So its been a hot minute since i've written anything in here. I've been busy, lots going on...moving blahblahblah. Anyways just thought i'd finally check up on you all and post a little something, Yes work is that dull today. The other day i was wathing MTV(a new luxury while in my transitional stage) and was surprised at some of the videos they were playing. It seems as though the underground is peeking its head out and feeling its way around the pop landscape. Not to say that MTV is supporting anything even remotly interesting but i am noticing a definite influence which i think has more to do with the current state of the record industry than the want to promote anything worthwhile. Either way i did notice that while alot of mainstream "rock and pop" music has had a slight turn towards self production and a semi DIY ethic, the world of hip-hop seems to be going the oppisite direction. Seeing people like Kanye at the forefront riding on some sort of guise of independent thought makes me sad that the people that are doing it different, blazing a new path are often not really acknowleged as much. While i'm a big fan of hip hop i find that most of it i dont buy based on the simple fact that i cant relate to it. It seems odd that having grown up in the same "inner city" enviroment that alot of these rappers say they are portraying, i stil don't respond to about 70% of it.
One exception to the game is my girl Jean Grae. A huge part of the reason im a huge fan is the things she speaks about in her songs. There is no label dropping, there is no bragging about a lifestyle many of her fans will never know. Instead she speaks about being broke, being drunk, and being a bit of a work in progress. It's hard to believe that Jean Grae is poor, but she is, and will usually be the first to admit it. Near-poverty is a reality for a lot of struggling rappers, something the general public is largely unaware of. Says Grae, "I was reading some Web site the other day about how artists like Jean Grae can still live comfortably making $70,000 a year, and I was like, 'Whoa...is this the other Jean Grae?...because I want to make $70,000 a year!'"
"I want a chance to play," Grae continues, "I just want a chance to play on my own terms." This independence and refusal to compromise, while admirable, may be the reason why she has yet to experience the fruits of labor one would expect a person with such immense talent would already have. "It's not like I'm choosing to go left," she explains. "I just don't know how to do the formula. I honestly don't know. If I could do it, I probably would be, but I just don't know how."
She also expresses an understanding that like punk, and dance music it isnt always about lyrical/musical talent. "I definitely understand that it's easier to love celebrity and love the life," she states. "That's sort of an illusion of what your life could be, and that's what sells...that's what drives. If I were living a different lifestyle, I might be talking about that. Since I'm not, I have to talk about what I know."
Here are the lyrics and Mp3's of some songs that i've been listening too alot. Both of these i love maining for the lyrical content. The first song "dont rush me'(which is off her album "this week") discusses how a knowlege of self can be the antidote to all the insecurities the world can ignite indside of you. The second "You, Me, All of us" talks about social conciousness, about realizing your part in the process towards working towards a solution. I feel the message of the song is that the best you can do to help things progress and move foward is to keep to your path, to your truth, kinda linking back to the first track. Hope you enjoy the tracks...go down to the bottom to download...peace bitches.
Dont Rush Me-Jean Grae
[Intro]
...Sometimes you got to get to know yourself
You gotta travel a little bit
Look at yourself from another perspective
So I try to do that
Come on
[Verse 1]
Listen, there's nothing like knowin' yourself
Like the way I know that smokin's kind of broken my health
Like the way I know my flow don't make appropriate wealth
I can't change that
But funny I'm sayin' that when it's money I'm aimed at
I give a fuck if you frame that or quote it (shit)
I meant what I said cuz I wrote it, point noted
I know I'm overly sensitive when it comes to, well
Just about everything
And I'm so hardheaded, I don't need your help
Like no advice for these records 'less it's me, myself
Like I don't ever want to breathe if it requires assistance
Just, just shut down my system
I'm a victim of choosin' bad love, bad luck Lucy
Every man touched seems to be a doozy and plus
I'm attached to this looseleaf, stand on my two feet
So it's hard enough to even have to physically move me
Go ahead, try
[Hook]
I know I'm on the right path
To who I'm gonna be at last
Don't rush me nigga
I know I'm wrong and right
At the same time, both I'm the dark and light
And they say life needs everything to live
At the same time I got everything to give
Just don't rush me
Don't rush me
[Verse 2]
I gotta be more disciplined
I'm listenin' more to straight logic
Blockin' random shit that's driftin' in
Age is a motherfucker (damn right)
Find myself starin' at the little kids
Thinkin' "I can beat 'em like a stepmother"
Creepin' on a come up at thirty soon
But lookin' twenty ooh
The food catches up to you now plenty
Attendin' christenin's of my best friend's children
And then askin' who's next
And I'm wishin' for six more wishes for Christmas or
Kids on the wish list
Or time machines to be in existence
I'm a team player, not
The dry wit is similar to Arizona weather
Say it, nigga, hot
Patent leather sole, tappin' at my bowl
If the album's not platinum then I'll have to rack a gold
This rappin' ain't for nothin'
Unless I hold plaques so I can sit up on a boat like Colin, roll that
And you know that
[Hook]
I know I'm on the right path
To who I'm gonna be at last
Don't rush me nigga
I know I'm wrong and right
At the same time, both I'm the dark and light
And they say life needs everything to live
At the same time I got everything to give
Just don't rush me
Don't rush me
[Verse 3]
See this here is the most serious that I've ever been
The most clear headed
My gear fetish clearly needs an accountant
So if I need I'll smoke 'em all like Dennis Leary in a mountain
Beef's great though, thanks for addin' more insecurities
Just as I was findin' my level of maturity
Just as I was mindin' my business
Tried to murder Jean's confidence
But lucky for me, you're all incompetent
Road block in this, yes
I see him try to put a stop to my obnoxiousness but
I stay long winded like sayin' George Papadopoulous
I know but I write from this heart with this
So I've got some things to work on
My moodiness like masturbation gets its jerk on
My fascination with the fast pace
Money's encapsulated in my mind space like what a thrill
Past dated and I know I'm not in last place
But it's hard to work through it with this masked face
And maskin' tape on all the windows keeps the cold out
And everytime I'm layin' down my back breaks because it's old now
I yell too much, get stressed too quick
But the best thing about it, I can change that shit
And still remain who I came down to Earth to be
It's not Jean Grae, that's just a name, you'll see
[Hook]
I know I'm on the right path
To who I'm gonna be at last
Don't rush me nigga
I know I'm wrong and right
At the same time, both I'm the dark and light
And they say life needs everything to live
At the same time I got everything to give
Just don't rush me
Don't rush me
You, Me, All of us-Jean Grae
[Hook]
[You] Gotta get your damn hand up
[Me] Must keep on giving my all until
[All of us] Got it locked for real, and stay strong till the truths revealed
Keep on my niggas...
[You] Gotta get your paper tight
[Me] Gotta get my paper right until
[All of us] Then invest get it back, stay flippin it, they doin it
Heads up nigga...
[You] Stay maintaining this rock
[Me] Must speak truth, every drop
[All of us] Still stay running from the cops
ya'll know aint nothing changed much...
[You] Gotta know who you are and
[Me] Must take this further man till one day
[All of us] We can all stand strong together
and no man is ???, no not ever
[Verse]
I see the responsibility
I'm clever-er than most others
don't smother, these bars
I don't clutter it with garbage
Won't mutter it unless its simply marvelous
Ang i need to know im a part of this
Rennisance-Shift over the marketin
Wont bother me, hardly
My mind, since back to starvin
Part partial to startin
Huge riots started by new br(i)-ats
Move out the way biatch or end up in triage
We got more this year
Severe rain increased the flame
Little bit highter
So fire slips out the frame
Untill i retire, thats never
yall can remain ambivalent
Cause from this point nothings changed the sentiment
Quitting is now just hard to say like cinnamon
[Hook]
[You] Gotta know when its time to stand up
[Me] Must keep everybody crunk
[All of us] Must speak when want, don't sleep its important
Trust i wouldnt lie to ya
[You] Must get your hands in the sky
[Me] Will keep this party live until
[All of us] Fall out
Now its time for some of yall to get called out
[Verse]
I gotta build every record, keep reachin
Lover of free speech
Fucker of these beats
Bubbling names
Struggle fame made stronger by
Ducking our aim
Sucking pain
I'll bomb your chain
Right off your torso, and also
Disconnect your neck from your poor throat for
Tryin to take mine
Glory and my shine
You'll get floored till your pourin it south
beyond permanant pause at the coroners house
Time is the case
And i'm on a fine pace
In a line so proper from my momma i'm laced
And my pockets got poppin
but i'm on the paper chase
And i don't fuck around, you better shut your mouth
Till me, spill rounds, all us running out
I've got a cunning mouth
You got a cunt in yours
i'm out
[Hook]
[You] Gotta get your damn hand up
[Me] Must keep on giving my all until
[All of us] Got it locked for real, and stay strong till the truths revealed
Keep on my niggas...
[You] Gotta get your paper tight
[Me] Gotta get my paper right until
[All of us] Then invest get it back, stay flippin it, they doin it
Heads up nigga...
[You] Stay maintaining this rock
[Me] Must speak truth, every drop
[All of us] Still stay running from the cops
ya'll know aint nothing changed much...
Dont Rush Me MP3-Jean GraeYou, Me, All of us MP3-Jean Grae
