I was rappin' with my cousin, Stevie D. and we agreed that 'Onstar' by alpha. (pictured above with DJ Metrognome. They do the THANG as 'Class of '93') is one of the illest things we had heard in a while.
I have watched alpha. for a long time. His craftsmanship has grown over the years to a point where he has to be mentioned in any discussion about serious lyricists in Indianapolis. He's got an eye for detail that makes me hear new things every time I listen to one of his songs. His story-telling is top-notch, absolutely keen insights and a flair for the cinematic that puts you inside of the Song. When I listen to 'Onstar', I can actually see the road, I can feel the breeze when we roll down the window. J. Brookinz' track is absolutely perfect for this song. I would say it is about as sweet a marriage of track and narrative as I have heard.
The Brother is just as real and as cool as it gets. He has a cool that is so unforced and natural, you just can't help but listen. He's the kinda cat that could always be the 'life of the party', but understands that those cats usually go home alone and end up as the talk of the water-cooler. The flow is ridiculous, kids. The passion is obvious. Everything about this cat says 'Truth' from his 'no pressure' baritone, to his inimitable swag, to his incredibly keen insight and his willingness to share it.
alpha. (his spelling; "lowercase, with a period", typical understated cool.) has a blog a Myspace page where you can hear more of his Music. Please check him out, as he is truly a shining light in Naptown's Music scene. Here are the links to his pages...
Haven't been here in a minute, but if you were to check MUDKIDS TV, you'll see why. I have been on the wheels like a madman.
I think things hit an apex yesterday. I recorded this remix, shot and edited this video and posted it for ya. I'm kinda proud of this one. I think it shows a little bit of a lotta what I do.
LIL WAYNE/RUSTY REDENBACHER (MUDKIDS) - 'A MILLI (RUSTY'S 2 DEX REMIX)'
I actually was awakened by a nightmare. I had a dream involving my equipment. I swear to God. I have been DJing a lot lately and I think it is just bleeding through.
To be honest, I have had a great week since my last post; I had a family reunion in town, I picked up some extra work (which I definitely needed. Big-up, DJ Limelight) and I booked a buncha gigs. I will be in the mix quite a bit over the next few months. I'll probably be in the mix long after that.
I was talking with a friend online and she informed me that she always felt like she wanted to learn to DJ. I told her if she could count to '4', she could do it. It just takes time and practice. You just hafta start doing it and part of starting is investing in gear. When I started DJing, I had no gear, no records, nothing but the desire to DJ. I started out by talking my way into a gig. I can honestly tell you that if the Patio didn't have their own set of wheels back when I was prompted to start, I might not have ever become a DJ.
Since then, I have collected three separate sets of wheels. I bought my first used set of turntables when I rediscovered the love of the mix around 1998 or 1999. I had been outta the mix for a few years, leaving DJing alone until further notice.My buddy, Noah The Arkitect, had bought a set of wheels and a record collection. He was nice enough to let me come over and mix when he wasn't on his decks. I made as many tapes as possible, listening to myself and relearning the art of the blend and the scratch. I was also roommates with DJ Paul Bunyon at the time. He also allowed me to get on his wheels when he wasn't working. Once I felt comfortable enough with mixing again I put the word out that I was in need of a set of wheels while I was working at Rockin' Billy's. I had started to assemble my wax collection already and catching up was relatively easy, as I worked in a record-store. I was bumping into DJ's all day every day, so it was just a matter of time. There were always guys coming in there to flip gear and I knew there was no way I could afford a brand-new set of decks. Finally, someone had a set of Technics 1200's that they were getting rid of. I think I paid $500 for the pair, which I took to Top Speed immediately for checking out, tuning up, and retooling. He let me know they were in great shape. I took them home and set them up downstairs in the kitchen. I made the first and second mixtapes that I sold at Noah's house. I made my third mixtape that I sold right in the kitchen. I made 'em all with the two crates of records that I had at the time.
Once I realized that I was fully in it to win it with the wheels again, I really got serious about my record collection. I collected all the current stuff (gotta have the stuff people are listening to NOW), everything that I remembered as funky or rockin' as a child, breaks, old-school...I bought it all. I was in the record-store all day, so I would spend any down time digging for wax. On my off days, I hit the other record stores and practiced or made tapes to sell. When the hustle was good, I was making more money off mixtapes than I was at my job, but it was all going back into the work. I needed to augment the hustle with club gigs. DJ Indiana Jones and I started a Wednesday night party at The Patio called TASTE where we mixed live with 4 turntables. It was a big success for that summer. No party was like it in this citry and there hasn't been a party like it since. People were actually tuned in to hear what we would throw on the wheels, not their 'jam'. We were fearless, playing any and everything. It was as much fun as I have ever had DJing. It's still one of my fondest 'work-related' memories. We jammed. The skills I learned DJing next to DJ Indiana Jones made me feel comfortable enough to go and work in other clubs. I picked up a lotta hustle during the year or so that we had TASTE at The Patio poppin'.
At this point, my life was changing immensely. My living situation changed and I had way more financial, household and job responsibilities. I was working on the radio now, as one of the first four mixers to be on-air. We did a mixshow weekend that led to the formation of a 'mix-squad' at the station. I was playing a lotta Music in the house that I didn't want to, but I was so in the game that there was no turning back now. The practice was paying off.
I began pumping out tapes as fast as possible. I had to focus on what was hot and get that into the street as soon as possible. There were more DJ's than ever competing for counter-space and gigs. I had to stay ahead of the game, so working at the radio station helped. I was receiving records in the mail every day, which I would immediately open and time. If it was hot it went into one of my four 'working' bags, the four bags that went to every gig. I was also booked more in clubs, so I was taking my wheels everywhere. Realizing that if something were to happen to one of my wheels, I started thinking about a second set for safety. I would've been so assed-out if something had happened to just one of my decks. DJ Kenny Kixx came into the radio-station and said he had a set of wheels to get rid of. I asked him what he wanted, got the money together, and had him bring the decks to my house. Now, I needed to have two sets; one for club gigs, one for making tapes at home...and if something did ever happen to one of the decks, I now had back-ups. I still use those decks on the road.
I came into work at the radio station and saw Paul looking weird. He didn't have his record-bag. He just had this little computer. I watched him set-up his little computer and this little box into the mixer. He set everything up and turned on his computer. I had no idea as to what he was doing. I watched as he pulled up a program called Serato SCRATCHLive. He looked through the library and pulled up 'records'. I couldn't believe what he was showing me and talking to me about. With this program, you could mix with MP3's, meaning that you could have all those four 'working bags' and then some with you at all times. You could mix as fast as you could think. This SCRATCHLive was gonna change EVERYTHING and I knew it as soon as I saw him do the mix that day. Dag. I had no less than 7000 records; all of that stuff was gonna be sitting in the crib soon. I needed a computer. I bought my first computer (and SCRATCHLive) ever ever ever later in the year and immediately began the process of getting all that Music I needed into MP3 format. Quite simply, that is one of the best investments I have ever made; it made it so that we could play ANY Mudkids songs, as long as we had the instrumentals and THAT in and of itself, was reason enough to have it for me.
At this point, I had been DJing for about ten years, most of that time professionally. I had never had a brand-new set of wheels. I had always worked with what I could afford and made it happen, but I had never had a new set. I don't even think I had ever DJed on a new set of wheels. When I finally did have enough money to reasonably afford a set, I invested in the 'BlackBeauties'. Ohhhh, they are gorgeous; black finish, blue LED displays, pitch control that goes to plus or minus 16 (I never use that function, but it's nice to know it is there). They're gorgeous. I set these decks up at home for studio work and bring them out for special gigs. I really love this set of wheels. They bring me a joy that I can't explain; when I am on these decks, I am on the nicest decks that I have ever owned, decks that I paid for with money that decks earned me. Nobody was on these before me, they're mine and they're immaculate. I treat them like babies. I keep the dust-covers on them, I have invested in serious road-cases for them (and they don't travel much), I take care of them. That's six decks; a road set, spares, and the 'Black Beauties'. Now, if anything goes wrong with anything I am ready.
There was a while when I didn't really wanna DJ anymore. The Beauties sat in the room, chilling. I was focused on other things and my spirit was getting kinda crushed in the clubs. But, the fact is I will always find a way to love to spin records. It is something I have invested a lotta time and money into and I believe I always get it back. I love it so much that I upload mixes to share with y'all on the regular, on the free-free. I love it so much that I have back-up wheels so I can continue to spin if anything were to happen to my wheels. I get ideas in my head and immediately run home to mix them and share them with you. I started out just wanting to do it and I have had to invest that time and money to keep up with it. I've had to sell other things to keep up with gear, because this is what I do. I am a DJ, so I hafta be able to at least provide the gear to do my job. DJing takes sacrifice and dedication, because while you are in the crib, brainstorming and working on your weak hand, someone else is booking gigs and digging for records...and listening to you. There is always a kid that wishes he was in the booth, doing what you are doing. ALWAYS.
You hafta stay in touch with your sound and you hafta stay on top of your gear. You ever been at the club and the Music skips or stops completely? What did everybody do? I never wanna be that cat. The DJ is really the most important person in the club; he gets you to pay cover, he makes you wanna go see the bartender, he makes it so you can talk to that girl over there when the 'jam' comes on. The DJ is truly the foundation of most good nights out, whether you acknowledge it or not. I get so many folks who want me to teach them to DJ. No one ever taught me; I watched, I listened, I jumped on it and stayed in the mix. I can happily invite someone to watch and listen. I don't know how well I would do at 'teaching', per se. What I do tell them is that if they can count to '4', they can mix...now, it's a question of keeping your gear up, practicing like crazy, being wiling to work damn-near for free on many levels, and learning something whenever you get in the 'mix'. I have had my times when I have wished I did something else, but who hasn't hated their job for a minute or two?
(This joint won't be on 'We Are Dynamic And People Like Us'. It don't fit the concept of the album, but it's fun...wiff my grumpy ass...)
When I realize that I actually get paid to play and reinterpret Music, I know there are soooo many worse ways to make a little bread.
Hope you guys are enjoying the mixes and get a chance to hear me spin live some time. I just wanted to give you a little history on some of what it has taken to get there. I love what I do and that is more than a lotta people get outta this life.
Yuh know, people will take your loyalty and kindness for weakness. There are so many parasitic entities in the Music Business. They will jump on your team when they think there is something in it for them. But, as soon as shit gets real, they are the first ones to bail, all the while smiling in your face and telling you how much they 'support' you. I don't need that kinda 'support'. I don't need fake 'friends'. I don't need phony businessmen and shysters around me, and I sure as hell don't need for anyone to tell me, 'Well, that's just the Game'. Bullshit, the Game ain't got nothing to do with somebody being fake.
I am here to let you know that all that shit is dead and has been dead with me for a long time.
I do not deal with a lotta people from my past; people that swore they were my friends, but when I HAVE TO make REAL MOVES to keep my future in focus and my band on the road, they can't seem to muster up that 'support'. I don't deal with people that have shown me that they are self-serving, lazy, lackadaisical con-artists and sycophants, suckling at the teat of whoever they think is 'hot' that month. I don't hang around people that are gonna take my words, twist them to make me look like a jerk and broadcast their bullshit interpretations of what they think I am about to their 'friends'. I don't deal with 'yes-men' and talentless hacks that wish they could be as eloquent as I am in expressing their emotions and views on situations, but think it would be a smart move to fuck with me, knowing damn-well that they have NOCHANCE of debating, battling, or outthinking me. (Trust me, kids; I will not be so gracious when it is time for war. I protect my team like a mother lion. And I protect myself like Daddy Lion). I cut all those bastards off for my own sanity. They're simply of no value to me anymore, because they have shown me that my friendship ain't really about shit to them. They would rather do other things with other people and that is perfectly fine.
Where there is unfinished business to attend to, though, I am trying to 'zero out' all accounts, so I can go on with my life. The Mudkids' merchandising is all fucked-up and I am doing all I can to get it right. All I want is my gosh-darn merch booth to be in order, so that when we go play shows, we can leave our 'footprint' on your city. There are entities within this business that are so outta control, so fly-by-night, so full of themselves, that their arrogance makes it so they must lord over what they were supposed to be controlling YEARS ago. And NOW they wanna be lazy about getting Us INFORMATION, not even money, man; INFORMATION. I would think that is the most basic thing in the world, but apparently that was just another case of me thinking with my heart and not my head. When you do business with a friend you think you can trust, think twice or find an outside party to keep your head straight because your 'friends' are the first ones to fuck you over, intentionally or because they are too 'friendly' to take you seriously. It's a fact.
You may have noticed some changes in the Mudkids and the way We present ourselves. There are people that promised Us things, be it dedication, effort, time, money or whatever that they couldn't hold up to. We do not have the time for that anymore. This band is in the midst of recording another classic album, full of heart and soul. I can't begin to tell you how many hours I have spent in the studio, making sure that I have done things right. I cannot begin to tell you how many hours I have spent writing Songs, practicing flows, and rewriting Songs. I can't tell you how many times I have had to sit here and listen to the same beat, over and over again, writing down my bars so that when it is time to rap, there ain't no bullshit on there. I don't slack and I make a lotta shit happen by my lonesome. I'll say it; yeah, I push...even when ain't nobody looking. Prove me wrong, I want you to.
Some people see that 'pushing' as threatening. It could be because when you are around someone who works their ass off, you either hafta work as hard as them or you hafta acknowledge your own laziness and ineptitude. I hold no punches anymore when it comes to letting someone know that they ain't doing what they said they would do or what they were asked to do. I know when I am slacking and I do what I can to stop that shit. I guess now, I am trying to stop it in others. I don't allow that energy around me because it is infectious. I need to be around people who are willing to work at least half as hard as me. The last things I need are excuses.
I have tried to lead my team by example. I try to live up to the things I talk about in Songs.I have planted seeds of thought in Songs for years. Well, now I am about to start planting some seeds that may grow into poison oak. I am sure there are factions of people that will feel some kinda SOMEthing about what I have been writing lately. I am gonna make it impossible for some people to ignore Us/Me. I have kept from screaming on a lotta people that have screamed on me; runnning back to 'friends' and talking about how I am 'outta control' and my 'ego is outrageous'. Really? Hmmmm....if I haven't talked to you and I haven't spoken to you, where do you get that idea from? My absence? The fact that I don't kick it with fake, back-stabbing, unfocused, do-whatever-it-takes-to-make-myself-look-good dudes anymore? Did you really think I could continue to let that shit slide? I am not with the 'kee-kee-ing' and smiling in my face when I know for a fact that you have been talking extremely stupidly and recklessly about me, my projects, my life, or my Music.
That said, if you are reading this and you feel like you have unfinished business with me, feel free to call or write, so we can settle it. It's al about respect and such a lack of respect has been shown to Me, my values, and my team that I can't believe I am even being as cool about the shit as I am now. I am so easy to get in touch with, it's not funny. I'm online every day. I'll leave it up to the transgressors for now, the ones who are feeling the sting of having the 'Great Rusty' prepare to tear them new ones.
I don't need no negative nothing, man. 'Triple Negative', I am moving on. The least one could do is let me do so and not make it any more difficult than it has already been. I have been more than cool with more than a few people and look...I am still here. My shit rings bells, yo, and you know it. I am setting myself up to be in control of my own destiny and my own dream, by my own means. We let a lotta people ride with Us and when it was time to really get down to business, we were met with indifference, laziness, and eventually (for me, especially) a general sense of 'Fuck you'. You cannot just say something to me and expect me to just believe it anymore. I wasted a lotta time believing in the power of 'friendship' and 'togetherness' with selfish individuals and companies that really only care about themselves.
No. No more. Get your shit together, cuz I am trying so hard to do that...and it ain't even for just me. My team rolls with me, man...if my team is only three or four people, ALL of Us will always be on the same page. I am so shitty with myself for believing in the BS that 'friends' will sell you. If you believed is Us then, you should still believe in Us now, because the GROUP and the MUSIC hasn't changed, except for the better. A cursory glance at the four albums we have released and the new Songs on our Myspace page (and mine) would make that obvious. We are STILL the grindingest, nastiest, realest, coolest, down-to-Earth cats you will meet...but We ain't no punks and we ain't 'kids' no more. We play nice, but when you shit on Us, that goes out the door. And I know when I have been shit on; I turned the other cheek for years until I couldn't do it anymore.
You can choose to ignore me, but I will be using my talent to get some kinda satisfaction and retribution for Myself. I'm just letting it be known so that when you hear some slick stuff fly outta my grill and you think, 'Is Russ talking about me?', you might be thinking correctly. If you even have an inkling that I might be talking about you, I probably and that is your own damn fault. All I have is this Music and NOONE can tell me what I can address when I wanna address it. That's my power, yo; it's all I really have to show for the years of work I have put into this; a talent that God gave me in the first place and you could never truly understand. I'll make it simple for you. Believe that.
...and I won't let it go. Ever. Get it right and keep it that way.
Here's the new joint from my man, Hum. V from the Cleptoz. Nice li'l video, y'all. You can see that they took some time with this one and the little versions of those dudes are too cool. I ran into Hummer at MoJo's when they were storyboarding this joint. Looks good!
Peep it...
The dude is going for it...but I have told him about these long-ass fade-outs!
Beta Male is one of the most exciting new bands I've seen in a while. P. David Hazel is a phenomenal songwriter with a stone-cold sense of melody and structure. He's also a nice as hell dude. I was trippin' when I saw their stage set-up; Dave sets up in the front with his drums, the guitar and bass play the back and these two badass rockin' chicks man the keys on his side. I knew when I saw them that they were on their own thang.
Beta Male also employs the talents of his lovely wife, Allison, as well as the legendary Vess Ruhtenberg, Tyler Bowman, and Jess Hack. I hate to write that they sound like 'this-meets-this-band'; that style of rock journalism is so tired to me. They don't look like NOBODY, they sound like 'BETA MALE'.
Beta Male has an good-size 80's influence, but what they do is wholly modern and wholly their own. Allison brings showmanship to the stage as well as anyone I have seen before. She rocks the whole time, talks some good shit between songs, and is behind a lotta the way that the ladies in the group are represented visually, as well as sonically and socially. She's a strong lady, yo. I've told her that she has a 'Bowie-esque' quality; very chameleonic and charismatic, but she is also quite the provocateur. Jess is like her quiet, stoic counterpart, bookending cool Dave. It's an awesome look and sound, to be sure.
Really feeling this jammie-jam here. I had to wait to get the okay on it before I posted it. I had a previous mix of this record, but I had to wait to get the final version. I told P. David that I wanted to feature them here and I would be using IMEEM to post their joint. The next day, my man had an IMEEM account too...and here's that good shit I was talking about.
I have always said that any group with two or more family members in it is worth listening to. Here's further proof. Their full EP is available online at iTunes, get that shit NOW.
BETA MALE - 'Husband's Girlfriend'
...and I owe these guys a video appearance...fucking pneumonia, man. I WILL make the next one, yo!
MUDKIDS - STOP! (DON'T QUIT) (RUSTY'S WEST COAST REMIX)
The track for this is something that I did with my friend, Benelmo. In the Summer of '04, I was interested in learning a bit about making beats and Ben was cool enough to sit and work with me. I have no musical training, other than whatever it was I received in school. Ben can play anything; so if I had an idea, Ben could play it if I could hum it. It ended up that I would actually play the parts and Ben and I would edit them. Ben would be cool and patient enough to let me tap out what I thought I heard in my head. We'd move things into different spots, trying all types of things stylistically and sonically. It was a lotta fun. i hope to make some more tracks with Ben asafp.
I figured there was no point in having these just sitting around, so SPStar and I got together today and knocked this out. I had been thinking of reinterpreting a Mudkids Song; here's what we did today.
I don't know NOTHING about this artist, but I sure enough knew how to grab that 'embed code' and get it over here to beat on 'repeat'.
I am finna go look this one up, man. Did I just miss this one? Is that Johnny Depp? Why do I feel like I wanna do the freaky-deaky AND the bow-chicka-wow when he is talking about 'God Almighty'? Can we talk about...'the afterlife'...when we're done?
I just heard this song for the first time and I couldn't stop grooving to it. This is the power of IMEEM! I have been introduced to 'sexygospeltechnobangin' music.
*Note to self; look up this artist IMMEDIATELY and find the MP3*
I have one friend on IMEEM. I just set up my page today so I could add songs to this Blog which is also very young (and you can see I think and write A LOT. My lone IMEEM friend, so far, is one Emily T. (Waddup!) and she had left a comment on the Grady Tate Beatles' cover. I decided that I would check out what she was listening to. This was the song she uploaded today.
Don't get me wrong, friends; I dig The Cool Kids. They do bring something to the table, I'm just not sure of how 'different' it is. It's banging, but a lotta folks don't do the history. There are a lotta kids who would like to stay blissfully unaware. They say, "Oh, the Cool Kids, they're a breath of fresh-air. They don't sound like nobody out right now." Fact is, they don't, but they sound like LOTS of people that have been out for a while.
I was there when all these kids that LOOOOOVE Li'l Wayne and all the stuff coming from the South now would turn their noses up so quickly at anything that wasn't from somewhere north of Cincinnati and east of Pittsburgh. They were NOT buying 'Weezy' records, they were not endorsing that sound and they were not trying to hear it in the club. The only place you were hearing anything that was remotely like that was in the 'urban' clubs. I know because I was there and I was DJing. All the backpackers stayed at home and 'cyphered'. Now, the backpackers have jobs, kids, responsibilities, disposable income, and need something, ANYthing to make them feel alive again. And they missed a lotta this stuff on the first two or three go-arounds. It ain't the Cool Kids' fault.
Now, when I heard 'Stove Top Oven Fresh Based Goods', I liked it and I like it now. All the Cool Kids songs are likeable at the onset; their beats KNOCK, okay? They straight BANG. But, there is nothing ground-breaking in what they are doing and they are not the saviors of 'culture'...if anything they took a lotta old-school formulas and made them LOUDER and sometimes, played with the tempo...
Listen to this...
THE COOL KIDS - 'STOVE-TOP OVEN FRESH BAKED GOODS'
...now check this out...
SILKK THE SHOCKER - 'LET ME HIT IT'
But, I'll bet dollar-to-donuts that if you were to walk up on one of these kids that SWEARS by the Cool Kids, they would NEVER acknowledge the Cool Kids/No Limit/Durty South connection because they know nothing of it. And if you did ask them what Southern Rap they like, my money is on the response being 'Li'l Wayne'. I mean, their dudes are cribbing sounds from Master P's little brother? There is one example, right? Try this on for size...
THE COOL KIDS - 'BLACK MAGS'
Is that a 'screw'ed chorus? Now, this...how soon they forget!
MIKE JONES, SLIM THUG, and PAUL WALL - 'STILL TIPPIN'
I could do this all day. While I do enjoy the Cool Kids and I will continue to, I'll always feel like I have already heard their records, even when I know I haven't. I remeber when the shit that they are influenced by was hitting the first (and second and ...) time AND I remember that there were still cats that the hipsters either don't know about, won't acknowledge, or are too embarrassed that their 'boys' cribbed from their styles to give props to.
I get to be around so many talented people. I really am a lucky dude.
This is Eli Chastain.
Eli's relationship started out with me as the 'new dude at Northside News'. I knew he played in Mardelay, a great indie rock band here in 'Nap.
When I met him at the newsstand, he put me up on his hardcore band, Trenches. (They're fucking FIERCE...).
Then today, he played me this song today at work.
His Myspace profile says he is 'working on the album that will make his Mom and Dad proud.'. He's right. He told me today he was writing his 'Heartbreaker'. 'Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb Luck' is a good place to start. The kid digs Ryan Adams and John Mayer. I ain't mad, at all.
I really like this song a lot and if I didn't I wouldn't have bothered setting up an IMEEM profile. It's that good...made me get on my game. There is just too much good stuff around me. I am so happy to share it with you.
Here's the new future-hit single from the new dude at Northside News.
ELI LARCH CHASTAIN - 'Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb Luck' from the album that is gonna make his folks proud.
That DYNAMIC Summer I have been telling people about is well on its way, if today's temperature was any indication.
I think some of what was going on today is what I was thinking about when I wrote this. It's been up on the Mudkids Myspace page for a while. I thought I would give you guys first dibs on the download.
MUDKIDS - 'Summer' from 'We Are Dynamic And People Like Us'(coming soon!)
Click the Song's title and feel the HEAT! Don't forget we will be playing a few shows for our Hometown People...
FRIDAY, JULY 13: LAZARUS is at the MELODY INN! After that I'll be shooting over to the TIP-TOP TAVERN to play a set of solo-material.
...and, of course, you can get with this or you can get with that...THURSDAY, JUNE 19 at SPIN NIGHTCLUB!
That's my man, Dizzy, from The Cleptoz, one of Nap's most popular hip-hop groups. Say what you will, those cats hustle. I actually DJed for them for awhile; loved performing with these cats. They play a tight, high-powered, high-energy, non-stop banging show, they promote the hell outta themselves and they genuinely seem to love what they do. Their show has never lost steam as the years have gone on, in fact it's gotten stronger. They've always shown me a great deal of respect and I can dig it. I got it right back for 'em. I love them dudes. As soon as I get an MP3 of some of their new stuff, as well as the cut I did with Hum. V, I'll post them for you to check out. Some of you may already be familiar with my man, Hum. V, also from the Cleptoz; he's working on some stuff on his own and making some noise on the radio.
Dizzy had this acapella joint he would do during the show (if he felt like it!). I don't even know what it was called, but I noted it the first time I heard him do it cuz it set the crowd OFF. He'd spit bars, all in alphabetical order. First bar = 'A', second bar = 'B', and so on and so forth all the way to 'Z'. People would usually go ballistic when the kid got around the 'JKLMNOP' set, once they realized what he was doing. It was some fly shit. I remember telling Dizzy one night, "Yo, you're dope. You gotta dope voice, now just figure out what you wanna say, cuz people will listen."
It is one thing to hold a crowd with your bangers, but when you truly turn it out with an acapella, you're winning. The cat had people listening. That's the best reward an MC can ask for; when the people freak, you really get it back. The time you spent crafting that verse, promoting your band, and getting your show tight so you don't look like an ass when your fans get there is paying off. You lock eyes with someone and you know they are 'getting it', there ain't nothing like it. Making that connection with a room full of people is an amazing feeling. I still get goosebumps when I can hear the crowd rapping along with me. Still.
Diz stopped doing the 'ABC' joint after a while. I asked him why and he let me know that he was just kinda 'over it'. I am also sure that he probably heard a few people compare his 'ABC' song to Blackalicious' Alphabet Aerobics'. They do share pretty much the same concept. I told him that you can't start worrying about that.
I can't tell you how many times I "just thought of that" when I heard somebody spit it the next day or week. It just happens, man. Ain't nobody about to stop rhyming about 'girls', 'cars', 'money', and what-have-you; people knock heads on concepts all the dang time. Man, do YOU. If the people are feeling it and you are feeling the people, you are doing the right thing.
Dizzy has a new track posted at my man, Romer's blog I'll let you know when my guys are playing next. I wish I had Dizzy's 'ABC' joint so I could post it for you. I don't even know if there is a recorded version I guess you'll hafta go see them live (and if y'all see me in the place, y'all better do that joint for me!). That dude, Dizzy is particularly ill; watch him and tell him to do that 'ABC' shit...
And what? Did y'all forget about Third Bass? I wonder if Gift Of Gab caught the blues from his buddies about Allan. There is nothing new under the sun. This might actually be the reason I still have this CD. It sure ain't 'Pop Goes The Weasel'.
I told you; I stick with my people...but why do I still have this?
We'll talk more about that later. Check out my man, Allan. "NO! Don't try and steal my spot! This is my spot!". I LOVE this track.
I really have no idea as to what the hell this 'show' is gonna be about. Is it gonna be like 'Seinfeld', a show about nothing? Is it gonna be like 'Jackass'? (which could happen knowing Zippy and his predilection for recklessness). Might it be in the vein of 'Intervention'? (What is 'ZEPS LIGHT'?) So far, we've been in the car with John twice and we haven't learned a lot. I guess they're gonna break us in slow.
Check out this article profiling some of Indianapolis' own 'Guitar Heroes'. It features John Byrne, Thom Daugherty of the ELMS and the MIGHTY DINO CODALATA of LAZARUS! Yeah, I am proud of my man.
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