Pop Culture Blog: Music, Movie and Humor

Leveraging low-hanging synergies outside the vertical fruit box since 1999.

Wednesday Wadio: Geto Boys ‘Mind Playing Tricks on Me’


in Wednesday Wadio

I made it to Beantown in one piece this evening and enjoyed Buffalo chicken sandwiches and Harpoon IPA with Moynihan, Joanna and my sister at Bukowski’s in Inman Square. As we drove back to Janet’s place in Medford, “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” crackled through on the always reliable WERS and we had a jolly good time singing along. Collectively, ladies included, we knew about 80% of the lyrics by heart and it was a nice little trip down memory lane for the lot of us. Not exactly the most patriotic of tunes on the eve of my induction into American citizenship, but to the best of my knowledge Bushwick Bill never recorded a version of “Ballad of the Green Berets”.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU2TPUimrLk[/youtube]

Blatantly copied from somewhere because I have to go to sleep:  “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” was the only number 1 single ever released by the Geto Boys. It was featured on their 1991 album We Can’t Be Stopped. Bushwick Bill (a.k.a. Dr. Wolfgang Von Bushwickin the Barbarian Mother Funky Stay High Dollar Billstir) continued on with other records with both a solo career, and later updated records with The Geto Boys. It is the most successful Geto Boys single ever based on its gold certification. [1] Not so oddly, it is on the most successful Geto Boys album based on its platinum certification. “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” heavily samples Isaac Hayes’s song “Hung Up On My Baby” (1974) from the Tough Guys soundtrack.

“Mind Playing Tricks on Me” was rated number 18 in the 100 Greatest Rap Songs by About.com. The Kottonmouth Kings remixed the song for their album Hidden Stash II under the same name. “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” has been referenced by Prodigy, of Mobb Deep fame, in his single, Mac 10 Handle, and by The Clipse, in the song “Nightmares” of their third album, “Hell Hath No Fury.” The Notorious B.I.G. references “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” and sings the guitar line from the song’s chorus in his hit “One More Chance.” In the song “She Lives In My Lap” off the highly successful 2003 OutKast album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Andre 3000 samples Scarface’s vocals from Mind’s Playing Tricks On Me.

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Citizen Pye Approaches


in Heartwarming, Travels

Tomorrow I set off for Boston, yet again, for the final piece of my American Citizenship puzzle. I will be sworn in as a bonafied Yank Thursday at 12 noon inside Faneuil Hall. It’s been a year-long effort – much to the amusement of Air Canada’s coffers, but I am beyond happy and excited to finally be able to hand back my Green Card and start enjoying the perks of being a proper American. I’m still not entirely sure what those entail, but I’m hopeful.

I touch down in Beantown tomorrow afternoon at 5pm and will be hanging out on Hanover Street (Paradiso/Volle Nole) until my sister is finished work and decides to come to the North End and get me on our eventual way to her place in Medford. Thursday is the ceremony, followed by liquory silliness… and then the real silliness begins Friday night when Janet is said to be throwing me some sort of patriotic pant-puller either at her house or in a Beantown bar. If you’re interested in joining the fray – call my sister. Or, just show up. I’ll post details here on the blog as soon as I have them. You’re also completely welcome not to give a toss.

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Wednesday Wadio: ‘Lucy in the Car with David’


in Animalistic, Veekend Video, Wednesday Wadio

Reactions to my first music video have certainly run the gamut: “”The gong at the end? Comedy genius”. or my personal favorite “There’s Citizen Kane, there’s Battleship Potemkin and then there’s this”. Regardless, Lucy in the Car with David is a special moment in time. The sort of moment you may spend a lot of time trying to block from your memory for a few days after having watched it. So for goodness sake – make sure your volume is up.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbh8PY3F7GI[/youtube]

Recorded in Newport Rhode Island roughly two weeks ago while left to my own devices in the parking lot of a liquor store, I think it’s fitting that unadulterated genius was hatched thusly. It’s not the Cavern Club, it’s not Big Pink, it’s the back seat of an Audi Quattro. But it’s undoubtedly a little slice of musical heaven. As it’s Halloween, I dedicate this to Joplin, Cobain, Lennon, Orbison, Hoon, Curtis, Harrison, Dimebag Darryl and anyone else who’d likely spin in their grave given the opportunity to hear LITCWD. No need to thank me for the exercise.

No animals were harmed in the making of this film. Unless you count Kingman and Henry who were inside buying enough liquor to sicken the crew of a pirate ship.

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Streppin’ to the A.M.


in Health

If you’re over the age of oh, 15, and you had your tonsils removed as part of some childhood procedure or fishing accident – please take a moment to rejoice right now. Although I managed to see the inside of an emergency room more than the average adolescent, tonsil yanking was never on the menu. As a result, this whacking great hanging heap of useless flesh, which I have named “Kevin Federline”, becomes an autumn haven to streptococcus bacteria about once every three years and I am right in the middle of such a party.

The difference between strep throat and a more run of the mill sore throat are symptoms including: red and white patches in the throat, tender or swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck, lower stomach pain, fever, general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling, loss of appetite and nausea, rash. All a big affirmative in this current situation. Unless I’m mistaken, and this is just a bad case of the garden variety, I’ll have to go to the ER in Smiths Falls until some kind doctory soul gives me penicillin. But I’m actually pleased to have a mission, even if the ride is going to be uncomfortable (did I mention the full body buzz?) because I have been bedridden for 2 days and the novelty has definitely worn off at this point as Heather Hunter isn’t in here with me.

I get out for one little Halloween party and now I’m bloody quarantined with strep. It’s tough to have fun in the sticks I guess. I’ve gone from worrying about the stray bullets, crazy cabbies and Sox parade mob tramplings of the inner city to things like dysentery and deer ticks and making out with the skinny chick in front of the Smiths Falls methadone clinic. Oh Mr. strep, will you please stop haunting me so!

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Biologically I am in Fact a Grown Man


in Heartwarming, Movies

My folks just took off to Florida for the winter and I am officially Ted Kaczinsky. Alone, in the woods, growing a beard, writing a manifesto and sending C4 through the mail to people I don’t like whilst dressed up like Weird Al Yankovich. Not really. If it’s any less disturbing, and let’s face it – it probably isn’t – the Indiana Jones costume I have prepared for a Halloween party tonight in Kingston is tres, tres dope. If I do say so Myself. Let me break it down for you.

  • An authentic Indiana Jones hat which I bought online from the company who makes them for the movies.
  • An $8 bullwhip replica I found on eBay. The real thing goes for $700.
  • One of my father’s replica revolvers, complete with holster, which looks frighteningly authentic. If I am shot to death tonight by the OPP there need be little question as to why.
  • An over the shoulder belt and WWII satchel that my Mom sewed out of an old canvas beach bag prior to  her departure.
  • Khaki pants which are fairly faithful to those worn by Harrison.
  •  An off-white collared shirt with a few pockets and things that I found in my Dad’s golf closet.

I tried it on for the first time a couple hours ago and I’m quite happy with it. After I put it on at my party location, I will proceed to smear a little dirt on myself and bloody up my knuckles like I’ve been battering Nazis and/or Thuggees for two hours. The hat is perfect and really makes the whole costume. I will post photos of the Indy getup next week and I invite you to send in your own 2007 Halloween costume photos which I’ll post and review, should I get any. Email them to me and then brace yourselves.

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