the voice. after some ten years of emceein' and spoken wordin, i'm getting comfortable again with my first chords-- thick with the baritone tones rolling across deacon pews on sunday, hearty wails that reflect something beyond the words...which is why the hymn was often most profound in the hummin. dig? lately I've been doing a lot more singing. I've heard from some that my singing voice is stronger than my voice as an emcee-- certainly more distinct. some don't feel the "grit" and expect the edges of this Arkansas root-croon to conform to perfectionist edits that deemphasize the spirit. It's like if Mary always had perfect pitch, she'd be like so many other mediocre R&B singas.... and not Mary....imperfectly soulful....which is life, right?
let's be honest, there are, at this juncture in our hip hop soundscape, few people who don't sound like anyone else... but on occassion, there's something distinct. As I approach doing work for the follow up to "Songs from Red Dirt", new city (DC, not the Bay), new landscape and new inspirations, I'm drawing more upon song than boom- bap ciphers deciphering meaning (or meaninglessness).... but i digress. i've been waking lately with songs, not raps on the mind... maybe it's age. maybe the rap is something i associate with DDC and there are too few rap faggots in DC to keep that guttaral ego-thurst dome'n. I do freestyle a lot more, but the idea of writing rhymes outside of compatriots who are doing the same.... it's just been harder here in DC. I'm excited about DDC's forthcoming "On Some Other"... but I've been holding back on my own "next shit" because I'm not sure what people expect: I rap, I sing, I'm a poet. My raps will probably never be jack-jill but a bit cryptic (with a penchant for word-play and innuendo), my spoken word is probably even more (multi)layered.... but this voice?... it's the most country biscuit part of me: bone bare, thick and corn-fed like I like my men or wimmins, spiritual like catching the holy ghost channelin GOD through your own chords.
So what's next? I'm not sure. I'm travelling, performing and singing a lot still. I'm drawing upon some new inspirations: fertile ground, amy winehouse, valencia robinson... and basking in the shine of some staples: carleen anderson, omar, lewis taylor, bilal, eric roberson, and of course some classic heads: Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Barry White, etc...
Interestingly, recently there have been a few voices I've heard that have stopped me dead in my tracks....sang hymn'ms for me (thanks ry).... woke me up to my inner church boy (thanks christian nelson and sol edler)... and I'm thankful these men were brave enough to sing for me, have me indulge the ways I reflect in it.... soulful, strong, and free. I've gigin with KUKU tonight and feel like singing. I may feel inspired to throw a rhyme in ...who knows how the flow gone go? but whatever comes of my forthcoming project "Boondock Boombap"...it'll most certainly be all of the above. feel me. definitively.
peep: www.reddirt.biz and the calendar for a croon near you.
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5 comments:
interesting. i first saw this on your myspace page (ya know you could of told us you had one :) )
i said it once and i'll say it again: go 'head wit yo bad self!!
kristen
Tim'm
So many us admire you for all that you represent!
Thank you for being so vocal and expressive beyond the creative realm. I admire and appreciate that.
You're such a blessing...
as always i feast upon your words like a downhome last supper that never ends. what do i expect ... what do we expect your next creative expression to reflect ... well, beloved, my prayer is that you continue to express the authentic voice inside your soul that you have so willingly surrendered to Spirit. i expect love, truth, beauty, reflection, wisdom, and everything else you are guided by Spirit to share. i expect your voice to echo what God has put in your heart. if that truth is vocalized in song, rap, a blend of soul-etry, house music, funk, tim'musicetry ... well so be it. keep flowing with the energy of the Most High. hope to see you this evening. love and light, ananda
Ive just seen 'pick up the mic' as a part of the london lgbt film fest and it was truly outstanding. The film opened up a whole new world to me and introduced me to your body of work and knowledge. You and your words effected a change in me. Your exchange with the young hopeful in the film was so raw and real. Even if he didn't walk away a different person - I did. My voice in this life is clear to me, your words and experiences can only help to make it crystal. Thank you
One of the many things I've admired about you as a performer is stated in this blog in your comments about Mary.
Ry is totally in love with her and I've got to see some of her live stuff he has had on tape or dvd. I've never been into her and to be quite frank, I've never been into her 'cos I hear she fucks up the notes a lot live. But since being in your company and given the perspective on her in this blog, I've allowed to shake that catholic school choir ex-perience as you would say. If looking at Ms. Blige and other artists who may not always be on key, it is definitely visible that what may be foggy in voice is more than made up for in spirit and feeling and soul.
I wish I could only apply that to my deep desire to get my own voice in gear and out of me in they way my soul wishes to belt it out. My voice has yet to match my soul's talent unfortunatley. But practice makes perfect, so they say. Thanks for the snap of inspiration.
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