Aside from Mickey Factz, I can't really think of too many rappers who have dared to sample the music of N*E*R*D for their own productions.
So it's refreshing to hear Brooklyn's own "Lessondary Nose" (no matter how mediocre 3/4 of the rappers are) over a loop of the bridge in N*E*R*D's song Everyone Nose, the lead single from their new album Seeing Sounds.
Von Pea rhymes first and easily outshines them all, and although I can normally appreciate efforts from Che, he and the other two emcees fall flat on this track, which features much of the original version's drum n' bass percussion, a reason they may have had trouble with the beat. Von wasn't fazed though.
Here's some video footage of them performing the track:
The next song is by FKi, which apparently stands for Fly Kids Inc. They're signed to Mickey's label GFC, and they do a nice job with N*E*R*D's Spaz track. Nothing special, but still very nice. Whoever they are.
Just as I was saying how Mickey is the future he comes along and drops two very dope songs in his weekly series of songs, along with his requisite explanation about the tracks:
"For week #30, I wanted to do the 2 for 1 sale. So I jumped in the studio with Tanya Morgan and made some shit! Some real Hip Hop shit. Gotta respect it."
The first joint with TM is crazy. I wasn't really sure about how I felt about songs with Mickey collaborating, but this song really works well. It's just on some braggadocio type of rhyming:
"This time I bring it back to the essence, And still move forward, never trapped in the present. But it's still a gift that Factz is presenting. Untie the bow and then capture the lesson."
Von and Donwill contribute some nice rhymes but Mickey outshines them both -- even though he has the middle verse -- as he should since it's his song.
The second track features Mickey conceptually at his best, referencing the increasing pressure youth have growing up, including one verse from the perspective of a black kid and another from that of a white kid. It showcases Mickey's songwriting ability as well as his ability to adapt to any type of track; in this instance, an R&B song originally performed by Star Trak artist Robin Thicke where the music and hook vocals come from.
I'll admit, it takes a lot for a rapper to impress me.
Especially if I have never heard of him or her before. My ear is specially trained to dismiss rappers like that on first listen, no questions asked.
So imagine my state of mind when, a few years ago, I was surfing the Web trying to find new music and stumbled upon a rapper with an unusual, almost silly-sounding name who was rhyming over breaks from N*E*R*D 's first album.
Of course I was intrigued right off the bat on the strength of the Neptunes, so I downloaded it immediately and was introduced to a confident, more-than-able rapper who had the knack to rap about more than just a handful of already played-out topics while incorporating the requisite witty wordplay and clever metaphors that Hiphop music seems to be well void of.
He is also from the Bronx, and Bronx rappers can never lose with me. Pause.
The rapper I'm talking about is Mickey Factz, a 23 year old wordsmith with a relentless work ethic that helped propelled him on his way to stardom.
At this past weekend's Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, where the above photo was taken, he was greeted like a bonafide star from those in attendance. The night before at the festival's opening reception, he was also given the same treatment from the crowd, who's members could be seen whispering "is that him?" before ultimately going up to the man to pay their respects.
The crazy thing about Mickey is that he continues to show growth in his lyrics and music, which includes (but is not limited to) songs recorded and released since January of this year.
Because of his style of clothing and choice of what type of music he can some times use, he has been thrown under the "hipster rap" umbrella, but a closer listen clearly separates Mickey from that bunch.
From "Breakout," a track from In Search of the Nerd, Mickey's mixtape composed of rhymes over N*E*R*D breaks that sparked my interest in the first place:
"Yeah my name is Factz New jacks is liquor addicts I'm messing with sweet bard And y'all just snicker at it Rewind the last line Mick's a hood star. No candy involved, You just missed a good bar/Mr. Goodbar."
Now when I heard that last line, I was convinced. But I figured that's all the music I was going to ever hear from him.
So imagine my surprise when less than a year later Mickey dropped Flashback Vol. 1: Back to the Future, another stellar mixtape . This one featured Mickey rhyming over beats of Hiphop past that defined a certain era, such as IncarceratedScarfaces and BBD's Poison.
"Live at the barbecue Your rhyme skills are horrible I'll put them on the grill And fry them into particles. Rappers are liars, it's comical. Fronting like they're driving through, But couldn't get a ride at a carnival. Why would I honor you? Factz is sonning you. I'm so live I'll daughter you. Guys, I'm warning you. My style is phenomenal, But I don't acknowledge you. N*ggas don't feel you, they fondle you. How could you stand there and be Acting real like you're packing steel? You'se a daffodil that uses Massengil."
Mickey then followed that up with a quick release of Heaven's Fallout, a high quality mixtape made up of mostly electro-style beats, and Mickey didn't miss a beat. Especially on conceptual songs like "Breathe Another Day":
"As I open my eyes I gotta thank God that I'm still alive. I can still breathe, I can still rhyme. I ain't wake up in a jail but I shine/shyne. Don't got a job, no 9 to 5 Live off the things I say from my mind. And I'm grateful that I ain't die Cuz I ain't ready to tell God hi. Nah, I'm not a low-life rapper I breathe for the people, I don't got asthma. Float like Casper. In the winter you can see it in the snow, It'll blow right past ya. Feel the chill in the air? Poetry in motion, feel what you hear. Breathe through your ears, inhale my sound. If this is your first time I'mma tell yall how."
But even with those quality releases under his belt, Mickey showed no signs of easing up and released song after song, week after week, for what is now being marketed as 2 volumes of "The Leak," his weekly series of songs. Over The Prodigy's instrumental for "Smack My Bitch Up" -- a wild electronic beat -- Mickey blacks out like Forest Whitaker's neck:
"OK, stand back, I’m concentrating It’s about to get complicated. Yall know I ain’t crime related. But yall bout to get annihilated. Some of yall need potty training. Straight bitch, yall ovulating. Got you bloody, better watch it buddy. They say time is money, no time to waste it. Are you sick of me? Go get your team. I got a cold heart like Mr. Freeze. Got cats all quiet like Mr. Bean. You ain’t do dirt, you’re Mr. Clean. Oh! So you grip the beam? You don’t spit clips You’re a gymnast on the fitness team. I’ll blow you cowards to smithereens. It’s a wrap when I grab the guillotine. Spazzin on you, I’mma leave patches on you Like you tryin to quit nicotine. I’m far from a rat but I get the cheese Never caught in a trap, I’m quick to weave. I belong on the track like your chicken’s weave. I’m calling you wack, you’re boring in fact. I yawn when you rap, I be in my dreams. And it’s time to attack, better hit your knees. Some of yall cats need therapy. I smack you up for a penalty. Yall say yall sick? I’m the remedy. You are not the guy, you ain’t never seen Somebody out they mind with no memory. If you want that life then keep telling me You live a life of crime with no felonies. You just put your life in jeopardy And guess who’s Alex Trebek? There’s no questions I’m the answer – unless You feel you can pass my test Sorry, but I’m giving rappers an F. Yeah, I’ll damage your flesh No I’m not Aretha, mad disrespect. Rappers are chicks and guess who’s the pimp."
Aside from Mickey Factz, I can't really think of too many rappers who have dared to sample the music of N*E*R*D for their own productions.
