This is gonna be my version of VH1 storytellers. To give you an idea on what was going on, what was in our minds when we came up with the songs that appear on the Enemigos album. A lil' background info that people would'nt know unless they were actually a part of the process. or were there at the studio while we were writing and recording this LP. I know, cause I am a great fan of music, and I always like to hear some background info on how an album was put together, and the reasoning behind what is being put forth to the listeners. I think we as artists OWE it to those who spend thier hard earned money to step in to "our" world whenever they sit back and press play. At the same time those who download the shit for free without buying it, know that you are one of the reasons why we are in the state that we are in today (music business). Know that when these artists spend thier money (an investment) on the studio time, the promotions, the pressing of the cds, the misc. shit you gotta take care of when doing an album, they EXPECT to get a return on what they spent. Its a BUSINESS, you must understand that. It is actually a form of disrespect when you do it like that. We will never be able to stop that free download shit, BUT sometimes you wish that folks had a lil' more integrity in how they get down. Oh well, it is what it is, and karma is a muthafucka.
1. INTRO - I chose the title Agony & Ecstacy because that is one of my favorite songs. Old School Smokie Robinson off the Quiet Storm album. Back then when they were making music, it meant something. You can hear the feeling in thier singing. You knew that it was from the heart. I actually have that song tattooed on my back (see sig) right below the Rest In Peace tattoo I have for my father who passed in 06'. If you ever get a chance to listen to the song by Smokie, it fits right into my life. It tells the story of being in a relationship, but then being in love with someone else also. It was the story of me and my daughter mother. I related to it when I first heard it. Agony is a very great suffering of the mind or body, EXTREME mental pain and suffering, while Ecstacy is the opposite, great joy, strong feelings that delight the heart, and absorbs the mind. I think we can ALL relate to that.
2. HARD INDA PAINT - Started the album off with some straight POUND, goes right into the verse, "I'm an ALL-Star be quicc to spit these bars like that, you aint gotta ask whos' holding it down for the 48 rap...." Somewhat of a Diss song to some squares I know of. Just keepin it real on some real shit. This aint no air brush t-shirt, follow the fad shit right here, this is on some get on your helmet type shit. Like it has been said many times, if you cant run with the big dogs, then stay your puppy ass on the porch.
3. E.A.S.T. - With every album I do, we ALWAYS gotta give it up for our side of town. East San Jose, Ca. We brought in my longtime homie from back in the days Silence to add that special touch on this one. Took it back old school with the old Hall & Oates track, with a lil' bit of Eddy Grant on the chorus, for you young cats that dont know them names, go google that shit. I liked how this track turned out, everyone was on point with the lyrics.
4. LIL' SLICE - Convic came up with the concept, Filthy laid the beat so vicious, and I just came in and wrote my 16 bars. This song is DEATH on a system that cant take a heavy hard pounding bassline. What I liked about this track is that after every 8 bars the vocals SLOW DOWN, like its screwed/chopped. I thought that was clean when we first was doing it. Vic has all kind of ideas and music in his mind, and alot of times I just follow his lead on some stuff, cause I trust him that he will not disappoint when we trying to make some hard ass shit.
5. RYTE ON TYME - All Convic. He was givin it to them broads that be on that groupie shit. Lyrically Vic is one of the best out of San Jo, shit outta Northern Cali period. I really respect his style and delivery, thats whay I fucks with him so tough on any projects that I do.
6. HOME' COMIN- This was actually the first track we recorded to begin this album. It was a home coming of sorts cause I aint fucked around with rappin and shit for a few years. Every now and then I would spit on a project here or there, but as far as going full fledge making some shit, this was the start.
7. INVESTED- Wrote this shit to address all the cats that be out there big ballin on tracks, and speandin they money on material shit. A word play, In Vest, invest in a vest. Cause when you out there high siding with bread like that, out there showin the world you got it some kind of way, while the people on the streets is struggling around you, you need to be more careful in your movements, cause someone will take your life over some money, it happenes everyday. This is also to those who talk that high power gangsta shit on they tracks, if anything I learned on this journey, is that you better back what you say on these records, cause there will be someone out there to test you. I know, I have been in many a situation in many cities where it couldve went down. Real recognize real tho. If you fakin and shakin, be prepared to get confronted, especially when you in other cities doing shows.
8. CDz LIKE "D"- This is an ODE to the independent hustle. To the cats thats out there in the streets trying to slang they cds. To the guy that in the gas station parking lot trying to make that sale. To the cat that is out there with a backpack full of his music, just looking for some support. We go to all the cities, trying to get this shit rollin. Personally if I see youand I'm out somewhere, and you beating out, I will approach you and get at you about coppin one from me. If you got "super" beat in your shit, More than likely I'm just gonna give you one, cause I want you to play my shit hella loud, so muthafuccas can be like who is that?! Then YOU will be doing the promoting when you let them see the cover, and tellem bout the guy who approached you and just shot you one on the basis of you out there providing the soundtrack to the streets with your 4 15's slumpin down the city bloccs LOL.
9. NUTTS IN DEY POCCET- This is another one. Just puttin out a straight message on how we got back to that studio to do this project. You cant stop this REAL G's knocc this. Never on no fad shit, just about sticking to the G-code, and doin what it do. We also brought in Lil' Boo Loc on this track, hes the homie...
10. R U SINGLE? - This song was made cause I heard this track on some Old School mix CD I bought off the street. Its a cut that came out in the 80's. Bassline was hittin, the singing on point. I figured let me try to make a song for the females. Not on no lvey dovey shit, but on some, kust trying to get at you and see what you about type thing. I know MOST of us have grown tired of dog-a-bitch, I dont give a fuck about hoes type songs. I mean those are cool too, I aint knoccin them, but I wanted to make this so that when these females is getting ready to go out to a club or something, they playing this song. When they rollin with they homegirls to a function, THIS SONG is playin. That what I envisioned when I made this shit. If you can undertsand that.
11. 408 RIDERZ- This came off the Scrilla Mac compilation that goes by the same name. We recorded it at Money Hungry Studios in Tracy, Ca. I love Convics verse on here, when he raps, " I lived in overcrowded prison blocks reppin my city how I get down its tatted on me so there aint no mystery, your boys got history BEEN out here puttin it down, but who the fuck givin props to the worlds safest town, go ahead and clown believe that shit that they preach, but when the sun goes down dog THE STREETS ARE THE STREETS....." thats some real shit Vic, tell them cats not to get it twisted!!
12. TAKE MY WORD- Written to give a nod to these dudes out here they live off what others have done. Its funny cause I see post on here all the time, folks talkin bout how hard thier city is, how many murders thier city has (who in thier right mind would brag about that?!) BUT aint put in NO WORK for that city. They had no involvement with none of that street shit. It may be going on around them, but they just spectatin. So if you just a spectator, and not active, then you dont have no right to speak on what was done in the streets. Cause you are no part of it, you just happen to live there....If you can feel what I'm sayin.
13. ARSONISTS - Like my boy Silence said on the Tank Bizness Mixtape, this was for all those who said the Tank aint got no spitters. Then Silence commenced to get off on that Mic, we did that here. Just flowin, like the Nile river. Ya know...
14. THEY ALL SAY- I always liked this song by the Mary Jane Girls, "Candy Man". We had to slow it up a whole lot, cause this shit is fast in its original form. We even shot a video to it. It wasnt the best video, but it served its purpose, and has over 50 or 70 Thousand views. Its funny cause the young people that commented on it, well SOME of the young people that commented on it were like the beat is fucked up, and it was weak. Those dumb asses dont know that the late Rick James produced that music, and wrote that original song. Sometimes people just have to hate on some shit just because, its laughable. It was sad to see some of the hate was coming from San Jo. How can you hate on something that is showin the streets you know, the streets you walk on, the spots you be in? Its all good when you see some other videos, you swing on they nutts, but when you see your own backyard you hate. Comedy. Like I said, it wasnt no big budget video, but it served its purpose...Hate on it if you want, it aint my first time getting hated on, so my feelings aint hurt..:knockout:
15. So Sweet -We are getting alot of feedback on this song. Once again, Vic came with the idea. I just came with my verses. Shea blessed us with the sweet vocals you hear on the chorus, and my boy Tha Critic dropped a clean 16 for us. On my second verse I actually tell the story about when me and Vic went out to Clovis, CA (right outside Fresno) to go buy my Caprice Classic. We are in talks right now to shoot a video for this song here. We just trying to get some things together, and hope to be shooting this video within the next month or so.
16. THE YARD - My boy Convic telling some of his prison stories. Just givin up the real about his experiences within CDC. Raw and gritty, from that San Jo city.
17. MAYNO- Which is Main Ho. Bout kickin it with a female, and shit is clickin, but you already got somebody, so you cant never be the main female, someone already got that spot. Shouldnt have used the word ho, but fuck it, I did. Laid back beat, and got my Samoan partna Chubbs singin on the hook. I been hearin that Chubbs is like a lightweight celebrity on the Islander scene. That muthafucca can sing his ass off.
18. DEGREES OF GROWTH- I like this song. It was on some educational shit. We took a sample from the movie "The Education of Sonny Carson". At first we called this song "Growin Up", but as you grow up, you have different degrees of growth. There was a 3rd verse to it, but we scrapped it. When you hear this song we hope that you walk away with a message. Walk away with something that you can relate to. Learn something from it.
19. ATTITUDE- I got this beat from the homies brother out in Los Angeles. I likes it cause it had the Rufus feat. Chaka Khan sample of the song "Hollywood". I always liked that cut. In this song, I spoke on cats hating to see you advance. I spoke on fools paying big dollars for these "features" and aint seeing no return on it. I spoke on how you gonna go pay everybody else, but then when you get to your backyard you expect everything for free? I was at the 408Inc BBQ this past saturday, and my boy 211 just went thru some shit like this, he out there gettin his shine, KMEL spinnin his shit, but fools, FOOLS from our own backyard, aint liking that, cause in the back of they mind they feel they should be the one. They should have what he is getting. Crazy shit.
20. LEFTCOAST- We JACKED Anthony Hamilton straight up. My female who I was with at the time used to play the Anthony Hamilton song all the time. I liked the beat, and I wanted to do it for the West Coast. Say some thing that we relate to, and can feel on the West, that the west is known for. So I started to write the chorus, and once again, I had to get Shea Sav on the vocals. Dont get it twisted, Shea is a BEAST on that mic lyrically too, but this time around he blessed us with the vocals. Tha Critic gassed on this track, my Blood homie Stoneage from Oak Park came out to San Jose with me, and did his thing in the studio. Gruff came out, Silence, Scrilla Mac came through, and you know Vic did his muthafuckin thang. It was named the Juniel remix after my girl since she inspired the whole thing.
21. E48 OUT- Took it back to the early 80's. Time wont give me time sample. It dont get no better than this. Gave it up to my boy Filthy Rich for producing this album. I appreciate it all....
9.
1. INTRO - I chose the title Agony & Ecstacy because that is one of my favorite songs. Old School Smokie Robinson off the Quiet Storm album. Back then when they were making music, it meant something. You can hear the feeling in thier singing. You knew that it was from the heart. I actually have that song tattooed on my back (see sig) right below the Rest In Peace tattoo I have for my father who passed in 06'. If you ever get a chance to listen to the song by Smokie, it fits right into my life. It tells the story of being in a relationship, but then being in love with someone else also. It was the story of me and my daughter mother. I related to it when I first heard it. Agony is a very great suffering of the mind or body, EXTREME mental pain and suffering, while Ecstacy is the opposite, great joy, strong feelings that delight the heart, and absorbs the mind. I think we can ALL relate to that.
2. HARD INDA PAINT - Started the album off with some straight POUND, goes right into the verse, "I'm an ALL-Star be quicc to spit these bars like that, you aint gotta ask whos' holding it down for the 48 rap...." Somewhat of a Diss song to some squares I know of. Just keepin it real on some real shit. This aint no air brush t-shirt, follow the fad shit right here, this is on some get on your helmet type shit. Like it has been said many times, if you cant run with the big dogs, then stay your puppy ass on the porch.
3. E.A.S.T. - With every album I do, we ALWAYS gotta give it up for our side of town. East San Jose, Ca. We brought in my longtime homie from back in the days Silence to add that special touch on this one. Took it back old school with the old Hall & Oates track, with a lil' bit of Eddy Grant on the chorus, for you young cats that dont know them names, go google that shit. I liked how this track turned out, everyone was on point with the lyrics.
4. LIL' SLICE - Convic came up with the concept, Filthy laid the beat so vicious, and I just came in and wrote my 16 bars. This song is DEATH on a system that cant take a heavy hard pounding bassline. What I liked about this track is that after every 8 bars the vocals SLOW DOWN, like its screwed/chopped. I thought that was clean when we first was doing it. Vic has all kind of ideas and music in his mind, and alot of times I just follow his lead on some stuff, cause I trust him that he will not disappoint when we trying to make some hard ass shit.
5. RYTE ON TYME - All Convic. He was givin it to them broads that be on that groupie shit. Lyrically Vic is one of the best out of San Jo, shit outta Northern Cali period. I really respect his style and delivery, thats whay I fucks with him so tough on any projects that I do.
6. HOME' COMIN- This was actually the first track we recorded to begin this album. It was a home coming of sorts cause I aint fucked around with rappin and shit for a few years. Every now and then I would spit on a project here or there, but as far as going full fledge making some shit, this was the start.
7. INVESTED- Wrote this shit to address all the cats that be out there big ballin on tracks, and speandin they money on material shit. A word play, In Vest, invest in a vest. Cause when you out there high siding with bread like that, out there showin the world you got it some kind of way, while the people on the streets is struggling around you, you need to be more careful in your movements, cause someone will take your life over some money, it happenes everyday. This is also to those who talk that high power gangsta shit on they tracks, if anything I learned on this journey, is that you better back what you say on these records, cause there will be someone out there to test you. I know, I have been in many a situation in many cities where it couldve went down. Real recognize real tho. If you fakin and shakin, be prepared to get confronted, especially when you in other cities doing shows.
8. CDz LIKE "D"- This is an ODE to the independent hustle. To the cats thats out there in the streets trying to slang they cds. To the guy that in the gas station parking lot trying to make that sale. To the cat that is out there with a backpack full of his music, just looking for some support. We go to all the cities, trying to get this shit rollin. Personally if I see youand I'm out somewhere, and you beating out, I will approach you and get at you about coppin one from me. If you got "super" beat in your shit, More than likely I'm just gonna give you one, cause I want you to play my shit hella loud, so muthafuccas can be like who is that?! Then YOU will be doing the promoting when you let them see the cover, and tellem bout the guy who approached you and just shot you one on the basis of you out there providing the soundtrack to the streets with your 4 15's slumpin down the city bloccs LOL.
9. NUTTS IN DEY POCCET- This is another one. Just puttin out a straight message on how we got back to that studio to do this project. You cant stop this REAL G's knocc this. Never on no fad shit, just about sticking to the G-code, and doin what it do. We also brought in Lil' Boo Loc on this track, hes the homie...
10. R U SINGLE? - This song was made cause I heard this track on some Old School mix CD I bought off the street. Its a cut that came out in the 80's. Bassline was hittin, the singing on point. I figured let me try to make a song for the females. Not on no lvey dovey shit, but on some, kust trying to get at you and see what you about type thing. I know MOST of us have grown tired of dog-a-bitch, I dont give a fuck about hoes type songs. I mean those are cool too, I aint knoccin them, but I wanted to make this so that when these females is getting ready to go out to a club or something, they playing this song. When they rollin with they homegirls to a function, THIS SONG is playin. That what I envisioned when I made this shit. If you can undertsand that.
11. 408 RIDERZ- This came off the Scrilla Mac compilation that goes by the same name. We recorded it at Money Hungry Studios in Tracy, Ca. I love Convics verse on here, when he raps, " I lived in overcrowded prison blocks reppin my city how I get down its tatted on me so there aint no mystery, your boys got history BEEN out here puttin it down, but who the fuck givin props to the worlds safest town, go ahead and clown believe that shit that they preach, but when the sun goes down dog THE STREETS ARE THE STREETS....." thats some real shit Vic, tell them cats not to get it twisted!!
12. TAKE MY WORD- Written to give a nod to these dudes out here they live off what others have done. Its funny cause I see post on here all the time, folks talkin bout how hard thier city is, how many murders thier city has (who in thier right mind would brag about that?!) BUT aint put in NO WORK for that city. They had no involvement with none of that street shit. It may be going on around them, but they just spectatin. So if you just a spectator, and not active, then you dont have no right to speak on what was done in the streets. Cause you are no part of it, you just happen to live there....If you can feel what I'm sayin.
13. ARSONISTS - Like my boy Silence said on the Tank Bizness Mixtape, this was for all those who said the Tank aint got no spitters. Then Silence commenced to get off on that Mic, we did that here. Just flowin, like the Nile river. Ya know...
14. THEY ALL SAY- I always liked this song by the Mary Jane Girls, "Candy Man". We had to slow it up a whole lot, cause this shit is fast in its original form. We even shot a video to it. It wasnt the best video, but it served its purpose, and has over 50 or 70 Thousand views. Its funny cause the young people that commented on it, well SOME of the young people that commented on it were like the beat is fucked up, and it was weak. Those dumb asses dont know that the late Rick James produced that music, and wrote that original song. Sometimes people just have to hate on some shit just because, its laughable. It was sad to see some of the hate was coming from San Jo. How can you hate on something that is showin the streets you know, the streets you walk on, the spots you be in? Its all good when you see some other videos, you swing on they nutts, but when you see your own backyard you hate. Comedy. Like I said, it wasnt no big budget video, but it served its purpose...Hate on it if you want, it aint my first time getting hated on, so my feelings aint hurt..:knockout:
15. So Sweet -We are getting alot of feedback on this song. Once again, Vic came with the idea. I just came with my verses. Shea blessed us with the sweet vocals you hear on the chorus, and my boy Tha Critic dropped a clean 16 for us. On my second verse I actually tell the story about when me and Vic went out to Clovis, CA (right outside Fresno) to go buy my Caprice Classic. We are in talks right now to shoot a video for this song here. We just trying to get some things together, and hope to be shooting this video within the next month or so.
16. THE YARD - My boy Convic telling some of his prison stories. Just givin up the real about his experiences within CDC. Raw and gritty, from that San Jo city.
17. MAYNO- Which is Main Ho. Bout kickin it with a female, and shit is clickin, but you already got somebody, so you cant never be the main female, someone already got that spot. Shouldnt have used the word ho, but fuck it, I did. Laid back beat, and got my Samoan partna Chubbs singin on the hook. I been hearin that Chubbs is like a lightweight celebrity on the Islander scene. That muthafucca can sing his ass off.
18. DEGREES OF GROWTH- I like this song. It was on some educational shit. We took a sample from the movie "The Education of Sonny Carson". At first we called this song "Growin Up", but as you grow up, you have different degrees of growth. There was a 3rd verse to it, but we scrapped it. When you hear this song we hope that you walk away with a message. Walk away with something that you can relate to. Learn something from it.
19. ATTITUDE- I got this beat from the homies brother out in Los Angeles. I likes it cause it had the Rufus feat. Chaka Khan sample of the song "Hollywood". I always liked that cut. In this song, I spoke on cats hating to see you advance. I spoke on fools paying big dollars for these "features" and aint seeing no return on it. I spoke on how you gonna go pay everybody else, but then when you get to your backyard you expect everything for free? I was at the 408Inc BBQ this past saturday, and my boy 211 just went thru some shit like this, he out there gettin his shine, KMEL spinnin his shit, but fools, FOOLS from our own backyard, aint liking that, cause in the back of they mind they feel they should be the one. They should have what he is getting. Crazy shit.
20. LEFTCOAST- We JACKED Anthony Hamilton straight up. My female who I was with at the time used to play the Anthony Hamilton song all the time. I liked the beat, and I wanted to do it for the West Coast. Say some thing that we relate to, and can feel on the West, that the west is known for. So I started to write the chorus, and once again, I had to get Shea Sav on the vocals. Dont get it twisted, Shea is a BEAST on that mic lyrically too, but this time around he blessed us with the vocals. Tha Critic gassed on this track, my Blood homie Stoneage from Oak Park came out to San Jose with me, and did his thing in the studio. Gruff came out, Silence, Scrilla Mac came through, and you know Vic did his muthafuckin thang. It was named the Juniel remix after my girl since she inspired the whole thing.
21. E48 OUT- Took it back to the early 80's. Time wont give me time sample. It dont get no better than this. Gave it up to my boy Filthy Rich for producing this album. I appreciate it all....
9.
