#StoriesAboutSongs

#StoriesAboutSongs

By RedefineHipHopMusic
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#StoriesAboutSongs episodes

  • 9-Cut Scratch & Blend
    Cut, Scratch & Blend
    I love DJig with all my heart
    High-end art, ground zero where the culture start
    Thanks to Quik Mix Theory from Grandmaster Flash
    Blast from past, PIONEER, if you have to to ask
    Have to add…GrandMixer D.st
    Turn one turntable to a symphony
    Essentially, DJs, they would lay the beat
    So we could speak, try to refine technique
    Two Techniques took it to a whole new peak
    Kept the needle in the groove for the mood we seek
    Back and forth, two copies of the same soundscape
    Found the break, keep it going, yeah, sounds great
    Soundstage front/center, please focus your eyes
    Cut, scratch, blend, then a lil surprise
    Maybe scratch with an elbow, or break down the track
    Juggling act, then hit em with a spinning attack
    But, always keep the skills in tact
    Yeah, like that…
    I’ve had some ill DJs since back the days
    Cutting records on time with the phrase that pays
    DJ Nate, selector, he curates the vibe
    The right record every time, bring the crowd alive
    DJ Pill, the House Rocker, so much style
    Scratch the record with his foot, tear the whole house down
    Quiet Killer more subtle but skills to match
    No words for the people, he speak thru scratch
    Madd Maxx, Grandmaster far as my ears hear
    He was musical genius, had to make that clear
    DJ Dread on the mix, keep the blend on time
    Plus add a ill scratch to compliment the rhyme
    Stizo and J Pratt, Vinyl Addicts supreme
    6 turntable set up, that’s a DJs’s dream
    And Presyce, so nice, with the slide and fade
    Got hundred one ways, he could make ya day
    PNS Live Errors, but the style is clean
    Here’s the underworld king from the Molemen team
    That was then now Pinnland here to hold me down
    Remold my sound, take it back to underground
    The truth suppliers, you can call me the new sire
    My royal decree, to build the Pinnland Empire
    3 min
  • 8-Take Me Back
    Take Me Back
    When I first started rhyming I was following trends
    Listening to Sugar Hill and Enjoy with my friends
    And my dad would get tapes from some people at work
    And he was in the military, which was really a perk
    See, people moved in from the east coast shores
    And brought records, tapes, they would let me record
    I would study every rhyme, plus learn every word
    Then it wasn’t too long, the next chapter occurred
    I was writing down my own rhymes, rocking in the lunchroom
    Started with a few but then I had bunch soon
    I had the Sharp GF-575
    Plug the mic chord in and freestyle live
    My first group was the Devastating 2
    Then a few years later came the 3D crew
    I feel things are getting serious, I’m building my skill
    The love is real, think it’s time to search for a record deal
    And the 3D crew had a perfect plan
    Graduate high school, then it’s time to expand
    Gonna learn about the biz, take it back to the root
    At MBI, the Music Business Institute
    BUT, ya know how it goes, most plans’ll a fail
    Bet a lot of rappers got that story to tell
    But all is well, Wildstyle came on scene
    Mad Maxx and LA, what a powerful team
    A crew with a dream, battle instigators supreme
    And when we step on the stage, took it to extreme
    Had a few labels offers but they ALL fell thru
    Failed to…make the big dream come true
    SO we went our separate ways, and I was back alone
    Making music on my own, sitting right at home
    8-track, SP, plus a hell of a knack
    To develop a rap, them days, take me back
    4 min
  • 07-Last Laugh
    Last Laugh
    Back in the days I used to wear mic round my neck
    Walk into high school, watch it swing as I stepped
    Searching for threats, teaching MCs ‘bout regrets
    And shopping at Gand Music till I’m bouncing the checks
    Drum machines, samplers, plus 1200 decks
    Went from 4 to 8-track, to put him back in effect
    Neighborhood studio where anyone could record
    Love is free, best believe anyone could afford
    Just walk thru the door, I play a break beat and you rhyme
    Then I find the perfect sample, and I make em combine
    An a hour or so later, play the tape in your car
    Drive around the neighborhood, and make believe you’re star
    But if you’re still on foot, let the walkman blast
    Head to Lakehurst Mall, let your headphones pass
    Let them all get a taste of the demo you made
    Tell em Rage Cage Studio is where it was laid
    Talking circa ’88, till bout ’95
    My crew was live, our motto, ‘Got rhymes, we’ll drive…’
    Appear on your scene, step into the cipher and blow
    Cause we’re walking rhyme bombs, and it’s time to explode
    And, that was a track, we did around ’91
    Performed it at the Avalon, man, them days was fun
    And that was my last time on a stage performing
    But I kept writing and recording from the night to the morning
    Love of the craft, essential like numbers in math
    But numb from the lack of success, not even one of us has
    Down on my last leg, so I strayed from the path
    But if you’re hearing what I’m hearing, guess I’ll claim last laugh
    Yeah, I stopped but now I’m back so I claim last laugh
    ANd I never gon’ stop again , I claim last laugh
    4 min
  • 06-3-2-1 (Chaos Magic)
    3-2-1 (Chaos Magic)
    There comes a time in your life when you have to fight
    Clash at night, duck from the hazard lights
    You have the right to stay silent, pass the mic
    Speak the truth till it burn, make it acid-like
    As it stand, I plan to complete my quest
    Treat my stress with breaths, trying to be my best
    Beat my chest, yell from the deepest depths
    Keep in step, never live with regret
    No sleep or rest, peep how I keep so fresh
    Live out my dreams, that seem to cancel out the rest
    Bout to stretch this lil bit of hope that’s left
    Hold his breath, blue in the face till death
    Kill, crush, destroy, then rebuild, what’s next?
    Oh yeah, gotta sort em all, according to specs
    Importing the text, analyze important effects
    Loss of respect, I guess it’s the court of the jest
    Sword to the neck, yeah, that’s how I course correct
    And of course, correct, I never let ya see the sweat
    Evil Dead lurking, trying to bleed me red
    I leap off ledge and I don’t even need no need net
    He go get the whole wide world in his grip, and he can’t slip
    2nd chance, back from the blip
    616, 6 plus a half of a 6, minus the 2
    The math ain’t the half of it…
    The finest of jewels ya find when the mind is the tool
    The fool vs wise man, classic duel
    Mask removed, who was you expecting to see?
    Yeah, jokes on you, same face, it’s ME
    It’s 3 in morning, 39 to go
    And at 4 AM, time to lock and load
    Ya block the road, I go around, will not be slowed
    Televised revolution’s where the lies are told
    Lives are sold, but hands never touch no gold
    I must’ve known it was ending once it touched my soul
    What’s SO special, bout the goals you seek?
    As for me, it’s something that the eye can’t see
    I can’t be the person that you want me to be
    Just once I wanna blend all the wants and the needs
    The front is the lead, I wonder if I’ll ever succeed?
    Running full speed…endless field full of weeds
    Full of disease, cruel world, who to believe?
    Who do I leave my last rites to weep while they read?
    I need what I need,I give and don’t need receive
    From to seed to a tree, pull ‘nother trick from my sleeve
    Return of the matte…black, deep, dark and abstract
    Star of the track, action-packed like a Arkham attack
    Scarecrow tactic, watch me blow in the wind
    Not playing to win, just sayin, I’m just playin’ pretend
    Stay to the end, the credits have the answers we need
    Need to be free and faster than the predator’s speed
    In debt to the beat, enabled my mind speak
    Divine mystique, is how I’d define this piece
    To find his peace, his reach real deep until
    He finally feel, something artificially real
    I confess I just might settle for rest
    Save me some stress…finally save me guess
    Lately I miss spring nights, face feeling mist
    Walking in bliss, looking up and making a wish
    The age of the rich…been long, but might end quick
    The end is near, the threat is clear, the tension’s…THICK
    4 min
  • 05-The Art of Surprise
    The Art of Surprise
    Deep cut, give it all I got then re-up
    To beat me, first ya gonna need to keep up
    Be what you wanna be, shape your own memory
    Build your own band, then shake the tambourine
    Energy beyond belief…I’m beyond your reach
    Iron seat, sitting in a fortress hard to breach
    Freak show with the moot controlled by remote
    Heave Ho, trying to lift the spirits of pe-ople
    They won’t let me in, I spy your eye thru…
    They won’t let me in, I spy your eye thru the peephole
    Be we know, trust’s at all time low
    Lies to-go, thanks for the ride, Creepshow
    Meet yo maker dead broke in the casket
    The emperor's wardrobe back to exact fit
    That’s it the most important fact I’m backed with
    It’s magic, cash from my hand like a magnet
    Sadness tried to take over but I managed
    Candid, plus know how to act like a Black Brit
    Black grip tape on the mouth of madness
    Silence granted, supplanted widespread panic
    Why spread panic? Let’s take it down notch or few
    And focus our rage on those responsible
    Crush the obstacle, that’s what logical
    But watch your back, best believe they’re watching YOU
    On the one let’s have some fun, starting gun
    Blast off, now I’m almost done
    That’s light speed, I might be the most unlikely
    No hype beast…cause there’s no one like me
    A tight squeeze, get em all loose and lively
    It might bleed cause I cut it down to the white meat
    Surprise me…hmmm…I don’t see that outcome
    Out gun or outrun? Choose your route son
    House or apartment, hardwood or carpet
    On target, known to get the party started
    It’s methodic, chaos theory mixed with logic
    K got it, style gets a bit chaotic
    Play god or pray hard, course is plotted
    T’s crossed, I’s…
    T’s crossed, I’s dotted, it’s a buy-product/byproduct
    It’s alive, I survived a life audit
    Life oughta feel good like a narcotic
    But not numb, naw, need to feel bass drum
    Need a little love? Well, here then taste some
    I got some spare, and willing to share
    The feeling is rare, can’t wait till the summer is here
    And when it’s gone, just play back the song
    Crisp highs in yours eyes, bright like sun rise
    And sometimes we put the hi-hat in disguise
    Let it sneak up on ya…SURPRISE!
    3 min
  • 04-Not Forgot
    Not Forgotten
    Once upon a time, Carmen was a friend of mine
    She lived a few houses down, wasn’t hard to find
    I’d go down the block, we talk on the sidewalk
    About our school days, or new toys we just got
    See, this was 6th grade, young kids feeling free
    Fantasizing bout one day who we’ll be
    And who will be the one to make it feel complete
    And Carmen said she had a cousin I should meet
    Her name was Melanie, Carmen started telling me
    Some things about her cousin, effectively compelling me
    …I said I couldn’t wait, just let me know the date
    And we can spend some time together, leave the rest to fate
    And when the time came, it was like first sight
    I think I kissed her on the cheek on the first night
    We liked to hold hands, and go on long walks
    And talk about the future until time’s lost
    We used to get in trouble for getting back late
    The street lights were the enemy I used to HATE
    But our time was short, you lived so far away
    We had to wait for the next vacation day
    Hoped you came my way, so we could reconvene
    Had to settle for the phone calls in-between
    But that didn’t last, parents could protective
    We were still young, but felt so connected
    I put your name in a rhyme back in ’82
    I really thought that our love was gonna make it through
    I always been a dreamer, I always cared deep
    I always had a soft spot for some mystique
    For 12 year old me, Melanie was god sent
    Been gone since, but I guarantee she’s not forgotten
    4 min
  • 03-Modern Age B-Boy Stance
    Modern Age B-Boy Stance
    Last dance, hope ya got the call in advance
    Bring ya best moves, then bust a b-boy stance
    Wave your hands, if ya care to take a chance
    I got a decent two-step, and no prior plans
    So if the world bout to end, this can be our night
    Of if we have a chance to win, we can join the fight
    My love is right, my bark is a afraid of my bite
    If ya bout slow rolling, please stay to the right
    Stages and lights, or sit home, pages to write
    The age of grey, part of the phases of the life
    Took a long time to find a little peace of mind
    So please remind yourself to at least be kind
    It’s the small things, the kind of clarity that a fall brings
    Ya think ya know a better way to live, then by all means
    Do you, I’ll do me, we all got our own needs
    It’s on me, give it all I got, come on feet
    3 min
  • 02-Carry The One
    Now, what we have here is some unnatural breed
    Casually exposing where passion can lead
    Fasten your seatbelt, the G Force is extreme
    Rise of the phoenix, still short four on my team
    Solo’s my scene, seldom scene, soul’s in-between
    A rock and a HARD PLACE, bein’ chased in a dream
    Please intervene, ‘fore this thing is smashed to smithereens
    Splintering, crossroads, snakes are slithering
    Hear the ring? The bells ring true, considering
    Lies are on the rise, AND the sky is falling
    So enthralling, shoulda trust the coward’s calling
    Now it’s dawning, better late than never I guess
    Never I rest, even when I sleep I feel stress
    People’ll press, every button simply ta test
    Tensing of chest, feels like I emptied the nest
    Here to confess, I don’t have no-thing to CONFESS
    …Except, I’m not perfect, and my purpose is set
    Yeah, my purpose is set
    A nervous wreck, going high speed every step
    But taking every breath slowly, like bleeding to death
    Leading to less then needed for your needs to be met
    Which leads to regret, weeds done grown past the neck
    That’s a picture painted, pain compressed for your entertainment
    Indicating my innermost thoughts have been vindicated
    Win-lose, been thru them days that’ll break you
    Or bend you, make you just go where the wind choose
    Freeflow, from free will? I don’t believe so
    I leave NO stone unturned, I don’ t need NO
    Inspiration, I’m self-motivated, or it seems so
    Seams slowly splitting, getting wider, and we KNOW
    There’s only so much space thru the eye of the needle
    The cries of people from the evil that men do
    We live thru, simply trying to do what we’re meant to
    4 min
  • 01-Whatever Life Remains
    Whatever Life Remains
    If these are the last days, Imma live my life to the fullest
    Unlike past ways, living like I’m dodging a bullet
    I am a student of humankind, I study their nature
    Which I don’t relate ta, minor problem off to the majors
    Some prophets in cages, others shoot down while on stages
    The cost outrageous, doing nothing’s even more dangerous
    I don’t have answers, all I know, they rather enslave us
    Rather than save us, or figure out a way they can change us
    Going thru changes so often, even I AM STRANGER
    This isn’t anger, this is an intentional banger
    Drown in my laughter while thinking ‘bout the time thereafter
    Whatever there after, the won’t find it tied to no rafter
    I ain’t rapper, writer with inspiring chapters
    No lying or acting, truth, requires no practice
    Fire from dragons can’t even melt the ice in his veins
    Surviving the pain, then live whatever life remain
    2 min

About #StoriesAboutSongs

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RedefineHipHop is the brainchild of Kevin Beacham. It is a part of a initiative to tell Hip Hop stories directly from the perspectives of the creatives and experts throughout Hip Hop history.…