Sunshine Or Pure Shade

     Sunshine Or Pure Shade is Tah's debut album release. Gaining notoriety as the first artist to officially go “Aluminum” on his first official release without a major label’s assistance is a task to behold!  Tah is proud to say he did it on his own. “Most cats don’t even go cardboard” says the over-under-achiever. If you haven’t experienced it yet, this album is one to be examined closely and appreciated for its obvious and hidden gems alike. Take a listen and read Tah’s insights to the songs.

1. Intro

2. Micro P-H-One-01

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I’ve been to a million open-mics, showcases and live shows. They all have one thing in common: a lot of artists don’t know how to use one of the simplest instruments in entertainment, the microphone.  Can you feel me? I’ve never seen anyone do a class on using a microphone so, here you have it: “Micro P-H-One-01”.  Mic checks don’t have to be so drab anymore… I’ll show you how to spice ‘em up…and no more cuffing that mic dammit!

3. Shine

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Do you know a freeloader or two? I can’t count how many I’ve come across. I bust my hump to do this music and bring it in front of people who might enjoy it. I can’t count how many times bandwagon riders have done their best to benefit from my struggle. People love to do nothing and yet still shine off of the work of others like me who go out and get the job done.

4. Today

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This is what verbal gymnastics is all about! “It’s not just the content but how you flip the words around”. For me, as an emcee, it’s about keeping other emcees and listeners on their toes and sharp at the wit. I love to catch lines that make me rewind a song when I’m listening to it and “did he just say what I think he said?” runs through my mind. I wanted this song to be an extreme form of this type of experience for listeners. It’s crammed with metaphors galore.

5. 2 Second Ejaculation

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A good friend of mine had a really rotten situation. She was the victim of an ex-boyfriend’s 2 seconds worth of lovin’ that got her into a situation with zero support or consideration from her sub-par aficionado. I had to put this dude on blast! Not to say that I’m the greatest cat on the planet (I’m far from superman) but she didn’t know how to express it so I did it for her. Keep that chin up Love!

6. Cigarette

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The Surgeon General says that smoking cigarettes is a serious health risk but failed to mention the serious mental health benefits of smoking emcees like a cigarette. I used 43 brands of cigarettes to construct the verses of this song. I think this is one of my more clever works. I like to take destructive things and use them in constructive ways. Smoke, but do it healthy-style… Smoke emcees like a cigarette!

7. Freestyle at the Orange Bear

8. Phlatbush

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I love this place! What more can I say? I’ve been living inBrooklyn, New York all my life. I’d say 95% of that time has been in Flatbush (Phlatbush) which is the demographic center ofBrooklyn. This is the most culturally rich and diverse place on earth. This song paints an exceedingly vivid and detailed picture of Phlatbush and its inhabitants. It speaks of the highs and lows, if you will, the “Sunshine or Pure Shade” of Flatbush. You can’t have a place this diverse without ups and downs. When they saidNew York was a melting pot, they were talking about Phlatbush! That’s where the name comes from… Tah is Phrum Duh Bush (from the bush)… Phlatbush! Welcome to the place I call home. Peep out the remixes too!

9. Mo's Ho Shack !

10. Yo! Ho!

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I often wonder where Hip-Hop would be without a crowd screaming “HO!” This is a twist off on a tangent away from the traditional played out “Everybody, Say Ho!” that many are still running dry. I like to say I specialize in taking the old and making it into some odd, new stuff. And to answer your question, no, “Ho” has nothing derogative to do with women.

11. Thys Bytch

I want people to listen to my lyrics not just the beats of my music. As a play off of the Sunshine or Pure Shade theme, I built this song to at first anger the listener and then to slap you in the face with far from, who or what, you thought I was talking about. I lead you down a dark path and bring you to the light. Hip-Hop has been saturated with calling women bitches. This song is a direct result of me being burnt out with hearing it.

12. Eye (Asbury Dark)

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In this song EYE break down what it is, to me, to be an emcee. EYE haven’t forgotten why EYE started or why EYE still do it. It all started out for me as a freestyle/battle thing at the park down the block from where EYE live. “EYE” is my perspective on Hip-Hop and, emceeing, one of the forgotten arts involved in the creation of the now worldwide culture with a little sample of  written “freestyle” on the last verse.  

13. Lay That Pipe

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How many of my boys brag about their sexual prowess? Countless! My 9-5 is in a hospital around a ton of women. They talk fellas down a whole lot when it comes to sex. Believe me when I say if you aren’t “Laying that Pipe” and laying it right, she’s going to go somewhere else to get the job done. This song is a call to fellas to get your bedroom protocol in order or someone else will be called in to “Lay that Pipe” on your behalf. People have actually “hooked up” at some of my shows as a result of conversations about this song.

14. Somewhere Under My Rhyme Flow

15. Energitis

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It’s hard as an artist like me in a world of ready-made, sound-alike commercial rappers with spinning rims and “bling-bling”. People often tell me that my music has a dark overtone so I brightened this tune up and gave it some “Energitis”.  I did this for the “people” without losing site of my style of doing things. To me it’s a re-introduction of uniquely styled emceeing with a commercially acceptable feel.

16. Life and Death Dichotomy

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Over the years I have grown weary of religious fanatics telling me I’m going to hell and that I should be saved. I went to parochial school for 12 years. When you think about it, doesn’t parochial mean narrow or close-minded? I was thrown out of every religion class I can think of for asking one question… “Why?” I was told that I disrupted class by asking unanswerable questions. I don’t knock anyone’s beliefs but I don’t think I should be force-fed anyone else’s. What is life all about? Do we really control it? What happens when we die? Should I spend my entire life fearful of what will happen when I die? I spend a lot of time contemplating these concepts. This song leaves me with a lot to think about when I listen to it. Hopefully it will do the same for anyone listening with an open mind. Life and death hmm… kind of like Sunshine and Pure Shade. Where would one be without the other?

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The Untitled EP

1. Blown Owt

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Emcees get Blown Owt without a doubt! There was a point at which I got tired of cats bringing wack rhymes to battles. If you’re gonna use written rhymes at a battle at least come hard.  This cut opens the EP with a blatant display of battle readiness. I let loose on all challengers with a tight lyrical onslaught of sharp acid-burn type punch lines over a taunting bass line and rock hard drums.

2. Beat 2 Bump (featuring FiveFive)

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This joint is an ode to frivolous, “rhyme-style”, fun on the mic while the beat just bumps. It features my long time “rhyme in the grind” comrade Five Five who blesses the second verse with his unique lyrical style and lack of shame about our not so glamorous financial situation.

3. Middle Finga

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How many times have you ever wanted to throw up that middle finger and flag down the person who was giving you strife? Yeah... me too! I wrote this one as a release for myself and anyone else who prefers to use the non verbal method of tension liberation but can’t always use it at the right time.

4. Toilet Paper

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I know so many people who talk S#@T! Don’t you? This one is for them. This joint is always a crowd pleaser at my live shows! People love to finally get to acknowledge the people around them who constantly talk smack.

5. Up in It Raw

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I had a dream one night and I woke up in the dream before I actually woke up. Confused? I was too. Give it a listen. I had to write it as a joint. It hit me so hard I had to share it. In the dream I die after being sexually careless. It’s very dark and very realistic. This joint still gives me the chills when I listen to it. Wear that bag! Hey there's a reason this song was one of the winners in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest

6. Paeless

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Ok… So I’m broke. So what? So I can’t afford top name brand designer stuff. So What! Hey…all the broke ass braggadocios cats and kittens out there, this is for you! I can’t front, I still slide my ass up to Paeless to get some boots at cut rate prices. I’m broke like that. Let it go y’all! You don’t have to be loaded with money and riches to have skills and be appreciated.

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The Flatbush Remixes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunshine Or Pure Shad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunshine Or Pure Shad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunshine Or Pure Shade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Untitled EP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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