Manifesto

June 20, 2007 3:08 PM

Hip-hop has been a passion of mine for a long time. And recently, some friends of mine and I got together to produce an entire album. This is the latest effort from me, as featured on our upcoming album. Sure, it's a demo, but it's free!

posted by grubi (14 comments total) 7 users marked this as a favorite

Lyrics:

(C Gruber)

I am who I am and I ain't afraid to say it
When I get this album done, maybe alla you could play it
Give it radio time, when ya spinnin' my rhymes
My rap sheet is all mine, fillin' up with my crimes
Sure, I grew up middle class, and working class as well
But I got plenty problems of my own, my own tales to tell
I got riches of embarrassment; it's not like I denied it
Think I'd end up looking stupid if I ever tried to hide it
I'm proud to be from Jersey, but now I'm in the South
Be rare for a drawl to be coming outta my mouth
Yeah, that's true -- I betcha never thought of that
I'm hip-hop through and through; it's a proven fact
I'm braggadocio, I'm strength, and I'm unique
I can tell ya 'bout myself if ya'd like -- gotta week?
I been in the music and the culture since I was eight
So if ya gott a minute, I'm about to demonstrate

Here I am, I'm a man
With my manifesto
With my manifesto
Here I stand, I'm a man
With my manifesto
With my manifesto

I been down these roads before, so trust me when I teach
I got some life experience, so forgive me if I preach
Don't dismiss me out of hand, 'cause then ya shut yaself out
You choose the ignorance 'cause you don't care what I'm about
I'm trying to drop a lesson, so you can get value from my songs
Ya need to learn to care so you can tell what's right from wrong
Ya gotta learn to follow rules before you'll know just how to break 'em
Don't obsess about real if all you are is into fakin'
Selling out ain't about profit, it's about your principles
But too many kids coming up, they think they're invincible
One day they may be asked to sell their soul for some ice
They better get some proper learning so they won't be thinking twice
They need to get an education, not 'bout how to make the stacks
They need that inner strength, they need to know all the facts
Just listen to the lesson and, remember, ride the bus
We're the sum of everything that influences us

Now we move onto politics, the condition that be runnin' me
"But you can't talk about politics in polite company!"
Fuck polite company -- I thought you taught me to be honest
So let me continue on this topic; listen, 'cause I'm on this
I'm a liberal in my blood, a social democrat really
The only way to help all people is give of yaself freely
Pay ya taxes, vote in every election, and feed ya head every day
I see no value in religion, ain't no worth in tryin' to pray
If you can't find a moral center without invisible men
Ya ain't got much of a center, might as well not pretend
And don't pull Pascal's Wager on me: "But what if it's true?"
There ain't no afterlife and I know you're afraid of that too
If some of these words seem harsh and they happen to offend
I apologize if it hurts, but keeping it real is my ultimate end
Don't claim to have all the answers but I picked up a few insights
But don't condemn this motherfucker, 'cause ya know I might be right


© 2007 Cap City Music
posted by grubi at 3:10 PM on June 20, 2007


Groovy stuff, grubi. I liked it a lot, and I listened to it through.

This being a musicians hangout, I gotta mention it: the levels are a bit saturated, and with a better mix it would be a complete joy, but other than those recording details, it is very cool.
posted by micayetoca at 3:49 PM on June 20, 2007


grubi, wow, this is a true departure from you've posted in the past, and I dig it!

Even though there are some "mother fuckers" in there, this is definitely going on my kids iPod playlist.

The theme, your "manifesto", is right on. You're telling it like it is without sounding at all preachy or sissy. (That's hard to do.)

The musicianship is right on. Yea, multi instrumented blended like a fruit smoothie. Takin the rap back to some '70s groove is just too fuckin' cool.

I'm always teaching kids how they need to sort through the shit that is life and to develop a code. You are right on!
posted by snsranch at 4:25 PM on June 20, 2007 [1 favorite]


the levels are a bit saturated, and with a better mix it would be a complete joy

Yeah, I have a bad habit of cranking everything up. I need to get a fresh pair of ears to assist me on this.

Groovy stuff, grubi. I liked it a lot, and I listened to it through...it is very cool

That's great! Be sure to pass it on to other folks who might like it. And feel free to check out the other stuff at the Cap City Mob site link above.

this is definitely going on my kids iPod playlist.

Wow!! I'm so honored. For anyone to think my stuff is worth passing on because of the message -- that's awesome.

The musicianship is right on. Yea, multi instrumented blended like a fruit smoothie. Takin the rap back to some '70s groove is just too fuckin' cool.

I can't take too much credit there -- it's Dennis Coffey, a terrific session player from the 70s. The song is "Back Home" from the album of the same name, 1977. And yeah, I like it a lot too. :-)

I'm always teaching kids how they need to sort through the shit that is life and to develop a code. You are right on!

I learned that one the hard way. If anything I say rubs off your kid, then I have done more good with my life than I planned to.
posted by grubi at 4:58 PM on June 20, 2007


Niiiiice.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 5:30 PM on June 20, 2007


Hip-hop in 2007?


Sssssssss.
posted by humannaire at 6:42 PM on June 20, 2007


Huh? I don't know what you mean by "Sssssssss."
posted by grubi at 7:56 PM on June 20, 2007


I believe that humannaire has sprung some sort of leak.

Regardless, I like. This is pretty much no-go territory for me production-wise, so it's always interesting to hear someone execute it well.
posted by cortex at 2:12 PM on June 21, 2007


Gimme some horns! I NEED SOME HORNS!

Your shit is fat, yo.
posted by vito90 at 5:48 PM on June 21, 2007


Sounds a lot like Jurassic 5. Me likey.
posted by chrisamiller at 7:09 PM on June 21, 2007


Yes. I sprung a leak.
posted by humannaire at 8:16 PM on June 21, 2007


Actually, the track sounds like Blackalicious. The horns sound like vintage tracks from The Coup.

And the raps? The raps sound preachy and free of any real funk. Like high school.

It's funk without fun. It's 'k.
posted by humannaire at 8:39 PM on June 21, 2007


Other than the initial "uh", "yeah", "uh-huh" stuff and such, this is quite groovy.
posted by phrontist at 4:11 AM on June 22, 2007


I dig the track.

Here's a trick I've picked up in the recording biz so far. I used to have the habit of cranking everything up as well.

The first tip is to always look for the cut instead of the boost. Your ears naturally get attuned to sounds over time, so the bass you needed an hour earlier will be boosted more when you need to hear it. Cut some high's instead, of make space in the mix and pan them elsewhere.

Also, get a small vacuum cleaner or Dirt Devil. Put it in your control room. Every two hours, take a 15 minute break. Turn on the vacuum. Have a soda. The white noise will clean out your ears. Don't go smoke a cigarette. They are bad for your hearing.
posted by lazaruslong at 3:08 PM on June 22, 2007


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