“Cursed writer’s block! [At the time] I was feeling burnt out from shows, some lost tracks, and general [music industry] politics. I decided to take a “sabbatical”. This was my first track back [As far as creating music and writing lyrics], I’m not the type to just watch ESPN, play a little Call of Duty and just start writing a bunch of metaphors in reference to that—and then throw in some roast about your girl. Everything has it’s place, but my style is more like a collection of short-form journal entries tied together.”
Catharsis alternate art
I don’t have to go platinum/ Or even be dubbed hard
The reason I keep rappin’/ Is to pay for my club card
I love music, I love partying and most of all I love when I can do it for free. Throw in some drinks and the occasional paycheck off the game [and I'm good]. I’m addicted to this hip-hop lifestyle (and the rap shit too!).
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the next week or so, we’ll be exploring the new project from Sean E Depp, “Catharsis”. The G.O.D. Hour has gotten together with the Berkeley, CA emcee to discuss the creation, production and lyrics that make this project one to check for in 2010-11.
“Soul Of The City II” Ft. Gee (Prod. By Citizen)
Radio is dead. They rarely play what’s actually popular in the streets, I was just trying to throw some lyrical heat. Some of that smirk and talk shit.
Niggas put twist in/ Stop eaten pigskin/
Think they blacker than me—cuz of Hennessey/ And giggin’
I feel like the definition of what it means to be black in America has been deeply perverted. Black to me, is innovation and critical intellect in the absence of adequate resources. Plugging turntables into street-lamps. I don’t want the youth and outsiders to get it twisted because of sneaky snake radio stations and corporations. Buying a certain brand does not make you black, drinking, or drugs, or doing some stupid-ass dance does not make you black. The black experience makes you black.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the next week or so, we’ll be exploring the new project from Sean E Depp, “Catharsis”. The G.O.D. Hour has gotten together with the Berkeley, CA emcee to discuss the creation, production and lyrics that make this project one to check for in 2010-11.
“Understand” (Prod. By Myers)
[Understudies in-house producer] Myers on the HEAT!!! Picking up where my verses on Bounce Rock and Spilled Milk left off, I wanted to further paint a picture for people of what I have observed and how it has shaped me, growing up in northern California, which is a regional perspective often overlooked…
I’m from a town where a murder rap’s a hit album/ Where they act like David Duke but they claim Malcolm
Simply put, haters wanna hate and fakers are hella fake.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the next week or so, we’ll be exploring the new project from Sean E Depp, “Catharsis”. The G.O.D. Hour has gotten together with the Berkeley, CA emcee to discuss the creation, production and lyrics that make this project one to check for in 2010-11.
“Spilled Milk” Ft. Gee (Prod. By Myers)
“America—home of the slave/ Zombie generation filled on cocaine
My one message to the youth—vasectomy/ Only supposed to be 500 mil—respectively”
Growing up one of my favorite albums was Ice Cube’s Predator. I tried to pay homage to Cube and west coast hip-hop, with Myers hard-hitting stabby drums. Don’t like playing by other people’s rules? Make your own game. Whatever you do don’t just sit around bitching. Shit or get off the pot. You see problems then help solve them. I see old cats outside the liquor store beaten and broken and bitter…at ME! I’m in the same struggle as them, what the hell did I do? This is kind of an anti-preaching song. I like to motivate people to think differently, but like I keep saying I’m not trying to make my listeners feel like shit. Also the first line of the second verse is in reference to how a lot of the world’s problems (famine, hunger, war, depression, biters) are stemming from simply too much unprotected sex. I’m not saying abstain but damn, maybe you should get neutered dog. Just keep yo shite in a sperm bank until you’re sure the girl ain’t Kat Stacks. The world must return back to an Earth-sustaining population of 500 million people.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the next week or so, we’ll be exploring the new project from Sean E Depp, “Catharsis”. The G.O.D. Hour has gotten together with the Berkeley, CA emcee to discuss the creation, production and lyrics that make this project one to check for in 2010-11.
“Bounce Rock(Catharsis Mix)” Ft. Citizen & Gee (Prod. By Citizen)
One of MY favorite songs and the JFK sample at the beginning and end is deeply inspiring. Citizen definitely killed it on production with this one. This track had Citizen, Gee and me all on the same level: Connecting the bay, unifying the streets, documenting our world. Some grassroots hood-hop.
Ever since I was a fetus/ They’ve tried to steal my genius/
I be the meanest/ I’ll break a cat’s helix-give his genetics a remix
Take you with my words on a scenic…
…They rape the culture/ Then pimp it’s bastards
I’m Ronin flowin’/ I don’t need a master
Anyone and anything trying to hinder the art and creativity and overall innovation coming from the streets can go to hell. Censorship, corporations, cops. The streets are connecting: the Tree Party. Tired of being stepped on, I want to unify formerly un-unified factions: enemy of my enemy. I want to wake up some zombies from the matrix. I guess I really like to write anthem-style rally call verses. Can someone teach me how to dougie? Ha!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the next week or so, we’ll be exploring the new project from Sean E Depp, “Catharsis”. The G.O.D. Hour has gotten together with the Berkeley, CA emcee to discuss the creation, production and lyrics that make this project one to check for in 2010-11.
“Things Ain’t” Ft. Citizen & Gee (Prod. By Citizen)
“Who can say who’s hard-who’s really wack?/ Is it really that serious-you feel like that?/
Got me in the club-lookin’ like an idiot/ Look I just spent dub-don’t make me feel like shit…
…Yeah I’m just sayin’/ For you hip-hop, I’ll go super-saiyan
Like Goku/ I feel so U/ These weak rappers no idea what we go through…”
“Things Ain’t” is kinda a continuation of the themes addressed on my verse in Move; you will never come to one of my shows and hear me make you feel like shit. I didn’t invite you to my performance to shoot you, rob you and steal your “bitch”. I’m not trying to lecture about “real” hip-hop and/or rap, I respect all music and anyone with the courage to get on the mic. But damn, let’s just say I’m trying to welcome you in the club with a chillvibe. Also on this track I try to drop just another anthem-like verse for ascending to new heights. I promote mental and spiritual enlightenment.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the next week or so, we’ll be exploring the new project from Sean E Depp, “Catharsis”. The G.O.D. Hour has gotten together with the Berkeley, CA emcee to discuss the creation, production and lyrics that make this project one to check for in 2010-11.
SEAN E DEPP: What it do, people? First, and foremost thank you for the support. As many of you may know, in preparation for my first official full-length production — Dude, Where’s My Ipod? — I just released a mix of sorts called “Catharsis”. After putting together the 10-track record (available now @: understudiescrew.com) with help from my homies, Citizen and Gee, I feel Catharsis is much more than your average “mixtape”. So, in order to shed some proper light (and promotion) on the “cathartic” processes, meanings, and themes behind the project’s title and content, I’ll use my blog here as an examination of each track.
“Move” Ft. Citizen (Prod. By Whatson)
Study Music International!!! I’m amazed at how universal hip-hop has become and you never even think how your lyrics can touch home in more than one hood. Citizen told me [The Understudies] had been reached out to by Whatson, a true hip-hop head/producer…from GERMANY(!!!) I was psyched. I originally came up with my verse while listening to [F.L.Y.'s hit single] “Swag Surfin”, but Whatson’s production with Citizen’s verse & hook had me hyped :
Seems like all they want is problems-mo’ static/ They want me dead or addict
Or in jail/ To fail/ Coffin nails/ Get drilled/ Then they can excel-they lil’
They petty/ Not ready/ They Super Mario Kart/ I’m Mario Andretti
The “they” in this song is just general haters, naysayers, and crabs-in-the-bucket. More specifically in this song I’m addressing the lack of innovation in hip-hop as of late, along with another issue I commonly address—rappers who get a little money off these shows (or whatever it is depending on the case) and start talking about how much better they are than the fans and community supporting their music. Basically, I promote improvement, upgrading, learning, and positivity. This is the anthem for anyone trying to ignore criticism and better themselves while doing it on the move.
Pt. 2 will be posted monday… Sean E Depp’s new album is available @ AccessHipHop.com
What inspired the NoYork! title?
It’s got two different meanings, but I would say it’s about a state of mind. It really stems from people always saying I had a New York or East Cost style flow. This being my first real solo record⎯it kind of brings all my different styles together on one album. NoYork! has this broad West Coast sound. There are some other reasons but it’s definitely because of the sound. It’s not a state, it’s a state of mind.
We can already see Internet cats saying you’re dissing New York with that title. Did you actually record any of the project in New York City?
I recorded a song with U-God(!) out here. I spent some time recording Uptown and in Brooklyn. We had to make sure we were getting love from the city. I want to make sure everyone knows I’m not discriminating against New York. It’s a nod to this place if anything.
There have been some rumors of you being dropped from Warner Bros. Are you still with the label?
Nah, there’s been no problems. I haven’t had any problems with the label at all. They’ve been open to all our creative ideas. I just like to really take my time before I release anything. I want to make sure I’m completely satisfied with my music.
You have a true DIY approach to releasing new music. Why did you decide to drop the GodLee Barnes LP as one long un-mastered song?
I started to really enjoy releasing songs on MySpace. I did that for about a year, and then it went to releasing short projects. I dropped a couple instrumental projects and the Her Favorite Colour mixtape online. Then Twitter started popping. With the GodLee Barnes LP, I just felt the raw energy of it because that was the original way I recorded it. That old school cassette feel felt right. I may release an official version of that in the future.
Will you ever drop an official mixtape with a DJ?
We’re still wrapping mixing the record and getting our campaign together. There might be a mixtape coming. I’ve been talking to some real DJs about doing my first official mixtape. I definitely want to out my foot in that arena⎯show them how I would do it. You’ll definitely hear some random singles from me very soon.
You really seem to keep a low profile.
I definitely have this aura where I like to keep it low-key. I’ve always felt like an underground artist, and it was pretty easy to keep it that way in a sense because that’s where I was established and my comfort zone is. But with the Internet, I’m able to keep my presence without any major radio or TV play.
Its back! WYDU & The God Hour present Godcast #6 – Indie Hip Hop Mix
WakeYourDaughterUp & Citizen present…The G.O.D. Hour: Godcast #6
Hip Hop & Audio Podcast featuring the latest & greatest in AUTHENTIC hip hop.
64 mins / Mixed by Citizen
Featured Artist: Bay Area, CA emcee “A Brother Named George”
Download Link:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/6vwe4y
Tracklisting
1. DJ Fresh ft. Bicasso & The Grouch – The Town
2. U-God ft. Ghost face & Scotty Wotty – Train Trussle
3. Mr. Lif – The Sun (Cassetes Wont Listen Remix)
4. A Brother Named George ft. Donwill (of Tanya Morgan) & Jermiside – All My Life (Exclusive)
5. Nicolay – Nautilus Remix
6. Guilty Simpson & J Dilla – Stress
7. DJ Spinna ft. Torae – Lyrics is Back
8. A Brother Named George ft. Del The Funky Homespun & Trunks – Life In Thirds (Exclusive)
9. Random Axe – Monster Babies
10. Cee & Notion – Too Dope
12. 3MG, Company Flow & Mr. Lif – Low Key
13. A Brother Named George ft. Von Pea of Tanya Morgan – No Purchase Necessary (Exclusive)
14. Busdriver ft. Nocando – Least Favorite Rapper
15. Bored Stiff ft. The Grouch – Kingship
BONUS: Citizen’s conversation with A Brother Named George
What inspired the NoYork! title?
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