Part II: Thorough Lee E. P.eace Be Still

Not only do you write your own lyrics, you also produced both albums along with Ced Linus.  With this project how was the creative process? Music then lyrics? Vice versa? The creative process with these last two albums was for the most part music first, then lyrics, on a few songs the concept may have already been birthed but not actually written down, on the song Ced Linus produced-Hague Lake, that was like picture perfect. He sent me the track one evening and no exaggeration, I wrote that song in like 15 minutes. I sent it back to him within like 45 minutes. Wrote the song, recorded it and it sent back to him for feedback.

-...'and if she hindering your growth you better terminate her..."One Day (terminather) please tell me the mind set when creating this track? Did u hear the music and come up with the concept or was this already brewing?? Lol!!!! Terminather. Sigh...this concept was already there. When I made the music, I already had in my mind that I wanted it to sound like it could be on the Terminator movie, end of the world like. To be candid, I was on the verge of calling off my engagement. So I went in w/ the climate of the song already in my heart.

Too Much To Dream is a classic example of the versatility of hip hop storytelling using metaphors.  Anyone from a Christian to a criminal can relate to the lyrics. How did this song come into fruition?

Too much to dream....well I'm a born dreamer. I tell Ced Linus all the time that most cats don't dream, they fantasize. In my opinion, fantasies can stagnate you but dreaming helps keep you alive. People tell me I dream too much all the time, so that song is a part of my everyday life. The alcohol references came from me trying to reach a close friend who struggles w/ the bottle. Life happens every day, I long to persevere through the daily attacks of the opposition. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

The Girl is a Woman.  Very reminiscent of a 90s hip hop record; beat & lyrics "don’t they know this chemistry they just can’t stop." The beat changes here then starts back up with gritty down to earth bars featuring the booming voice of Ced Linus.  Who is he & how do u think his abilities to write & produce compliment both projects?

Lol! Ced Linus? Who is he? He's the 1984 version of me. That's my brother, my little cousin, all at the same time. I love that dude. His writing style compliments mine I feel because I'm a stream of consciousness writer; I'm all over the place most of the time. And Ced has the ability to focus (like I've got A.D.D. on the mic Lol). His voice is authoritative as well as his message. We are cut from the same cloth, raised in the same family and live by the same structure. So the complimentary aspect is kind of threaded in. His production style compliments me because he tends to get me back on that gritty track when I'm on my indie rock island, as he did on Hague Lake.

In the words of Mr. Lee himself, “if you don’t get it; disregard…..” ‘Nuff said!

J

Check him out:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/thorough-lee-e.-p.eace-be/id546593199

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/life-and-death-in-small-doses/id335893303

I want to start off by expressing much gratitude to Thorough Lee for valuing my opinion and sharing his talents. As the first featured artist on my blog, I wanted to share these two; yes two albums with Hip Hop connoisseurs & people that feel that something is missing from the Hip Hop world, as well as our own personal worlds.   This music speaks to everyone so please listen whole heartedly.  Here’s a peek of the man behind the music and the inspiration behind the music.  Enjoy!

Part One-“Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child

I want to begin with the man behind the music. Of course you are a Norfolk native :) how long have u been on this musical journey? At what point in your life did you come to the realization that you were a messenger of the truth by way of music, lyrics & love? Wow, ok, great question. Honestly, it had to be when I was in the 2nd grade, around '87 or so. This dude named Emery used to make my oldest sister (Kim) mixed tapes like every two weeks and in addition he would give her records. I remember she had the Eric B. and Rakim, "Paid in Full", Run-DMC, "Peter Piper" to name a couple. I learned every word. I scratched those records to hades trying to be a dj. Around the same time I discovered that I could draw, I would take the comics out of the newspapers and draw all the Garfield joints. That's when I really started studying different types of art. I knew I wanted to tell a story of some sort. I'm a very visual person but I knew drawing wasn't it. I soon realized I wanted to make people see my words and my sound. When I hit the 3rd grade it was confirmed. I started raiding my parent’s record collection, I was addicted. 3rd grade was also the start of my actual attempts to write poetry/rap. I met another kid named Terrence Palmer, and it was a done D'.

" ...Two different elements w/ the albums, I wanted to snatch collars on Peace Be Still...then sit em down n talk to em on Spare the Rod.."

Please elaborate on the elements & themes with both albums & what you mean by "snatch collars" & "sit down and talk to em"? What emotions did u want to stir up from your audience? What’s your target audience? Well w/ Peace be still...I was really frustrated w/ black people to be honest! The choices we make, the trends we follow, the treasures we choose. We seem like the most gullible race of people on the planet at times in my opinion. Then the frustration kind of spread to all mankind kind. I would think to myself, "Man, humans are the dumbest people in the world" Lol! But for real. So I guess I kind of take a single parent approach. I'm a single father musically speaking. I get in your face when I need to, read you your rights in a stern manner. Then tell you why and let you know I only beat you because I love you so much. It hurts me more than it hurts you type of thing! Lol! Spare the Rod...is like, look, listen, if I didn't love you I wouldn't have got in your face on Peace be still... like that. How can we say we love someone if we don't offer correction in a flawed situation? And anytime correction is offered, it's to me first. My message is always to me first. And yes, the emotions I wanted to stir up were emotions of anger, emotions leading to people questioning themselves like what I'm I doing? I wanted people to say you know what, I don't have to follow every trend that comes out every week leading me and my family to the poor house, I don't have to like this "artist" because they play him/her 100x a day on the radio or because the vast majority has accepted this person. I don't have to sleep w/ every person under the soon to feel loved or affection, I don't have to let my flesh rule me. Does the car drive the person or does the person drive the car. The spirit is on the inside of the flesh (person), just like the person is on the inside of the car. So it's what's inside that should be the driving force. I can be me, but wait, who am I, what's inside of me? That’s what I wanted the people to think and wonder. And my target audience is the lost and found. Anyone w/ an ear to hear.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/spare-the-rod-spoil-the-child/id546587988

Here goes nothing!

I was on the fence about creating a local music blog but I purchased two albums from one of my favorite local lyricists & was compelled to do it so here goes. I hope to share my perspective on sounds put out by unknown underground artists. All comments & feedback are appreciated as I value everyone's opinions. Can't wait to share my thoughts with whomever is interested! :)