3rd
Fun Youngs, the sophomore Shark Tank album, has been out for a few weeks now. I didn’t get to do much internet yelling about it, but I thought I would write a little bit about it. Here’s a breakdown of each song….
We Just Stepped Off The Plane
This comes from a freestyle session we had, while driving back from an Atlanta show. We started each verse with, “I just stepped off the plane.” Just like in the freestyle, it’s unclear where this plane is going or why we’re all on it.
We all introduce ourselves as John Height, John Grunge and John B. Rich. I first started introducing myself as John Height during a string of solo shows last year. I told Grunge about it, and he suggested we all become Johns.
Do Your Thing Thing
I like to think of this as Grunge’s libertarian rap anthem. We’re eating these fries, making our doctors cry and sharking it out. This was my first time using the word jawn in a rap.
Fun Youngs
Ironically, this title track is the only song from the new album that we aren’t going to add to the live set. Sometimes the more epic a song is on record, the more it can fall flat onstage. We decided to keep it on wax.
Dirt
I liked this hook ever since I heard B. Rich kick it years ago, but he never really found the right beat for it. Grunge hooked this tight beat up and we were in like flynn.
Interview
I thought this was a slick way of addressing the lyrical absence of Mickey Free.
No Shit
Yes.
Ladies Is Chilling
I’ve loved this beat for years, and I was happy we got to use it. Grunge struggled with this rhyme for a long time, not wanting to come off too serious or self-involved. I think he knocked it out of the park.
Gas Up
This is B Rich’s second Shark Tank song paying some form of respect to his Pops. In this case, it’s a picture of his Dad as a young working man. Jim Richmond… Stand Up!
Victory Fishes
Grunge was moving the week after our last session, and he was sorting through literally thousands of CD’s and CDR’s he had accumulated in twelve years of touring. This led to a discussion of how 99 percent of these bands no longer exist. Everyone is fired up about their project for a second, but they almost all disappear after a few years of struggle, leaving a bunch of shitty-looking CDR’s behind.
I had some other line about CDR’s, but Grunge suggested I change it to ‘fuck you and your CDR’s.” It’s harsh, but I stand by it.
No Years To Burn
It was an honor to work with Mike Jeans on this track. Some of his fans were shocked to hear such a high caliber artist appear on this grimey rap album, but it is what it is.
Oh Canada… Pt. 2
B Rich killed this Canadian rhyme and we added something real tight to the realm of Accent Rap. I think it even gives this a run for it’s money. Someday I want to break out the Baltimore / Pittsburgh remix.
Thanks for reading!
