bhyphen

I decided to start another Behind The Music entry, except with video instead of all the typing this time. I'll be posting them as I produce them.

I started writing this in August 2007. I'm only up to track 7. So let's see if I can't finish it.

So way back when, I did a Behind The Music entry on my first mixtape The Mind's Mixtape volume 1 (Download). I tried to do something similar for The Mind's Mixtape volume II shortly after, but just wasn't into it. So since I've been listening to volume II today, I've decided to try again but this time, I'm including the audio so that everyone can listen to what I'm talking about!

Track 1: The Champ Is Here (Intro)
So the last track on volume 1 was "Never Change". I always had a plan to make at least three Mind's Mixtape's and I wanted them to go together. So I started out with the "Never Change" beat and then I had it fade into thunderstorm sound effects (foreshadowing?). *On another note, I just listened to the last track of volume 1 and the first track of volume II together and they do go together well. Anyway, I didn't want to use the storm effect too long so I found a sound byte of Samuel L. Jackson from Pulp Fiction (Gunshot. "Oh I'm sorry did I break you're concentration?"). The track starts and the first thing you hear is a Will Smith sound byte from Ali (Drumming. "The Champ Is Here!"). For some reason around this time, I was mad cocky. I mean, I was calling myself the champ! My main goal with the track was to set the mixtape off on a high note and let everyone know that the first mixtape wasn't a fluke and I was still around. I think I accomplished that pretty well. This is one of the tracks that I didn't count bars on, which means some bars are longer than others, which throws off the rhythm of the track. But I think I still managed to ride the track okay for a bar novice. lol. I wish I could get back to this level of confidence sometimes. I over think it too much now.

Track 2: Focus
This didn't come out right. I was always a big fan of the Joe Budden version so I thought I could rip it. Wow, this beat is weird as hell. I mean, not when Joe was on it, when I did it. It didn't help that I couldn't count bars yet. I don't even know what this song is about honestly. One minute it's braggadocio, then I'm dropping knowledge. And that hook?! Yuck. I really did think this was dope at the time but this is definitely one of my weaker tracks. Of all time. Don't really know what else to say. lol.

Track 3: Whole City Behind Me
I loved this beat from the first time I heard it. It's from a Boost mobile commercial from 04 I think and it had Kanye, Luda and the Game on the original. I really like what I did here because it's a str8 braggadocio joint and I think I kick some ill lyrics while I'm at it too. I wasn't on beat tho. But for one of the earlier recordings for the mixtape, it's a favorite.

Track 4: U Don't Know
This track is banging. I don't care what you say or tell me.I really love this track. Really, really. The lyrics are sick, the beat's sick. What's not sick? The quality. Shitty. I had to use a headset mic that was different than my normal one and it decided what it wanted to pick up. But I love this song. One of the few early joints I did that I'll still bump today. And I dissed 50. lol. "And no more who's better debates..." Love it.

Track 5: It's All About The Benjamins
Lol. That's the first thing that comes to mind here. I've always liked the "Benjamins" beat but this could have been so much more. This sounds like it should have been on volume 1 which really bothers me considering how much I thought volume II was better. I have no idea what I'm talking about on here, just rambling and rhyming. And none of it is on BEAT. This track makes me want to pull what little hair I have on my head out. This really should have been better.

Track 6: Only You
I went in on this one. I really feel that way. I loved this Ashanti beat from the first time I heard it probably cause it was so rock and roll. This was the first joint I recorded for volume II. Immediately after I did a track over a Clipse track called "Gangsta Lean". I believe all copies are destroyed now. lol. On the first verse of this one, I'm rhyming from the perspective of Wolverine. I don't know how that came about but I've always liked it. The second verse is straight fire in my opinion. I'm saying some shit. And that start riots part is awesome. BUT I really don't think the hook did it justice. It's okay, but looking back, I could have done so much better. And then as always, I wasn't on beat. But this is another one of my favorites.

Track 7: Death Before Dishonor
This one gets overlooked by it's much better big brother that showed up on volume Three. But it's another one of my favorites and it comes close to home. I really wanted to rep Chiv and I's Death Before Dishonor brand since I knew I wouldn't be able to get him on any tracks list time around. Or was this the first retirement Chiv? lol. I really liked the idea of using the line Jay-Z used on "Justify My Thug" for the hook, but I definitely went off beat with it a little bit. I think overall it came out the way I wanted tho. It kept the Death Before Dishonor name synonymous with B Hyphen. I wish it was longer tho! It goes by so fast...

Track 8: Beauty
This was my first attempt at the chill song, the smoke song if you will. I picked the right beat but I really don't like the execution of it. The hook is kinda boring. And the verses are kinda spacey. lol. I think I meant to do this but it makes the track inaccessible. I eventually got this type of song right after a few more attempts.

Track 9: Hold It Down
I loved this Alchemist beat from the moment I heard it. I figured talking about the homies was the best way do it justice. The first verse is about Chiv who I had known for 10 years at this point. The second verse is about Wes, Ed, and Steve-O. This track may not be that spectacular to the casual fan but it'll always be a favorite for me.

Track 10: King's Throne
I think I went in on this beat. I made this whole story about this bad ass hood dude named Jamal. No matter what anybody tried Jamal came out on top. It took the one person he wasn't watching out for to finally kill him. If I wasn't using my shitty headset mic this might be even better. Still love it.

Track 11: A Million And One Questions
I could have done better. I bit a lot of Jay's flow throughout the whole track. The flow isn't on beat cause I couldn't count bars yet. I'm not making too much sense either. I'm all over the place. I really like this beat too. Maybe I'll come back to it some day.

Track 12: Get By
I think this came out nice. I made the right decision keeping the hook the same. The lyrics are definitely inspirational. "H-Y-P-H-E-N". lol. This is one of the standouts from the whole CD. I really like my sound here. "Like American Idol, Hyphen out." lmao. I still dig it.

Track 13: Duck, Cover, And Hide
I always loved the "Blow It Out" beat. I guess I consider this one of my first angry flow songs along with "Blood Pressure" off of volume 1. It works really well. I wish I had written the hook better tho, it's so simple. I really like my verses too. "I stay in like Ripken, starting or pitch hitting". What an idiot.

Track 14: Public Service Announcement
This was recorded in the last batch of 5 songs I did for the mixtape. This is the one I still perform. You can hear the growth from where I began recording, the middle of recording to this and the last 4 songs I recorded. I really had a little zone going on this jawn. "B Hyphen Walk Of Fame". Ha! I don't even watch BET anymore. Best of CD.

Track 15: You Don't Know My Name
This is one of the first tracks I did for the mixtape. No bars, just rhymes. I really like it tho. i think I came off pretty strong for some reason. I don't know how I feel about trying to sing the hook. lol. I should have got Angel to do it. The second verse kinda went on a tangent but I pulled it back in nicely I think. I really didn't hear a lot of rappers going in over this beat. Maybe I missed it.

Track 16: Don't Need Your Love
I love all the instrumentals on The Documentary. It's only right I did this one. This is one of my first frustrated rapper songs. It's not like I really pushed or knew how to push volume 1 but I'm still complaining. lol. I really dig this track. The hook and the verses blend really well. Shout out to Ghost and Scorpion from Abyss Fam. They asked for copies of volume 1 and after they listened they were the ones who told me I was off beat. Appreciate it y'all. This another one of the last 5.*

*Might as well get into this. I finally learned how to count bars and I had written the last 5 songs for the CD. My plan was to record these songs on the Friday before March 9, 2005, the second release date. That way I could master on Saturday/Sunday and be ready to release. Not that it was anticipated. lol. So I get off work that Friday and Angel tells me she told her family we would go out of town with them that night. I was pissed. I was pissed the whole ride until "Never Let Me Down" came on. For some reason, that song got me over it and I let it go. I came back to Morgantown on Saturday and knocked out the last 5 tracks (Death Before Dishonor, Public Service Announcement, Don't Need Your Love, Blood Music, and No Hooks), mastered on Sunday and was done.

Track 17: Witness
Why does this track have that fucking buzz in it?! It's on the album version too! I'm counting bars on this one, but the bars are pretty boring. The hook is okay but it's not really good either. I should have been more amped since the beat is pretty hard (pause pause pause). The second verse is a little better but not by much. Could have left it off.

Track 18: Win Or Lose
I loved this beat along with "When You Hear The..." from the Amerikaz Nightmare album. This another disgruntled rapper joint. The lyrics are pretty simple but they carry the track well enough. I could have done something with that sample for a hook tho. Ron Harper and Randy Brown references. Even had a Nore moment on verse two. This track seems incomplete mostly.

Track 19: Blood Music
Oh boy. This song almost got me beat down. My version of Blood Music is was my music comes from the heart. No gang affiliation. Just a warning, don't wear a bright red shirt with blood music written across it ANYWHERE. lol. The flow is really choppy. Of course, I was still really new to bars. The hook is cool. Should have been way more hype. The second verse has the same choppiness going on. Not that I even acknowledge this record's existence.

Track 20: Piece Of Mind
This beat is so dope. I wish Kweli could have released it on something. Maybe someday. My flow sounds urgent here and I think it fits pretty well. Not having a hook works too. This is definitely one of my favorites from the CD. I'm kinda talking that shit. I think. lol.

Track 21: Purple
This is the second smoke song attempt. I loved this beat off of The Lost Tapes. I didn't do it justice tho. WTF am I talking about? "Seeing in shades of purple"? It's not as nonsensical as I thought but I should have rewrote it. Early Hyphen Bitches reference. lol. Wow. Disappointed.

Track 22: It's All Real
This was Chiv's favorite. Keeping the Primo scratches is a win. The drums don't match up tho! Ha! My ear has gotten better. First verse was pretty dope for me at that time. The hook works for a fake scratched hook. Wouldn't be my last. I fell off towards the end of the second verse. This track is pretty cool tho. The hook and the last verse knocks it down a few notches tho.

Track 23: Throwback
I go in over the same track Angel did the interlude over for volume 1. I think I came off really sweet here and it's nice to know I still feel this exact way about her. I felt it was necessary to do a song about her since she had became such a big part of my life. And she really liked it. This track is evident Just Blaze doesn't get enough credit. I should've stayed on topic on the second verse tho. I like the hook a lot too. This is a win.

Track 24: The Mind's Mixtape volume II Freestyle (Who I Am)
One of my favorite Dipset beats ever. I was high as shit when I did this. I think this may have been the second or third joint I had done. This isn't too bad a freestyle for three verses, no hook, and no bar counting ability. In fact, this may be my favorite recorded freestyle out of the three I've done. You can tell I'm high after the second verse. lmao. I think I'm an undercover sexist when I'm high. lmao. R.I.P. Anna Nicole. Why is the essence timeless? lmao. Love it.

Track 25: Cold As Ice
This song was supposed to be me schooling everyone on the industry. lol. I was only reciting what I had learned from The Source and broke rappers. lol. I still don't know shit. I should have put a hook on here. The verses aren't too bad tho. I could have done more.

Track 26: Higher
A lot of people liked this one. I don't. I recorded this on my shitty headset mic and I really don't think I executed well. I had a little ride going for a minute tho. lol. The lyrics aren't that bad. and I'm counting bars. And the hook isn't that bad, catchy even. Ashley Simpson reference. Cigarettes aren't narcotics. Geez. I HATE that line. lol. I can see what they like but I hear too much wrong.

Track 27: No Hooks
I really made it a point to put hooks on most of the songs this CD so I felt like I deserved a break. The first song is about bitchy girls apparently. I don't remember why I was mad. Verse two is about being black. Not bad. Swagger reference. Ahead of my time. lmao. I think I got followed around Sam Goody because I was black and that's what brought that verse on. The whoo's on the end are because this was the last song recorded. I think I had a goofy ass laugh on there too but I took that off.

Overall, I like this mixtape a lot. More than volume 1 and even Thunderstorm. And it's not because of its execution. I was in a really good space when I made this CD and I think it shows. I sound supremely confident on every track. I was so confident, I even gave it to 6'6. And this was not the CD do that with. This was the first CD I got radio play off of (the clean version was put into The Urban Diner's rotation) and the first CD I actually plotted out. I learned how to count bars and I showed signs of learning how to make songs. So in the 6 months between volume 1 and volume II, I grew a lot. I only wish I improved this fast now. I think it takes longer for me to take criticism is all. lol.

I wrote this about a year after I made TMMvol.1. I warn you now, this mixtape is my first one. I'm off beat, there's really no style or flashiness to it, it's just me str8 spitting.

Track 7: Could Never Die

This is the first original track that was on any of my mixtapes. I found the beat on Soundclick and I was drawn to it because it was so jazzy. I just tried to go to my quiet place. lol. The first verse is talking about how I can't really say what I want on a record and I have to aim my content towards the buying audience. The second verse is me talking about some the girls that I've been involved with in the past and genuinely wondering what they're doing now. The final verse has me trying to me motivational. I don't really know who I was talking to tho. PI probably needed a prep talk myself. lol. I really dig the hook tho since I was able to blend it with the vocal sample so well. Now, this wasn't my first original song but it was my first in at least a year. Or maybe one of my first, I don't remember what I did first. Probably this one. Even tho it's slow as all get out and I can't perform it, it's definitely a winner.

Track 7: Death Before Dishonor

This one gets overlooked by it's much better big brother that showed up on volume Three. But it's another one of my favorites and it comes close to home. I really wanted to rep Chiv and I's Death Before Dishonor brand since I knew I wouldn't be able to get him on any tracks list time around. Or was this the first retirement Chiv? lol. I really liked the idea of using the line Jay-Z used on "Justify My Thug" for the hook, but I definitely went off beat with it a little bit. I think overall it came out the way I wanted tho. It kept the Death Before Dishonor name synonymous with B Hyphen. I wish it was longer tho! It goes by so fast...

Track 6: Oh

This was always supposed to be a one verse song. I loved the beat ever since I heard Ciara and Ludacris over it and I knew I wanted to do it...but I didn't know what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to do a fast flow like I did on "Overnight Celebrity" from volume 1 but I had no concept. Then the first line came to me and I went in on it. "They call me Hyphen last time I checked/any MC wanna test get chin checked..." Straight swagger on this shit and I didn't even know what swagger was back then. Swagger wasn't even cool like that then! For me anyway. lol. But I went in, murdered the verse and I knew that was it. The ODB line sealed it. Then I let Angel and Jess hear it and they're like "that's really hot, you should do a whole song." But in the immortal words of E, sometimes less is more. One verse and out. Murder. I caught a case for this track. lol.

Track 6: Only You

I went in on this one. I really feel that way. I loved this Ashanti beat from the first time I heard it probably cause it was so rock and roll. This was the first joint I recorded for volume II. Immediately after I did a track over a Clipse track called "Gangsta Lean". I believe all copies are destroyed now. lol. On the first verse of this one, I'm rhyming from the perspective of Wolverine. I don't know how that came about but I've always liked it. The second verse is straight fire in my opinion. I'm saying some shit. And that start riots part is awesome. BUT I really don't think the hook did it justice. It's okay, but looking back, I could have done so much better. And then as always, I wasn't on beat. But this is another one of my favorites.

Track 5: We Major Freestyle

I'm not a good freestyler. Which I mention at the beginning of the song. But I love this joint. This continued a trend I started on volume II where I would have one completely freestyled track. I wrote none of this. I'm not one of those rappers who does someone's beat and calls it a freestyle. I think I was buzzing when I did this track too so that made me a little extra amped. I make sense in some spots but you can tell when I fell off and I really wouldn't say this is perfectly on beat. But any freestyle I do that I deem worthy to be on one of my mixtapes is a win for me. lol.

Track 5: It's All About The Benjamins

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Lol. That's the first thing that comes to mind here. I've always liked the "Benjamins" beat but this could have been so much more. This sounds like it should have been on volume 1 which really bothers me considering how much I thought volume II was better. I have no idea what I'm talking about on here, just rambling and rhyming. And none of it is on BEAT. This track makes me want to pull what little hair I have on my head out. This really should have been better.

Track 4: Classic

This is another track I love...cause it's about BASKETBALL! A little knowledge: my first rap name was B-Style aka Basketball Style. lol. In my rhymes sometimes, I would say B Hyphen S-T-Y-L-E. Then I thought there was already a B-Style thus B Hyphen was born circa 1999/2000. Right Chiv? Anyway, I've always loved this beat ever since I first heard Budden on it. It's from the old NBA On NBC theme music done by...John Tesh. Go fucking figure.

But I made a lot of references on the track.
1st Verse: I talked about my ball days in junior high, PTP-ers - Prime Time Players (c) Dick Vitale, and Bill Laimbeer's general dirtiness.
Hook: R.I.P George Mikan who died in 2005, Pippen's lockdown defense, Magic vs. Bird.
2nd Verse: Mutombo's shotblocking, Jeff Van Gundy in the Knicks-Heat playoff fight, Penny almost beating the Heat in '98 by himself, Rex Chapman's miracle three against Seattle in '97, Red Auerbach's 9 NBA Titles, World B. Free (it was the 70's lol), Bird's retirement before he was completely out of his prime. And of course Jordan is mentioned in here.

Overall tho? You can tell it's a mixtape track. Its ounds like a mixtape track. Nothing really spectacular. I couldn't perform it. Chicks want me to tell them to bend over not about Penny Hardaway. lol. But this is another personal fave. And maybe someday...I'll be asked to perform it.

Track 4: U Don't Know

This track is banging. I don't care what you say or tell me.I really love this track. Really, really. The lyrics are sick, the beat's sick. What's not sick? The quality. Shitty. I had to use a headset mic that was different than my normal one and it decided what it wanted to pick up. But I love this song. One of the few early joints I did that I'll still bump today. And I dissed 50. lol. "And no more who's better debates..." Love it.

Track 3: Business

This was the second track I recorded for Thunderstorm and one of the couple I had to re-record. Thunderstorm was the first mixtape I recorded on my PC (Mind's Mixtape volume 1 and II were on Angel's laptop) and after several listens to this and "Salt In The Cut", I realized my vocals sounded really shitty (even tho my vocals were gonna be shitty since I recorded with a headset mic). I realized that I needed a new sound card that could make my raps sound better. So after a few weeks of work and a nice ebay bid, I was back on track. This is a Kanye West beat that Cam'ron used for "Down And Out" off of Purple Haze. I really thought at the time that this was radio worthy. Not quality wise but overall, I thought I KILLED this. I loved the hook, the verses, everything. I still like the hook a lot. The sidewalk eggs line is pretty wack tho. lol. The third verse is definitely my favorite tho. This is probably one of those beats I'll pull out and do something over again.

Track 3: Whole City Behind Me

I loved this beat from the first time I heard it. It's from a Boost mobile commercial from 04 I think and it had Kanye, Luda and the Game on the original. I really like what I did here because it's a str8 braggadocio joint and I think I kick some ill lyrics while I'm at it too. I wasn't on beat tho. But for one of the earlier recordings for the mixtape, it's a favorite.

Track 2: Storm's Coming

I left off track 1: DJ Monsta Lung Intro since I had nothing to do with it. Wow. This was my joint when I did it. I could count bars, I had some flow, this song just gets me hype. This beat was originally Jin's "Get Your Handz Off" from The Rest Is History album but is now better known as "Dey Know" by Shawty Lo. Guess which version I like better. But this was supposed to be my first anthem joint. But it wasn't. Reason being: it was too slow. I didn't ride the beat like I can now. So the record is: "Let me start it like this(pause)/I do exist(pause)/all the stories you ever heard were true(pause)/now if this is the case(pause)/and it is my place(pause)/I'mma show you exactly what Hyphen can do/I will rip the track(pause)/..." That whole thing is slow as all get out. So my first anthem record was more of a chopped and screwed joint. But I still love this record because this is when I began to really feel I was coming into my own.

Previously...

Track 2: Focus


This didn't come out right. I was always a big fan of the Joe Budden version so I thought I could rip it. Wow, this beat is weird as hell. I mean, not when Joe was on it, when I did it. It didn't help that I couldn't count bars yet. I don't even know what this song is about honestly. One minute it's braggadocio, then I'm dropping knowledge. And that hook?! Yuck. I really did think this was dope at the time but this is definitely one of my weaker tracks. Of all time.  Don't really know what else to say. lol.