When it comes to romance and matters of the heart, at times I feel like a man engaged in a series of prize fights with his own personality.  Each battle pushes the momentum bar back and forth between polar traits in an all out brawl to determine which one will prevail.  In the red corner stands the Charismatic Optimist, believing that falling in love is one of the greatest joys in life and, while it may be an arduous process, true love in a relationship will always be prevalent.  Throughout my life, he has always been the fan-favorite and the reason that many have told me, “Never change who you are.”  In the blue corner stands the Contemptuous Cynic, ready to scoff at the idea of finding real love these days and generally waits in the wings for the day when things fall apart so he can pop up and say “I told you so.”

The Optimist came out of the gate swinging in my early romantic life.  Armed with chivalry, respect and real-life examples to use as a blueprint, he believed that treating a woman like a queen is the key to a long lasting relationship full of reciprocity.  However, he would often find himself against the ropes in the mid to late moments of any given round (relationship) boxed in by accusations of being “boring” and “predictable” and battered and bruised by too many “It’s not you, it’s me” speeches.  The Cynic has his opponent well scouted and has a very good idea about what signs to pick up on.  His deadly arsenal of “I’ve seen this before’s” and “I already know how this is going to end up’s” pack a speed and power that the Optimist has yet to figure out a defensive strategy for.  By not doing his homework beforehand, the Optimist is disappointed at his inability to guard against the increasing speed and power of the Cynic’s attack.  More and more the Cynic is gaining complete control at the beginning of rounds with his “It’s just a matter of time before she gets tired of me like all the rest” tactics.

This battle currently has me at the edge of my seat.  I am rooting for the Optimist to keep my views on love and relationships bright and to encourage me to remain confident that the “good guy” will win in the end.

As a betting man, though, my money’s on the “bad guy.”  What can I say?  I’ve seen it happen before.

-RVS

The middle of “Impending Doom” describes exactly how I viewed matters of the heart at the time.  Around the time I had written these songs, I had just gotten out of a relationship and honestly felt pretty disenfranchised with romance.  I was angry because my ex had ended the relationship by telling me that I was “too good” for her and confused at why that was considered so undesirable.  At the time, I still had a lot of learning to do about relationships and what I look for in women, but I felt it was necessary to express how I felt at the time.

The series starts out with “I Saw You,” a narrative of  me spitting game in rhyme form to an attractive female, only to find out that she has been hurt by other black men in the past and is letting that influence her decision to talk to me at that moment.  The woman’s dialog was inspired by a relationship forum I had went to in college my sophomore year where a woman actually said “My mama told me not to mess with athletes or Greeks because ain’t neither one of them types of niggas shit!”  I just always found it kind of funny that she had let her mother’s bitterness towards a certain groups of individuals cloud her judgement of them before she had any interaction with them (though I would find out later that she didn’t necessary heed her mothers warning…lol).

The next song in the series was “Gentleman II.” This song was actually a remix of a song that will probably never see the light of day because it was so crappy (well…probably not crappy but just not ready for prime time).  This song was basically speaking to women that always complain about not being able to find a good man, by telling them what good qualities I possess.  The twist at the end was that, while I am a “good guy,” I was letting them know that they should not expect that much from me at the time because my “good guy” mindset was on hiatus.  I was definitely going through a “If nice guys finish last then it’s time to be not so nice” phase when I wrote this.  What was the reason for that mindset you ask?

When I first dropped “Scandalous” I was always surprised by people’s reactions to it.  When “Impending Doom” was in its infancy, I put this track up on my MySpace page and people seemed to really like it, especially if they knew my situation with my ex.  I just KNEW that people close to her would hate it and hate me for it, but most of them seemed to dig it (to my face at least. LOL).  I like this song mostly because it showed me that people reacted strongly when I pulled no punches and wrote exactly what I felt.  Up to this point, I wouldn’t really let people hear songs that I had made that were so personal.  The reaction to this song gave me the confidence to do more introspective music.  Not to mention, it sounded dope live.  LOL!

The next song, “Why I Treat You Like That,” was sort of an explanation of why I felt the way I did about being a “not so nice guy” towards women.  It was also just saying, “I am only going to treat you the way that you allow me to do so.  Therefore, if I get a better reaction from you by being a jerk than being nice, I’m going to have no qualms with being a jerk.”  Nowadays I know it’s best to not even mess with a chick that expects you to treat her like a jerk, but that was a lesson that was best learned over time.

The crazy thing about working on a project for 2 years is that things change drastically (which will also be noticeable on “Dreamin”) .  While working on “Impending Doom,” I had lived a little bit more, dated women with a variety of personalities and had entered a new relationship that fit me a lot better than the one that had shaped the previous 4 songs.  When I had written this song, I was at the point that I wanted to, literally, “Just Chill” with the woman I was with because she had accepted me for the guy I was.  This put a cap on the “Female Saga.”

2 Days Until “Dreamin!”

-RVS

“FranchICE, RVS, Ray Sanders, all that makes me who I am no matter how they clash…”

This song was very driven by the “You think I am” vocal clip that appeared at the beginning of the beat on Special Herbs and the actual song on “Operation Doomsday” (which I wouldn’t hear the actual song until some years later when I finally got my hands on an “Operation Doomsday” reissue).  The vocal only appeared once on the beat, but I repeated it to make a nice pseudo-hook.  I also took the opportunity to create a concept song that kind of broke down the 3 categories that I felt some people tried to put me in at the time.  Some people would see me out strolling at a party and assume that’s all I ever did (verse 1).  Others would give me the side-eye of justice when I talked about working on music (verse 2).  Others, still think that I was just a super nice guy and willing doormat (verse 3).  At the end, I sum up the song by saying that my personality is too multi-dimensional to be viewed so narrowly.

“Being a scholar’s hard work, so for now, we’re gonna kick it!”

Check out my breakdown of “Chillin Wit’ the PHrat” over at HazedMind.com

“Somebody told me that I shouldn’t be a rapper…”

“Veteran Next” admittedly came from an angry place.  I was having a conversation with one of my homies (which was the basis of the radio interlude) where he was telling me that he thought I shouldn’t make music because of my intellect.  I suppose his intentions were good, but why wouldn’t rap need more emcees like myself who aren’t afraid to show their intellect in their music.  There are so many rappers that are intelligent selling this BS “Dumb is Cool” routine to the youth to make a dollar.  Plus, who are you to tell me that I shouldn’t pursue a passion I’ve had my entire life?  I wanted the lyrics to be aggressive and in your face to say, “I’m here and I’m out to destroy ignorance.  Why?  Because I can.”

Somebody told that I shouldn’t be a rapper

Now they’re looking quite (dumb) when I’m up on the stage

And I can almost see their (lungs) as the look in amazement

I could break them off some (crumbs) from the bread that I’m makin

But I’m really like “(Umm) if I wasn’t mistaken

They’re the same old (bums) that were constantly sayin

Based on where you’re (from) you can’t possibly make it

You don’t even have a (gun) so you’re not really gangster

And you’re not that (dumb)!  We don’t know what you’re sayin!

You don’t stick like (gum) to what the radio playin

And you’ll never be the (one) for whom the masses is playin

We know you would suc(cumb) to the pressure we gave ya

So you just gon’ be like (them) who ain’t never gon’ make it

They can beat it like a (drum) if they’re not down with Raymond

‘Cause when the bassline (strums) it be all entertainment

And when the flow I (brung) have ‘em shivering and shaking

They’ll be going quite (dumb) and just rephrasing their statements…

The 2nd verse and ultimately the song ends in an argument between myself and a person that argues that I should “lighten up” and conform to the standards put in place by current trends.  See if you can catch the dialog.

“My people good to me, so I can’ t leave before I say…”

The gospel sample on this track literally screamed of a “Thank You” track.  Since “Impending Doom” was the first project that I had ever released, I want to make sure that I got around to showing my gratitude to the people that meant the most to me at the time.

Tomorrow I will explore the final tracks added to “Impending Doom.”  Then Sunday, I will analyze the “Female Saga,” as I like to call it, that occupied the middle of the project.  This will be a nice segue into the breakdown for “The L.O.V.E.P.” Stay tuned true believers!

-RVS

http://TheRVSmusic.com

4 DAYS UNTIL “DREAMIN!!”

Check part one out here!

“If rhymin’ is the subject, then RVS is the predicate…”

It was really important to me to have songs on this project where I was able to zone out lyrically.  I needed the title track to be raw.  The beat I used for “Impending Doom” was perfect for that.  It didn’t leave very much structure for a hook, so it allowed me to rhyme for about 72 bars straight just to say that I could.  Would I do a song like this again.  Probably not.  LOL!  It was fun though.

“Slave to the rhythm, I’m rhymin to what the beat do…”

I made “Lyrical Physique” strictly as a song that I could play in the gym.  I wanted it to be lyrically aggressive and rhythmically hype.  I was using being physically fit as a metaphor for being dope lyrically.

Set one:

The strongest emcee contest has begun

Not writing 2000 bars, but my words weigh a ton

Pushing rhymes like Short Khop (**Super old reference here! Plus dude must’ve went to the Kappa school of Name Spelling!  LOL! J/K**)

I might need a slight spot

This Hip Hop is like plyometrics with tall box-es (**It’s hard to be a good emcee. It’s easy to be a wack rapper**)

It’s hard like makin’ mamis get low like squats

When you’re not talkin’ bout movin bricks and rocks

Or always showin off what you got. Hoggin the mirror

Using anabolics everybody use to get bigger

I’d rather train, break a sweat and feel slight pain

Of pushing lyrics to the limit short of a strain

Doin’ curls with these bars. Buildin’ the size of my arms

To affect how hard I hit when I’m flowin’ with yall.

Get off the chords & throw a load on the rack

To get my lats strong enough to put the game on my back

And lift the dead weight of these emcee’s hate

And be chiseled in battle so in battle I’m straight!

I got my main man Arnold Schwarzenegger to speak on the track too!  I was like, “Yo, Arnold!  Do this guest spot for me or Imma punch you in the face!”  And he was all like “Dah, I will git right t-on it! ”  I got the juice like that.  *See’s link to Schwarzenegger soundboard* *Sweeps it under the rug* *Whistles*

“Gimmie a beat!  I’ll rip whatever you can bring…”

“Proof Positive” was a “Look everybody!  I can rhyme over this unorthodox beat!” song.  LOL!  It stemmed from a conversation I had with my boy Byrd about him playing beats that he had made for me for somebody and them saying “That’s too crazy!  He can’t rap to that!”  I always tell people who ask to work with me, “Send me a beat and I’ll kill it.  Whatever it is.”  I enjoy a challenge!

Gimmie a beat that ain’t a “regular” one

A people looking at me like “It can never be done!”

That’s like tellin’ Jesse Owens it could never be run (**AYA**)

Yo, I’m beating up the track like a felony, son

Cause I’m a lyricist with a true sense of the word

Best multi-faceted entertainer you ever heard

With every bit of malice intention on every word

I’m nasty with every noun and vicious with every verb (**Some people say that rap bastardizes the English language.  Those people are called “Melvins.”**)

Don’t talk about the degrees, wack rappers get the third

I’m bullyin’ every chump and grillin’ every herb

If you say a rhyme on the mic, it better be yurrs

Cause, if it’s not a new idea, it’s failing like Surge (**Who remembers Surge?  Turrible idea wasn’t it?**)

You better drink to the health of Hip Hop

Cause, if not. It’ll be like the chick in Gridlock’d

Gone & butt-naked. Froze with no respect

It’s very close to being like that in one second (**I remember seeing Gridlock’d, but I don’t remember why that chick was passed out naked in the bathtub.  Whatever reason it was, it couldn’t have been good.**)

Tell me who’s next with flows that’s so reckless

And I’ll show you homie’s flow is perfect like “Plex” is  (**Shoutout to Curt “Mr. Perfect” Hennig)

No shower but the freshest ONE

And I stay Stone Cold like a wrestler’s STUN (**Shoutout to Aaron “Phrosty” Henderson in those 2 lines**)

You suckas stay suffering like Sylvester…RUN! (**That was…I say…that was a Looney Tunes reference**)

Just like a chicken moving with a head like…NONE!

My music is nothing to B-F’d with son, (**The music is not to “be f’d with” or “befriended.”  It’s that cold.  LOL**)

When it’s done, check it like a right answer…DONE!

Tune in tomorrow as I break down the more introspective songs on “Impending Doom!”  What do you all think?  Am I just scratching the surface?  I am getting too deep into my own lyrics?  Who do I think I am, Jay-Z?  Is there a line that you heard in one of my songs on Impending Doom (and “The L.O.V.E.P.” later on this week) that you didn’t understand and need clarified?  Are you just ready for “Dreamin” to drop?  Have you heard the single yet?  Are you tired of me asking so many asinine questions?  Fair enough.  See you all tomorrow!

6 DAYS UNTIL “DREAMIN!”

-RVS

“The Beginning of the ‘End’”

Around 2007, I had the idea that I wanted to do a mixtape, but didn’t want to do one in the classic sense (i.e. the same way everybody else, their mama and their kitten did it).  Around the same time, I started to get into MF DOOM’s music and, most importantly, his “Special Herbs” series.  I thought it would be a cool idea to do a whole project using those beats because they sounded so different from any other music that was out at the time.  The title “Impending Doom” came from, not only a play on words, but the braggadocious idea that this project is “the beginning of the end” for rappers getting away with being uncreative.  Those are lofty expectations, I admit.  However, in retrospect, I feel like the statement was moreso a declaration of my own focus on creativity over what’s popular.

I felt like it would be dope to start the project out with an “Ominous” intro.  It is the calm before the storm, if you will.  Also, this was not actually the last song that I wrote for the project.  It’s the last one had the concept for, but I’m pretty sure “Modern Day Superhero” was the last one (and, to me, it shows.  More on that in a couple days).  But I did write this one while I was still in college.

Just cause you seein me out every weekend actin a straight Ape on the yard with my folks/

Don’t mean I ain’t creepin’ a song or 2 deep in my schedule ahead of time I’m gettin’ on float/

And just because I don’t have the backing that’ll have me rappin’ every week don’t mean I can’t get a couple of strokes…

I was being really defensive in those lines.  I had put music up on MySpace up to this point but was really in a rut as to why I didn’t have the exposure other people on campus might have had at the time.  Looking back, there was a very good reason for that.  I had never really released anything, did a show or rapped outside of my crew.  How were people supposed to know?!?  But I am thankful for the hindsight to see that now and have an idea of what I can do to get myself heard.

More songs breakdowns drop tomorrow!  To hear “Impending Doom” and the first single from “Dreamin” which drops in 7 days, visit TheRVSmusic.com!

-RVS

10.  ”So Hardcore” by Busta Rhymes

9.  ”Let’s Ride”  by Q-Tip

8.  ”Gobstopper” by J Dilla

7.  ”Stakes Is High” by De La soul

6.  ”The Red” by Jaylib

5.  ”Turn Me Up Some” by Busta Rhymes

4.  ”House of Flying Daggers” by Raekwon

3.  ”Gazzillion Ear” by DOOM

2.  ”Think Twice” by J Dilla feat Dwele

1.  ”Climax” by Slum Village

R.I.P. Dilla!

-RVS

1. Booker T’s promo about Hulk Hogan

I know this happened years ago, but I am still thankful for Booker T getting so hype about going for the gold (Sucka!) after taking out Lex Luger and the Giant that he completely forgot that he was on live TV and not back in Houston.  Lapses of judgement in front of millions of people are things to be appreciated.

2.Baraka Flocka Flames

This video is hilarious on its own.  But if you watch Waka Flocka’s “Hard in the Paint” video before seeing this one, it’s hysterical.

3. “Ha!”

Still don’t know why this is funny to me, but I thank Daniel Tosh for putting it on his show for all to enjoy.

4. The November 22nd episode of Raw

Thanks to Vince McMahon and Raw’s creative team all the hopes and dreams of their young fans were crushed on the November 22nd edition of Raw.  John Cena was fired and Randy Orton lost the WWE Championship to the Miz, evoking raw emotion (no pun intended) from every child in the audience (especially the little girl shown at 0:45).  And, yes, I realize how wrong I am for thinking that is hilarious.

5. Boondocks Season 3

Hopefully Season 3 is not the end of the Boondocks.  And even though this season seemed to get a mixed reaction from viewers (or at least my Tweeps), this clip speaks to how McGruder and company decided that if they were going out, they would do so with guns blazing.

That’s some of the (funny) things I’m thankful for.  What about you?

-RVS

Have you ever been involved with a woman that was so fine…so bad…so sexy that every time you were around her, you didn’t know how to act?  I describe that type of woman in the new single by LyrICal FranchICE (consisting of myself and Louis Byrd) called “A.P.E.”  This is a nice summertime party track that the fellas can related to and sexy ladies can strut their stuff to.  Check it out right here:

That track can be downloaded FOR FREE at http://lyricalfranchice.bandcamp.com/ or simply hit the “Download” link in the widget above!  That’s right, get your music players, CD’s, car stereos and home theaters ready because you are going to want to bump this song all summer!  Thanks for listening and downloading!

“All I wanna do is just

Put you in the mood because

Evertime I see you, girl, you got me going APE Shh…”

-RVS