Wicked And Weird by Buck 65
March 04, 2005 | 
7 Comments
The Artist: Buck 65
The Song: Wicked and Weird
The Album: This Right Here Is
Released 2005
Recommended if you like: Sage Francis, Aesop Rock, Everlast, Eyedea, Atmosphere
Before I get to this week’s track, I wanted to tell you about a show I saw last night. I saw O.A.R. (who sound nothing like or have anything in common with this week’s artist) and they were amazing. Truly a band you need to see live to really appreciate.
Ok, to this week’s cut; “Wicked & Weird” by Buck 65. Now here is someone I’m looking forward to seeing at SXSW. I’ve been a fan, albeit a casual fan, for awhile now and I’ve never seen him live. I expect good things though and I’m really impressed with how he’s developing as an artist, poet and musician.
Buck 65 is one fits into that new school crop of creative hip-hop artists that are taking the genre in many new directions. As you’ll notice on this week song, it’s nothing much like traditional hip-hop as far as the sound, but captures the pioneer spirit and energy that all great hip-hop has.
I first discovered Buck 65 when I bought the 12” for “Centaur”—a song he’s well known for—mainly due to it’s ironic “sex” rhyme. It wasn’t the lyrics and rhymes that stuck me as unique, rather it was the production — the original version is very classical sounding with this Alfred Hitchcock sounding string number over grinding beats.
His voice has changed quite a bit and he’s gone for a more, well, unique style that I find really fresh and interesting. I chose “Wicked & Weird” because it’s one of his more accessible tracks, yet it shows what makes Buck 65 unique. It’s got the nontraditional production, this time with a River Bottom Nightmare band banjo thing as opposed to the classical strings of “Centaur”, and it really shows how he’s progressed in his flow and delivery.
If you’re looking for something a bit different check out This Right Here Is. It’s a collection of “remixed” tracks and is a really good introduction to one of the more unique acts in hip-hop.
Filed under: Song of The Week
Comments
1. Scott said:
O.A.R. do indeed, rock. I haven’t seen them live but I listen to them none the less. I thought they recently broke up though?
Posted on March 5, 2005 12:16 AM | #
2. Joe Clark said:
Aaand it is of interest to some of us that Rich Terfry is in fact from Nova Scotia.
Posted on March 6, 2005 04:51 PM | #
3. Jon Blaze said:
Yes, indeed. Love Nova Scotia… I grew up with Rich, funny story. Met him in line waiting to get Public Enemy tickets back in 1989. He beat us in line by a 1 hour… I got the 2nd ticket, that bastard!
The next week he traveled to Maine to get some music… Loved my collection of Hip-Hop. That was probably the only time someone had more records than him… now @ over 20,000 or something like that!
Posted on March 6, 2005 09:46 PM | #
4. Rob Waring said:
Quality tune, I’ll have to see if I can get it via Amazon UK. Its nice to hear more alternative hiphop like Everlast around so thanks for the heads up.
Posted on March 9, 2005 04:09 AM | #
5. mouthy said:
It’s funny, I love Buck 65, but somehow I’ve managed to miss his performances in three different countries: first in Paris when he opened for Hawksley Workman and I was late, second in Toronto at the Sloan/Sam Roberts show where I was late (d’oh!), and lastly in San Francisco where I now live, but was outta town when he performed last.
I can’t wait to miss his next show!
Posted on March 9, 2005 06:46 PM | #
6. liz said:
i would like to know wot he is up to next.have met him a couple of times. very inspired by his poetry
Posted on April 15, 2005 05:10 AM | #
7. Sofram said:
Buck 65 is awesome. His rhymes are really wicked. He and I killed a mailman one time. Check him out.
Posted on July 11, 2005 08:43 PM | #
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