Member Since: 5/20/2006
Band Members: Just me... but I rock live with a loose collective of talented cats and collab often on various projects.
TRACK INFO:
[1a] "WTTW (Word To The Wise)" - Produced by me, this is one of my standard-type joints: big-city life, hip-hop, spirituality and progress… not as civic-specific as trax 2a & 2b (although the acronym references Chicago's main PBS station). Michael Eric Dyson delivers the brilliant epilog. This is from "Driving Songs Vol. 1"...
[1b] "Angster Of Love (Organic)" - Also self-produced, also from "DSV1". This song is kinda abstract, conceptually. It's an almost-story about finding love when not looking for it, resisting it, accepting it too late and losing it, then learning from the experience. I was really tryin' to be more playful, than deep tho...
[2a] "Hard Knock UniverCity" (semi-live original) - This beat produced by Vector Sigma. The (mis-titled) all-studio version appears on his compilation, "The Key". I added some live performance audio to the hooks and included it on "Urban Myth". I also produced a kinda punk-rock sounding remix for "DSV1"...
[2b] "Onion Rings" (original) - This beat produced by Panik of Molemen; this song appears on their compilation, "Chicago City Limits Vol. 1". I added the live performance intro and put it on "UM" too. I also produced a bouncy, soul version for "DSV1". The title represents gettin' around the city. It's based on one of Chicago's lesser known nicknames: "The Wild Onion".
[3a] "Soul Oasis" - Produced by No ID, he gave me this beat pre-arranged. Way before then, I'd written these lyrics as a poem to be delivered a-cappella. I revised them a little, to ride the track better. This joint doesn't really have a hook, cause of how it came together, but I think it's fresh that way. It's my 2nd song inspired by life and road trips between Chicago & Milwaukee; it's from "DSV1"
[3b] "Cryogenic (FR99)" (Cyphernauts feat. Common) - In '96, I produced a song for Juice ("Fresh Rhymes"), featuring myself and Common. In '99, I produced this remix as a bonus for the short-lived Cyphernauts project (adding Mr. Greenweedz and Akbar). In my humble opinion, biased though it may be, this is an important song in Chicago hip-hop history that never got out good... anyway, it's on "UM"
[4a] "A Different Type Of Cancer" - Produced by me, this is the A-side of the 1st single (12-inch vinyl) from "DSV1". Man, I felt like this joint was my magnum-opus when I first made it. I don't perform it as much as I should now tho (btw, I'm a Cancer -July 12th)...
[4b] "Rate Of Exchange" (feat. Slug and Juice) - The B-side, also self-produced… this joint came together by accident. First it was my solo song, then Juice's solo song, then I got back on it, then we were gonna get Rasco (Cali Agents) on it... I think JDoubleU suggested Slug, who ultimately delivered the hot verse.
Influences: Too many... life, love, God, sex, art, nature, money, urban living... good music of any genre.
Good hip-hop... quick wit, dense lyricism, compelling narratives, layered concepts & imagery, melodic & heavy tracks... sometimes deep, sometimes fun (y'all know).
"The Super Bowl Shuffle" started me rappin'... (haha)... yeah I know, but it's just as credible an entry point as a record like "Rappers Delight".
Here's a list of some of my hip-hop influences… notice most of ‘em have fresh logos...
Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy, RUN-DMC, Big Daddy Kane (Juice Crew), EPMD, Special Ed, Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest (Native Tongues), Cypress Hill (Immortals), Souls Of Mischief (Hieroglyphics), Saafir, Wu-Tang Clan, Outkast (Dungeon Family), Jay Dilla (Slum Village).
Sounds Like: Classic material built with classic pieces...
Some random links to organizations and indi-
viduals I work with or just appreciate...
Record Label: None
Type of Label: None