Buck 65 Headed My Way

😀 I just ordered Buck 65’s Vertex album from HMV.com and it should arrive sometime this month. It’s on special order since it’s on an indie label, I think… I can’t wait to hear it… if I enjoy it as much as his live shows and the few tracks I’ve heard already he’ll be the one and only hip hop artist I listen to. He’s a Nova Scotian, grew up in Mt. Uniacke(I was there just this past fall for my cousin’s wedding) and began his career in Halifax. 😀 Buck 65 is GREAT!

Born in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Richard Terfry (aka Buck 65, Stinkin’ Rich) spent the majority of his adolescence as a self-described b-boy. He eventually moved to Halifax in 1989, where he founded a seminal hip-hop show on local college radio. The program (dubbed “The Bassment”) helped Terfry cement his status as Halifax’s premier hip-hop head; inch by inch, artist collaborations, production duties, and club residencies soon followed. During this time, Terfry dabbled with mic duty, often to acclaimed results. 1992’s Chin Music helped him win a deal with local label Murderecords; 1996’s Psoriasis (recorded with friend Sixtoo under the moniker Sebutones) garnered underground plaudits; 1997’s 12″ trilogy The Wild Life raised eyebrows overseas. Later that year, Terfry’s first well-circulated full-length followed; Language Arts was hailed by everyone who heard it as hip-hop triumph. Fusing Terfry’s hard-luck grumble with a decidedly lo-fi (but immaculately produced) instrumentation, it trumpeted his (and Halifax’s) entry onto the hip-hop circuit. In spite of (or perhaps, as a result of) his tendency to veer towards more opaque territories Terfry’s albums rarely come with any tangible track listing) the big guns soon came calling; revered turntablist Mr. Dibbs was reportedly so enamoured with Terfry’s records that he inducted Buck 65 into seminal underground collective 1200 Hobos. Now fraternizing with the likes of heroes such as Biz Markie, Peanut Butter Wolf, and Cut Chemist, Terfry’s follow-up was even more inspired. 1999’s Vertex was hailed by critics as a progressive, brilliantly conceived concept album; a regulated mix of measured neuroses and marble-mouthed charm. 2001’s Man Overboard followed on that note, pitting Terfry’s numerous personalities against each other, often to brilliant effect. ~ Mark Pytlik, All Music Guide