In keeping my blog updated I feel talking about the first mixtape track by track and how it all started out would give fans and supporters some more knowledge about me and about the process behind everything I do.
Firstly I had never intended on making a mix-tape. In all honesty I just had some lyrics and a few instrumentals that I used to spit over. It wasn’t until my dude Pat let me borrow his mic that any recording got done. The recording process was rough as all I was given were the USB mic and a small desktop stand. I had never recorded anything or mixed anything before so I just fooled around. Once I dropped my first track Sword Play I started putting together more tracks until it led up to me releasing a small mix-tape.
The release was a little rushed as I never intended to release my mixtape to the public. I was just gonna record it and show it to some friends, it wasn’t until I wanted to hear what others had to say that I put it up for download. I threw together some audio samples for a quick intro and outro, threw the files in a zip with some cover art, signed up for myspace among many social networking sites and started gaining fans.
Sword Play
Sword Play was one of the first tracks I recorded and will always be one of my favorite tracks. From the instrumental to the lyrics the track rocks heavy and when listened to makes your head nod automatically. Lyrically Wise heavy syllable word play is key in my flow. The instrumental is from a New York based rapper who calls himself Bekay. His track is hot, but after hearing the instrumental I couldn’t help but spit over it. All in all I couldn’t be more satisfied with the track.
Blind
Blind was a track I had written when I first started writing. The lyrics were written the previous year when I was 16 and stashed away in a folder on my computer somewhere. It wasn’t until I rediscovered them that I decided to record the track. It was hard finding a suitable instrumental to go along with the lyrics. After some searching I discovered an instrumental with a Yann Tiersen sample, who just happens to be the soundtrack composer for one of my favorite films Amelie. After getting the instrumental I applied the words to it, wrote a hook and produced the track. I’m not satisfied with the vocal recording, but for what I had at the time I’m proud of how everything played out. Shit could have sounded a lot worse.
Microphone Vibing
When writing this track all that was running through my mind was how Rap has gone downhill over the past few years. No one really vibes on the mic anymore and those that do are underground. I found a nice beat and just applied some words to it. I’m not attacking anyone directly with this track, this just goes out to all whack rappers in general.
Doom
This has to be another one of my favorites. I wasn’t in the happiest mindset when writing this song as anyone can tell. The instrumental is heavy along with the word play. For those who actually listen to and understand my words I have much appreciation. This track is a banger for sure, real raw and gritty and that’s what I love about it.
The Microphone Villain
This track vibes real nice, total head-nodder in every aspect. Lyrically wise it just revolves around me being a villain on the mic crushing other Emcees who claim to keep it live. The track is self explanatory play it on repeat and nod your head.
Embrace Today
Embrace Today is a feel good track, it deals with me realizing that my situation is never as bad as it may seem. When I sit back and analyze my current situation no matter how fucked it may be I realize that there are people in this world who don’t have shit. I am among the fortunate and anyone who is reading this right now is too. The world is filled with places that we’ll never visit and full of individuals who go through struggle worse than us everyday, I’m not saying that no one struggles in this track, I’m just stating that there are many others who are less fortunate than us and that’s my word.
Cries of Addiction
This is another oldie, it was written when I was upset with my father’s actions. I’ve never really had a father, as he’s always struggled with his own complications. His actions only led him on a path to lock up many times. On top of that he was never one to support me or my mother which I highly disapprove of. Anyone who can relate to this track has dealt with struggle, but as we grow it only makes us stronger.
Lord of the Damned
Firstly this is a concept track, being a rapper I feel that creativity and versatility in writing should always be practiced. On this track in my head I had a bunch of crazy concepts about life without others and me just eliminating all life to find bliss. Lord of the Damned is a title that I just drew out from my thoughts. I’m not the happiest character and if you’ve listened in to my tracks it’s not hard to tell that I express myself a lot with my words.
Defacing
This has to be one of the oldest tracks I’ve written. I was in a real shitty state of mind and wasn’t content with who I was as a person at the time. I felt as if I didn’t know myself or the world that surrounds me. There are times when I still feel this way, but day by day I learn more about myself, the world that I inhabit and the life forms in it. There are days where I just find myself feeling out of place with everyday society, it’s just hard to relate sometimes. I’m not one to express emotion so I do it through my music.
I hope everyone who has read this can appreciate and continue showing me support. Hip Hop is about fans who support and help spread the word. That’s all I ask of anyone who listens, just spread the word to your friends and tell them to do the same. I’m not here to spit about the chains around my neck or “how cool drugs are”, I’m a substance free individual that’s not even my lifestyle. I’m here to put out tracks that express my current state of mind and express struggles in life. Whether it’s a lyrical composition about me being iller than your favorite local rapper, or it’s dealing with struggles that we all face on a day to day basis. All I ask is that if you feel what I do support me.
Thanks,
-Jon
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