Hip-hop where I actually rap
Aside from a few exceptions, I avoid lyrics and explicit messages; I generally create instrumental music that, although it may convey a particular message to me, can remain ambigious and its message open to interpretation. I usually prefer this; let the listener take what they may.
But perhaps sometimes an explicit message- real words and everything- is warranted.
A year ago I publicly proclaimed myself as an atheist; No shock to anyone who knows me, but nonetheless this action had repercussions. It confirmed to me, more than ever, that as a secular person I need to announce myself. There is so much confusion about what it means to be secular, to be godless.
This music serves three purposes: the first is this announcement, a sort of aural sequel to my initial social-media-based “coming out.”
The second is catharsis. Music has always been a vehicle for expressing frustration, joy, sadness, wonder, dissillusionment, love, anger, and every other human emotion. The past year has been trying for all of us, and as a maker of music this is one way I can process my thoughts and emotions.
The third purpose is a call to action, a suggestion to the non-religious people who make up a fifth of our population: Stand up. The only way we will be accepted is for others to realize they already know us, that we are not amoral, we do not worship Satan, we do not hate the Christian God or any other god. We are just people with our own joys and frustrations, our own philosophies and hobbies, our own families and friends.
As I say repeatedly throughout the album, “I’m talking to the atheists, secular humanists, gotta get agnostics in this business.” My hope is that this music can be a catharsis for you as it was for me, and perhaps it could even inspire you to announce your own secularism.
Special thanks to Hemant Mehta (www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/) and Jex Blackmore (thesatanictempledetroit.com) for allowing me to use their words in this music, and to Garrett McGinn, Beth Caucci, Jon Wert, and Ryan Andrews for sharing their delightful sounds.
Lyrics/words available at genius.com/albums/The-fonetiks/Stand-up
In the interest of avoiding uncredited appropriation, here are some of the artists whose sounds have greatly influenced the music on this album. If you like my sounds, you might love these!
* J Dilla
* Flying Lotus
* King Tubby
* Robert Glasper
* Madlib
* Q-Tip
* Sidewalk Chalk
* Vince Staples
* Black Star (Talib Kweli & Mos Def)
* Lupe Fiasco
* Common
* Run the Jewels
* El-P
* The Streets
* Raymond Scott
* Morton Subotnick
credits
released August 2, 2016
The Fonetiks – rapping, vocals
Hobbies – production
featuring
Hemant Mehta – spoken word
www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/
Jex Blackmore – spoken word
thesatanictempledetroit.com
Beth Caucci – percussion, vibraphone
www.alulastudios.com
Garrett McGinn – electric bass
Jon Wert – drums
www.jonwert.com
Ryan Andrews – percussion
ryanhandrews.com
Chris Beckstrom – woodwinds, modular synthesizer, organ, electric guitar, Fender Rhodes, drums