Look who's back from summer vacation!

After a nice long summer of rediscovering the magic of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), my boyfriend and I decided to try to learn and acapella "Da Mystery of Chessboxin.'"  Though we've probably listened to the track 50 times in the last month (and countless times in our youth), we still can't get the lyrics straight.  I like to imagine that he'll get over his stage fright and actually rap this song with me one day at hip hop karaoke. 

So, here I go with my ghetto drawing memorization technique.  This will definitely help us get through our upcoming road trip to Toronto!

So the first few lines are easy enough.  They're:

RAW, I'mma give it to ya,
With no trivia,
Raw like cocaine straight from Bolivia.
My hip hop will rock and shock the nation
Like the Emancipation Proclamation.

And this is where it gets tricky for us, hence the DRAWINGS!  Enjoy if any of you are reading this! 

More to come soon-ish, as it's bedtime for Sharmycakes! zzzzzzz

Hip Hop Karaoke Video

I actually look like I kinda know what I'm doing, thanks to Oopey's awesome photography!

I've been getting some requests to see the video.  It's sure to give you guys a few good laughs.  Here it is (thanks Mon and Nakubu, for setting it up.  What a nice surprise)!

For more pics and videos (there were some really awesome and fun performances), check out HHK's website or find them on Facebook for the freshest info!

Also, props to Oopey Mason for the pics!  Here are some more of his pics from the show.  Be sure to check them out on the HHK Facebook page!

"Ready or Not" Translation

After having memorized and performed the entire song, Mon, Nakubu and I still didn't have much of an understanding of what the song means.  Fail, especially since I've been listening to this song since the album first came out in the 90s.


Luckily, the interwebs found me my answer in the form of an articulate woman on Youtube, who goes by the name of MISSRuby.  What I found most interesting about her translation is that she illuminated a lot of historical and pop cultural references that went over my head, while I was able to make sense of the few lines she couldn't decipher.


Listen to her breakdown of the lyrics here (Go to 0:56 to skip her intro):

Unfortunately, she also got stumped with the "Toss me high - only puff la" lyrics I mentioned in my previous post.  The mystery remains unsolved!

Wyclef's Part Memorized!

Last night I had dreams.  Strange ones.  All in the image of my drawings from yesterday.

They looked something like this:

I also woke up to the realization that somehow, overnight, or perhaps because of my experimental illustration memorization technique, I had MEMORIZED WYCLEF'S RAP! GREAT SUCCESS!


Now, I have the immense challenge of figuring out a way to teach my students this technique -- without coming off as a complete weirdo.

Memorizing The Lyrics to "Ready of Not"

I'm going to be rapping "Ready or Not" ON STAGE in about a week. I desperately need to memorize all the lyrics.  This task is particularly difficult for me, since I've often forgotten the lyrics to MY OWN songs and performance poems. 

The trouble is I can't bring a cheat sheet up on stage, and if I forget the lyrics, I'll not only be embarrassed, but I'll get booted off stage!

Having the responsibility of teaching my students effective memorization methods, I'm well aware of the techniques available.  However, none of them seem to work for me.  Therefore, I have devised a new method of memorization, albeit experimental.

The technique is relatively simple.  I will rewrite AND illustrate my understanding of the lyrics.  Luckily, I already know Lauren Hill's part.  However, Wyclef's verses mess me up, so I'm going to start with WYCLEF:

(I know a few lines here by heart:)


If I ruled the world, everyone would have gun
In the ghetto of course, we giddy-upping on the horses,


(and back to the part I don't yet know) 

(And YAY, I know the rest until Praz's verse!)

Stay tuned for Praz's part... to be posted once I effectively memorize these pictures!


******
Update: May 15, 2011


Having listened to the song dozens of times since this post, I internalized Praz's part.  Perhaps it's because his part is relatively uncomplicated, save for one line that I have yet to decipher.  It sounds like "Toss me high - only puff la."  Please let me know what this means, if anyone out there knows it.  Kthxbai.