Words from my homie Noyz, who produced the entire ITFONA album:

Me and the homey MC FÜBB first started working on our album "In The Face of No Agreement" in the fall of 2009. The first beats I sent him were "History" and "Feet Don't Fail" and we both felt we had established an immediate chemistry as MC and beat maker. He hit me back and put forth the idea of building on a full length album and I was a little unsure at first as I hadn't been making beats for very long but I looked at it as a chance to learn.

To make beats for an entire album with one MC is challenging because you run the risk of sounding repetitive and making the same songs over again. FÜBB is a very versatile MC so the beats I provided had to show a wide range of emotion to give him a broad landscape to paint on. The majority of what is on the album are beats that I made specifically for FÜBB as I didn't just want to have him pick and choose from my catalogue.

The opening track of the album was actually the last one we put together as we felt we didn't have a definitive standout for the intro and we were having issues with securing a singer. FÜBB was able to get Mike Devine on board in the 9th inning and he blessed this song beautifully. The chorus sums up the overarching theme of the album and how we as people can't give up on our goals no matter how much adversity we face.

Check out the song here:

http://mcfubb.bandcamp.com/track/in-the-face-of-no-agreement-itfona-feat-mike-devine

We're selling the album for $10, so if you can show your support, it would be greatly appreciated. You can listen to the album for free, so at the very least, drop your 2 cents and let me know what you think of the album.

Peace!

In the Face of No Agreement (blurb)

It takes something for us to take a stand for what we believe in in this world. The easiest thing to do is to follow the path of least resistance – to do what society expects us to do and blend in with the masses. But to stand for something, to acknowledge a cause greater than ourselves and work diligently towards forwarding that cause, is among the hardest things we as human beings can do.

What makes consistently standing for a certain cause so difficult is that if we are sincere in our efforts and actually begins to make progress towards our goals, then we will invariably face obstacles and even opposition. On the quest to materialize our dreams in this world, it is essential that we have others in our community agree with our vision and share our commitments. Unfortunately, a by-product of expanding our effectiveness in realizing our goals is that we are bound to come across much indifference, apathy, cynicism, and possibly even direct opposition to that which we are committed to. For every dream in this world, there exist forces that have No Agreement to it being fulfilled.

Another form of No Agreement, less obvious and more insidious that external opposition, is our own resistance to our own greatness. No Agreement towards ourselves can take the form of self-doubt, self-sabotage, self-destruction, disempowering beliefs, fear, anxiety, confusion, and even self-created rationalization against fulfilling on our own commitments. In order to be able to effectively face obstacles in the external world, we need to learn to master our own internal worlds so that we can stay clear and focused on what we say we stand for. Because at the end of the day, all we can truly own are our own words and actions in our given circumstances – everything else is in some degree beyond our control.

The source of human greatness is our ability stand firm to our commitments in the face of No Agreement. Regardless of our circumstances, our past experiences, our limitations or disadvantages, we always have the ability to choose who we are going to be in this world. And if we are courageous enough to be unwavering in what we stand for, if we maintain our integrity with our commitments, promises to others and most of all with ourselves, then we are already living into the future that we want to see materialized right now.

Choose to be powerful. Choose to be courageous. Choose to manifest your own greatness.

Stand for what you say you stand for – In the Face of No Agreement.

West Coast Shit

On some West-coast type shit
on some west-coast type shit…

rockin’ on some west coast type shit
tho I never been there, the vibe I like it
never been to Oakland, never seen Compton
no I’m not a thug, not about gun-poppin’
reppin’ for the T-dot, city full of options
I love it to death despite all of its problems
the level of creativity in my city is incredible
so many different restaurants, my city’s so edible
graffiti on the walls seldom legible
every single rapper in my city think they standing on a pedestal
egocentricity and inauthenticity
the real show love and the fake fall pitifully
I consider hip hop as a gift to me
You use it to abuse it? then you lookin’ like a bitch to me
haters can’t get to me, because I be, standing at a distance
but I know that I’m hittin ‘em cuz they show resistance

rockin’ on some west coast type shit
rockin’ on some west coast type shit

regardless where you from or what city you be reppin’
hip hop is universal, touching every corner and section
and location on the map, it’s boom-bap
attack with the raps, get you high like a dime-sack
still I gotta rep my city, that’s where I’m at
the H3 Cypher where you find the dope rhymes at
vivid verbal pictures like an IMAX
bustin like climax
lyrical hijacks
of your synapses
mind-state captures
via steppin into my lyrical raptures
rappers is actors
their whole frame fractures
when I expose them as straight manufactured
flows jacked, bastards
ya’ll could stand with these MCs
rhymes so deep make your soul feel empty
tempt me? hold yo ass in contempt, B
you the flavour of the month, my poetry lasts centuries

rockin’ on some west coast type shit
rockin’ on some west coast type shit

No Swagger

NO SWAGGER, I ain’t got NO SWAGGER
I don’t need swagger to be an MC
ya’ll can talk about all the swagger you want, but
that don’t make you a dope rapper to me

ya’ll MCs like to talk about your swagger
but to me you look a little strung out, like Mick Jagger
so here’s my rebuttal to ya’ll, I’m no bragger
but these lyrics will penetrate your heart, like a dagger
see I don’t got time to waste with these braggarts
rappers burn like bundles of sticks, I call ‘em faggots
on the mic., claiming you spit bullets like pistol
best rapper alive? oh shit – I must have missed you
you’re whole facade is transparent like a ghost
I’m a psych major, ya’ll too easy to diagnose
like the way you walk around on stage could hide your lack of skill
riding the promoter’s dick, the reason why you’re on the bill
I ain’t got no swagger, man, I don’t need that
want me to conform to the norm? fuck the feedback
my lyrics much deeper than that, but ya’ll don’t see that
I’ll be writing rhymes while you’re smoking a tree-sack

NO SWAGGER, I ain’t got NO SWAGGER
I don’t need swagger to be an MC
ya’ll can talk about all the swagger you want, but
that don’t make you a dope rapper to me
(x2)

What is an MC?
a microphone controller/
if you can’t move the crowd, you can’t rock the mic/
and if that crowd that you move consists of your crew,
then you really don’t know if your skills are tight/
see a lot of these rappers talk about their swag
acting like they spit chronic when it’s really some shwag
just because you’re dressing fly don’t mean that you’re ruling G
professing that you’re cool to me, but looking like a fool to me
you ain’t no MC, just another rapper wannabe
swagger-like you try to be, cuz you saw it on BET
spittin bullshit frequently,
you look like a freak to me
you think that you’re addressing the crowd, but you don’t speak to me
see I don’t have swagger man, I got style
oh you’re a dope MC? let me hear you freestyle
looking fresh to death, but you ain’t saying nothing
no swagger over here, but at least I’m saying something

NO SWAGGER, I ain’t got NO SWAGGER
I don’t need swagger to be an MC
ya’ll can talk about all the swagger you want, but
that don’t make you a dope rapper to me
(x2)

Shifting Sands

I chose this life
but I didn't choose my genes;
a rippling of unfettered waves
upon a rocky shore.

I’ll keep walking
even though my feet are sore,
even though my eyes are watery and crusted over,
even though my head is weary.

I can learn to overstand my circumstances
and to see my mind from a dispassionate vantage point.

I don’t know if I asked to be born,
but I was;
I don’t ask to keep waking up,
but I do.

To know what I know,
to believe what I believe and feel what I feel,
these are like the staining of glass
over the retinas of my eyes,
the erosion of stones over billions of years,
the shifting of sands beneath the rocks upon the shore.

THE CYPHER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Monthly Event, The Cypher, is Filling the Void in Toronto’s Hip Hop Community

Toronto-born organization, Hip Hop Headz (H3), is determined to build a permanent monument on the GTA’s hip hop landscape.

“Hip Hop culture manifests through the creative self-expression of individuals who embody its spirit in their respective art forms. This power of spontaneous creativity, the unification of a community for the great purpose that is Hip Hop, happens at The Cypher.” – H3



Toronto, ON – Feb. 2, 2011 – The main goal of The Cypher is to preserve and contribute to the expression of hip hop’s fundamental elements by allowing local artists to showcase their unique talents and skills. Any artist who shows up has the opportunity to perform in cyphers, which are literally a circle of MCs/rappers each taking a few minutes on the mic, either freestyling or reciting written verses, and then passing it on to the next performer. All MCs get the opportunity to perform along-side each other regardless of skill level or amount of experience, a feature of The Cypher which levels the playing field for artists while still allowing the most talented performers an opportunity to stand out and be recognized. To date, over a hundred artists have participated in The Cypher from the GTA and beyond. While primarily started as an MC-focused event, The Cypher has evolved to more equally emphasize other hip hop elements such as DJing, beat-boxing, live instrumental production, and is expanding to get the involvement of the break-dancing community.

Lack of cohesion, lack of support, lack of unity – these terms are just a few of the descriptors that fit the view of many artists in Toronto’s hip hop community. Specifically for young MCs/rappers – an abundance of which has created an over-saturated market – Toronto can be a difficult environment for artists looking to perform, shine, and have their voices heard. It is partially in response to these unmet needs thatHip Hop Headz (H3) (an organization founded by local artist MC FÜBB) created The Cypher – a monthly event that gives any artist who shows up and opportunity to perform, network, practice and master their craft.

There are also a few spots reserved at The Cypher for featured artists to perform their own sets; featured artists have included Toronto nativeMindbender (Urbnet Records), Durham Region’s Sha Prince and Flex (aka The Antiheroes, 9-0 Nickel Entertainement), and numerous other local acts. All cyphers occur over music supplied by a live DJ spinning hip hop instrumentals; featured DJs have included Toronto legend DJ Grouch (Turnstylez DJ Crew, Scratchlab Institute). Local producers also have an opportunity to have their music played at The Cypher; up and coming Toronto artist Rich Kidd (production credits for Billy Danze feat. Busta Rhymes, Frank n Dank, Saukrates, K-OS, and dozens more) was recently featured and showcased his beats for MCs to rap over.

The Cypher takes place on the second Wednesday of every month at Augusta House (152a Augusta Avenue). The next instalment of The Cypher takes place on Weds. Feb. 9 and is featuring DJ P-Plus (Flow 93.5 – The Real Frequency, appearances on BET, MuchMusic, P3 Entertainment).

Official promo video for The Cypher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnDLuuf1dX0

Facebook page for The Cypher: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=144109485785

Hip Hop Headz (H3) website: http://www.theh3.com/



For all inquiries, please contact:


Daniel Farb aka MC FÜBB
Hip Hop Headz (H3) Founder
647-201-9161
hiphopheadzh3@gmail.com
http://www.theh3.com/

###

Hard to Bear

Static swamp
of festering muck.
The only sounds are the croaks of frogs
and the erratic bubbling of gases.

I’ve lived with depression for most of my life.

From days when I was too young to name it,
to the inside of a psychiatric ward
where the nurse wrote down the word
“dysthymia”
on a piece of paper;
should I have cringed,
should I have recoiled at the site
of my not-so-personal demon?

Maybe it’s not that I feel too little,
but that I feel so strongly
and then either chastise myself
or numb out completely
that is the source of my suffering.

A gift that I find it difficult to bear
is still a gift,
a load that I call a burden
may not be what I name it.

It’s made me hard and ferocious at times,
weak and malleable at others,
but those experiences cannot fully make me –
I refuse to let them.

I am the ink that flows
and the paper that receives it.
I am the space between us
and I whisper in the voids within us.

I am a poet,
and this much I can bear
with believing.