Track 3 – So Damn Down

this is a long one.

you hopefully seen the music video already so ill post this video of the song instead.

(before i get into so damn down, someone asked me to speak more on the “my man 9th said…” part from alleye need. i spoke about it at the end of this interview. i think early 08 we had just a short discussion about who the target demographic for our style of music was. at the end of the convo the agreement was 30 somethings would (and do) love tm, lb, etc. but they cant find out about it if its just on the internet. i dont remember his exact solution to that but i think its safe to say we all know who 9th is…my solution was making music that kids can listen to with their young parents because the kids ARE online a lot…thats why theres not really excessive cursing (i know i know, we talk about sex…kids talk about it more than we do though lol) and also why we always try to have a fun sound while maintaining that 90s sound* that we cant avoid anyway…its in our blood! ha!)

okay now as for so damn down…this one was done ages ago and its part 3 of a beat trilogy. haha…its not really something explainable, but theres 3 tracks ive produced that all do a certain thing and ever since part 1 ive been trying to do one for my own group. it all started with che grand’s “trainspotting“. that beat had a certain mood to it that everyone loved at the time.

fast forward to 2008 (it was 08 right? or 07?) and spec boogie says to me “yo can you flip the radio joint from do the right thing but make it sound kind of like ‘players’?” and about a week or two later, “bed stuy” is born. part 2 of the 3. when i came up with so damn down’s music i was like YES! WE GOT ONE! and it seems like i was right because these 3 songs are probably the 3 most complimented productions ive ever done.

now i already know its fashionable to say artists cant complain, but lets look at your job. you applied for that job, and you’re probably not looking for another one. you’re a teacher? you went to school for that. IT? you went to school for that. you put in the time and work…you wanted that job. your job gets on your nerves sometimes. theres plenty of unemployed people in the world that would love to have your job, but that doesnt mean youre not allowed to complain about your job sometimes! people dont take work home with them…we havent punched out since 2005. we cant help it. thats what this songs about.

long story short, when it comes to hip hop…doesnt matter if you’re mainstream or indie, its tough on both sides. the rich cats have their complaints too…kanye’s verse on “forever” or jay z on “aint no love” is no different than anything said on so damn down. its just different levels. so damn down is meant to sound happy though, its like being at a party talking about work…because through it all its still a good time. that was the point, its hard but its still a good time! i just hope people take that away from our music. even if we’re down and out about something at the moment, its still a party. step out the car crash alive, turn the radio up and dance.  folks dont even know that 2007 was some of the most trying times we’ve had as a group. and brooklynati…its a miracle it even exists!

THE VIDEO:

the video for this one was shot downtown Oakland. we had a ball but it was over so fast! so many of our peoples from the bay showed up for cameos soon as we wrapped…it ended early. i was mad disappointed too because we had just gotten to the regular clothes scenes. after being in that uncomfortable ass suit and those shoes all day, i was looking forward to just filming in  jeans and a tee. we did that for like 5 minutes and it was over *mad face* THEN we went outside and shot the hardcore gentlemen video! haha! im still keeping my fingers crossed for another video.

up next…bang n boogie. i promise to keep it shorter lol

*p.s. for the folks that take issue with our “throwback sound”….LOL @ most of the popular music just being some 80′s futuristic shit. would we be current if we sounded like the 80s instead of the 90s?