Mood Music: Life's Soundtrack

"Alma Mater Instrumental" - The Strength


Mood: Curious

Upon one of my many daily visits to the "Neighborhood Co-nuh Stow", there was a guy backpacking his demo out in front of the store. I haven't seen this being done in years; not since "The Internets" have taken over the globe. I approached him and asked for a copy. It seems he had just given the last copy to a guy at the pump. Since I couldn't hear the music myself, I asked him a question to see where his head was at.

"What genre of music are you into?" I asked.

"Hip-Hop, fam! That real street, dirty...." I interrupted him.

"Are you a Rapper or an Emcee?" I asked. I wish I could explain the look on his face. It was as if he started daydreaming and it turned into a nightmare.

"What's the difference?" he finally asked. I, like most of you, already KNOW what the answer to this question is, but it's kind of hard to explain. So, I had to metaphorically come up with an answer to his question.

The way I see it, both are considered Hip-Hop artists. Now, let's use the term "artist" literally; a painter, so to speak.

Painter R loves to paint. He's been looking at paintings for a great part of his life and noticed that he too has a gift for painting. He paints often and one day, someone say some of his paintings and decides to purchase some of his paintings from him. Painter R now tries to sell his paintings to art dealers around the world, and for a decent period of time, he is very successful. Art dealers would come to him with suggestions, ideas, and even requests on what he should paint, because it is what people would buy. Painter R cooperated, but after a while, he paintings aren't selling anymore. Painter R quits painting.

Painter E also loves to paint. He too has been painting for a great part of his life and has a gift for painting. Like Painter R, someone wants to sell his work, which he has become very successful. Eventually, like Painter R, the art dealers suggest that he paint different things so that his paintings would sell, but Painter E refuses. He simply loves to paint and don't care how many painting he will sell. Painter E's paintings aren't selling anymore. He is running out of space in his art studio. He loves to paint.

The difference between rappers and emcees, well one major difference, is that for rappers, it's a career choice. For emcees, it's a way of life. When the money is gone, an emcee is going to do it regardless.

After our deep conversation, he rabbit-eared his pockets and said, "I'm an emcee. I've been giving my discs to anyone that is willing to listen, fam." I laughed as I "dapped" him up. I wrote down my contact info on a random, old business card I had I had in my wallet.

"I'm a producer. Holla at me..." I said. He interrupted.

"You mean, you're a beatmaker." He said, jokingly. "Just fuckin' wit you."

"Be safe," I said as I walked into the store.

He seems to know the difference between a producer and a beatmaker, but we'll get to that another time.

Because of this event, I'm wondering who knows the difference between rapper and emcee. Which one are you? Show me. The track at the beginning of this post? I want all you "emcees" out there to take that track, do your thing over it, and send it back to me. (beatmasonrymusic@gmail.com) I'm curious to hear what any of you could do on this track. This one seems to be a lot of people's favorite.

The track's format is as follows:
Intro
Hook (8 bars each)
1st Verse (16 bars each)
Hook
2nd Verse
Hook
3rd Verse
Hook
Outro

Download Alma Mater Instrumental©
Produced by The Strength for Black Pentagon Entertainment

Alma Mater Copyright© Beat Masonry Music. For promotional use only. Not for resale.

Mood Music: Life's Soundtrack

"Give Me Just Another Day" - The Miracles


Mood: Amused

This has happened to everyone; or maybe you, like myself, have found yourself in this situation, but everyone has had a random stranger walk up to them and ask for something, whether it was money, a ride "up the street", or anything. Usually, I wouldn't mind helping people out. I mean, at one point, I was that dude, and I don't look like a pleasant-type of guy, so people would "run" before helping.

What I find funny are the people that ask for "help" and act as if I owe them.

I went to visit my whip at the shop, as I do often (I miss my baby), and a random gentleman approached the vehicle.

"Hey there, blood? Which direction are you headed," he asked. I mean, dude looked eighty, but he's probably in his fourties; rough life, I imagine. I saw him walk from the 7-11 across the street. He stank...really bad. Like urine and Joose. "Are you headin' t'wards Wilco?"

"Nah, fam," I answered. And I wasn't, especially since there wasn't even a Wilco in that area. Plus, this nigga might stink up my seats or something. 7-11 was probably out of his favorite flavor of Joose. He walked away, but then returned as soon as I started up the engine.

"Damn," he responded. "Well, do you have a few dollars so I can get me something to eat?" Yeah, the nigga asked me for a few dollars as if I know him. See, now there's a couple things wrong with this picture. First, I don't know this dude. Second, if he were REALLY in need, I doubt that he would have on the fresh AF 1s on, OR the Jesus-piece, fake or not, around his neck. He did, however, have on a Fubu T-shirt. Yes, Fubu. And it was the old-ass T with the big-ass "FB" on the front. Hey, maybe that's his brand.

"Nah, fam," I again answered. "I have some change though...."

"What the fuck can I do wit sum change, nigga?" Yes, this nigga DID just pop off at me. If he needed it, or hell, if he knew his hustle, he would've taken the change, right? Either that, or he was setting himself up to rob me, but in broad daylight in front of a business filled with people? I doubt it. Well, this brought out the jerk in me.

"Well, maybe you could cop a irregular t-shirt from Scottsman. You have on Fubu. Fubu, nigga? Fubu? Really," I replied with a grin. Yeah, I know. Real asshole-ish of me, but 'do onto others', right? He started it.

"Fuck you, then!" He mumbled as he started walking away. He asked me for some "help" and I offered what I had, just to get a "Fuck you"? Aight.

"Peel tar, ol' nigga! Go pawn yo' chain and buy you an Obama t-shirt from the gas station!" He stuck his middle fingers up at me as I drove off blasting Surgical Gloves. And yeah, I laughed. Loudly. I literally lol'ed.

Anyone in my fam can tell you that I'm the first person to help people out. Shit, there was a time where I was in that man's shoes, so I don't mind helping people.

Sigh, oh well. I didn't do my good deed for today.

"I'm gonna make it better tomorrow."

Mood Music: Life's Soundtrack

"Affanno" - Franco Micalizzi


Mood: Heroic

As with all families and friends, I am usually the person to come to with issues, good or bad. Recently, however, I've become part of an issue, or should I say, my child has. I will not go into specific details, but someone (we'll just call this person "Asshole" for now) decides to attempt to make someone else take the fall for his responsibility, or lack of, in this case. Usually, I would only offer advice on how to fix this situation, but this issue involves my son, which has placed me in the middle of the situation.

My brother could tell you, the way we were raised, you do NOT mess with family. That is a code that we live by. You mess with family, you deal with us. And living the life that I have lived, messing with our children and their well-being....well, that's almost certain death. And somehow, law enforcement officials are now involved.

Nothing personal, but growing up how I grew you, you'd gain a dislike for the law.

Long story short, because of my responses to the situation, Asshole's plan has backfired, and all is well, at least for now.

I guess, I should call off my "peoples" watching his house, huh....