#StoriesAboutSongs

This is a bit of an oddball one on here, but it does have a connection.

This verse is originally from my first mixtape going by the name 7X3=21, titled "Imperfectly Flawless", where I rhymed over some of my favorite producer's beats; Sixtoo, Omid, TR Love, PMD, Thavius Beck, August Fanon, and Ski Beatz.

The goal, or hope rather, was to drop these unauthorized versions, and shoot to one day working with some of these producers on a project. So far I have achieved only one of those, but it's a great one, and I have a bunch of music coming in 2024 over some August Fanon beats!

Because I didn't have permission to use those beats on "Imperfectly Flawless" (though I did tag all the producers when I posted them), I only put up on Soundloud and Bandcamp as a free download.

But, I liked the writing on those "Imperfectly Verses" so I was always thinking about doing remixes so I could release them more widely, but so far this is the only one that I've gotten a remix for.

This is remixed by RWVIII a.k.a Rob VanVranken, who is the excellent and appreciated co-producer and engineer for my #StoriesAboutSongs Podcast! He's also a talented producer, who is currently focused on doing more scoring type work, but don't sleep, he has some beats in the stash if need be...

And, if you didn't figure it out, the connection is that, this Stream of Competence mixtape was supposed to be the follow up to "Imperfectly Flawless" but I didn't want to have that same issue of not being to share these songs on a wider scale, or risk them getting pulled down for copyright strikes, so I turned the project into an album. So, I decided to add remix on so I would have 7 tracks, because....numbers and things...

In 2021 and 2022 I was on this mission to explore as much music that I missed growing up as possible. I was so focused on Hip Hop, and Soul/Funk growing up, I didn't put much energy in other things.

SO I was using streaming sites to go on deep rabbit holes of artists/genres, including Punk, Psych Rock, Industrial, Frank Zappa, The Beatles, Jazz, Blues, Experimental, Folk, Kraut Rock, Electronic, Dub, Reggae, etc...

At some point, I was in a Kraut Rock phase, and that led me to the band Cluster, which is where this beat is from. I wrote this first verse to "Homemade Drum" to this beat, and E.C.'s "Ill State of Affairs". I did something I rarely do, but like to try from time to time. I start writing to a beat and if I get stuck for longer than a few seconds, I switch the beat, and I'll just keep switching back and forth, usually between 2-3 beats, to keep the brain neurons firing or something. So, that's what I did here, bouncing back and forth between those two beats, every few bars, improvising, and keeping what I liked, and editing where needed.

The whole "Homemade Drum" idea just came from how I said that closing part in the improv, and then I figured how to build that into a concept for the 2nd and 3rd verse on the album version, going into my music listening history with my family growing up, and eventually exploring an alternate timeline where I was a drummer rather than an MC.

From their debut in '96, Non-Phixion dropped a countess number of dope tracks, and they had a knack for getting great production. This one's a great example, produced by Necro.

This is one of the first things I wrote for this mixtape, but I never recorded it...and I don't remember why. But, it's fun to rhyme to this beat, so I decided to record it now just share these mixtape versions.

I think listening to the verse to this beat will give some different context, or provide more context clues, to the things I'm saying on here.

This is a concept verse, that starts a story rhyme about my battle MC days, but then becomes something more personal, and political. The more hidden theme is that what I'm illustrating is how some people, me specifically, deal with depression and anxiety, relying on ego to be a placebo effect of sorts.

Instead of directly talking about too much, I just illustrate it, including in how long the verse is, and how it starts off being very boastful, attempting to capture the ego in practice, and then eventually learning to better process those emotions and focus attention on more important and healthier things.

In the mid 90s, due to having my Time Travel Radio Show, I was on the mailing list for a lot of record labels, one of which was Suavehouse, and I was definitely a fan!

They had a lot of dope artist/releases; Mr. Mike, Tela, The Scientists, Crime Boss, 8Ball & MJG, etc...

This beat is produced by T-Mix a.k.a Smoke One Productions, and he had a lot of great beats in this era. I've been wondering if he's still making music, as I'd be curious to peep what he's cooking up these days.

This verse is what set the tone for the record, and it was around the time of doing this one that I decided to switch from the mixtape concept and turn it to an album, with all E.C. Illa beats. But I wrote the first verse to this beat.

One night in the early part of 2022, I was feeling disappointed I wouldn’t be able to release an album that day as I planned. Plus, I have also been a little disappointment in myself because I hadn't wrote anything since December…haven’t even been doing any improvising like I was doing nearly everyday before this slump.

Then, I was looking for a song to listen to, but couldn’t find, and instead stumbled on this Mr. Mike instrumental. Before I go any further, let me just say, Mr. Mike is a dope MC. I used to listen to his Wicked Wayz album pretty regularly when it dropped in ’96.

This beat is from a song called “Dope Fiction”.

I started out like I usually do, just improvising and seeing where that takes me. If I’m not really feeling the improv, I allow myself to not even make sense or even say words, just become an instrument and find patterns and ideas. I was hitting some interesting pockets, but nothing was sticking. I was just about to give up, but then I just I improvised those first 3 bars, and was like, “OK, I can do something with this”.

Since the beat is from ’96, I just wanted to flex some styles a bit, and not even worry about having a theme, but something came together naturally, which fit perfectly based on the original song title. I’m basically speaking in very vague statements, that also have particular meaning, line by line. But, there isn’t any overall theme, it’s just stream of consciousness…another way we define “freestyle”. Basically, I allowed myself to string together a bunch of improvised lines, that only partially connected to each other, but it does wind up connecting because in the verse I start to explain the process of what I’m doing.

There’s a decent amount of hidden messages in this one. I was just having fun with improv and editing…

LYRICS:

What’s the greatest moment you ever had in your life?

And what’s the possibility you could experience it twice?

And would that suffice? Fine line between passion n vice

I fight for what’s right, and come with the compassion of Christ

Ain’t asking a price, you can dim the lights, it’s a heist

And taking nearly everything that’s in sight, except advice

So roll the dice, or think twice, and take a word from the wise

And while I’m speaking, I hope you realize

The length’s I’m willing to go’s about….as wide as the skies

That not a surprise, at least not to me, I’m self-aware

How could I read the room when there’s nobody’s here?

So I just listen to the whispers in the winds, and begin

To write the words down, once they start making sense

And if that time never comes, then I may have to relent

Or maybe choose to still write em down, then try to convince

People to listen anyway, and in my defense

Coded messages, I sneak em in like toxins thru vents

Undetected, that’s a method of a suspending suspense

If it’s a wash, then it’s he who repeats, who repents..

A few nights ago I was listening to music on random and then a song from Nefertiti's L.I.F.E (Living In Feat of Extinction)" album came, and the same thing happens almost every time...I hear one song from that album, and have to switch from random listening and go listen to more from that album. I LOVE that album! The lyrics and her flow are both excellent, and the production by DJ Pooh, Suede, Gang Starr, Diamond D and Nikke Nicole!!

Once I got to "No Feeling Inside", and bugging off the beat and flow like I do every time I heard it since '94, I started improvising to the end part of the beat. That lead to some of the lyrics on here, so I wrote down the best parts of the improvisation that I could remember, then filled in the blanks, and added on...

This is another one of my verses teasing the switching up of flows every few bars or so, something that Nefertiti is masterful at on this original song and that “L.I.F.E” album in general. The cuts are from Deadly Threat and Boiwondah of Funkytown Pros...dedicated to those who know about the Microphone Mafia. Shout out DJ Bobcat.

LYRICS:

I’m so devoted to speaking coded that you might notice

My flow is a form of focus, informed by poets

Some may quote it and others may find it bogus

And question what my approach is, dully noted

But, I’m not truly insulted, this is my white lotus

I don’t follow no man, there is no Modern Moses

I suppose as death lurks, there’s gon’ be vultures

And there’s a lot to pick over, these so called soldiers

And I’m speaking in general, I’ve been demoted

Perhaps I’ll reach my magnum opus while at my lowest

Will I be gasping for closure in my final moments

Or grasp a flask and drink the tears of my opponents

That’d be a bonus…to tell the truth, I don’t even wOnt it

Instead I’m focused on inner-peace, I’m not out going

I’m about…showing myself new routes to escape doubt

will I ever make it out? I’m not knowing

Still I’m going and never slowing, I’m fueled by motive

But I’m not here to fill quotas or rally voters

My style’s been wild since Madd Maxx in Kenosha

But my demeanor is mild…like Cali cold is

Now, for my finale I’ll let my soul smile, then show it

Searched my mind to find the words, when I found em, I wrote it

I know emphasize a lot that I improvise the plots

Of the rhyme schemes and find things to fit into the spots

That are blinding, binding to the laws of nature

I’m mining my deepest crevices, layer by layer

There are no saviors…and hardly any favors…

Do we even know our neighbors?

Or alone, on the crux of the edge on top of razors

On top of RACISTS and covid cases

I’m over anxious….

No need for clarity, I covered all the bases

And this is one for the ageless, it’s audacious

HINDSIGHT INSPIRATION: Nefertiti, DJ Pooh, Boots Riley of the Coup, Funkytown Pros, Deadly Threat, and the Microphone Mafia "rumors".

This beat is produced by Longevity, who has been one of my favorite artists for many years now. I first became familiar from hearing him as a member of illest underground crews of all time, Darkleaf. And, he went on to a lot of great solo material, both as a producer and an MC.

Ever since I started making music again, Longevity's been on my wish list of artists to work with. I originally recorded this version to send him as an example of what a project would sound like, but decided to hold off on that, and just keep working for a while...

This version from a mixture of improv and editing.

If you like rapping let’s make it happen

I’ll make the music, you listen to it; law of attraction

Just a fraction of a second that’s all I’m asking

I reckon when time beacons, I’ll be cashing my final rations

What a time to be alive, what a time ta die

What a time to give up…What a time to try

Sometimes the obvious is the only way to find

A way around the metaphors of another kind

A different breed, a mystery, lost history

And if you find this wrong, then We agree to disagree

Distantly is where I wish my wish to be

Like the caterpillar looking up so wistfully

This is me, so take me as I am or leave

Because I claim this land to lay my plans, and plant my seeds.

This version is a notably different feel from the album version. In fact, it took me countless tries to get the tone right on the album version, as this laid back approach wasn't going to work.

I always loved this Peanut Butter Wolf beat! It's from his Peanut Butter Breaks record, which dropped just a short while before I started doing my Time Travel Radio show in Chicago, and I played this beat heavily for dialog breaks and freestyle sessions, and it's always been one of my absolutely favorite beats to rhyme off the top of head to!

I really like the feel of this version, but the way the album version came together with Buk of Psychodrama is its own form of magic...

This recording is my example demo for “MC Killers”, and there are a few things that stand out about it. It captures how much I was about PRACTICE, and preparing for the live show, because at some point, the record skips, but that was something I trained to prepare for, so I just adjusted and kept it moving. Also, after a quick intro, we do a harmonizing intro, which was directly inspired by Treacherous Three “Gotta Rock”, which TNT and I first heard while record shopping at Middle Earth Records in Junction City a few months previously…

For this song, I wrote every part except the extended solo for Burning Hot TNT (aka Motee), but he did write a verse for it after hearing this tape, which is the image used for this demos cover art.

This is our DJ Quiet Killer doing a little mini-mix.

This song was inspired by Doctor Rocx & Co, who were on Slice Records, and our group was a big fan, especially "Boyfriends / Girlfriends" and "Take It To The Floor".

Acapella Disclaimer:

I used to come up my rhymes while walking around a lot, so I would rush home and record them acapella on tape to remember them, as it was faster than writing them down. that's why I always rush them, because I was rushing to record them before I forgot them!!

I used to call those tapes my "Rhyming Rolodex" because it was my way of keeping the lyrics organized...twas dramatic from the start.