I am The Thin Beige Duke. That is my friend and conspirator, @peakay76. We are in the truck, headed to WFYI, 90.1 NPR to talk to the people for an hour. I will be joining @lindsaymanfredi and @317lindquist for a lovely afternoon of conversation. You’re welcome to listen, in fact, it would be appreciated. P.S. - I am #TheTinkerer, the bandages are off and you gon see ME. We make MEN, we make MACHINES. #ATFU #TheTinkerer #LOWER #NaptownSlim #ITagsMines #DigitalGraffiti #Shruglife (Taken with Instagram)
#RustyWrites
‘The Hype And How It Fails You’ - 5/10/12
interesting discussion on my Facebook about this status update I posted;
“One of the worst and most dangerous thing you can do as a person is believe your own hype. Don’t fool yourself.”
You’re SUPPOSED to hype yourself up. No one can represent you better than you and if you can’t show enthusiasm for what you are doing, people won’t believe in you. Why would they? When I see no genuine enthusiasm and pride in what someone is doing, it makes me think their motives are impure.
Check this out; this cat came up to me, hollering and yapping about me being a “legend”. He gave a CD-R of his music in a paper sleeve with Sharpie-writing on the actual CD. (That’s cool. I can live with that. Shit, ALL my work CD’s are like that; I could give every person that hit ‘like’ or responded to this thread some version of ‘LOWER’ that would look just like that. No problem.)
Now, when he told me he was on a major label…and that “A” said this album is the best local album he’s heard since “A’s” own album…? My first thoughts were; “Oh, OK…so this raggedy CD is what you gave me to listen to and you want me to believe that someone at BIG MONEY RECORDS is putting this out…but THIS is what how you’re promoting it?
OH, and “A” probably wouldn’t say that about his own album…I would hope not, cuz it sounds hell arrogant.
Point; I coulda went here…
“Bruh, I don’t buy into all that “Rusty is a legend” shit and neither do you if you would approach me with your music and lie to me like I’m an idiot. If you were on “BIG MONEY RECORDS”, I’d know who you are or someone from your label woulda made sure I did. And you telling me, your peer, the dude you ran up on like you saw someone famous when I’m going in here to fax a contract for a show I booked myself to play music I produced, wrote, recorded, and mixed myself, that your album is the “best local album” since ____ isn’t gonna mean jack to me. Why don’t you just spit in my face, man…do I NOT live here…? Do I NOT have a kajillion things online? Google me, dude.”
…because he was believing his own hype….and the hype “A” gave him, which was likely as much of a lie as the “I’m signed to ______” lie.
…but I am cool…and I just wanted to get the REAL WORK I was doing done…
I took the CD and wished him well in his venture with BIG MONEY RECORDS.
Don’t play yourself. Know who you are talking to…and when you DO know who you are talking to, talk to them like they have some damn sense and you do too.
That’s all.
#SHRUGLIFE #TBM #NAPTOWN #LANON ADIYM
#RustyWrites
To all my fellow artists, my peers, my friends, and people I admire,
I’m sitting here, live from #Naptown, looking at all the music I have created in the last couple months and really trippin…
As an artist, you will see far more obstacles than opportunities. Things will be placed in your way to stop you on purpose. Some people you think are in your corner will not stand by you when the going gets rough. People you love will tell you to quit, without understanding that you are speaking from your soul when you do whatever kinda art it is you do.
Don’t.
This is JUST LIFE for those who are truly ‘ARTISTS’ and using their life’s story to say something and leave SOME kinda legacy behind you when you pass. Yes, I suppose I am in the ‘music business’, but the business of music isn’t what made me write songs. We ain’t talking about the music business right now, we’re talking about ‘art’ and the motivation behind it.
I have something to say.
If you really believe you have something to say, whether you are saying it on canvases with paints, by scratching records back and forth, or by acting on a stage or screen, giving breath and life to someone’s words…don’t you EVER let anyone take your passion from you.
LIVE YOUR LIFE, PUT IT IN YOUR ART.
SOMEONE IS LISTENING…SOMEONE IS WATCHING. IT WILL AFFECT THEM IF YOUR HEART AND SOUL ARE IN IT.
Every part of your life can be used for inspiration, even the bad things. Use ‘em. I’ve had to get very real with life over the last few years. I’ve learned hard, hard, HARD lessons and the thing that kept me sane was being able to put it into art, to bleed it out, to use it to continue living MY LIFE, the real life that I’ve committed myself to living and talking about in my music. I can always get back to ‘me’ through music. It’s a blessing.
Just keep doing the things that you are passionate about, my fellow artists and anyone aspiring to be…Good luck with it all and may your Higher Power help you power through the hard times.
#SHRUGLIFE #TBM #NAPTOWN #ADK #LANON ADIYM
Just noticed that I had 499 pics on here already. I love my eyePhone, man. It allows me to jump off all kinds of stuff creatively, artistically…AND gives me an immediate way to get these ideas, images, and words into the public, the people. My eyePhone has helped me get pictures and thoughts outta my head, then it became the means for me to get those things into the public. I am firmly locked into The Dialogue of Life with people from all over the world. It’s an amazing time to be alive, if you’re really out here tryna live. Anyways, here’s picture #500, a badass sun flare, a filter and The ‘Kid. Keep some sunshine on your shoulders and have someone to talk to. You’ll be aight. #Shruglife. #Pic500 #ATFU is the vibe and the crew. (Taken with instagram)
“#ShrugLife, the Alley, #ATFU, the #OlympicBluntCurlingTeam, need I continue..?” (Taken with instagram)
YYYYEEEEAH!!! Me and my man, @Thesselonious!
#SHRUGLIFE IS THE FAM AND THE WAY!
#ATFU IS THE CREW AND THE VIBE!
#ATFU #TBM MOTIVATIONAL MUSIC…for professionals
‘Get Money, Get Cake (#TBM’s In The Shake Joint) (demo)’ from ‘LOWER’
the spirit of the #BASEDRUSTY took over and the spirit of BAWNOISM is for EVERYBODY.
…but this is motivational music for professional dancers. We can’t be held accountable for what your lady “chooses” to do upon hearing this.
Lessons from the Book Of Bawno.
#TBM ADIYM.
$$$$$. Don’t be mad, go get you some.
It’s what @TedBawno would do.
You don’t know BAWNO?
GO HERE —-> EGOTRIPLAND.COM.
“Thank you, #BASEDRUSTY. Thank you, Ted Bawno…”
#ATFU
RR
“Anger is an energy.” - John Lydon.
Working on some new music. You gotta harness feelings and rein them in for your own purposes. I have often recorded music as therapy when angry, upset, sad. I’ve actually written and recorded happy songs to break me outta bad vibes, as well as dark ones to document them.
It’s all about what you do with your energies, the way you direct them. The way you unleash them. We all have these ‘energies’ (emotions, feelings, etc.) that push us one way or the other and sometimes go into the red. The key is knowing what to do with that energy and how to direct it. You hafta come to grips with it, ride it, and redirect, if necessary.
…at least I do.
Anger is an energy.
#NewTrack #TumblrRap #ATFU
I dig Tumblr. I like the way you can give your posts more flavor with links and such. I really enjoy blogging on this site.
There’s a lotta folks who use Tumblr a lotta different ways, just like Twitter. Lotsa folks use it LIKE Twitter, which at first I admittedly didn’t understand, but once I had Tumblr on my SMARTPHONE, it made that style of posting make perfect sense. It’s like Twitter with cooler pics and more commentary on the eyePhone, man.
Anyway, that leads to the inspiration for this post. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while…and I do it from time-to-time when I post #BARS here, but I put this one together specifically with ‘Tumblr’ in mind.
Here it is, just some a quick minute of Monster Factory shit with the lyrics posted and links for all the goofy stuff I reference. I’m a big fan of sneaking punchlines into #BARS, not in a “leaving the word ‘like’ outta similes” way, but in a way where wordplay will lead you back to the reference. Sometimes, I’ll use the background vocal to lead the listener back to the reference, #aswell. Lotsa cats do it, it ain’t like I’m doing anything brand-new, but I’ve been findings ways to avoid the word ‘like’ in rhymes for a while.
‘Tumblr Rap 1’ - Rusty Redenbacher (#ATFU)
I am The Natural, Roy Hobbs, on mics and decks.
I drop an album one week and start a new one the next.
Slay the best rappers alive via fax or text
You want the best, I bring the best so expect nothing less.
I take the stress and tell em, ‘Meh. gimme more.’
I whip it, whip it, whip it, like Demi Moore
I’m devo………ted to my clan and my hood
Never question that, always bring the blessings back
#ATFU, yes we back, just another lesson, Black
Yeah, and I’m flexing that legend rap, address the facts
Pushin forward for all the busters tryna set us back.
Just a lil somethin…staying sharp.
Rawkawn.
#GCE #IAintShit #GMEP #ATFU
Our man from upstate New York, GM. Always rough, rugged, and raw; raps from the guts. We been rocking with GM for a while, now we gotta give y’all the proper introduction over here.
Check out his newest video for ‘I Ain’t Shit’ and visit Refined Hype at the link below to download ‘GMEP’, the homey’s latest work. It’s some true boom-bap real-life shit, just like we act it and proudly endorse. Watch for collaborations from #GCE and #ATFU in the near future…
Refined Hype - #TwitterListeningSessions - GM - ‘GMEP’ (post with DL Link)
#GCE
#ATFU - we add on…
YUUUUUP!!!! @GM518360’s joint & the download link for #GMEP. Get it. #Shruglife jams and all that…we HERE.
Hey kids.
Do you like Zapp?
Do you like XMas music?
Well, have I got something for you.
This is by @mootbooxle on Twitter.
A ferociously experimental and talented individual.
It’s funky Christmas music with a talkbox on it.
If you like it, you can download the full album!
And get to know what the daddy of autotune sounded like.
If you can’t remember your Peter Frampton.
Or Zapp.
FOLLOW @MOOTBOOXLE NOW!!!!!
I gotta make some music with this dude.
#SHRUGLIFE JAMS.
And I realized something.
In part, why I am invested in his music.
It comes down to the fact that I know him.
I know I would like his music regardless of that.
But it does add something.
A long time ago, when Halifax was momentarily being talked about as the new Seattle by people who need…
Honored…and GLAD to know @MrWordsworth. That’s why the link is there, yo. Meet the homey.
and here’s the EP that THREE versions of that ‘Hello?’ record are on…
Download ‘The Minion’ here. (Free EP on Bandcamp)
#JunieMorrison #GrannysFunkyRollsRoyce
When I was liiiiiittle boy, my Uncle Marc made sure to educate me on the FUNK. I’m thankful for these lessons to this day.
You may very well know Junie Morrison as the keyboardist for the Ohio Players in their early days. He’s sooo nasty with it, man. That “WEEEEEE DEEEEDLE DEE DEEEE” sound you’ve heard sampled from ‘Funky Worm’ a kajillion times…? That’s all Junie. The ‘Granny’ voice… “Play it now.”…all Junie. Junie fonkay dennamug, man.
He had an album called ‘Freeze’ that I LOVED as a kid cuz my Uncle Marc would have me CRACKING UP off the ‘Granny’ interludes. It’s probably one of the first albums I can recall having ‘skits’ on it, as you will hear on the intro to this song. The single edit just starts with the drum fill, but the intro makes it so much more for the ‘Kid when it does kick in. So epic. This song and ‘The Cookies Will Get You’ were on repeat like a mug.
When I worked at Rockin’ Billy’s, this kid named Zach used to come in to buy used soul records and rap to me about what he was discovering. He was about 16 when we met and his older brother worked with someone who was close to me, so we had that in common and eventually, we had a lotta similarities when it came to musical taste. I told him about this Junie album and if he ever found it to GRAB that joint IMMECHATLEEEEE!!
Zach went off to college and continued his quest for knowledge AND the funk. He returned one summer and came thru the store. He asked me if I had found the ‘Freeze’ album, which I hadn’t. He said ‘Well, I did’ and pulls up a perfect copy of it.
“WHAT? WHAT?! DUDE, you gotta burn that to a CD for me!”
“Nah, I bought that for you, man. I found it at a flea market. I knew how much you wanted it.”
Wow. Just WOW. One of the coolest things that has ever happened for me, as a fan of music and culture and being a record-hawk. Just too cool.
About six months later, I got a call from his brother. He had bad news. My homey had fallen into a diabetic coma and never woke up. It hurts me to even type that out. He was such a great kid. It was the ultimate punch in the nuts. Dude was way too young and I had JUST talked with him, man. I had only gotten to know him through our love of music, but I really did look forward to seeing more of the cat. I just couldn’t believe it. I still can’t sometimes.
But, now, when I listen to Junie Morrison or the early Ohio Players stuff, not only do I think of my funky Uncles, but I think of my young pal, Zach, who was kind enough to remember that there was a dude at the record-store at home that really loved that music and blessed me by returning a piece of my childhood I thought would only live in my memories.
So, I wanted to share this with y’all and I hope you like it. It’s from me, my Uncle Marc and my pal, Zach…we all know it’s funky and we all wanna share.
Peace…and save that money so YOU can get a funky Rolls Royce…or #maby you’ll get one for your birthday.
(P.S. - Life is short. Live this shit, man.)
#GoVols
“LOOK OVER THERE, FIN!!”
*lets air outta one tire so Fin be goin in circles all day #Nshit*
Yo, you can follow my man Fin, cuz he’s the coolest, but I had to rep for the homey…you know what it is….#CULTOFJHOBON
Follow @iWalkless, he cool dennafan, except today…but follow my dude.
