Here’s the first music video from “Slow Nights. Fast Food.” This song is called “Texas A-V-E” and if you’ve ever lived in Bryan/College Station, you know how important this road is. Ever since I was old enough to drive I’ve loved cruising Texas Avenue. Not because there are a bunch of hot spots popping off all the time, but because it’s one long, main drag between the twin cities. It makes for a simple drive and I always use it as an excuse to get out of the apartment when I’m going stir crazy, or just to clear my mind if needed. This song has a similar sound to “Welcome to the Presentation” only I’m shouting out streets this time instead of businesses. I’ve always loved making songs about the experience of living in B/CS and I’m so proud of how this one turned out. I was especially happy with how well the High School and College names came together in the third verse.
I had this track ready to put on “Perseverance,” but I did a fan-vote for track selection on that album and this one wasn’t picked. Huge thanks to G-Bird for driving while I got footage from the passenger window, and SHELLZ for filming me during my verses. I wish we had picked a less humid night to roll with the windows down! Editing this vid was a beast. I accidentally shot WAY too much footage and spent two days trying to condense the best stuff into 4 minutes. There are a ton of other signs/places I could’ve thrown in if there was room. This one is for my fellow 979ers! If you cruise Texas Avenue then I hope you’ll blast this from your speakers while you do it!
Oh, where to start with this one from “Slow Nights. Fast Food.” … I guess just listen to it first and then I’ll break it down.
This song is a tribute to my all-time favorite activity in the bedroom, goin’ down, which makes my mouth water just typing about it. The back story is pretty funny, imo. Years ago (’05 or ’06 maybe?) a close friend of mine was over at some gal’s house. He called me over because they couldn’t figure out how to rip music files from a cd onto her computer. I went over there, poked around on the computer a bit and fixed the problem. Then before I left, me and my friend were just shooting the breeze in this gal’s bedroom (no this is not going where you think it’s going), and he started joking with her about the random junk in her room. He picked up a pair of underwater/snorkeling goggles and put them on and said, “Yeah I’ll probably need these later.” Right after he said that he started flicking his tongue just like Manny in Scarface. I laughed so hard I couldn’t breathe. At that moment I made “Scuba Diving” my go-to euphemism for going down on a woman and I knew I had to make a song about it.
I’m glad I didn’t choose to sit down and just force the song out back then, because I would have looked back on it today and realized I could’ve done better. That’s how I feel about most of my songs from years and years ago. I’m proud of all of them, but my delivery and production still needed growth. I actually had the beat and the hook for this song before I made my previous album “Perseverance” but I didn’t get the verses written.
I’m not known to be a crass rapper these days. When I first started rapping it was rare for me to go four words without cussing, but my writing and vocabulary eventually matured and now I tend to use it more for a specific impact or ear-perker than anything else (but don’t get it twisted, I love to cuss on a daily basis… a lot. lol). That’s one reason Midnight Scuba Diving is the song I had the most fun writing on this album. My goal was to not say anything that was directly offensive, all while talking about a subject people rarely discuss in public. The other fun part was having the scuba diving theme to play off of in the lyrics. That made for some entertaining one-liners, and the whale sounds throughout were just the cherry on top. I had the song finished, but I felt it was missing just a little something extra, so I thought “Hey, scuba diving and whale sounds go hand-in-hand, right?” Plus it’s a bit of an erotic/soothing sound. I also had originally asked a couple girls I know to sing on the hook, so that it wasn’t just my voice on the track, but they both got bashful and backed out on me. I had to re-write the breakdown at the 2:30 mark because I had written that for a woman to sing too. I wish it wasn’t me on that part, but I had no other choice in the end. I’m no r&b singer so I was trying to get someone sexier than me to appear on it.
My hope is that this song will be getting played in bedrooms all over the world while “divers” are in the water. I wanted to make this one slightly humorous, entirely real, and very sexy so that it fits in with your “gettin’ busy” playlists. There are lots of rappers that would turn away in disgust at the very thought of putting their face-below-waist, but I can’t imagine not doing it. Hope y’all l-l-l-like this one.
Lyrics:
(Verse 1)
It’s time to splash down, I can see that look that’s on your face
That you want me to taste what’s right below you waist
You’re in luck cuz I’m certified, a perfect record in scuba dives
I don’t need a wet-suit this birthday-suit’ll do just fine
Lights off, legs open, I’ll be swimmin’ in between ’em
If you have some inhibitions my whole mission is to free ’em
I’m a rapper, which means I’m someone that’s real-l-l-l-l-l-l-ly good with my tongue
(Chorus)
Don’t worry bout a thing, I know what you need, just leave it to me
Now I’m midnight scuba divin’
Don’t worry bout a thing, I know what you need, just leave it to me
Now I’m midnight scuba divin’
Now I’m midnight scuba divin’
Now I’m midnight scuba divin’
(Verse 2)
Now I’m way below the surface, I could stay here all night
Makin’ you feel all right, up and down as I slide
Goin’ slow when I start cuz there is no rush
And you really love my name but havin’ trouble tryin’ to Hussshhh
Gonna take you to the l-l-l-l-limit
Wait until you’re finished before I get in it
See there’s more fun in givin’ than will ever be in receivin’
And if seein’ is believin’ then you’ll watch it happen this evenin’, baby
Breathin’ deep I hit that oxygen supply
While those thighs spread wider where you l-l-l-l-lie
Hips dippin’, hands grippin’, now this room is really heatin’ up
Guess I’ll ride the current cuz these waves are really speedin’ up
(Chorus)
As low as I can go, fast or slow, doin’ everything I can to make your ocean roll
I’m your scuba dive guy, guided by moonlight, and I’ll be goin’ at it ’til I come to the boat
(Verse 3)
I’m just tryin’ to leave a l-l-l-l-lasting impression
Let this be a lesson I can take away your stressin’
Oh I love to see you arch, I love to hear you moan
I will dive in at anytime you wanna rock the boat, uh
Call it “naughty” I prefer to call it my hobby
I’m that kind of scuba diver that’s tryin’ to cause a Tsunami
That’s when my job is finished, got these coordinates recorded
I know it’s midnight, but I’ll proly be back in the morning
(Remember if any text is linked then click on it for the reference.)
This is one of my favorites from “Slow Nights. Fast Food.” but it was also the most frustrating. Due to technical issues, as well as my own perfectionist-issues, I ended up recording the verses to this song over ten times before I finally called it done. I was really proud of the final beat too, specifically the horns during the hook. I think that really put it over the top for me. There’s a real mellow vibe to the whole song, which as you may have guessed by now is my favorite kind of vibe. And thanks to AMC showing The Green Mile about 10 times a week it was inevitable that a reference to it would end up in my lyrics.
Most of the time I like for my verses to keep a linear movement between hooks, but every once in a while I have a song like this one occur. I basically just cranked the beat up and let the flow take a field trip from my brain to my pen without any restrictions. The result of a process like this is usually a collection of many thoughts/ideas, based around a central theme, and all collected into 16 bars (x3). This song is all about doing what you love based on how it makes you feel, not anyone else. It’s about doing whatever gives you joy without focusing on whether or not you’ll be accepted for it, or whether or not it makes sense financially, or whether or not it lines up with some 5-year plan. If you’re happy doing what you’re doing today, then do it with no regrets.
From day one in 1999 to this very second I still truly love creating music. Once I make an album it’s rare that I go back and just listen to it, because that’s where I hope you’ll find your joy in it. My joy was spent in bringing it all together and turning nothing into something. Some look at me as a fool, because I put months and months of work into a collection of songs but don’t see a dime for it. Some think I must be crazy, because if I haven’t done something big with my rap persona in the last 14 years, then it damn sure won’t happen tomorrow, or next year, or at all. All I can tell them, or anyone else, is that when I put my headphones on in the studio I forget about the money, and forget about tomorrow. My motivation is purely my anticipation of the final creation (THAT will be going in a future song, lol). My hope for stacks of cash or stadiums packed with fans becomes a side-note. I simply do it cuz I love it and nothing else. I hope you have something in your life you feel the exact same way about.
Lyrics:
(verse 1)
How bout, how, how bout we forget tomorrow could exist I reminisce on what I’ve missed
Wad it up inside a fist and then go throw away the list
If I’m findin’ that I don’t love it then I’m not supplyin’ my time
I’ll pilot high up above it then I’ll level off my climb
I’m somethin’ like a Steve Urkel sayin’, “Shhhh, not while I’m pourin'”
And family matters, best believe that love there is not foreign
Scorin’ all those points in overtime is not the way that life works
You got your moment, get into it, and wear it out like a shirt
Heard me an idea that’s pretty good from a girl that’s built to please
My day-to-day shouldn’t only be about stackin’ G’s
How bout that feel good let’s pass it out like a mixtape I put it down for my town and hold it down for my state
Been slower paced since day 1 I lit the fuse on willow oak
Now I’m gettin’ seen in public. My own lyrics gettin’ quotes
Feel like there’s somethin’ cookin’ can you dig what I’m sayin’?
It’s a game that we’re all playin’, if you’re comin’ or you’re stayin’, you just…
(chorus x2)
Do it cuz you love it and nothin’ else, forget the money
Do it cuz you love it and nothin’ else
Do it cuz you love it and nothin’ else, forget tomorrow
Do it cuz you love it and nothin’ else
(verse 2)
Shake that money-maker I might just pay ya if it’s good
Wish you’d pose on top of my hood, say you can’t but I bet you could
And I bet it might make my night. Y’all go left and I take a right
Measure up but not checkin’ height, throwin’ hooks but not in a fight
Tie-dyed minds surroundin’ me not understandin’ how I stay clean
All that stuff is not my scene, spit it out like it’s Listerine, uh
Some call it square and I don’t care cuz I don’t cut corners Toss it up like it’s a quarter, cross it up like this Texas border Order me online, anytime, but some data charges apply
Check the sign, don’t be blind, ride the lightnin’ not on the Mile
Roll on 1
Ride the lightnin’ not on the Mile
Roll on 2
Ride the lightnin’ not on the Mile
(chorus)
(verse 3)
Now don’t weigh in with two cents, that change won’t bring change
If you know about a good time then you’re proly likin’ my range
And I’ll proly go and just hang I’m not tryin’ to get in those squabbles
Easin’ back on that throttle, overseein’ things like I’m Hobble
If you don’t know that’s my brother, and he can tell you what’s up
Every day we gotta make decisions, on occasion we find some luck
I stuck around like Scotch Tape, been holdin’ faith like this is church
Standin’ right behind this rap game and about to flip that skirt, uh
Back me up on this statement: “If I love it, then I’m gonna do it.”
Anything to dare block it off I’ll Karate-chop right through it
Yeah they thought that I could not roll, guess they’ve never been on my wheels
Guess they better sign a shoe-deal, I’ll be keepin’ them on their heels
Feel everything that I’ve said, take it all to your heart
Your role in this is “cuttin’ loose,” who better to play the part?
Don’t make a simple thing hard, let the world know who you are
It’s that thing that we’re takin’ yard, leave the tips inside the jar and just…
Alright I thought I’d kick off this “Order Up” series with the title track. What I plan to do is post every M/W/F with a song from my album Slow Nights. Fast Food. and give the full breakdown of what inspired the song, making-of stuff, lyrics, etc. BTW, if you see any text that’s linked then click on it! It means the link will explain what I’m talking about. Here we go…
“Slow Nights. Fast Food.” is simply a feel-good track all about the process I use to create music. Ever since I started making music it has always worked best as a night time process for me. We all know there’s a more exciting vibe in the air when it’s night out. You almost feel like anything can happen and that is the exact mindset any artist should have when creating something. I’m known among my friends as an avid Whataburger man. That is my default, always. There are two reasons for this, 1. They have the greatest fast food ever made, 2. They are a proud Texas-based company. This should explain my inspiration for the album artwork as well. I wanted to make sure that my favorite spot was featured prominently, haha.
The album title came before this track was created. Originally I wanted to call the album something with “Whata-sized” in the name, but I figured I could get in legal trouble for that. So then I thought about using “Fast Food” in the title and came up with the “Slow/Fast” play by adding “Slow Nights.” The hook came so naturally once I had those four words in my head. This beat just matched up perfectly with it, then I wrote two verses and hit up A-Breezy to fill in the third gap for me. Luckily he was down to do it and he knocked it out of the park. I went to him because he has a very distinct voice and delivery, and he came through with flying colors for me previously on the “Here To Break It Down Remix.” My favorite part of the song is the intro with the Whataburger girl on the intercom confirming my order. I simply stuck my camera out the window while I placed an order and ripped the audio from it later. Not only does it set the tone for the song perfectly, but I felt it set the tone for the album perfectly. It lets you know to just relax and enjoy this album for what it is, which I hope you did. BTW, Number 5 is always my standard, but I’m a huge sucker for the Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich.
Lyrics:
(Verse 1 Big Hush)
My attitude is chill I keep my demeanor mellow
That’s the way I’ve gotta feel cuz I’m just that kind of fellow
Hit a drive-thru window it’s proly the orange and white
First visit in the evening will carry me through the night
I might have to break some habits but this one’ll never change
I’ve been doin’ these things since I was given my own reins
Got my freedom in the hours that come down after work
And so I keep my time aligned like a button-down shirt
If I could get a DeLorean then I’d ride it on loop
And never have to give alarm clock morning salutes
I find myself so productive when it’s dark in the sky
I open up my Pro Tools and get a sparkling eye
Wishin’ seconds were an hour and a minute a month
While I get in this Fancy Ketchup cause it’s better than Hunts
There’s no rest for the weary I got something to do
So I’m gon keep this slow night until the dawn comes through (huh)
(Chorus)
It’s always been this man it ain’t nothin’ new
I only need a couple things I can do what I do
Slow Nights. Fast Food. Slow Nights. Fast Food.
It’s always been this man it ain’t nothin’ new
I only need a couple things I can do what I do
Slow Nights. Fast Food. Slow Nights. Fast Food.
(Verse 2 Big Hush)
When the studio is closin’ in I might have to flip
Or maybe shotgun with G-Bird on a mini road trip
I gotta grip on a Whata-sized Double-C drink
If you’re not on the Third Coast you might not know what I mean
But you can tweet it to your friends and get their answer or somethin’
Just like some cars at a carnival I’ma get the music bumpin’
See cuz that’s the thing I do and how I’m recognized now
Construction crew to a booth, I’m here to wreck the thing out
I’ll spend some time in my (head)phones and jot some words with my pen
And give you something you’ll be feelin’ from beginning to end
Just as simple as that, I’ve got no tricks up my sleeve
Aside from pullin’ up and askin’ for a number 5 please
(Chorus)
(Verse 3 A-Breezy)
I remember when I used to always go out
Just to break a record for the liver cells I blow out
Sometimes I just wanna stock up on endorphins, make it slow down
Take a break from all the bull cuz’ I ain’t askin’ for a hoedown
Not that I don’t love the party scene, and scoutin’ for some Barbie queens
But thinking’s always better in the hours that I’m hardly seen
A lot of rappers livin’ from a bottle but that’s hardly me
And that’s why on my side the grass is greener than an army tee
Don’t ask about my plans, I ain’t talkin’ bout nothin’
Had a good week of training, so I’m Taco Bell stuntin’
I may spend a tank of gas and drive my car around bumpin’
Or just down a cup of coffee, burn it while I’m out runnin’
And I could make my way out to this party, try to smash hoes
But honestly I already got a date with Super Smash Bros.
And booked a plottin’ session just to try to boost my cash flow
You partiers’ll still be passin’ out before I crash though
Well it felt like it took years but the album is finally finished and in stores for all of you to purchase! I put in almost a year of work on this album and I couldn’t be more proud of the final result. There are 17 songs on here with pretty much something for everyone. Please get your copy now and jam the music while you spread the word!!
I’m excited to get the newest album completed and in your hands. The title is Slow Nights. Fast Food. which is pretty much a nod to the ingredients of a perfect night for me and fuel for making music. There is nothing I love more than staying up until the early hours of the morning, nursing a tall drink I got from a drive-thru window, and putting together new songs. Every late night studio session benefits from this formula. I want the album to be a feel-good collection of songs that will give you a good vibe on a slow night, but I’ll definitely throw in some real talk too. As I write this I am roughly 50% done with the album, so there’s still plenty left to do. I’m working as hard as I can to get it done as soon as I can, so just be patient with me. In the meantime I ask that you check out all of my other music on YouTube and iTunes and jam those until the new album arrives. Until then…
