellar’. You know, the storage facility in the back of my mind that collects the rawest of materials, and marinates them in brain barrels, where repetitive thought and methodical planning ripens them. I am typically future-minded. I secure these crude audible ingredients usually by saying something like, “Ay! even if it takes me years, save this beat for me!”
And, true to my word, the sonic components age as they are consolidated with verbs, nouns and adjectives. For years this specific sound selection waited in the vats with it’s hauntingly repetitious string loop. Not much came in the form of whole verses but an ideology was strongly forming. Before the words, I was thinking of the concept.
At the time the beat was given to me, there was an inner circle debate, amongst SOTL members, about choruses. I always have a bit of trouble with choruses. They are supposed to be the literal center of a song. So much can go wrong. So much can go right. A good chorus unifies the verses while a bad one can untie those chords and bring the whole track falling like so many dead leaves on the dirty ground (← a good chorus from a famous White Stripes song!). It seems the spectrum goes from one side to writing a chorus that has ‘mass appeal for the multitudes’ while the other encourages ‘depth that makes people dig for their own answers’.
For at least a year after I had acquired the music for the verbal raping, I still couldn’t come up with anything substantial for the unifying chord. That is when my extremists thought processing kicked in. I thought it would be cool to write a song that had a whole bunch of choruses. My initial inspiration for this was RZA’a ‘Unspoken Word’ song. If you check that one out, the rhyme continues through most the track with an unrelenting, continuous assault. There is no one strong chorus, but the lyrics are slightly broken up with a few peppered bars that seem like they could be extracted and used as the focal point in a separate song.
Back to my trip up to Monterey: It obviously became a dual purposed trip. I was going up for the whole of 3 full days to do a show and work on recording some tracks. Nate’s church had recently purchased a full studio setup for recording and mixing their services. It ran off Quebase software, and the Inspector had been studying the program in preparation of my visit.
The goal was to finish 3 songs, one for his upcoming project and two for me to take home (I’m so selfish!), while I was up there. Upon arrival I had no material ready, just the ideas. It was a faith trip that I was a bit nervous about. I had just come off a spiritual and lyrical high months before in Chicago and I had some small doubts that I wouldn’t be able to write anything else.
On the plane up I found myself wishing I had prepared for it more. I sometimes have these whimsical daydreams that I will be signed to a major label one day, release an album that skyrockets into the atmosphere, which enables me the ability to pick from our large cultural think tank of great emcee’s to work with on a track. So before we record my ‘dream track of perfectly assembled emcees’ (A.K.A. the ‘song that would be too long because there are so many lyrical giants’ song) I walk into the Studio to the likes of Guru, Rakim, Method Man, GZA, Jeru the Damaja, LMNO, Cannibus, Nas, Mos Def, Biggie …..OK, OK….I’ll pick one…let’s go with Nas, the Illmatic. Say I walk into that studio to record the eagerly awaited dynamic lyrical duo with Nas. The fans are anticipating the verbal outcome. The label is dropping mad cash to record and mix the track to the highest divinely tuned peaks possible. As soon as I enter the control room, Nas is just finishing up what will go down in Rap history as his greatest verse ever! Nastradamus and I exchange a quick handclasp as he exits the vocal booth and I enter. I clear my throat, the recording light goes on, the track starts thumping in my headphones, I open my mouth…and nothing comes out. I’ve had the beat for months but I haven’t written a thing! Plus Nas and the engineer are laughing at me because I am naked and they have never seen skinnier, whiter chicken legs in their lives! I hate that dream! But nevertheless, that’s how I felt on the plane: unprepared and soon to be embarrassed.
All worried and for no good reason. I was pleasantly surprised with the weekends’ outcome. The show was well received, Monterey Bay sets a nice atmosphere to inspire the creative processes (don’t forget to visit and peruse the local aquarium), and I was able to finish what would become ‘Tough Love’. It was based of the ‘chorus idea’ I had, so if you listen close, there is not one strong chorus but many. On top of that there are numerous sub-choruses that come in after pre-sub-choruses! There are actually few lyrics in my opinion. Many of the bars can be taken out and used as a chorus in an entirely separate song. My goal was to create the track with a river of words interspersed by the rocks of choruses, only interrupted by the ‘wedding ceremony’.
The ‘Tough Love’ idea came at the tail end of writing. Most of the actual lyrical content is just the typical self-aggrandizing hiphop boast with the sub-thought of bringing our culture back to a respectable format (as compared to the materialistically greedy stance of most emcee’s). For some reason this reminded me of my mom beating my @$$ when I was being disobedient in an effort to bring me back to some level of respectability as a kid. So we mused ourselves by adding the ‘beating of the whack emcee’ at the end and thus came up with the title and idea of the whole song. Tough Love is not a holier than thou roasting, but rather an ‘enough is enough, I love you but we gotta get ourselves right’!
At the time of writing this memoir (10/14/03), we are actually re-recording and remixing the vocals and the music after a year of having the track, since it was done in such a short amount of time with no attention to detail. So I don’t know yet how the final out come will sound, but I am hoping for the best. It is definitely one of my favorites of the unreleased stuff we have currently been working on.
This track was remixed by DJ Fingaz for the ‘Upsetter Mixtape’, 2009.
TOUGH LOVE
N’ WHEN MY MAN RAN UP, YOU LIKE, ‘AH! THE SCAMS UP!’
LEAVIN THE SPOT LIKE DUCKS MIGRATING IN FLOCKS
RHYMES ROTATING LIKE CHAINS ON BIKES
I’M DODGIN SPIKES, WAITIN FOR THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
PETER CALL THOMAS TO TOUCH THE WOUNDS, PLEASE!
I’M BREAKIN CATS IN HALF, LIKE WHEN MONOBROWS GET TWEEZED
N’ TELL MS. CLEO THAT THE CARDS DON’T TELL ALL
CAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN, FROM ON HIGH, FIERY ROCKS FALL
FROM THE FIRMAMENT, I’M STAMPIN MY STYLE PERMANENT
A COVENANT, IN THE BEDROCK
CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN AND FIND MY FLAG IN THE SUMMIT OF HIPHOP
AND AS THE CROWD RAISES THEY AHNDS
AW MAN….HERE IT COMES AGAIN
IN THE BACK OF THE CLUB, WHERE EMCEE’S CAN’T RECORD OVERDUBS
MEN GET STRIPPED LIKE ACID IN BATHTUB
BUTT NAKED!
CAUSE ON THE STREET YOU CANT FAKE IT!
YOU EITHER GOT IT OR YOU DON’T
SOME WILL TRY THINKING THEY CAN BUT THEY WONT
LIFE IS FULLA STRUGGLES BUT YOU GOTTA KEEP GOING
WHAT?! GOING! GOING! GOING!
SAY IT! GOING! GOING! GOING!
STUFF HIM IN THE TRUNK, IF HE DON’T FIT MANGLE HIS LEGS
SCRAMBLE HIS ARMS AND LEGS LIKE OMELLETTE EGGS
THE PREDATOR, MY DREADLOCKS HANG LIKE A TANGLED CHAIN
TRIED TO GET ME ON THE MIC, BUT YOU SOUND LIKE THE PEANUTS GANG
TEACHER, WHEN SHE TALKS GIBIRISH
WOMP-WOMPWOMP, WHEN THE BEAT STOMPS
IMMA HIDE YOUR CADAVER ON THE BASS RIFF
THEN STAMPEDE ON YOUR MEN LIKE WHEN THE CATTLE SHIFTS
SCIENTIST SUPREME, A CHEMIST THAT MIXED A VERBAL VACCINE
VERBAL VATICAN
SOME ATTACK AT THE BACK OF MEN
I GET MINES ON THE FRONTLINE, TESTED BY TIME
IF IMMA BATTLE SNAKES, IMMA BATTLE SNAKES ON THE FRONTLINE
I SOUND SELECT
LIKE WHEN HOODS HIT TRUNKS IN CAR WRECKS
COLLISION!
TONITE THERE SHAL BE NO DIVISION
CAUSE WHEN THE MUSIC TRAVELS
WE PUT BAD VIBES IN THE GRAVEL
LAYIN IT DOWN SO PARTY PEOPLE CAN GET UP
PARTY PEOPLE GET UP! (X3)
‘STEPPIN TO ME’ YO THAT’S THE WRONG MOVE
SO WHAT YOU WANT HUH? ‘DOPE OR DOGFOOD’
VITAMIN PACKED, A GASOLINE AND A MATCH
GETTING COOKED IN THE BATCH WHEN DECIBELS ARE DISPATCHED
DANCIN WITH WOLVES, I FLIP MY VOICE INTO THE BACK MASK
SUBLIMINAL
MY MOUTH TUNNEL MEDICINAL
NOW WHO STEALS RHYMES LIKE A CRIMINAL
YOU EMCEES WHO BRINGA WATER GUN TO A GANG FIGHT
YOUR NUTS! AND LIKE TOM GREENS YOU DON’T HANG RIGHT
GETTING BLOWN LIKE A WINDCHIME
I INJECTED A DICTIONARY AND THESUARUS INTO MY ENZYMES
N’ SO IN THESE END TIMES I SEND RHYMES
WHETHER ITS WAR OR PEACE, IMMA GET MINES
IT’S BEEN PROPHESIED
I MAKE OBSTACLES HOP-A-SIDE
AND IN THE AVALANCHE, I COME DOWN DANCIN ON THE ROCK SLIDE
WITH NO CUT LIGAMENTS
NO BROWN IN MY PIGMENT
BUT STILL KINDA HARD TO FIND THE EQUIVALENT
I SPIT FLAME PAST MY ADAMS APPLE
PROPOSED TO HIPHOP AND GOT MARRIED IN A CHAPEL
DO YOU TAKE THIS WOMAN IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, BLING-BLING OR POVERTY?
I DO!
AND IN THIS RELATIONSHIP, WILL YOU TRY YOUR BEST TO PROMOTE PEACE?
I WILL!
WILL YOU ALSO PROMOTE STRENGTH IN UNITY, BEFORE RESORTING TO YOUR GOD GIVEN DEADLY SKILLS?
I WILL!
‘YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE’ PASSIONATE
DON’T GET JEALOUS, WE CAN ALL HAVE IT
TAKE HER TO THE DANCEFLOOR AND START PASSIN IT
THEN WATCH THE CROWD TAKE THE FORM OF AN OCEAN
ROLLIN UP AND DOWN! C’MON!
UP, DOWN, UP DOWN! (X4)
IF YOU HAVNT GOT SOME, THEN COME GET SOME NOW
THROW YOUR GUN FINGERS IN THE AIR AND POP EM OFF LIKE BLOW!
BOUNDLESS ACTIVITY
WE DANCIN AROUND LIKE WHEN THE SLAVES GET FREED FROM CAPTIVITY
JUMPIN UP, LIKE SKATER DUDES ON ASPHALT
DOIN OLLIE TRICKS, MY THROAT WILL EXALT
AS MY HEART WRITES WORDS ONTO MY LIPS
FELLOWSHIP WITH THE DRUM KIT, MY BRAINS A PENTIUM CHIP
LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS!
BLODCLOT! AND DEAD LEAVES GET CLIPPED
WHEN THE BEAT DROPS! THE WHOLE CROWD FLIPS
THE PARTY ROCKS!
AS THE DJ MAKES SURE THAT THE RECORDS GET CHOPPED
LIKE ROSA PARKS WE REFUSE TO GIVE UP
CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP LIVING IT UP
IF WE HANDLE OURSELVES WELL, WE’LL GET THROUGH THE NIGHT
GET SOME SLEEP AT WORK THEN COME BACK TOMORROW NIGHT
BUT FOR NOW, JUST SEE WHAT YOU CAN GET INTO
N’ ALL YOU SUCKAS!
THIS IS GONNA HURT ME MORE THAN YOU! TOUGH LOVE!
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6. |
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Artist(s): Dirt
Song: Phat Cat
Word Count: 402
Soundscape: evolvE
Recorded: Parable’s Old Bedroom (Home studio)
Album: Heavy Manners (iTunes release 2006)
Dirts favorite Line(s): ‘He trades his talents for bullets’, ‘Some Gangstas will sell their soul for cash/ they like to look at the bling of a ring, body in a trash/ found there after getting stuck for the stash’, (Kenny G.) ‘I’m sincere.’
I have a top 10 list of personal favorites. Phat Cat will probably always be in that list. Few songs actually have as much history as this one. Few songs came out as good as this one.
Back when I was recording for the ‘Plague’ album (1997), I had these lyrics of a fully completed song about a cat personified as a gangster. The words were simple but very relevant. I had recorded most of the tracks for the album on my weekend trip to Hollywood but, if I remember correctly, the beat for Phat Cat wasn’t done yet so I had to wait until I returned to San Diego to record it. My idea was to sample Bob Marley’s intro to ‘Burning and Looting’, and Bill (DJ Fingaz, who produced most of the album) got on it when I returned to town. The sounds came out well and the track was ready to roll. Back home, Rescue Records set me up to record all the ‘tag team’ songs with 7-Lock. It was at this time that we planned to take care of Phat Cat.
During the next few weeks that I was going to this home studio recording, sequencing and mixing the Hollywood sessions, Fingaz was in a heated debate with the record label about his contract between himself, them and the album. I aint gonna go into details, because I was caught in the middle and I was friends with both conflicting sides. All I know is that Fingaz had desires the label wasn’t willing to fulfill. Eventually, Rescue Records acted out of a need to protect their investment in the ‘Plague’ album. In the middle of one of our mixing sessions, label representatives came and let my producer know that he was fired (one of the funniest ‘mafia’ stories I could tell you about Rueben Torres, Whoppers with cheese, and Frankie).
This incident left me without an engineer and stripped me of the opportunity to finish the Phat Cat song for the Plague album. In most ways it also pillaged my relationships with, both, Fingaz and the Label. Bill was upset and went on to other things, and the stress levels got real high at the label, with no solid engineer to mix the album.
I was very heavyhearted about not being able to add the song to my first album, and as the years went by the whole thing slipped further and further into the back of my notebook until I had completely forgot about it. Sometimes I would come across it scribbled in old volumes of rhymes and I would pause for a second, wondering what the track would have sounded like if it ever had got done. Eventually the curiosity died as I embraced the fact that Phat Cat was a thing of the past, creativity wasted.
While I was out in Chicago with Danny I remember that there was a night midway through our work where he literally asked me, “Well, what else you got in there?”, referring to the Palm Pilot that all my old Rhyme Pages had been transferred too. We had enough solid ideas that were being worked on, but there was definitely a desire to get all the cards onto the table, to understand our full options.
“Nope. I don’t think there’s anything else”, I doubted.
I spent the next few minutes scanning through a bunch of older ideas. When I came across Phat Cat, I found myself pausing like so many times of old, speculating, questioning, wondering. I probably even gave Danny a sly look as seen on the face of Indiana Jones.
“Wait, there’s this one, but…”, a dramatic pause followed.
“But what?”
“Naw, It’s old school. The words are all outdated.”
I told the timeless tale of the feline who fell away to the wayside. Lost forever through the cracks of time and ill circumstances.
“So…why don’t you just update the lyrics?” (I love Danny…he’s my mariposa!)
I was truly excited! You’re right! I can just update the lyrics! We went through a couple of debates on whether we should recycle my old ‘Burning and Looting’ idea. Even though the thought and concept was mine, Fingaz had actually put the original beat together (my idea, his equipment to do it). Out of no disrespect to Bill, I was OK with it, and Danny and I went at it immediately.
I spent a few days going through what was formerly written and started refining and renewing. The process didn’t take long at all and my enthusiasm was peaking when I got to sit with Danny and chop up the music together. For so long I had dismissed the idea of ever doing this track. Now, the more we cultivated it, the more my faith was renewed in the original idea. It was coming together nicely.
The final product was amazing. So many people I had sent the new tracks to for preview, had picked Phat Cat as a favorite. I was so encouraged by the fact that something that had died in the antiquities of my notebook, could still be heard as a refreshing and new sound 7 years later.
I will leave you with a final interesting sidestory.
There is a voice sample that comes in to intro the song and again at the end. These samples were taken from video footage of me talking to a homeless guy in downtown Chicago. We had all went out there to perform at a local college show. Afterwards, after eating, I was ‘inspired’ to take a handful of straws from the restaurant, and pass them out on the street as free gifts. I remember feeling really awkward about doing this, but something inside was tugging at me. I am a unique individual, an artist with unusually tuned ears, and sometimes I up and do something strange like that.
There were about 25 of us together walking down the street on a crowded weekend night and I was yelling, “Free straws! Free straws! Free like just like the gift of God!”
Some people took the straws, and others saw an insane man heralding down the street raucous and obnoxious. Needless to say, most of the crew we had, except Danny who loves my quirky nature, had slowed so that they were walking well behind us.
As we neared our cars, a man that had took one of my straws started following us. He was obviously homeless. He walked in a stooped and drunken sway. Half of his mind and body had been lost to the ravages of serious alcohol abuse and a lack of love. At first he asked for money, all I had was a straw, which I handed him and reminded him that God loves him. We began talking as we walked. His name was Kenny G. (so he said), and he was an angel.
When the others noticed that this guy was walking with Danny and I, they began to catch up, vying for a spot to the show. They probably figured I was gonna do something weird and they didn’t want to miss it. Little did we all know that God was going to be the true performer on the street that night.
Kenny and I talked about a lot of things. At first it was hard for me, because I have always detested derelict street people. I work very hard to maintain my family and lifestyle, only to be considered ‘homeless’ by appearance when I am in a lot of public situations. Plus I have always, superficially, put all these kind of people in one ‘Bum’ box, disregarding their situations, hurts or pains. But the same tugging that convinced me to take up the straws, convicted me and reminded me that Kenny is a human being too.
Our conversation went on for a while until I finally asked Kenny, “Has God done any healing in your life?”
“Yeah, he saved me from bullet wounds.”
“Bullet wounds?”, I could feel the eyes of all those with us centered on the conversation, anticipating the divine or the perverse, knowing not what would come next, but knowing it would be influential.
I wanted a miracle too, but I played the devil’s advocate, “Now some people will say that’s hard to believe.”
Anybody who was there can support what I’m saying, but suddenly this man who had been sloppy, drunk and half incoherent the whole time we knew him, straightened his drooping back, sobered his countenance and with the utmost conviction, said, “I’m sincere.”
For that small second Kenny’s whole face radiated, the crusted and dried saliva that had settled around his lips was gone. The bags of flesh that hung below his red, dry, vein ridden eyes had faded. Even the horrible odor emitting from this unbathed man seemed to have disappeared. Whatever sins he had transgressed or had been transgressed upon him, vanished away, hiding from the providence of God. At some time, somewhere, a bullet had entered Kenny’s body and threatened his life, but a heavenly hand put a stop to its death, and I believe that with all my heart.
On second thought, I know exactly why Phat Cat never happened back in 1997: because it wouldn’t have been complete without Kenny, the Saint of Pavements.
This track was remixed by DJ Theatre for the ‘Upsetter Mixtape’, 2009
PHAT CAT
TWO LITTLE CATS ON HE STREET, IT DON’T MATTER
UNTIL THE LUST OF MATERIALS MAKES ONE WANT MORE
WITH NO LOOT TO FUND HIS APPETITE, HE GOES THE GUN ROUTE
HE TRADES HIS TALENT FOR BULLETS AND SHOOTS EVERYBODY OUT
HE WANTS TO BE LEADER OF THE PACK
AND IN HIS SCHEME TO GET IT, HE STEPS ON EVERYBODY’S BACK
AND ALL THE OTHER GANGSTA KITTIES
ARE MYSTERIOUSLY TURNING UP DEAD IN THE CITY
HE STARTED OFF WITH GUN YEILDIN'
BUT SOON TURNED HIS GAME TO DRUG DEALIN'
WHICH BOTH END IN KILLIN'
BUT HE DON'T CARE BECAUSE HE'S GETTIN' TOP BILLIN'
EARLY SUNDAY HE’S SMUGGLIN SIN MEDICINE
DOWN AT THE BAY AT SEVEN O'CLOCK
CHEWIN ON CATNIP, WAITING FOR A BOAT TO DOCK
HE BROUGHT A SUITCASE OF MONEY FOR THE SHIPMENT
OF ILLEGAL PHARMECUETICALS IS IN WORLDLY UPLIFTMENT
HE PACKAGES THIS IN NICKELS AND DIMES
THEN SELLS IT QUICK TO WHITE COLLAR AND POVERTIZED FELINES
AND IT DOESN’T BOTHER HIM THAT THEY ALL ADDICTED
TO CRIMINLA AND ILLICIT NARCOTICS BECAUSE OF HIM
THIS CAT'S SITTIN' ON HIS STACKS
HE PAYS FEMALE KITTENS TO RUB ON HIS BACK
AND AT HIS PAD HE CRAPS ON GOLD CAT LITTER
HANGIN' OUT WITH STARS AND EATIN FISH FOR DINNER
HE LEFT A PACK OF STRAYS IN THE GHETTO RUNNIN RED HOT
CUASE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR HEART, THEY ALL WANT WHAT HE GOT
ONE OF THEM MAKES PLANS TO STICK HIS EXTERIOR
WITH A KNIFE SO HE CAN OVERTAKE THE TRAFFIC IN A SUPERIOR
CHESS MOVE, SO HE SETS UP THE CONSPIRACY
THEN PUTS WEAPONS IN HIS JACKET, AND HIDES IN THE ALLEY
PHAT CAT DID NOT ARRIVE HIMSELF
HE BROUGHT SQUADS OF BODYGUARDS TO PROTECT HIS HEALTH
THEY ALL WANT TO REACH THE TOP REAL QUICKLY
BUT IN THE END ALL THEY EVER DO IS MAKE THE DOGS HAPPY
REAL FAST, SOME GANGSTA’S WILL SELL THEIR SOUL FOR CASH
THEY LIKE TO LOOK AT THE BLING OF A RING, BODY IN THE TRASH
FOUND THERE, AFTER GETTING STUCK FOR THE STASH
VIOLENCE SPREADS THROUGHOUT MEN LIKE VENERIAL RASH
V.2
ASK ABOUT GOD THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT
THEM CATS ONLY CARE ABOUT MAKIN THEY CASH
EARNIN RESPECT IN INFAMOUS WAYS
FINDIN' NEW TECHNIQUES TO MAKE CRIME PAY
WHAT YOU DO WILL COME BACK ON YOU
WHETHER YOU ACT HOT OR WHETHER YOU ACT COOL
WE ALL GOT TO LIVE BY SOME RULES.........
PHAT CAT
(compare: the 1995 original lyrics)
BIG CAT, LITTLE CAT IT DON'T MATTER
BUT ONE OF THESE CATS HE WANTED TO BE PHATTER
HE DECIDED TO GO THE GUN ROUTE
SO HE BOUGHT SOME BULLETS AND SHOT EVERYBODY OUT
HE WANTS TO BE THE DON OF THE CLAN
SO HE PLOTS HIS COURSE AND STEPS ON ALL MAN
AND ALL THE OTHER GANGSTA KITTIES
ARE MYSTERIOUSLY TURNING UP DEAD IN THE CITY
HE STARTED OFF WITH GUN YEILDIN'
BUT SOON TURNED HIS GAME TO DRUG DEALIN'
WHICH BOTH END IN KILLIN'
BUT HE DON'T CARE BECAUSE HE'S GETTIN' TOP BILLIN'
EARLY SUNDAY MORNIN' HE'S GANJA SMUGGLIN
DOWN AT THE BAY AT SEVEN O'CLOCK
PHAT CAT IS WAITIN' FOR HIS SHIP TO DOCK
AND WHAT'S IN THE SHIPMENT
CRACK AND 'JANE FOR WORLDLY UPLIFTMENT
HE SELLS SUBSTANCE OF SWINE
TO THE WHITE COLLAR AND THE GHETTO FELINE
AND HE DON'T CARE THAT THEY ALL ADDICTED
TO SATANS DEVICES BECAUSE OF HIM
THIS CAT'S SITTIN' ON HIS STACKS
HE PAYS FEMALE CATS TO RUB ON HIS BACK
AND AT HIS PAD HE GOT GOLD CAT LITTER
HANGIN' OUT WITH STARS AND EATIN FISH FOR DINNER
NOW HE'S SUPERCAT SCREAMIN'
"SCALP DEM, SCALP DEM AND HANG DEM UP HIGH"
THE KITTENS IN THE GHETTO ARE RUNNIN' RED HOT
BECAUSE THEY ALL WANT WHAT HE GOT
THEY PLAN TO STICK HIS EXTERIOR
SO THEY CAN TAKE HIS JUICE AND THEN BE SUPERIOR
SO THEY SET UP THE CONSPIRACY
HIDE IN THE SHADOWS OF THE DUNGEON IN THE ALLEY
PHAT CAT DID NOT ARRIVE HIMSELF
HE BROUGHT SQUADS OF BODYGUARDS TO PROTECT HIS HEALTH
THEY ALL WANT TO REACH THE TOP REAL QUICKLY
BUT ALL THEY DID WAS MAKE THE DOGS HAPPY
WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF A CAT TO GAIN EVERYTHING BUT LOSE
HIS SOUL......
THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS SIMPLE SON
VIOLENCE BRINGS ON VIOLENCE AND ENDS IN DESTRUCTION
V.2
ASK ABOUT GOD THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT
THEM CATS ONLY CARE ABOUT MAKIN' THEY CASH
EARNIN' RESPECT IN INFAMOUS WAYS
FINDIN' NEW TECHNIQUES TO MAKE CRIME PAY
WHAT YOU DO WILL COME BACK ON YOU
WHETHER YOU ACT HOT OR WHETHER YOU ACT COOL
WE ALL GOT TO LIVE BY SOME RULES.........
THE LANGUAGE THAT WE SPEAK IS JUST NOT CLEAR
I SEE GUNS OVER THERE, I SEE GUNS OVER HERE
GUN-TALK IS VIOLENT COMPREHENSION
IT BEGINS WITH CONFLICT AND ENDS WITH DEAD KITTENS
THE WAY OF THE GUN AIN'T A WAY TO BE
SIX MILLION WAYS TO DIE AND ONLY ONE TO BE FREE....
PHAT CAT MAKE THEM STACKS------PHAT CAT GETS KILLED LIKE THAT
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7. |
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THROW DICE
('but David strengthened himself in the Lord his God', 1 Sam. 30:6)
I SEEN SOME BROTHAS THROW DICE AND ACT NOT SO NICE
WHEN THEY AINT WINNING
N’ YOU SHOULD SEE THE WAY THAT THEY TREAT WOMEN
I ATTACK TO BLOCK BY BLOCK TAKE MY STREET BACK
BUT IT’S HARD TO ROLL A BOULDER UP THE HILL
SO HAND OVER HAND, I SHARPEN MY SKILL
AND STEP BY STEP, I KNOW THAT ONE DAY I WILL
SEE THE GHETTO MADE INTO HEAVEN AFTER ARMAGEDDON
BUT NOW FOR WE HOLD WEAPONS
CAUSE THERE AINT NO PEACE IN THE STREET
WHERE MOTHERS GOTTA STEAL FOR KIDS TO EAT
N’ MOST FATHERS GOTTA KILL TO COMPETE
YOU HEAR THE HIPHOP, BLOCK PARTY ENDS WITH A GUNSHOT
CAUSE REAL BANGERS USE FEAR AND GUNS TO GET PROPS
….THEY JUST UNLOADED A WHOLE CLIP
IT’S NEVER SIMPLE ON THE STREET YOU GOTTA “HOLD YOUR OWN”
WHEN THEM DUDES COME WITH BEEF, YOU GOTTA “HOLD YOUR OWN”
THROW DICE ON THE CONCRETE, THEN “HOLD YOUR OWN”
WHAT!?…YOU GOTTA, “HOLD YOUR OWN”
RIGHT AFTER TWILIGHT, DRUGS DEAL UNDER THE STREET LIGHTS
SEE THAT BROTHA ON THE CORNER, HE GOT BUST LAST NIGHT
INNA FIST-FIGHT, AFTER ROLLIN SNAKE-EYED DICE
HE GOT PISSED N’ HIS PRIDE WAS DISSED…AIGHT
EBONICS AND OBSCENITIES – PAPER BAGS AND HENNESSEY
A PASTOR COMES DOWN TO SPREAD THE MINISTRY
WITH SOME ‘HOLIER THEN THOU’…
N’ GET SHANKED BEFORE GIVIN PRAISE N’ THANKS, DON-DADOW
SHIRT OFF, SCREAMIN LIKE, ‘WHO’S THE MAN NOW!’
MAYBE RUN LATER? - OOH, BETTER RUN NOW
EVERY OTHER DAY - ONE BROTHER SHORT
THEY EITHER DIE, OR GET PUT AWAY BY THE COURT
SYSTEM - CONDEMNED, SHACKLED AND PUT IN PRISON
SERVE TIME - COME OUT AND DO THE SAME !!! AGAIN
A PEOPLE WITH NO VISION SHALL PERISH (prov.29:18)
IT’S YOUR LIFE, DON’T THROW DICE AND GET CARELESS
IT’S NEVER SIMPLE ON THE STREET YOU GOTTA “HOLD YOUR OWN”
WHEN THEM DUDES COME WITH BEEF, YOU GOTTA “HOLD YOUR OWN”
THROW DICE ON THE CONCRETE, THEN “HOLD YOUR OWN”
WHAT!?…YOU GOTTA, “HOLD YOUR OWN”
COMMITTHE 3RD CRIME TO COVER UP THE 2ND AND 1ST
THE GUNS BURST, THE BLOOD SQUIRTS
IMAGINE WHAT IT’D BE LIKE TO SEE THEM GUNS GO IN REVERSE
STOP BURYIN PEOPLE AND PUT THEM GUNS BACK IN THE EARTH
BUT IT’S PIPE DREAMS, CAUSE DOWN HERE IN THE NIGHT SCENE
LITTLE MEN DO BIG THINGS TO BE SUPREME
CRIME CONCEALS CRIME, CRIMINALS DO TIME
BLIND LEADS THE BLIND, PIDGEONS DROP DIMES
ON THEY OWN MEN, BUT BEFORE THEY GO IN THE PEN
NEVER SEE THAT SNITCH WALKIN THE STREET AGAIN
SLUMS GOT MORE BUMS THAN FOOD N’ JOB, YOUNG DIE YOUNG
IT’S HIGHLANDER ON THE STREET, UNTIL THERE’S ONLY ONE
SHAUN B. YOU GOTTA “HOLD YOUR OWN”
THIRD HEAVEN ZORO-ONE YOU GOTTA “HOLD YOUR OWN”
DANNY, GROWTH PROJECT “HOLD YOUR OWN”
WHAT?…YOU GOTTA HOLD YOUR OWN
ANNA GUIFRIDA. “HOLD YOUR OWN”
SHADOW OF THE LOCUST “HOLD YOUR OWN”
IF YOU’RE LISTENING TO THIS SONG, LEARN HOW TO “HOLD YOUR OWN”
WHAT?…YOU GOTTA HOLD YOUR OWN
YOU GOTTA USE YOUR MIND BEFORE YOU LOOOO…
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8. |
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SO MANY CATS WANNA KNOW HOW TO DIE
GRAB THAT OPPOSITE MIC AND GO OUT KAMI-KAZ-I
CAUSE I'M FAST FROM THE HIP
BEFORE YOU CAN BLINK OR THINK, I SEND BULLET FROM THE LIP
I STAND IN THE STREET WITH A CADENCE
IT'S LIKE "ROCK THE BEAT, ROCK-ROCK THE BEAT'
TAKE MY RHYMES OUT OF A GOLD CASE
IT'S POLAR CAPS WHEN THE RAPS LEAVE YOU INNA COLD PLACE
I STAND WITH A BOLD FACE
SCARIN MEN IN THEIR OWN PLACE
LIKE WHEN A WALLETS MISPLACED
AND HAVE EVERY STEP RETRACED
BUTTHE TRAIL DEAD ENDS AT THE RIVERBANKS
YOU HEAR A THUD! ON THE WALL RIGHT FROM WHERE I DELIVER SHANKS
AS A WARNING....
THAT THE LAST DAYS ARE COMING AND THE OCEANS ARE WARMING
AS A POSSE RIDES OUT FROM THE WEST
OBSESSED WITH THE WISDOM THE BREAKBEATS POCESS
N' TREAT A TRACK NASTY LIKE CAMERON DIAZ'S HAIR GEL
COMPETION UNDER THE STAIRWELL
(main chorus)
ALL THIS FIGHTIN DOESN'T DETERMINE WHO'S RIGHT - BUT WHO'S LEFT
AFTER THE DEATH
AFTER THE GUNS HAS LAID SOMEBODY OUT ON THE STEPS
AFTER THE POP-POP! HAS MADE THE WITNESSES DEATH
AFTER THE POP-POP! HAS REMOVED THE BREATH FROM THE CHEST
(sub chorus 1)
SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA USE YOUR MIC LIKE IT WAS A GUN
LYRICS (bang! bang! bang!) UNTIL THE SHOW IS DONE
THERE'S A BRAIN IN YOUR HEAD - NOBODY CAN TAKE IT AWAY
IF THEY TRY TO STEAL THAT! THEN BLAST AWAY
SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA USE YOUR GUN LIKE IT WAS A MIC
TRY TO TALK SOME PEACE BEFORE THE GUNFIGHT
CAUSE LIFE IS PRECIOUS...SO THEY SAY
BUT IF THEY STILL COME WITH WAR THEN BLAST AWAY
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9. |
9.Hong Kong intermission
00:59
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10. |
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Artist(s): Dirt
Song: Mustard Seed
Word Count: 415
Producer: Fingaz
Recorded: Area 12
Album: Plague (Rescue rec.1999)
Dirts favorite Line(s): ‘Locust is not me/Locust is us!’ (unity!), ‘insects move out thruought the ghetto/ spicing up activities like dried oregano’
Alotta History behind this song! For one it was my personal favorite song on the PLAGUE album next to ‘a Chapter a Day’. Both these songs always stood out in my mind. Mustard Seed, because it was just a raw track. There was really no point to the song besides to be ill!
I built the song around the scratch. One day at a swap meet I found two old Star Wars records. ON WAX! They were story records that used actual samples from the movie (instead of those cheesy second rate actors and noise effects on some of those old tapes/records). I was lit! I was so excited about it! I found ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’ both on wax, took em home and placed em on the Technics. I was doin some house chores while listening to them. Towards the end of ‘Return of the Jedi’ came that infamous scene were Luke is goin nuts on Darth Vader. He almost kills him! And then Emperor Palpatine comes in and says (paraphrasing)”Good! Good! Now kill your father and take your place at my side!”
OH MAN! That scene is crazy! But our boy Luke doesn’t submit. He turns his lightsaber off and says, “Never, I’ll never turn to the darkside.”.
And now…rotating on my turntable, I had this all on wax! I was trippin! I immediately concepted this idea where I would just scratch Luke saying the first ‘never’ through the chorus. People would be like, what is that scratch saying!?’. It would hook them into the rest of the song! Then all the way at the end of the song POW! Hit em with the rest of the line!
Needless to say, the end result is phat! I remember that we recorded this song in one of his friends personal studios. They didn’t have DJ gear in there so Fingaz was on the floor while he was laying down the scratches. But that night when I first heard my idea getting dropped in reality…I knew this song was gonna come nice!
The beginning vocal sample is Emperor Palpatine laughing and then telling Luke to kill his father and join him at his side. It was sampled backwards on the turntable (I got to do that!) by simply turning the Technic off and pushing it in reverse with my finger. (Hey! We didn’t have all those fancy computer programs that do it automatically nowadays!) . It ended up causing the biggest stink in the Christian market. I remember a few times some pastors calling rescue Records and complaining that I was satanic because I had some ‘evil backwards satanic bible verse’ playing at the beginning of Mustard Seed.
If you listen at the end of the song to the last vocal sample of Luke finally saying, “Never, I’ll never turn to the darkside.”. You can actually hear the crackle of his lightsaber turning off. I LOVE THAT!
When I went on tour with POD, this song and Chant seemed to be the heavy hitters with the peoples. A few times I was able to actually have a DJ with me to do the chorus (usually Mike Czech or Manny) but most times it was just a crowd interaction thing. I would yell for everyone to say, ‘NEVER…I’LL NEVER TURN TO THE DARKSIDE!’. Then the crowd would respond by repeating me in this crazy loud ruckus!
Somewhere in 98 or 99 I was at a local show and started jokin around on stage. Instead of just doin the back and forth scream of the chorus with the crowd. I tried to mimic the actual scratching noises on the album version of the song (think Rahzel from the Roots). It was purely screwing around and havin fun, but after the show a bunch of kids remarked how it was fun to do that. Then a couple of shows later before I went on, a couple people came up and asked if I was ‘gonna do that scratching thing on Mustard Seed’. Truthfully I had thought it was a bit silly. But I promised them that I would. Then everytime I did a local show people started to make me promise that I would do it and so it has been to this day! Its really quite funny how some of these stage habits get started (throwing up the ‘Locustfist’ started the same, almost as a joke that just stuck with the crowd).
This is one of the few songs that got recorded a few times before the album version. It was done in Diego at ‘Green Leaf’ studio with Fingaz crew. And then again, later, in the Hollywood sessions. It was mixed a couple times also before the final version. I always thought Fingaz came raw with that dope piano loop.
George Lucas, please don’t sue me.
This tsong was remixed for ‘the Upsetter Mixtape’, 2009.
MUSTARD SEED
BODY FRAME LICKLE-BUT STILL DAVID ROCKED GOLIATH
HOTTER THAN THE PLANET SITH
FLAMING ARROWS COMETH BUT THEY USUALLY MISS
AND THOSE HITTING TARGETS ARE GETTING EXTINGUISHED
I SPEAK MY OWN SLANG LIKE PATOIS
DISPATCH LYRICS TO GRAB YA
AND NEVER EVER LET GO
INSECTS MOVE OUT THROUGHOUT THE GHETTO
SPICING UP ACTIVITIES LIKE DRIED OREGANO
GIVING UNDERGROUND PEOPLE H.E.A.T.
WITH A FINGAZ MIX-DOWN THAT SMASH THE CONCRETE
TUNE IT- INTO YOUR MENTAL STATION
TRANSMITTING- ANNIHILATION TO YOUR FOUNDATION
IT CRUMBLES THEN IT COLLAPSES
SHADOW MOVES LIKE VIRUS WORLDLY SYSTEM CAR-ASHES
PHILOSOPHIES OF TRANSGRESSION
AND YET WE SIT IN CLASSES AND STUDY THE LESSONS
FIELD SOULJAZ AND LOCUST LETS PUT IT TO WORK
INDIVIDUALS DONT MOVE AND STILL GET HURT
THE GUNS ARE ON THE BLOCK- PEOPLE ACTIN HARDER THAT ROCK
TEMPLES DESTROYED FROM CRACK PIPES THAT BURN HOT
LETS MISDIRECT THE MISDIRECTION
SIT DOWN AT TABLES AND COME UP WITH PROPOSITIONS
TO UPROOT TEENAGE STAGNATION
AND DESTROY GUN TOWERS THAT SHOOT PERVERSE AMMUNITION
GRIP EVERYONE UP- WHATS UP- WE GET RAW
WITH NO WEED OR ALCOHOL
WITH THE HOLY-SPIRIT WE LICK UP THE DANCEHALL
CARRY OUT LIKE U-HUAL
MAKE ENEMIES SIT DOWN LIKE BATHROOM STALL
PUT TITLES ON WICKED EMCEES LIKE TOMBSTONE
LET THEM DO THEIR SOUND CHECK THEN BLOW-UP THEIR MICROPHONE
THE ATTITUDE-CHILL LIKE THE CORNER CAFE
THE WEAPONS-TAPEDECKS WITH REVERSE PLAY
THE ONLY GHOSTFACE THAT YOU CANNOT KILL
SOUND SYSTEM MOBILIZE "DIRT UP IN YOUR GRILL
NO EAST OR WEST BECAUSE WE PENTE-COAST-AL
DONT TRY TO MASTER THIS CUASE WE METHOD-IS
TO GET UP IN YOUR FACE LIKE ZIT AND TRANSMIT
CHECK THE IMPLOSION- LOCUST STARTED WITH ME- BUT LOCUST IS NOT ME
LOCUST IS US
MANY ROCKS CRUSH CUP
RIGHTEUOSS PEOPLE GET UP
AND NEVER DEGENERATE
DONT GIVE UP LIKE STORES THAT LIQUIDATE
RECORD FREESTYLES ON HIGH RESONANCE TAPES
HADES LOCKS ME BUT WE FIND FIRE ESCAPES
---AND BRING IT HARD LIKE IMPACT
CANT FIND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE NEEDLE IN HAYSTACK
POLICE STICK US TO THE WALL LIKE A THUMBTACK
PEOPLE BURN US WITH JUDGMENTS SIMILAR TO SHADRACH
-
BUT IT COMES STEREO PHONIC
AND BLOWS YOUR EARDRUMS WITH THUNDERCLAP LYRICS
DON'T GET MAD....TAKE A DEEP BREATHE AND COUNT TO TEN
SETTIN OFF CAR ALARMS WITH HIGH POWERED VIBRATIONS
YOUR MAN TOLD YOU, THAT YOU OUGHTA, BRING YOUR CAMCORDER
AND RECORD IT ON FILM, WE BURN HOT LIKE KILN
CHECK IT OUT, NO DOUBT, THEN BURN OU LIKE THE END OF A JET
THE SEED IS BREAKING BRICK WALLS IN THE PROJECT
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11. |
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Artist(s): Dirt
Song: a Chapter a Day
Word Count: 401
Producer: Fingaz
Recorded: AREA 12
Album: Plague (Rescue rec.)
Dirts favorite Line(s): One of my favorite songs on the album. Like the whole thing.
This song is by far my favorite on the PLAGUE album. Yeah! GO AHEAD AND DISAGREE! I don’t care. To me, this song was the epitome of a perfect Dirt song. The right amount of everything. Just enough ministry but not too much. Just enough street credibility, but too much. Added with a hype beat, an ill concept, and even a dope scratch! C’MON NOW!
This song actually has a crazy story behind it too (maybe that adds to the mix for me, the memories). As you might know, besides hiphop, reggae was a sincere love of mine. I became attracted to the musical genre during my jr. High days. I was lured in by the social and empowering messages of a povertized people on a small island in the caribbeans. To love reggae music is to love Jamaica and Rasta culture. And although I disagree with a majority of the Rastafarian theology, I saw past the debates and saw the people.
Rasta’s might have very different opinions and views, but to me they exemplify some of the most beautiful things found in scripture. The kindheartedness, sincerity and obedience of a true servant, magnified by the raw resisting strength of a righteous warrior. I didn’t grow up with a dad and, although my mom did her best, our house went without the discipline I saw in the Rastafarian community. When I saw their locks of hair, I saw more than a rebellious spirit against social norms, I saw dedication, commitment, long suffering, and endurance. And these were things that my upbringing lacked.
So for a while, my attention to hiphop shifted as I began to search out the things I admired. I wanted to know why Rasta’s read and revered the same bible I did, but yet they were so different from any ‘church’ people I ever met (keep in mind I am talking about real Rastafarians. Not the Americanized version that is only concerned about smoking pot)? How come they seemed to know more scriptures than my pastor? Why were they so militant? Where their beliefs true and mine were wrong? So I searched. And like I said, I in no way would call myself a Rasta today because I do not agree with major theological tenents that they hold to. but nevertheless I developed very strong relationships within the small community of Rasta’s in San Diego. And to add to that, I learned how to ‘eat the meat and spit out the bones’ (how to absorb and apply the good things and disregard the bad).
One of my friends was an older man named Casper. Caspers’ only source of income was selling weed and artwork (paintings and sketches he drew of the Rastafarian culture). Although he was one of the coolest and caring people you could ever meet, he was very harsh in his dealings with his narcotics sells. When people didn’t come correct with the money. He came correct with the beat downs! Even so, me and him were pretty solid friends. I was this young kid that always came around askin questions and he was willing to give answers. Beyond that, he respected me despite my age and treated me like a young adult (which was a first for me). And so our relationship became real tight.
But as the years went by, there was a problem. The more I hung out with him the more my spirit felt convicted. In hindsight, simply because God had a plan bigger than both of us. I was young though, and I denied it for a while. In part, because of my lack of knowledge in Gods sovereignty and omniscience. And also because I really liked Casper and I didn’t want to walk away from our relationship (selfishness).
Well the convictions got worse until I broke and obeyed. I felt that I had to stop hangin around. That I had to ‘cut’ the relationship, and I finally submitted. Its hard to remember exactly what I desired from God, but I recall just feeling like I wanted to leave Casper with ‘something’, but I didn’t know how to come about it with him. How does a small runty kid tell a grown man that maybe he’s wrong and he should try to get better? How does a son tell his dad that he’s gonna leave because the dad is a bad influence?
Well God delivered an answer as usual. It wasn’t what I expected though. I thought God was gonna have me gear up for battle and go in there slingin! Ready for war! God was gonna have me be the young student that humbles the teacher with his insight!
‘Just tell him to read a chapter of the bible a day.’
That’s it? That’s all I have to say? You don’t want me to run up in the spot and spit some big theological sword into the guts!
‘No. Just tell him to read a chapter of the bible a day.’
So that’s what I did. I went and told Casper that he probably wasn’t gonna see me for a while because my mom needed me at home more (HAHA! Blame it on moms as usual!). And in the most sincere way that I could, I asked him to promise me he would read a chapter of the bible a day. And, likewise, in the most sincere way he could, he agreed. So little by little I stopped comin around. But every time I saw him, I reminded him of his promise. Soon I didn’t see Casper any more altogether.
Until……
Fast forward over 3 years. I think I was 18 or 19 when I was chilling down at the beach and guess who rides up on a bike? Good ol’ Casper!
‘Maga Kong! Yeah man! Whaya say? (Maga Kong was his nickname for me. It meant ‘Skinny King’).
‘CASPER!’
Reunited and it feels so good. So we talked for a while. And lo and behold, I come to find out that Casper has since renounced his faith in Haille Sellassie as a deity (Ras Tafari) and accepted the scriptural account of Christ as saviour! He also informs me that he has also let loose with the narcotic trafficking and makes money legally now. Then he tells me that it was largely due to the promise he made me and kept!
You might disagree, and that’s your right. But I think that the inspired word of God can change even the hardest of hearts.
This track was remixed by DJ Theatre for ‘the Upsetter Mixtape’, 2009.
A CHAPTER A DAY
INIQUITOUS SOLDIER-BUST
HE RIPPED THE PAPYRUS
HIS STYLE WAS RECKLESS
BURNT THE CAMP TO ASHES
RAP SHEETS LONGER THAN THE LOCH NESS
WHEN HIS MIND BUBBLED HOT HE SPRUNG HIS PLANS MATTRESS
EVIL WORDS FROM HIS MOUTH HIT THE HEART PIECE LIKE A GUNSHOT
ANY ATTEMPT AT RIGHTEOUSSNESS-HE JUST BLEW IT LIKE SNOT
HIS DEVELOPMENTS GOT ARRESTED
NOT REALIZING THAT BY GOD HE GOT TESTED
AND TEMPTED BY SATAN
HIS WAR WAS SPIRITUAL-LIKE VIETNAM OR SAIGON
LIFE WAS LOST-UNFOCUSED HIS ATTENTION FROM THE CROSS
THE CRUCIFIXION
HIS ADDICTION
NARCOTICS IN THE PROJECTS
CRIMES THAT LEAVE NO EVIDENCE
FORGET THE 6th COMMANDMENT
EVIL RADIUS-STUDY HEATHEN SCIENCE
BACK-STAB BUSINESS AND KILL THE WITNESSES
RESIST BENEVOLENCE WITH FLESHLY DEFENSES-HE WANTS TO BE THE PRESIDENT
HE PLAYED HIS GAMES LIKE SNAKES IN GRASSES
CLIMBED TREES LIKE ZACHEUS AND DROPPED WICKED VIRUSES
MY COMPANIONS TRIED TO BREAK IT UP LIKE GLASS
BUT HE LICKED A SHOT REAL HARD AND SPREAD OUT LIKE A RASH
YOUNG SOLDIERS GOT STUNG LIKE THE TAIL OF
A SCORPION
GOOD MEN TURN LIKE ANIKIN-THEN HE BRINGS IT AGAIN
HE COPYRIGHTED HIS TACTICS LIKE A TEMPLATE
N-BRUSHED OUT HIS ENEMIES LIKE TOOTHBRUSH AND COLGATE…
HOLD BACK THOSE STUMBLING TO THE SLAUGHTER
CAUSE WHEN I SAY CHAPTA I MEAN HOLY SCRIPTURE
CHORUS
HE READ A CHAPTER A DAY
KEEPIN THE DEVILS AWAY
CORINTHIAN-BROUGHT FORTH A NEW PROPOSITION
WITH A CHAPTER A DAY
I SEEN HIM CHANGE HIS WAYS
HE READ A CHAPTER A DAY
JUST A CHAPTER A DAY
FORWARD JEHOVAH SOLDIER-EXCEL
STAGNATE THE OLD SHELL......
HE WENT FROM SLAVE TO SON
FOUR SEVEN GALATION
BOXED UP TIGHT RECEIVING VENTILATION
FORMER SELF GOT HIT
WITH HIGH POWER FROM GOD THRU HOLY SPIRIT, MAN THE VEIL GOT RIPPED
HE TOOK A SIP, AND NOW HE STICK IT
TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PATH, YAWHEH BROUGHT HIM BACK
INFESTATION GOT PEIRCED BY AN ARROW FROM GOD
AND GOT HEALED LIKE THEM PEOPLE THAT TOUCHED MOSES ROD
HE WAS LOOKIN FOR THINGS HE COULDN'T FIND IN WEED
TIRED OF DAMNATION
PORNOGRAPHIC STATIONS
SATANIC EQUATIONS, THAT EQUAL CALCULATIONS-OF RUCUS
HIS SOUL YEARNED FOR EXODUS
HIS ATHEIST WAS SWITCHED TO AN ESOPHOGUS
THAT SCREAMED 'JEHOVAH-AH-SHALOM'
HE TOOK HIS STUFF TO THE GRINDSTONE
HE WORE TOMMY HILFIGER
TOOK IT OFF AND COME WITH TOMMY HELL FIGHTER
CHURCH EDIFIER
YOU CAN COME AGAINST THE FATHER WITH CLENCHED FISTS
BUT GO AWAY PREACHING THE TRUTH LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST
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12. |
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Artist(s): Dirt
Song: Royal Rucus
Word Count: 382
Soundscape: GoldenChild
Recorded: Sad Puppy studios
Album: a War to Restore (Syntax rec. 2001)
Dirts favorite Line(s): ‘recognize my gifts to accomplish ministry’
The small intro track at the beginning (and a piece at the end) was done by Faze. I don’t know if many remember, but he had a dope album off of Grapetree records. He has always been a Jimi Hendrix fan. So when I thought about redoing Hendrix’s ‘Hey Joe’ (replacing ‘Hey Joe’ with ‘Hey Dirt’) I knew no other man for the job. Faze rocked the whole thing, playing the guitar himself. He dropped a breakbeat behind it all to complete it, and the rest is history.
This actual Royal Rucus song cracks me up! I still get emails from people that have had the album for a year before realizing that the second verse is the first verse backwards. I thought about the idea back in the PLAGUE days, but when it came time to record that album I didn’t have enough material for this song.
So after PLAGUE was done, I finished up this song and waited in anticipation to drop it! The problem was that the wait was almost 3 years. In that time I had always practiced the first verse forward and just thought it would be easy to rock it backwards. Not once did I practice it in reverse because of my big fat ego!
In the studio I deliver most songs within 4 takes on a bad day. I had never messed up so much while recording than when I was trying to do the second verse of this song. In my ignorance I had failed to realize that reversing the words reverses the rhyme patterns. So as I was used to the lyrics in forward, I was a bumbling fool when I tried to get em going backwards. You can’t hear it that well (because Jesse is a genius at mix downs) but I had to punch in on the second verse every few lines. I could barely get it out. It was like doing a tongue twister because I hadn’t practiced it at all. The sucky consequence to this is that, although it’s a fan favorite, the fear of repeating the recording session on stage has kept me from performing it live!
It was Jesse’s idea (and voice) to do the ‘therapist’ in the chorus. My favorite part of that is how he asks me to ‘take him back to the beginning’ before I start the second verse (and then I literally do, by taking him back to first lyric). At the end of the song Jesse says ‘theres not a lot of help for you’ and then he jumped up, threw some things around the room and slammed the door! We were cracking up in the sound booth. At first we couldn’t figure out what the heck he was doing, jumping around all crazy! He got mad props when he came back to the soundboard.
If you listen closely, you can hear my voice break on the backups during the first verse when I say ‘I turn around’. Just a small thing I always noticed that always bugs me.
I have been told that on Nas’ last album, he does the same idea (second verse is first in reverse). I haven’t verified this because I like Nas. The creative ideas are out there, and if you don’t get it out then someone else will! My ideas have always been cutting edge and I love pushing the envelope, but I am not known enough to be the originator…yet!
This track was remixed by DJ Theatre for ‘the Upsetter Mixtape’, 2009.
ROYAL RUCKUS
RECOGNIZE MY GIFTS TO ACCOMPLISH MINISTRY
HOLD MY MIC EFFECTIVELY
DEMONS THAT MISDIRECT ME
WHEN I FIGURE IT OUT I TURN AROUND N' CHOP 'EM IN VISECTOMIES
MAKE CERTAIN OF VICTORIES
AND TO PREVENT INJURIES
I STRUCTURE MY FORCES ACCORDINGLY
TO SUPPLEMENT EXTRAORDINARY,
TACTICS
SPRING FORTH LIKE A MATTRESS
I MARRIED MANY STYLES LIKE A POLYGAMIST
BUT ONLY LOVE ONE WOMAN
AND WHEN I SING THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE UNION
I STOMP AN ARMY LIKE THE SMALL FORCE OF GIDEON
DO SOME WORK ON YOUR BRAIN LIKE ASPIRIN
2 TIMES IN THE MORNIN', AND 2 TIMES AT DUSK
TO GOD I'M PRECIOUS, MOVE LIKE EARTH CRUST
ATTACK N' LEAVE FEW DEFENSES
THE EARTH LEVITATES, DEEJAYS STORE RECORDS IN CRATES
AS I CONCENTRATE
TO GENERATE A MANDATE THAT WILL IRRITATE
THOSE WHO STAGNATE
MY CULTURE
REAPOLSTER EMCEE'S LIKE FURNITURE
THEN SIGN MY AUTOGRAPH
RECEIVED BURNT LIPS FROM SERAPHIM AND SERAPH
NOW I WRITE DEADLY PARAGRAPHS
N' LEAVE DEVASTATING AFTERMATHS
THAT SMASH THE PATHS OF WICKED OFFICIALS
'CUASE THEIR WAYS ARE SUPERFICIAL
I STEP ON EM, LIKE STAIR CLIMBIN AROBICS
PLUCK EM OUT LIKE ACCOUSTIC
THEN SEND THEIR PHILOSOPHIES AWAY, BROKEN N' AFFLICTED
SEND THEIR PHILOSOPHIES AWAY, BROKEN N' AFFLICTED
PLUCK EM OUT LIKE ACCOUSTIC
STEP ON EM LIKE STAIR CLIMBIN AROBICS
'CUASE THEIR WAYS ARE SUPERFICIAL
THESE WICKED OFFICIALS
I SMASH THEIR PATHS
N' LEAVE DEVASTATING AFTERMATHS
FROM MY WRITTEN DEADLY PARAGRAPHS
RECEIVED BURNT LIPS FROM SERAPHIM AND SERAPH
THE I SIGN MY AUTOGRAPH
REAPOLSTER EMCEE'S LIKE FURNITURE
FOR STAGNATING MY CULTURE
I GENERATE A MANDATE THAT WILL IRRITATE
AND AFTER I CONCENTRATE
I STORE RECORDS IN CRATES AS THE EARTH LEVITATES
ATTACK N' LEAVE FEW DEFENSES
MOVE LIKE EARTH CRUST, TO GOD I'M PRECIOUS
2 TIMES AT DUSK, AND 2 TIMES IN THE MORNIN'
DO SOME WORK ON YOUR BRAIN LIKE ASPIRIN
I STOMP AN ARMY LIKE THE SMALL FORCE OF GIDEON
THEN BLAST OUT WITH THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE UNION
N' ALTHOUGH I ONLY LOVE ONE WOMAN
I MARRIED MANY STYLES LIKE A POLYGAMIST
SPRING FORTH LIKE A MATTRESS
TO SUPPLEMEMNT EXTRAORDINARY TACTICS
I STRUCTURE MY FORCES ACCORDINGLY
N' PREVENT INJURIES TO MAKE CERTAIN OF VICTORY
I CHOP DEMONS IN VISECTOMIES
WHEN I FIND OUT THEY MISDIRECTED ME
HOLD MY MIC EFFECTIVELY
N' RECOGNIZE MY GIFTS TO ACCOMPLISH MINISTRY
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13. |
Outro
01:06
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14. |
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Artist(s): Dirt and 7Lock
Song: Theophilus
Word Count: 441
Producer: Fingaz
Recorded: Abbot sounds
Album: Plague (Rescue rec.)
Dirts favorite Line(s): ‘Evil gets beat like Wuvy’s set of drums’-Dirt (POD in the house!), ‘Locust swarmin on your path to bring your 4 walls down’ –7Lock, ‘Son grab your mic and stop your babbling’ –7Lock,
This track was constructed around the chorus. The actual lyric content isn’t too centered on anything but phatness! It’s the chorus that delivers the main idea. Theophilius is an old Hebrew word that means ‘lover of God’. In the chorus we were saying that we love God too but when the church people met up with us they rejected us because we don’t do things exactly like them. We don’t dress like them, we don’t look like them, and we love hiphop. Because of this we get turned outside and considered as less.
The point of the song is to say that we are human too and we deserve to praise God in our own way. That he accepts us as we are because He judges the inward and not the outward.
The vocal sample in the beginning is from a TV show I was watching on Discovery channel. It was a documentary on the ‘Elephant man’, Joseph Merrick. He was born in London in the 1800’s and suffered from a severe case of elephantitis that deformed a majority of his body. Because of this he was a social outcast. He was treated as an animal most of his life until he met a doctor who took him in and allowed him to stay at the hospital. There, Joseph became quite popular amongst the social elite, even getting a few visits from the queen herself.
Although Joseph had an exterior that was repulsive to view, he had the mind of a genius. While at the hospital he built a couple miniatures of famous London buildings out of cardboard. These replicas are exact to the finest details and made completely out of original pieces cut and glued together by hand. They are almost identical scaled models of the original buildings constructed only from viewing photographs of the structures.
Joseph wrote a small diary before he died (some think by suicide) and what you hear in the beginning of the song is the narrator of the show reading the last entry of that writing. The last words that Joseph wrote before he left this world. I had seen the show and thought that it would be a dope sample for the intro to Theophilus:
‘Tis true my form is something odd
but blaming me is blaming God
could I create myself anew
I would not fail in pleasing you
If I could reach from pole to pole
or grasp the ocean with a span
I would be measured by the soul
The mind is the standard of the man.’
I had to wait for the show to rerun to catch the whole sample. And even then I applied ghetto techniques to catch it on tape. I ran a mic from my mixer all the way out into the living room where the TV was. Then at the right time I ran back into the Redroom and hit ‘record’ on my tape deck. GHETTO FABULOUS BABEE!!
I liked how the song came out. But alotta people didn’t understand the chorus as easy as I thought they would. Regardless, 7 and me had a lot of fun performing it. And when he wasn’t with me, I would do my verses and then add some freestyling and crowd interaction.
We both recorded the song at the same time in south San Diego at ‘Abbot Sounds’. The track was mixed down a few times before the final on the album. I let the drums ride out at the end for so long just to see if I could irritate somebody! HAHA! I remember trying to explain why to Fingaz and 7. I didn’t really have a good reason, I just wanted to see if someone would email me and complain about it. No one ever did. So get to it! Email me about it!
This song was remixed by DJ Theatre for the ‘Upsetter Mixtape’, 2009.
THEOPHILUS
(Dirt)
I'M DOUBLE SIGHTED LIKE SIAMESE
THROW GRENADES AT YOUR TOWN LIKE VIETMESE
VIETCONG, I'M WORSER THAN IGNITION
WHEN I START TO CHANT AND WATCH ALL LOCUST COME
HEED THE WARPATH, OR SUCCUMB TO GOD'S WRATH
SOULS ARE STRIPPED OF UNGODLY PRIDE IN THE AFTERMATH
GO AND GET YOUR HANDGUN I DON'T NEED ONE
MY MIND IS MY WEAPON-HA
WALK THE WAY OF CAIN AND GET BURNT LIKE CREMATORIUM
THE OUTCOME, YOU THOUGHT YOU WAS SMART BUT YOUR A DUM-DUM
EVIL GETS BEAT LIKE WUVY'S SET OF DRUMS........
"THEOPHILUS" I THOUGHT YOU KNEW ME
(7lock)
LET ME RUN MY SCAM , SON, CAN YOU DIG IT
BRINGIN YOU THE STYLE FROM THE NAZARITE SHIN DIG
BRING YOUR BUDDHA MONKS AND YOUR 36 CHAMBERS
AND SON I'LL BRING MY STAFF SWINGIN ANCIENT OF DAYS
KNOCK YOU OUT YOUR FRAME KID
KICK IT IN YOUR BRAIN KID
BOY LIKE A MAD KANGAROO NOW
WHAT YOU GONNA DO
WHEN I NAZIRITE WARRIOR OUT THE 66 VOWS
LOCUST SWARMIN ON YOUR PATH TO BRING YOUR FOUR WALLS DOWN
BOOM-PA, MIGIS IN THE JOINT SCREAMIN AAAHHH!!!!
BREAKIN UP YOUR POW-WOW
GIVING YOU THE ZZZZZZZZ
LEARN, SONNY, LIKE BUTTER FROM THE CHURN
I COME REAL
BRINGIN YOU THE TRUTH IN YOUR GRILL
ALL HAIL TO THE FIRST TABLET
SON GRAB YOUR MIC LIKE A MAN AND STOP YA BABBLIN
SHADOW 10-STACKIN EMCEE'S BY THE PILE
BE KNOWN TO WRECK YOUR CREW LIKE A MASTA OF AN UNKNOWN STLYE
(chorus)
THEOPHILUS
I THOUGHT YOU KNEW US
BUT WHEN WE CAME TO CRUSH
YOU REJECTED US 2Xs
(Dirt)
I BURN YOUR TOWN WITH MENTAL GASOLINE
CHECK THE CRIME SCENE
I STACK KNOWLEDGE LIKE JENGA
SCRATCH UNRIGHTEOUS LIKE RECORDS TO FINGAZ
AUTOMATICS-LET THEM HAVE IT
I COME IN THE NAME OF THE SPIRIT TO DEVOUR
THINK GODLY THOUGHTS INTO BRICKS AND BUILD BIG
TOWERS
THE FORTRESS IS BUILT
BUT IF THE FORTRESS IS BUILT ON THE SAND
THEN THE FORTRESS FALLS
MY VOICE RISES LIKE INCENSE
POWER COMES BACK DOWN INTENSE
PROTECTION ELECTRIFIES LIKE SECURITY FENCE
LET ME SPARK A REVOLUTION
BECAUSE WIDE IS THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO STAGNATION
(7Lock)
LIKE A LOLLIPOP, KID, I STRAIGHT REPRESENT THE TRIUNE
GRAB THE MIC LIKE I , KARATE ICHE' RI
K.I. ON AN EMCEE STEPPIN
BEEN KNOWN TO WRECK YOUR CREW AND MAKE YOUR WHOLE SHIP SANK
BOY THINK BEFORE I SEND THE BOUNTY
RAIDING ON YOUR CAMP LIKE THE MOUNTY
SON IT'S COMIN DOWN LIKE SHOOP-SHOOP-SHOOP-SHOOP
NAZIRITE RIDERS ON THE STALLION CREW
KNOWN TO BRING IT FORTH LIKE THE TABLET OF THE FIFTH
ARMY ON YOUR CREW LIKE THE SPECIAL FORCES
RECON MARINES, STEALIN ON YOUR GRAIN
LOCUST ON YOUR CROPS LIKE GUERRILLAS FROM UKRAINE
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Jeremiah Dirt (Shadow of the Locust) Odessa, Texas
ALL FULL ALBUM DOWNLOADS HAVE FREE HIDDEN BONUS TRACK(s)!
Beginning a career in 1999 with the acclaimed album, Plague,
after years of touring with, then, labelmates POD, Dirt has kept and keeps his fans loaded up with his unique blend of creative, emotional, revealing lyrical ferocity and love for pure Hiphop.
Founding Father of 'Shadow of the Locust' - he's proven to be an emcee NOT to sleep on.
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