Words from Noyz - Through the Wall

Here are some humble words from my homie Noyz, who produced the entire ITFONA album:

"My goal with 'Shadow Gallery' was to create an album front to back with no other MC's. My goal with 'In The Face of No Agreement' was to do the opposite and hold down the production for an entire album. Fubb reached out to me late in the process of the album and asked me to have a verse prepared for the album's last song. He sent me a reference recording with his verses on it and I didn't want to do it because he bodied the track and I've had difficulty in the past writing to my own beats (as strange as that sounds). It took me a while to grow to like my verse but I still feel I got outshined on this by Fubb. The beat on this bangs though. I felt this was my strongest beat on the whole project. "

http://mcfubb.bandcamp.com/track/through-the-wall-feat-noyz

"I brought out my inner demons

hidden meanings in my scribbles as I pitted reason in a bitter region,

it's surrounded by insanity

the freedom of letting go

battles the security of holding on,

we never know

until we're free falling

cut cords, we keep calling

to release everything we keep balled in/

blunt force, now I'm bleeding through the wall

using it to write my music as a troubadour,

moving as the future calls

producing for the soundtrack of my destiny

a moving score, beautiful compositions, I view the war

standing in the midst of it

gathering the images

I channel through my fingertips

imagining the vividness

of words brought to life,

Fubb is the playwright

who resurrects them after I illumnate the gravesites

the pace might quicken,

the stage lights dimming,

we erase night giving great sight to your vision"

Album Review: Phat Tony and Theo3 - The 2 Week EP

Phat Tony and Theo3 - 2 Week EP: http://yungsanta.bandcamp.com/

The 2 Week EP is a street symphony, not just for the ghetto, but for the everyday citizen struggling to navigate and survive any urban landscape. On the intro track, Just Tryin' to Provide (Yung Santa), Theo raps with a beautifully paced double time flow, while also dabbling with some singing on the hook, executing both ends of the vocal spectrum very well. Lyrically, Theo touches on issues ranging from daily worries about financial security, to staying “every day ready for political disruption” in the city of Toronto (G20 reference included). The issues being expressed on Yung Santa are anything but simple - centered on the artist’s commitment to grow and develop in the world while at the same time facing resistance both from external circumstances and what seems to be an overactive critical analysis of himself. All the while, the necessities of working every day to literally survive in society remain a prevalent concern in the artist’s mind. While speaking from his own experience, Theo is able to touch on problems faced by anyone committed to greatness in the world, and expresses the inner-workings of his own mind and perspectives eloquently.

The second track, Outerspace, is perhaps the most experientially captivating of all the tracks on the EP. While production on the entire album is solid, Phat Tony definitely outdoes himself on this track. The creative use of guitar rhythms with futuristic sounding synthesizers and melodic samples with impeccably tuned effects come together smoothly over a beat that uses the hand-clap instead of a snare (all without sounding cheesy). Theo’s verses on Outerspace really are out of this world, with lines like: “grabbed on the back of a satellite to catch a flight / rode past Saturn with Gladys Knight / flashing lights / travelled through the Milky Way, landed on Mars / trade bars with the R on the back of Jimi’s guitar.” Ironically, it seems that Theo’s goal on this track is to bring gassed up rappers (claiming that their rhymes are “out of this world”) “right back to earth” – and he does so quite effectively, literally taking his lyrics into the cosmos.

Theo expresses the toll that the “struggling to survive and provide” paradigm has played on his psyche on the third track, Down. Opening with a series of “what ifs,” he expresess fears ranging from insanity to the fear that all the hard work and energy he's expended on his career will ultimately not pay the bills. Of all the questions Theo asks on this track, with intense flows and an almost frantic sounding tone at times, the one that stands out the most is: “when will I learn to give myself credit?” Lines like this really encompass the internal struggle that a lot of people (not just artists) face in modern society, adding to the The 2 Week EP’s cultural relevance.

Theo, always a beast on the track, dishes out a mix of precision double time flows and innovative pacing on Find These Things in You. Phat Tony’s production shines brightly on this track, with hard hitting, layered, trumpet-sounding hits and beautifully placed drums. In contrast to the previous track, Theo’s message is uplifting and inspirational, bringing forth his inner confidence and MC showmanship. Despite the trying circumstances he faces, Theo expresses his desire to continue “chasing after greatness,” because “amazing never happens if you stand around pacing.” True that!

Coming full circle on the EP’s final track, Theo articulates his goal to be the Greatest on Your Playlist, a commitment that carries him through the struggles he experiences. Riding not just for himself, but also for the hip hop culture that he loves and fears is dying, Theo experiments with different flows and cadences on this track – refreshing in an industry where the sound popular music is becoming increasingly homogenized. Again referencing himself as his own worst enemy, Theo writes: “Do you know what it’s like to be your arch-rival/‘cause your mind’s always bringing up the archival,” perhaps alluding to his tendency to over-analyze past experiences. If there’s one great insight in Theo’s writing throughout the Yung Santa EP, it’s that we as human beings internalize the obstacles we face in society, and are forced to wrestle with them internally. It takes a strong will and resolute commitment to something greater than oneself to maintain artistic integrity while at the same time staying relevant to listeners. Theology 3 balances this dichotomy very well, and is definitely one of the true MCs holding it down for hip hop culture in the world.

If there’s one complaint I have about this project, it’s that it’s too damn short! Phat Tony and Theo3 need to make a full length album together in the future, one which will allow Theo to touch on a wider range of topics and share more of his insights and diverse flows with listeners. Cop this album (and the entire Theo3 catalogue for that matter) and support dope hip hop. Theo – keep your head up! This is one member of the “Screwface Capitol” is proud to have you as a resident.

Background info about the EP:

Toronto Hip Hop heavyweight Theo3 (DJ Eclipse’s 2010 Sleeper song of the year “It’s Theo3”) and much sought after producer Phat Tony created the eclectic and richly textured “2 Week EP” during 14 days in December. Phat Tony constructed a living, breathing musical landscape while Emcee Theo3 slid in the upstairs studio everyday after work as Coordinator of the newly opened Parkdale Youth Space in downtown west Toronto. The result is a descriptive and genre blending menu of social awareness, tongue in cheek braggadocio and topical rhymes laid out over an eye popping array of soulful musical productions. The deft mixing touch of legendary Toronto DJ and producer Scam of Time Bandits music gives the whole “2 Week EP” a new dimension of fullness and Universal appeal.

2 weeks to create, 2 weeks to mix and 2 weeks from the Beatz to the Streetz graduate showcase on January 25th 2011, Phat Tony & Theo3 release “the 2 week EP” with the goal of raising $1500 for Toronto youth program Beatz to da Streetz. Purchase it now at yungsanta.bandcamp.com for $3 and up!

Beatz to da Streetz is a youth-led arts program that aims to provide a safe and supportive space for youth ages 16-24. The program leverages the powerful connection between young people and music to promote opportunities for creative expression and self-discovery, building life skills opening access to professional mentorship, education and income generation for marginalized youth ages 16-24. The program reintegrates youth with their communities and gives supports for achieving long-term livelihood development

Phat Tony & Theo3 are Toronto Hip Hop artists with an extensive track record of International success and critical acclaim. With 2 highly rotated singles to their credit, How I Flow part 1 and Turnaroundagain!, fans have eagerly anticipated the new release. Stream & Purchase the 2 Week EP today. Blog it, Share it and Play it Loud!!

credits

released 11 January 2011
Written and performed by THEO3
Produced by PHAT TONY
Mixed by SCAM of TIME BANDITS MUSIC
Guitar additions by SY WYLD

Poetry Chapbook Review: Paki Lover by Andy Carrington

Paki Lover is a short chapbook by Andy Carrington, an aspiring poet from the UK. While labelled as a poetry compilation, the experience of reading Paki Lover was more akin to reading stream of consciousness prose of the main character from Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground (albeit not with the same psychological depth or to same extents of depravity). Focused on his own experiences in modern British society, Carrington expresses a tone of apathy, cynicism, and utter disgust throughout his poems at the blatant racism, inequalities, and violent social rifts he perceives in the world around him.

Though frequently cutting his anger with doses of sarcasm and an even sometimes humorous tone, Carrington expresses a clear struggle with holding his own liberal beliefs in what he perceives as an overwhelmingly conservative and traditional society. Sickened by the racial intolerance and prejudice around him, the poet is met with ignorant opposition when he shares his views publicly, being called a “LIBERAL CUNT” (pg. 23), “PAKI LOVER” and “pro-immigration supporting / QUEER” (pg. 21). Carrington conveys a sense of internal conflict to stay true to his values while at the same time operate within society. He even struggles not internalize the discriminatory contexts he overhears, reads, and comes across every day, writing: “I betrayed my race” (pg. 25) in a seemingly sarcastic and somewhat defeated tone. A poem called Childhood Gone by contributing poet Chetna Patel illuminates the harsh reality of being a victim of the racism and bigotry that Carrington describes, with the poet wondering “Why did we move here?” The impacts of the ongoing discrimination faced by the poet are painfully evident in the poem’s closing lines: “I’m barely even / eleven years old // By my childhood, / it would seem, / is already over.”

Carrington alludes a few times throughout his poems to relying on drinking to ease the stress of his life, writing that he feels “content that this is my only / form of freedom and given right / as an individual” (pg. 10). Rather than resist his own lifestyle, he seems rather to embrace his “choice to scrape / by with limited means” as his “only / fucking viable alternative” to giving into the status quo of prejudice and societal illness that he perceives around him. Though Paki Lover may be a bit difficult to swallow for some readers, the chapbook does end on brighter, more hopeful note. In the last poem, The Fight for Love, Carrington expresses the truths he holds dear to his heart. Quoting the words of someone close to him, he writes: “‘The division of colour, / the division of class, / they’re both false; // the only real and true / thing here…is love’” concluding that he’s “not ashamed / now to say that I think / you may be right” (pg. 27). Despite all lines of discrimination in society and his own internal conflicts, the poet comes back to his ideals and chooses to stand by his liberal values. For Carrington, it seems, there is a reason for hope in the future.

Direct link to the Paki Lover http://www.andycarrington.co.uk/pakilover

Link to Andy Carrington’s website: http://www.andycarrington.co.uk

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)