In between CS and ND, Rob and I did our little Live EP and that is when Rob began to write all his own lyrics. We did a number of tracks and two of them ended up on ND...
New Day
Written 11/13/93 - 3/26/94 * Recorded 3/27/94 - 4/28/94 (15.5 hours in studio)
45 minutes, 13 Tracks (+2), Featuring Rob G, SoySos and Josh C
Tape cover and tracklist:
The songs written but not recorded were "Don't Worry" & "Focus".
Notes:
I'm very, very proud of this tape. The title is very significant, for a couple of reasons. One, I really seriously cut down my language. I mean, severely. I think the F word shows up on the whole tape twice. (This is amazing for me). With the decreased language came a full realization that I wasn't some hardcore fool. Two, I began to actually produce original beats for songs! I had *always* just used instrumental beats that are found on 12" singles that most goups put out. This time, with Jay's help, I worked on two completely oringal tracks (The Dark Side and Sundown) and on my own, I came up with a couple tracks (Decisions and Consequences). These two loops are just that, loops of other songs' drum beats. The CD players at the radio station had a looping function, so I found a couple beats that I could loop. I worked on them so that they sounded like actual continous beats (which is harder than you think) and then put some other samples on top of them. There ya go, a new song. Another significant thing about this tape is that I really had some fun. It's Gettin' Funky is damn near hillarious, and some of the other tracks actually begin to show a lighter side to my songwriting. This tape isn't nearly as dark as previous efforts. New Day - the title just speaks volumes about what was going on and the direction I was trying to take and I think it really shows. I love this tape. This is perhaps the most complete tape I have made. Incidentally, this is the first tape to not have a "title track" on it, and only Last Call would bring it back.
I also became a lot more introspective this time around. I stopped talking as much about other people and more about myself.
I was trying to be philosophical as much as I could, and I was just getting tired of being as confrontational as I had been. Songs like O Blue, Decisions, Consequences and Lost In My Mind really reflect that. This trend would definitely continue and become the prevelant frame of mind in my songwriting.
The two original tracks Jay and I did were done with his keyboards and drum machine. A few more will show up on later tapes. Rob was around when we were working on The Dark Side
and he helped out quite a bit with the beat - we all decided
to do that song together and it was a blast. I still have some
of the outtakes on tape and they get me rollin' every time. Sundown I actually did almost all by myself - and Josh came in the studio to just go nuts on it. He didn't rhyme but just was the freak that he is.
About the time I was making this, mainstream rap songs were really emphasizing what I call "the double" - where an MC will record himself doing the track twice, one on top of the other - and leave both in the song. I first did that in this tape, also on It's Like That. I would also use "the double" effect in subsequent albums, i.e. Break Out (Two Reel) and The Jugular (Vital Signs).
Also notice the pre-title for the next album that wasn't used... "Permanent Reaction".
There were 11 copies of this tape made for friends. None were sent out to any management companies or labels.
O Blue - inspired by a parking garage sign that I "borrowed" from Purdue University.
I Ain't Trippin' - a really cool track in which I muffled my voice a bit - it comes off very well and is one of my all-time fave tracks. I really flow, yo!
It's Gettin' Funky - Pure Rob G lyrical maddness. Fun fun fun.
Suprise! - written for my girlfriend at the time, kinda an inside joke.
It's Like That - actually about Stan's ex-wife, Candee - and the only time in the whole album I used the word Bitch. Most appropriately, I might add.
The Dark Side - use The Force, Luke. Complete original production by the three man crew: SoySos, Rob G & OB.
Bring It Strong - oringally written for CS (as I Can Take It), then re-worked for the Rob G Live EP (as Bring It On), and then finalized here. I finally was happy with the lyrics.
Sundown - I wrote a verse that incorporated every song title from the album and made it as a sort of "completion" song. The beat was produced wholly by myself.
Lyric of the Album : "Whether it's rappin' or livin', peace is what I'm given 'cuz I'm driven by the inner soul, the goal is not trippin'" (I Ain't Trippin')
Honorable Mention : "With ya sorry-ass, sucka motha-punkin' wack crew, in '92 you did a remix of a track by the who?" (The Dark Side)
