Teddie (Smart Apple) does RAP??? A Rap/Metal infusion??? YES! Please listen!

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Teddie

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Folks, remember that thread where we were joking about posting our old attempts at rap songs? MrLipp should remember :)

Well, I did a new one... It's basically in the Rapcore genre, where I've blended Metal, Rock, and Rap into one song (I'm pretty sure my Rage Against the Machine influences are popping out here somewhere).

I can't begin to tell you how much fun this song was to do... A freakin' blast, I was all sweaty.

I wrote the words during my vacation at Myrtle Beach a few weeks ago and I composed and recorded the music for it last weekend. But now I need some input on the mix. Please have a listen.

It's called "Valley of the DogZ" and it's the first song here: http://mp3.com/smartapple

Listen to the hi-fi version if you can.

Thanks a bazillion!
Teddie
http://mp3.com/smartapple
 
Oh god, I heard this one coming!

It's just great Teddie, I love how your voice suits almost anything from rapcore to acoustic rock. And each time it get's a special tone which makes it even cooler. The only thing I really didn't like was the guitar solo. Most rapcore songs aren't known to have guitar solos, and it stands out a bit too much in my opinion. The solo would have been nice in a normal rock song but not in this one. Also you could do some more vocals towards the mid-ends. The mix and sounds are great as usual.

Also, I really liked the scratchy sounds in the beginning, did you do those by scratching the pick to the guitar strings?
 
memo, what's up bro... Thanks for listening.
I'd actually have to disagree with you regarding rapcore songs not having guitar solos. Take the rapcore group "Rage Against the Machine" for instance. I would have to say that in at least 80% of their songs, there is definitely a guitar solo. But you may be right, the particular solo that I perform in this song may not work well. I dunno.

Hey, didn't you buy a Roland machine the other day? Check for a "guiro hi" and a "guiro lo". I think those are spelled correctly. Anyway, that's the scritchy scritchy sound in the beginning.

Thanks again for listening.
 
re: Guitar solos

Not starting an arguement here, just clearing my point.

Tom Morello of R.A.T.M. is one of the most creative guitar players in alternative music today. His solos are not really your typical rock solos, they are very rhythmic and creative. Using his wide range of effects, they usually involve interpration of sounds produced by turntables scratching.

The solo on your song was too long for a typical alternative song (the solo's in Rage are usually 4-8 bars and are basically repetitions of basic patterns on notes). And it was too much on the "rock" side as in scales. The scale is rocky, the tone is rocky when it first starts at "01.25" then it get's sort of better. But as I said, it's bit of a too rocky solo.

I'll look into that sound in my module, thanks.

Once again, no offence intended, the tune rocks!

[Edited by memo on 08-15-2000 at 12:50]
 
memo, no offense taken at all bro, and I understand where you're coming from.

But I would have to say, that while Rage Against the Machine is one of my many many many influences that steer my music in certain directions (sometimes all over the place as you know), I never really try to completely emulate my influences within my music. I always try to emulate more of myself and my spirit in my music. I inject certain things in songs that I hope make people say, "oh, there's Teddie" or "that's gotta be a Smart Apple tune"... Although with all the genres I like to mess around in, that may be hard for some people to actually "get" that a certain tune is "me".. haha.

No offense taken, believe me. I like to hear what people have to say about my music no matter what. Cuz it helps me.

I'm glad you like it overall.
 
Not exactly a typical alternative song, Memo.....Im glad to see that you have not boxed yourselves in with "rules" and "formulas" of playing within a particular genre. This song rocks, the solo rocks, and it stands apart from alot of the stuff that "belongs" and "fits in" a certain category.....Great work again, Teddie....
 
Hey Teddie, man it sounds great! I'm not a connoisseur of this genre, but I can appreciate someone mixing styles. That's what progression and creativity is all about. All this talk about the guitar solo had me prepared for a real wailer, and I was surprised at how subdue it actually is (that doesn't mean that I think it isn't a great solo by the way). As Memo said, I am amazed at how well your voice translates into different genres. If you ever get into an accident (god forbid), can I have your vocal chords transplanted into me? C'mon, do a friend a favor!
 
Gidge, thanks alot for listening and for your kind words. I really do like to bounce around the genres and mix it up within a song... I really have no focus - pah!

CMiller, thanks for listening, man. Hey, you sure you want my vocal chords? I smoke like 2 packs a day and my throat hurts all the time. You don't want these chords man... it'd be yucky for ya.

I've gotten mixed reviews on this song from folks I know. There are a ton of folks that love this song... a lot of folks. But the few that don't like, don't like at all... I mean, they really hate it. I like it myself... maybe because it was a nice change... actually, this sucker was fun as heck to do... eh. Plus, I like hip-hop and rap every other day or so, so I'm flexible.
 
But the few that don't like, don't like at all... I mean, they really hate it
Click to expand...
.

I wonder if it's a testosterone thing. What's the breakdown of guys vs. chicks in the "hate it" column?

Like you mentioned, the solo helps put the Smart Apple stamp on it. I liked it 'cause I'm familiar with the feel. It's too late for me to give an unbiased ear, though. I just smile and think "yup, it's a Teddie tune". My only negative comment is that the scratching at the beginning sounds a little cheesy to me... I'd probably look for a different sample to use. But that's really digging to come up with a minor taste issue.

Oh yeah... congrats on the continued air-play. When did you say the tour band auditions were again :D.
 
pglewis, hey thanks for listening my friend.

Actually, it seems like more chicks are digging this tune, but then again, most of the people I know are women, so that's not a good statistic thingy.

You didn't like those scritchy things? I wanted something like that sound in the beginning of Barretta. Remember that show? But I don't know what was used... I tried doing it vocally and I ended up sounding like monkey and laughing at myself.

Thanks about the airplay thing. Auditions are being held as soon as a "have" to play out. hehe.
 
I thought it was great. I understand where memo is coming from when he talks about the guitar player for Rage not doing typical rock solos and all, but this genre is wide open, and I personally am very intrigued by Rap/Metal think it can be done much better than Kid Rock and some of the other acts. I thought the solo was fine, and the song was really good. One little observation, I thought at 0:16 when you say "true, true, true" I'm thinking another voice or two in unison on 1,2 or all 3 "trues" would sound cool. I could be dead wrong though, but do you know what I'm sayin'? Another thing, your wife's interjection at around 0:25 was perfect, great idea, and she sounded great doing it. Give her an attaboy for me. But seriously, you did a great job with this one, I enjoyed listening, as usual....Ray J

[Edited by Ray J on 08-18-2000 at 13:00]
 
Ray J, thanks for listening bro. That thing about the "true, true, true", I was actually thinking something similar but different. I wanted to take the middle "true" and throw it to the side, either L or R as if it were someone else. I dunno... I might tinker with later. But you're right, there can be something done to enhance the "true(s)".

Yeah, my wife will be glad to hear that you liked the little "yeah" part. It was hilarious when she was doing her "takes"... that was like the 10th or so take. Up until the one we used, me, my wife, and my oldest son were cracking up.

Thanks again for listening.
 
Cool stuff again Teddie. Liked the second vocal line and the second guitar solo. Liked the fast raps a lot and the effects on them. Nice use of echo on 'vally of the' at the end. Nice cymbal/snare sounds. Not sure if that fish sound fits well. The vibra-slap was nice. I love that thing.
 
I was gonna mention the delay on the "in the valley of the..." part too, Kaputo. I didn't catch it on the first couple of listens. As for my take on the scritchy part, Teddie, you know what they say about opinions :D.
 
Kaputo, thanks for listening. Fish? You mean in the beginning? Hey by the way, that vibra-slap - I've been wanting to use that for the longest time. Yah, I like that thing too.

pglewis, my first mix of this song had the echo and it was all "out of time" with the beat... It took me a few processes to get the timing right with the millisecond junk... I know you don't like the scritchies.. hehe... I almost didn't put them in actually, but when I changed my drums pad bank to grab the vibra-slap, I heard the scrichies and thought, "hmm. scritchy scritchy".
 
I realized (while trying to go to sleep, of course) that only the "of the" part was echoed. Not the "In the valley" part. How'd you approach that?

I know you don't like the scritchies..
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was just pointing out that my opinion of it doesn't mean squat, of course. Especially since I end up changing my mind so often.
 
pglewis... are you sure, bro? My ears are hearing "In the valley of tha! in the valley, in the valley, in the valley in the valley. But I also hear (of tha) very very lightly intertwind (spelling?)...
 
I think my ears are playing tricks on me. I listened a bunch of times, both with headphones and over the speakers. I still only heard the "of tha... of tha... of tha...". Weird.
 
I haven't been able to D/L mp.3's for a few weeks. I finally get up and running again at home and I come to this forum and the first song that I knew I was going to get was this one.

First off Teddie, congrats on the airplay you are getting (gettin' some tonight I see! Way to go!) and you have done it again! Wonderful song! The only thing that I didn't like about it was that it ended. I wanted more verses!! You got lots of talent, you applehole, and I am very envious.

Keep up the great work!

Brad
 
pglewis, dude, I just listened with headphones, and I think you might be right about the "of tha" echo. I'm not sure now :)

Brad, thanks much for listening, bro. I'm very glad you liked it... dude, you said "applehole"... I laughed out loud so hard when I read that, I blew a snot bubble. I'm still freakin' chuckling over it... although, I'm tired as hell... so I may be over-reacting with this giggle-fit over here. Heheh. Thanks for the congrats on the air-play... They played "Which Way?" again... I thought they were going to play "Morning Light", but eh, I'll take what I can get... because I'm very grateful to folks who support local music/unsigned bands.
 
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