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This is a funky, upbeat Blues tune. There’s a bit of an influence from James Brown on this one, both on the shots in the bridge, and also in those lovely backing vocals. And then the rap verse comes out of nowhere, and those “backing vocalists” are revealed to be none other than Canadian rap legend Jesse Dangerously, and my friend, The Mighty Rhino, a legend in his own right, and a fantastic local emcee from right here in Toronto.
Again, I can hear people say, “Rap music?! On a Blues tune?!”
To which I ask, why not?
When I think about it, Rap music is today’s Blues music: it carries on the lyrical tradition started in Blues of Black people talking about their oppression and hardships. So it seemed natural to me to want to include it in a Blues tune, and find a way to draw the link between the two. Personally, I’d love to see more Rap-Blues collaborations out there. Who knows what the future will bring?
My lyrics are about taking P.R.I.D.E. in playing Blues to different audiences, and I think in their own way, Jesse and Rhino are rapping about the joy of rapping and the P.R.I.D.E. they take in bringing rap music to people.
lyrics
Lyrics:
Got this spotlight on the city,
Turn it up real good
Get my boys altogether
Bring some Blues to your neighbourhood
I got that double trouble action
I'm sure as hell gonna have a good time
I gotta represent Toronto
I got me P.R.I.D.E
Yes I got pride!
I'm going down to Grossman's
Have some fun tonight
There's a party up in here
And everything feels right
I got my friends here with me
And my guitar by my side
Oh I ain't afraid to say it
I got P.R.I.D.E.
Yes I got pride!
If you can't get with the rhythm
Something just ain't right
Groove with the music,
Have some fun tonight!
Feel the rhythm, feel the power sink into your soul!
Gotta live the Blues, gotta feel it!
Black, white, young or old!
Might find pride weird as a white guy
But I'm here and I'm queer and I'm quite nice
Well we slice mics sharper than knife fights
If they want the funk they can have it for the right price
Right right, but like what is the verse worth?
What if it's worse than perfect when the words work?
Well why not just hit 'em with some beautiful genius
Truth an' meaning in an absurd bursts?
Cause I don't know that I won't go soft when I go off Noah
Fair enough Jesse, but we're dope!
I hope so, but how do you know though?
'Cause we're hittin' 'em with some go-for-broke flow! OH!
By the Lakeshore, in the Village,
Folks know where it's at
I got these Blues in my hands
And a mojo, big and fat!
I'm gonna play all night,
Leave my worried Blues behind!
I'm gonna come right out and say it,
I got P.R.I.D.E
Yes I got pride!
I'm won't hesitate to say it,
I got P.R.I.D.E
Yes I got pride!
I'm gonna sit right here and play it,
I got P.R.I.D.E
Yes I got pride!
I got P.R.I.D.E.
And that spells what, Jeremy Ronson?
credits
from Outside The Box,
track released January 14, 2022
Produced By: Chris Birkett and Mike Nagoda
Engineered and Mixed By: Chris Birkett
Mastered By: Chris Birkett and Jacob McCauley
Performed By Mike Nagoda and the Spectrum Blues Band:
Mike Nagoda- Electric Double Slide Guitar and Vocals
Peter Johnston- Electric Guitars
Anthony D’Alessandro- Electric Piano
D’Arcy Cain- Electric Bass Guitar
Jeremy Ronson- Drums
With The Musical Talents Of:
Jesse Dangerously and The Mighty Rhino- Rap and Backing Vocals
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