Geisha & Responsibility 2000
A Very Special EP for You

I will preempt any confusion surrounding the seriousness of this effort. It is, unabashedly, laughable in its present form, as is more or less intended. What you see here is essentially an abbreviated rough draft of an album: edited and mixed poorly, recorded in a variety of locations with a great deal of background noise, it features my as yet underdeveloped lyrical style, in conjunction with a series of highly derivative and unsophisticated beats drawing upon just one or two superior songs for their material.

The key question: why? My rationale was twofold.

First, the idea that I would produce a rap album is so absurd, so inherently ridiculous, no one would anticipate it. Hence, it had to be done. I am nothing if not eager to act contrary to expectation.

Second, as is set forth in the introductory track, "Geisha," the existence of Gwen Stefani's initial solo album, entitled "Love.Angel.Music.Baby," was so abhorrent to me that I felt compelled to voice my opposition to its message of imitating the surface elements of a culture, in the process warping and degrading the perception of that culture in the eyes of the public.

I am aware of the irony in this goal, as my own separation from hip-hop culture is parallel to Ms. Stefani's distance from Japanese culture. However, my desire is not to repeat the mistakes of the past, but instead to convey my own message (albeit a somewhat jocular one) through the medium of hip-hop, a medium which I deeply respect despite my relative ignorance of its ways.

While I'm textually here, I believe I will extend a few, how do you say... shout outs: Mad props to my family, to my man Grisham for inspiring this effort, to M-unit (or should I say M-unich?) for the title, to all the rest of the Thunder Sociopaths, and to all of my friends who, by in large, thankfully lack rap names or other ridiculous monikers by which they are known. One love.

Also, if you see Northern State, slap 'em again.

The words on this album are copyright © 2005 Monochrome. All music has been shamelessly stolen from other (unnamed) sources. Since there will only be approximately 3 copies made of this CD, no one ever need know about it. No one.

Distributed by Fine Corinthian Productions. No rights reserved.

Track list:

1. Geisha (0:30)

I would like to state, for the record, that I wish to show the utmost respect for Japanese culture, its rich history, the many beautiful works of art and literature that have been produced there, and the unique society which has been created on that magnificent island.

This album is intended as an open letter to Gwen Stefani, and all others who would co-opt the superficial trappings of another culture, while remaining totally ignorant of its true spirit.

I hope that I'm not a hypocrite.
Ha ha, let's get it started.

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2. Take it Back (1:26)

This is how we take it right back
To the time before money ruined rap
Now that everybody frontin'
For the real MC's we're huntin'
Yeah, it's about time
We gonna take it back

Remember the time when rap was delight?
When MC's of steel rhymed with all their might?
Before Tupac (may he rest in peace) lost his life
Forget about the "magic stick," there was true strife
Many others have come before me
Bringing their viewpoints, disregard the forties
I'm just about to add my voice to the chorus
Saying "bling bling? bullshit, if you real, then show us"

This is how we take it right back
Bringing classics on every track
In the underground it's startin'
The mainstream what we shunnin'
In just a little time
We gonna take it back

Though I say "we", I ain't got a big crew,
Much love to Grisham, though (he's a Jew!)
But I'm serious, though sometimes, my rhymes are a joke
I'm-a feed you my thoughts until you start to choke
You could try to offend me, don't even bother
Of these words, I am the proud father
This album like a warrior from the ancient past,
and if you can't feel me, he gonna stomp your ass

This is how we take it right back
Making up for all the new school slack
I may be just a young'n
But my time is still a-comin'
And when that time comes,
We gonna take it back

It isn't complicated; truth my sole desire,
Lies and ignorance ignite the fire
I rail against the wealthy, dishonest and deceitful
If you true to yourself, you'll find the world is grateful
I look at MTV, say "that's not hip-hop"
What kind of rapper lose his message just to reach the top?
Make an unbreakable vow, for all to see;
whatever the endeavor, I keep mind and soul free

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3. Monochrome 101 (1:30)

My name is Monochrome, but I'm not monochromatic
Throw out the preconceptions kept in your attic
I chose the name for the subdued tone I bring,
laid back attack, come and listen to the rhymes I string
together; tethered, we never apart, like birds of a feather;
so let's start explaining the true meaning of the word
and then you can't pretend that you never heard

Mono - unique, like one MC alone
Chrome - the colors that have always shone

My words are tight, like laser light,
they part the curtains, pierce to the core;
show what you never knew before;
We're made of different elements, scores and scores
I mix it up, representing many cultures in one,
all in harmony, the music leaving you stunned
so many times I've been misunderstood
Learning to communicate, like everyone should

Mono - a tight unit, one purpose to bear
Chrome - beautiful hues flowing through the air

My way is indirect, never what you expect;
I spend my days absorbing all the spare intellect,
then synthesize, revitalize the oldest of thoughts
Making a path through the obstacles society brought
Do you hear me? I wonder what you think;
Let me lead you down to water, come and take a drink;
One sip reveals all the ideas you can conceive
A powerful brew, but it will never deceive

Mono - a singular force almost too small
Chrome - the spectrum, illuminating all
My time is up.

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4. Sunrise (2:37)

I check the clock, it's around five thirty
Huh, look like I went to bed so late it's early
I had never seen morning light like this before
she said, "love is complex", smiled as she walk out the door
I only knew her for about half a year,
a beauty but unaware, in the magic mirror wait to appear;
She was sophisticated; can't belong in this town
Need the city, shoulda realized 'fore it all went down

Sunrise gonna find you out
Don't try to hide, here come the sun
Forget 'bout all your pain and doubt
You'll see better days in the sun

Remember all the times we kissed upon the busted sofa
I was young at heart, believing that my life was over
I go outside to see the sun, December still, it's freezing
Think about going back inside, how our love was so fleeting
Sun's rays illuminate my thoughts, as the skies are clearing
Her discontent was too subtle for my range of hearing
But when she left I was too preoccupied to really notice
Now the distance of time gives me a better focus

Sunrise gonna find you out
Don't try to hide, here comes the sun
Forget 'bout all your pain and doubt
You'll see better days in the sun

I don't need her love, better off on my own
Or so I tell myself, some kind of comforting monotone;
She always asked me "How could we live if we apart from one another?"
I guess she know the answer now, living with another;
Stop trying to question her honesty, put feelings on the shelf
And then I can see the only true fault lay within myself
My mistake, to try and hold her in the place she hated
At least she's happy, maybe ending from the start was fated

Sunrise gonna find you out
Don't try to hide, here comes the sun
Forget 'bout all your pain and doubt
You'll see better days in the sun

In time, all of life's hurt will be healed, I know it
I am improving though the inner cynic hate to show it
Peace of mind comes in waves as the sun slowly rising
With the warmth of day, I feel my heart is now reviving
Darkness recedes as with the sunlight comes an epoch ending
With the day, comes the promise of a new beginning
I see now how all kinds of love are merely transitory
Now that we both at peace, a happy ending to the story

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5. Pretension (1:20)

When you're like me, no thought suspension,
Self-conscious, full of internal dissension
But I digress; I was about to mention
8 details to recall 'bout my pretension

1. I did not grow up in the street
2. As a child, I was never beat
3. I'm against all kinds of violence
4. Never used a pistol, normal or silenced
5. I don't listen to much rap
6. If I went to Brooklyn, I'd need a map
7. I'm aware of my rhymes' imperfection
8. But I don't know how to make the correction

Not only rap but the artistic realm,
I have so much pretension it could overwhelm,
if I had 10 cent for every time I referenced Baudelaire
or E.E. Cummings, I'd be a billionaire
Don't you mind, I keep ambition in line,
I keep it down to earth most all the time
I'll just go on doing it to ease my mind
Been searchin' for an outlet, that's what I find

Pretension
Self-indulgent, true, but it keeps your attention

Despite my talk of pretense, I'm in earnest too
I just can't tell when it seems honest to you
But imagine if you were trying to convey
All the complexities of your thoughts, day by day
I don't ask for sympathy, but understanding
If at times my metaphors are too demanding
Just consider if our situations were reversed
In fact, you can be the author of the next verse

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6. Cuidado (1:28)

Una advertencia:
People that surround you matter most
Make sure you can trust them, m'ijo
Cuídate!

Cosas no como parecen
Cuidado, desaparecen
desvanecen lentamente
te vas a quitar la mente

Faith se concierne con the spirit alone
Believe in someone false, and you'll find it's gone
Faces around you, they grin at your distress
Parece que they failed you in the ultimate test
Tantas veces, I've found it's true
Only the hard times will tell a quién importas tú
In the final analysis, you'll see the hidden sides;
whose promises were true, and whose were lies

Caras que sonrien, mienten
Cuidado, te destruyen
vienen pa' haberte muerte,
No permiteles a matarte

So many cabrones try to drag you down
Ascend and defend yourself, let your strength resound
Escogeles bien, those in whom you'll confide
Don't let all these trifling bastards steal your pride
Quédate wisdom, good counsel's keeper
Only you can stop yourself from going deeper
Trust in yourself, know well the power you hold;
Remain alert, stay brave and bold

Vendrá el día de suerte
Cuidado, eres fuerte
No te preocupes más
Si te cuides, vencerás

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7. Lullaby (1:31)

I sit and listen to the rhythm of the streets
The ebb and flow, as a gentle melody greets me,
balcony, on the 30th floor;
being in the city just makes me love it so much more
Cars stream past, to last a century
in time that stretched out to infinity
Watch as the killers and the lovers go by
This my urban lullaby

Women singing 'bout the lives of homeless saints
As an undiscovered artist makes a masterpiece in spray paint
Hidden geniuses playing chess on boards in the park
Saxophonist in the subway hoping he can make his mark
Sometimes it seems like everyone's just lost
And that for everything in life, you must pay the cost
True, not all of that which glitters is gold,
At times all this vastness can leave you so cold

The truth of it is, I would choose it any day
Just go to sleep knowing tomorrow is another day
The beauty outweighs the problems, feel it in my heart
Peering out between the bars, the streetlights make a work of art
Dreaming haze descends upon the people walking
Somnambulists whispering, hear them softly talking
Watch as the drunks and the dealers go by
This my urban lullaby

So many people just give up and get too cynical
They say that suffering a pattern, that it's cyclical
I can't believe it when I watch the people rising
Escaping all the boundaries, life is so surprising
I sleep a thousand years, things change at every waking
Just like them, we all wait for resolution, aching
And when I go to sleep, keep looking forward to the time,
Only at night can you see that people truly shine
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8. Responsibility (1:13)

Now, we at the end; time to talk to you
About the problems the world facing, what they mean to you
I have to admit, I was scared to try and say it
How would you know my conviction, might think I'm faking it
But the topic is too important to leave undiscussed
Far more important than ourselves, you understand I trust
It's hard to accept, but we all complicit in it
Yet if you work against it, maybe someday we will end it

I come to speak to you of many countries slowly dying
Just one nation keep 'em down, ignore the children crying
U.S.A., or as I like to call it, usurpers stealing all
These people just can't see, that's why we send out the call
For all the youth around the country, start rising up
Think about everything they've had as they been growing up
Imagine if all of that had never been around,
crying out in pain as they beat you down to the ground

My head hangs heavy like a father's, watching blood splatter
worried about his kids, to them it doesn't seem to matter
They sayin' "what we do care about Honduras?"
In America, we got some problems to bother us
too;" never stopped to wonder how to solve 'em,
who's involved, not knowing what had caused 'em
drop truth that's blistering, maybe they'll hear you
if not, at least someone has got to feel you;
you know, I didn't know if I should really do this,
but if you remember one thing on this album, please let it be this

Go out into the world,
carry a message of strength, solidarity, and freedom,
don't let anyone drag you down,
and keep it real, y'all.

Peace.

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E-mail: vokuro@adelphia.net
Last Modified: 2005/11/10