when your sh*t's not on the ball...who you gonna call?

This is a lot to take in. Have a listen to the first 40 seconds of this before you start.

 All good?

This group: “Pharcyde” consists of South Central rappers: Imani, Bootie Brown, Fatlip, and Slimkid3. They’re known for their jazzy vibes and conscious lyrics.

And apparently they smoke alotta weed. Not flaunted in the way you would think – this is a chill ass group.

Now for the song. Peep. There are some guests as well.

lyrics aqui: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/pharcyde/the+hustle_20107935.html

This video speaks to me, because of my definition of a “Hustle:” any grind/work objective you have that gets you to a certain goal. Mine right now is school, because I “want more than the equal” as said in the chorus. Not trying to hurt anybody in the process, but I want a bit more for myself. 

So… the song starts out with a sort of controversial, yet conscious skit. “JIVE ASS NIGGA WHERE’S MY MONEY?!”

Bootie Brown then opens up with his ever so conscious line of: “looking to advance in this world that’s monopolized” but doesn’t make any mentions of harming anyone to get to his goal.

He’s a “lone desperado on the come up” and has seen his friends go under in jail and people being lazy “when their shit’s not on the ball.” He’s gotta do his thing to get out of the jam. I aint mad at him.

THE CHORUS

“Some do it illegal Brothas just want more than their equal
Tryin not to get coated up in the evil This goes out to all my
Hustling people... Just do it do it do it... do it do it do it”

- JUST DO IT!

Next we got the man Schmooche spitting about how he sees problems (“smoke”) and people don’t know how to act (“choke”) – but he’s got it together like “Russell Simmons [and he] likes the womens, the hers not hims.” DING DING! Rapper status symbol!

-       He’s got his shit together and ONLY likes women; we real men must flaunt our sexuality.

He also shows that him being on his shit has the ladies going crazy – had ‘em seeing “triple visions, blue mountaintops and purple valleys – hangin eypps in the alley.” WOO!

-       To be honest, I don’t know exactly what to think of that but I am sure that he is saying that since he is on his grind, “in his pockets stack[ing] ends.”

Then again, couldn’t you already tell by his name what he was about? Duh. His “matrimony to this playa shit til death do us part!”

 

Bow; number three…there was Randy Mac – have you noticed that none of these artists besides Bootie Brown weer actually in the group? This doesn’t downplay their credibility, however.  They’re just as conscious. Don’t believe me? Peep the song at the bottom.

However, Randy Mac points out one main thing that most rappers wont – “puffin doja (weed) in the south central streets keep him [para]noid.” For most, weed is the best stimulator!

-       He just knows to watch his surroundings when he is on his grind, because those whom you surround yourself with could be those who plot your downfall.

It’s lovely how he points out substances are detrimental to him but he keeps doing them – he is showing that it is alright to be a confused human.

Him “Blazin endo stems sippin yack (Cognac) and straight Hen[nessey]; gettin twisted out of shape like a pretzel…comin wit more crossover appeal than Van Exel” just shows that he knows what he’s doing wrong, but it’s cool…he’s on his hustle!

But like I said before, he knows who not to be around. “[He] spot the fake the scandalous dulo one-time popo & the jakes.” Keyword: fakes and popo! Not what a hustler needs in his life. Especially when “maintain self preservation in Cali!”

Latly, there is Big Boy – “the nigga in charge over here!” HNIC! 

“Crime paid – now rhyme pays”

He’s also flaunting his gear in how he can buy anything with his old way, getting “5 for 1.” He used to smoke weed but is over that with his Nino Brown reference. There is also a Spanish refence in here to point out his smoothness – “so suavecito my negrito” – welcome to Cali! With his “fat backs (big booty girls) and fat stacks (money)” he is happy. None of this would’ve been possible without his hustle.

Then you hear the chorus over and over with the lingereing of the phrase: “we gotta hustle yall, we gotta hustle” puts us in our place. Hustling is key.

JUST DO IT DO IT DO IIIIITTT!!!!

Peace to The Pharcyde and Phriends.

P.S. Here's the extra video I promised. 

STONES THROW

Since we've been discussing the L.A. Underground Scene, I've decided to take a look at the acclaimed L.A. record label, Stones Throw. The label was founded in 1996 by legendary DJ/producer Peanut Butter Wolf. Since its beginnings, the label has released music from such names as MF Doom, Dam-Funk, Mayer Hawthorne, and J Dilla.

I find that the records on this label take a completely different approach to underground hip hop than Living Legends and Murs song we watched in class. For one, they are mainly beat focused songs, with little or no attention to lyricism. The songs themselves are also heavily sample based, usually using old soul and jazz records as a stepping stone to the beats. 

When the songs do have lyrics, they are usually highly different than those you'd hear in a normal hip-hop song, or even a typical underground hip-hop song for that matter. Check out Madvillain's (composed of MF Doom and Madlib) track Figaro. 

It should be obvious how different this sounds from the other underground hip-hop we have listened to. For one, the lyrics, which don't have any sort of message and are also not trying to boast or prove anything. They are just simply absurdist. Also, certain sounds in the beats seem to only appear in tracks by producers on Stones Throw.

Stones Throw should be noted for their artistic and advanced take on the underground hip-hop genre. They show that hip-hop doesn't have to be a way of expressing oneself through bragging and maximilist beats, but rather a sound that can be created through crisp beats and avant garde lyricism.

RIP Dilla