Irreconcilable Differences feat The Real DMT

Navigating middle age while being haunted by a centuries-old muse is difficult in a literal world. As time progresses, you watch your peers leave the cypher and set up the rest of their lives...out of the spotlight.

Creating art every day is a burden to personal growth, at times. You must compromise and be responsible for your own safety & security. A new regimen of time management is essential.

The upside of this adjustment from creative to responsible has an upside...a new community of peers that also possess the gift of talent while managing mortgage, marriage & merriment. In a moment of Astral reflection, I jump outta my skin, turn around, look at my self and pen this rhyme.

I feel blessed to have been inspired many other "Hip Hop Survivors". Every now and then, I get to collaborate with one...like The Real DMT.

His razzle-dazzle, native-tongue style is reminiscent of other rappers on my G.O.A.T. list, a fraternity reserved by expert wordsmiths of literary might & humorous magic (Rakim, Nas, Tribe Called Quest, Eminem, Chuck D.)

The Real DMT made my list.

"Not Forsaken"- a tribute to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina

Not Forsaken
Post-Katrina song for NOLA

James Avatar/Karen Emerson and Katherine Farrel; words & music

(R&B/ Hip Hop mix 102 BPM)
(Folk/ Reggaeton/Soca mix-95 BPM)


LYRICS

Take my hand if the water’s getting rough
When the world comes crashing down on us, we’re gonna build it up / with love
We are not forsaken

I weep for those
I weep for those
I weep for those who are weeping

I see your pain
Comes down like rain
You don’t know if you’ll make it / tomorrow

But I  / see
And I  / feel
Knowing that you’re
You’re not forsaken

I pray for those
I pray for those
I pray for those who are weeping

Katrina’s wake
The lives…the lives she takes
The nation is weeping from her story / from her story

Take my hand if the water’s getting rough
When the world comes crashing down on us, we’re gonna build it up / with love
We are not forsaken

But I  / see
And I  / feel
Knowing that you’re
You’re not forsaken

But I  / see
And I  / feel
Knowing that you’re
You’re not forsaken

American Horror Story tribute; season 2 "ASYLUM"

I was so taken by the FX television show "American Horror Story" that I was inspired to write something to commemorate this extraordinary creative turn of industry. Looking back now FIVE SUCCESSFUL SEASONS one wonders if the initial concept for the show was ever a "Risky" pitch.

But as the YUGE shadow of Streaming channel programming loom over broadcast network real estate, it stands to reason that newer, more "experimental" concepts are being courted by the likes of "The Big Four" (CBS, ABC, NBC, & FOX).

Cable Net AMC seems to be leading the way with the now classic WALKING DEAD series but FX network's AMERICAN HORROR STORY really struck a nerve in me.

I am a long -time Horror/Gore movie fan, cherishing fond memories of watching first-run features in the grand urban decay of the Grind-houses on 42nd St., circa 1970'2. Ryan Murphy's ever-evolving series tells a different (horrific) story every season. So far, my favorites are seasons 3 (Coven) and 2 - ASYLUM.  This is a hip hop song that celebrates this twisted and intriguing tale of terror.

The Asylum

DJ Thanos feat. James Avatar & Philly G.

American Horror Story; Asylum TRIBUTE

Written by James Avatar & Phillip Gelbach

Produced by James Avatar for 1REV media ©2016

Who’s runnin’ the asylum? Who’s runnin’ the asylum? Who’s runnin’ the asylum?

Open up the window, let the devil out, Open up the window, let the devil out,

Open up the window, let the devil out, let the devil out, let the devil out, let the devil out,

let the devil out, let the devil out, let the devil out

I wanna talk to the boss cause somethin ain’t right

Everybody’s goin Crazy in the house tonight

Got the Devil upstairs with the red dress on

Evil in the basement / Dr. Nazi pricks you

with a needle and into your vein

go the horror and pain / sing the name game

go Lana-Lana-Fo-Fanna and then you go silent

I just wanna know, Who’s runnin’ the asylum?

I just wanna know, Who’s runnin’ the asylum?

Back to the sixties, rewind the clock

Strap you down for the Electroshock

Grit ya teeth and get ready for the white heat

Ordered by the nun, certified by the priest

Undercover reporter blamed cause she likes the Jane

Stings from the cane is a brand new pain

Spit into the air your medication

When the mothership come, better run, better run

When the mothership come, better run

When the mothership come, better run

I gotta holla at somebody cause somethin ain’t right

Everybody’s goin Crazy in the house tonight

Got the Devil upstairs with the red dress on

Evil in the basement / Dr. Nazi pricks you

with a needle and into your vein

go the horror and pain now sing the name game

go Lana-Lana-Fo-Fanna and then you go silent

I just wanna know, Who’s runnin’ the asylum?, Who’s runnin’ the asylum?

When the mothership come, better run, better run

When the mothership come, better run

When the mothership come, better run, better run

When the mothership come, better run

Open up the window, let the devil out, Open up the window, let the devil out,

Open up the window, let the devil out, let the devil out, let the devil out, let the devil out,

let the devil out, let the devil out, let the devil out

I gotta holla at somebody cause somethin ain’t right

Everybody’s goin Crazy in the house tonight

Got the Devil upstairs with the red dress on

Evil in the basement / Dr. Nazi pricks you

with a needle and into your vein

go the horror and pain now sing the name game

go Lana-Lana-Fo-Fanna and then you go silent

Let the devil out - , Who’s runnin’ the asylum?

Let the devil out - , Who’s runnin’ the asylum?

Let the devil out - , Who’s runnin’ the asylum?

"it's A New York Shame" ; a native's Hip Hop Anthem.

I wanted write a song from my heart that really said exactly what I feel about the place I come from. Born in Spanish Harlem and raised in the Bronx, I've watched the cityscape change from the 60's to the present day. Some of the memories & experiences were good. This song is not about them.

This song is about all the embarrassments, hidden pockets of urban blight, absurd scandals and annoyances that only a Homeboy or Homegirl from the hoods of New Yawk could relate to.

A downtempo, Old School pulsing rhythm, with trippy guitar lines frame a strong hook which sets up a First verse that I can say I am proud of.



The new EP release, "Respect The Playlist", produced by myself and brilliant composer PHILLIP GELBACH is now available on iTunes/Apple Music.

"Booma" : An ode to post-911 baby boomers

"Booma" was intended to be a Hip Hop response to 911 and the new challenges facing the next generation of baby "Booma's". ("Even the rat got to hand over the cheese to the fat cat"...)

Russian Classical pianist/hip hop producer PHILIP GELBACH created the hypnotic, descending vibraphone line and the dark & spooky string pads.

The addition of Digitelle's laid-back female lead and Massi Funkdredd's twisted wordplay was crucial for the song's vibe and made a perfect blend to sprinkle on a relaxed, Jazzy groove.

We shot the "BOOMA" music video in Times Square in 2004. Sadly, the video has been lost.

BOOMA
Lyrics by James Avatar

Intro
I'm OK and you're OK
and I thought I heard a rumor in the year 2K
that every dog will have his day 
so I might as well party now

Chorus

Booma Booma
Velcro future
sticking to the plan like ya mass consumer
life is like a knife and sometimes it cut through ya
demystify the word 'cause what you heard is just a rumor

Booma Booma 
Teflon future
slide by the hard times can't stick to ya
same old same the game won by the loser 
love is just a drug are you the dealer or the user?

Avatar verse
I need a cold glass of lemonade 
cause hell is hot in the shade 
under the collar when you holla for the dollar
bills got you ill
candy flip chill pill no cheap thrills sweating like swine on the grill
so scary learn a whole new vocabulary still cracking the word safe in you dictionary dollar bill ya'll and no sense so you pull the caper
or maybe sling the weight and turn the trees into paper either way you understand that you need a plan now you realize that you forgot that all you got the skin in your hand
now who the man for supply and demand?
you bust your lip tripping on the privileges of membership
swipe the stripe bold like Ali in manila
interest rates creeping up like thriller pinstripe hype play or get played selling the bonds that Fred Sanford liked to trade
do the masquerade and escapade you know so well, is it bear shit or bullshit (you can tell by the smell) recession got you guessin where the cheddar at
even the rat got to hand over the cheese to the fat cat.

Chorus

Booma Booma
Velcro future
sticking to the plan of the mass consumer
life is like a knife and sometimes it cut through ya
demystify the word 'cause what you heard is just a rooma

Booma Booma 
Teflon future
slide by the hard time can't stick to ya
same old same the game won by the losa 
love is just a drug are you the dealer or the user?

Digitelle verse
I need a hot cup of cocoa
ain't even tryin to be a down low CEO
no strain to maintain a portfolio
that puts a hole up in your soul like a cheerio
I'd rather pass you the mic so you could let go
you need to flow and maybe outgrow the status quo
or maybe even take your nose off the grindstone,
when you shoot money in your veins you get the Dow Jones stocks stringing you along like a yo-yo
you running from the shadow of a falling domino
yo is that really how it go? no but really tho,
maybe the changes that you undergo
come from where the cream flow.

Massi verse
You see occasionally the dread attempts to blaze the beats straight wild and crazily like Midwest high school hazing speed and stun you momentarily

continuously spitting rhymes with clarity the very topic wise and time disparaging but mostly true,

and to inform the ghetto youth on how the world revolves, you think you bust a gat and problem solved but yo my man you must evolve to reach a higher plane speak peace and maintain if you intend for all our peeps to gain.

I feel your pain cause I be right there witch you struggling mad job juggling to keep the money bubbling

I'm try to manifest the righteous
roll with the hype cats
just to get the right touch.

Bridge

I'm OK and you're OK
and I thought I heard a rumor in the year 2K
that every dog will have his day 
so I might as well party now

Damn!
Look at me!...
Blah blah blah...
Yakety yak

©2002,2005 ®2014ceomusic

"Change The Mindset"- video mashup tribute to revolution

A cinema "mash-up" of some of my favorite films. Also a tribute to the spirit of revolution and fighting back against the evils that men do.

Written in the spring of 1983 and recorded on Christmas '08.

Artfully remixed by video editing wiz CINEMIXER.


CHANGE THE MINDSET
 Masses of unhappyness and smiles of darkness around you
The state of hate in the love you make around you
People hide out of pride cause they're unsatisfied around you
What do you do? what do you do?

I think you need to Change The Mindset, Change The Mindset
Che Guuvara you must never forget, when you change
Change The Mindset, Change The Mindset
Life is just fine when you change the mind

The screams in your dreams from the fear of the scene around you
Pain in the brain / the pleasure you gain around you
When you'r chained and bound, birds sing without sound around you
That's my point of view Now brother, what'cha gonna do?

I think you need to Change The Mindset, Change The Mindset
Malcolm X you must never forget, when you change
Change The Mindset, Change The Mindset
It's just just fine when you change the mind

Change The Mindset, Change The Mindset
Mahatma Gandhi you must never forget, when you change,
Change The Mindset, Change The Mindset
Life is just fine when you change the mind

I think you need to change your mind, one time

"DEADMONKEY" - A salute to the Darwin Awards

Are you are bothered by publicly rude cellphone talkers, texting drivers, unnecessary pop stars and political charlatans? Then perhaps you can take solace in the fact that there is an honor awarded to seriously stupid people who kill themselves in stupid ways, making the world a better place for the rest of us.

The song "DEADMONKEY" is funky R n' B salute to THE DARWIN AWARDS: a tongue-in-cheek honor that recognizes individuals who have contributed to human evolution by self-selecting themselves out of the gene pool via death or sterilization, due to their own (unnecessarily foolish) actions. 

The stories in the lyrics are based on true life accounts of Darwin Award "winners". Written by James Avatar

DEAD MONKEY

Salute to THE DARWIN AWARDS

Jazztronic/Hip hop - 90 BPM

HOOK

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, fight for banana

Boom Boom Dead Monkey

Boom Boom Dead Monkey

VERSE1:

once upon a time there was a monkey named JOE

tried to rob a bank three times in a ROW

tried once more to do the very same STUNT

didn't see the cop car parked in the FRONT

once upon a time there was a monkey named Kay, put a

bomb in a letter and mailed it AWAY

when it came back, he said “what’s that THANG?”

opened up the letter and the monkey went BANG

Chorus

Boom Boom Dead Monkey, Tougher than leather

Boom Boom Dead Monkey, Not 2 clever

Boom Boom Dead Monkey,  cookie gonna crumble

You can see another one stumble in the  jungle

BREAK

MONKEY: “Yo, I gots yo banana, baby

GIRL: “But you’s a DEAD MONKEY!”

MONKEY: “Yo, I gots yo banana, baby

GIRL:  “But you’s a DEAD MONKEY!”

MONKEY:“Yo, I gots yo banana, baby

GIRL:  “But you’s a DEAD MONKEY!” - Keep yo banana, yo Banana ain’t funky!”

VERSE 2:

once upon a time there was a monkey named LANCE

tried to steal a lobster, in his PANTS

Monkey in pain, monkey hit the floor

and now the monkey’s name is ELEANOR

once upon a time there was a monkey named HANK

tried to clean out his gasoline TANK

couldn't see a thing, too dark INSIDE

Lit a hot match and the monkey got FRIED

Boom Boom Dead Monkey, Hustle for banana

Boom Boom Dead Monkey, Fight for banana

Boom Boom Dead Monkey  ready to rumble

In come another one, there goes the jungle

Boom Boom Dead Monkey, Tougher than leather

Boom Boom Dead Monkey, Not 2 clever

Boom Boom Dead Monkey,  cookie gonna crumble

You can see another one stumble in the  jungle

Repeat HOOK TO end