Str8HipHip

Damn, remember when I used to talk about how my album was coming out every month, and it never did, and finally it did, and I wrote a series of weird press releases and told you where you can buy it, and gave you the story behind different songs in the bulletins, and showed y'all my (I gotta admit) DOPE-ass album cover, and...and...remember that?

Well, my debut ("Problem Of The Day") dropped on 9/11. Yup, same day as Kanye and 50. 'Ye sold about 960,000, Fif about 690,000 first week. StarPower maybe 3. And I felt like I sold 3 mil. 6 months later, I have a brand new perspective on music. Not brand new; evolved, maybe? Then again, evolved sounds so...so...condescending. Let's not label it, can we rock with that? Cool.

I did take a while to drop my wonderfully weird, rough, introspective, and darkly comedic (that's my description nowadays) debut. But. BUT! I did drop a second, completely different solo project 5 months after my debut ("The Petting Zoo - download for free - http://www.zshare.net/download/755142891f6b3e/). And after having two very different albums (although folks who know me would probably say that the same style that makes me StarPower holds throughout both) out that affect folks in two different ways, I feel affected by the music much differently than ever before. "Problem Of The Day" is a collection of songs that I loved that each told a story through a different facet of my personality. I was either Rod, StarPower, Caligula, or The Red Dragon on each song. If you're used to liking a rapper for a particular style, and therefore knowing what you're gonna get from said rapper each time you listen, you might not be able to rock with "Problem Of The Day." You MIGHT not. Who knows? I say that because, as much as I tried to group the different personalities' songs together, it still sounds all over the place. But that's the point. This is no concept album, or some album with a cohesive theme running through. The only cohesive theme is 'Problems.' Problems come into your life however they want to, and they take up residence wherever, do whatever, in front of whoever, and then leave whenever.

That's how "Problem Of The Day" sounds. The whole album could have took the revolutionary focus of "Best Week Ever," "Why I Never Pack A Gun," and "Laissez Faire (Hands Off)" and I woulda had a neat project. Or, it coulda took the introspective feel of "The Way I Die," "The Words" "ClockWork" and "Leave A Tip For The Undertaker." Or the east coast classic-rap feel of "Hip-Hop's Ghost," "That's Problematic," and "The Death Circus." Even the circus atmosphere feel of "Tony Danza Stanzas," "Super-Shootin' StarPower," and "Revolution In Ya Pants."

But I couldn't do that. My mind wouldn't allow it. They all had to be a part of the same project because they are a part of the same StarPower. Many folks, artists and fans alike tell me that I am one of the most versatile rappers they know. They say I can rap very proficiently in all categories: lyrical lyrics shit (lol), storytelling, shit-talking, introspection, power-to-the-people, sex-talk, simple, complex, all that. But I always get the feeling that they don't think I'm very focused with it. Well, if you've been reading my blog for last 3 years, you would know that that's the point. I won't force focus. If the picture is unclear, my art will be, and that's just as valuable as focused art. You will get something all over the place b/c that's the truth at the time. When I'm living lies, I will give you music rooted in lies. When I'm focused, I will give you..."The Petting Zoo." I wrote it and recorded it in one day. It was a "zoo" of material, but it was pretty much just one facet of my personality commenting on different animals (by animals I mean different stories, ideas, and dreams). And "Zoo" was produced by one person I don't even know, who didn't even know I was making it, btw.

Both albums are beatiful in different ways. I still have a lot of different shit to do. Every project will be way different from the previous project I do, so if you fuck with me it's b/c you fuck with ME, StarPower, and not because I have this ONE style of music you like. I'm damn good at rapping, so when it's time to give you an album of one style, I'll do it. Shit, you might get that by summer's end. But then again, it depends on what I'm (un?)focused on.

Sometime, folks act as if I disappointed them when they like, say, "Laissez Faire (Hands Off)" and then realize that you don't get that moment again on the album. Instead you get me singing the "Who's The Boss" theme song. Why? You can get an album of "Laissez Faire's" from rapper X. or Y. or K. Or B. Or all of the other rappers who talk about that shit. I only felt like addressing police brutality that particular time, and it was meant to go on the album which has me addressing finger-popping, which I also only wanted to address a particular time only. That's me.

My only issue with my debut, "Problem Of The Day," is that I wish I had a different focus on the beats. I did everything, all of the beats, and I love them all, but I didn't know A LOT about beats. Still don't, so it'll be a while before I produce everything again. None are wack, to me, but some deserve better attention to detail than I was able to give them. Soak this in, because rappers don't share shit like this. But when I get it right, it's fucking beautiful, and I had to do it alone, I felt. Don't feel like explaining why right now; but I will in the future. Probably. I'm most proud of the title track, the song "Problem Of The Day," in which I flip the fuck out a very popular Beatles song. I killed that shit, for real. It was the one time I did some classic rap shit, and sampled very small parts, instead of whole loops (which I do, generally, on purpose as part of my 'taking it back' experience). There are plenty of hidden messages and ideas and techniques in my debut, but you don't need to recognize them to enjoy them.

My debut sounds like a day off from work. Seriously. If you took a day off, and watched the news, and got on the train, and met up with a significant other, and ate some food, and talked on the phone to family/friends, and got on the internet for a bit, and thought about work the next day, listened to some music, and payed some bills, and fucked, and watched some t.v., and did some private shit like (...), and all that - and you put this shit to music, that's what my debut "Problem Of The Day" sounds like. Some say that's overkill for an album, but it's not when you're living it. And it's not when you're listening to it. Trust me.

It's the true soundtrack to life. Honestly.

If "Problem Of The Day" is life's soundtrack. "The Petting Zoo, is probably the score; better yet, the director's commentary. Give it a listen, it's free at this link -http://www.zshare.net/download/755142891f6b3e/.

And you know what? I just decided that on March 9th (the day hip-hop died for me - B.I.G.'s assasination date), "Problem Of The Day" will also be available for free. Fuck it. Stay tuned for a link. If you feel me like that though, you are, of course, welcome to pay for it on iTunes and cdbaby.com, but really, I just want you to have it. And once you do, let's talk. Why the hell not? Matta fact ("as a matter of fact"), we can talk before then if you like. Peace.

I'm StarPower, and I approve this message.