Buck 65
Richard Terfry, better known as Buck 65, is a Canadian hip hop artist, MC and tu… Read Full Bio ↴Richard Terfry, better known as Buck 65, is a Canadian hip hop artist, MC and turntablist. However he has recently moved away from hip hop in a stylistic context, and is moving closer to blues, country, rock, folk and avant-garde genres. That said, his new direction is seemingly still underpinned by an extensive background in abstract hip hop, his trademark rhyme-phrasing and lyrical aspiration evident in the altered timbre vocal delivery displayed in his more recent releases.
Terfry is also a host at CBC Radio 3, with hosting a program on the CBC Radio 3 website's web radio station during weekdays. In addition, he will be the host of the weekday 3-6pm CBC Radio 2 show beginning in the fall of 2008.
Early career and influences
Terfry was born in 1972 and raised in Mount Uniacke, a rural community outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was first exposed to rap music in the mid-1980s while listening to CBC Radio's late night show Brave New Waves, and then by listening to Halifax campus community radio station CKDU. CKDU then broadcast at only 33 watts, and he had to climb a tree in his yard to hear the station's hip hop show on his cheap transistor radio. Fascinated by hip hop, the young Terfry taught himself how to rap, DJ, and, later, to produce records. His musical influences include MC Shan, David Lynch, Gitche Manitou, and Kool Keith.
Using the moniker DJ Critical, he later hosted a hip-hop show on CKDU called "The Bassment" (later renamed "The Treatment Program", when he assumed the stage name Jesus Murphy), which aired for several years. This period overlapped with many of his non-major-label releases.
Stage Names
Buck 65 has also used a number of other stage names including Johnny Rockwell, Stinkin' Rich, Haslam, and Uncle Climax. These pseudonyms typically represent different characters in his raps (as in Uncle Climax, Johnny Rockwell and Stinkin' Rich) or different aspects of Buck's creativity (as noted above, DJ Critical was his DJ name on CKDU.) Rumours abound that Buck 65's alias comes from his childhood nickname of Buck and his weight of 165 pounds; possibly the pseudonym comes from the weight of the first buck he shot or the $1.65 standard bus fare for Halifax Regional Municipality riders. He has been known to say on stage, "They call me Buck 65... I don't know why." Buck 65's website mentioned previously that he was named after his uncle's 1965 Buick automobile ("'65 Buick" is a track on the Synesthesia album); he performed a show under that name but the promoter mistakenly wrote the name as it is now spelled.
Recently Buck 65 has recorded an EP under the name of Dirk Thornton alongside Irishman DJ Flip, it was scheduled for release early 2007 but the date was not set.
The first release under Dirk Thornton will be a 7" single with the tracks "Yesterday's News" and "Catwalk".
He is also involved in an online collaboration with "Greetings From Tuskan" auteur Joëlle Phuong Minh Lê, as Bike For Three, though a release is yet unforthcoming.
Early releases
In 1993, he released his first cassette of rap tunes while performing under the alias Stinkin' Rich on the Halifax label No Records. The five song cassette was titled Chin Music, which was a reference to his past interest in baseball. The release brought Stinkin' Rich to the attention of members of Halifax alternative rock band Sloan. Sloan signed him to their independent record label Murderecords and released a 7" single and a full length cassette called Game Tight, again featuring a reference to baseball. (Terfry has often stated in interviews that in his teens he had been scouted to play for the New York Yankees but that the death of the talent scout coupled with an injury had caused the deal to fall through)
After a brief break, Terfry returned reconstituted as Buck 65, releasing Language Arts on cassette and the 12" single Wildlife Trilogy, followed by Vertex, which included his popular song "The Centaur." He recorded Sebutonedef (released in 1996 by Funtrip Records) as a collaboration with fellow Halifax artist Sixtoo. Other releases by the duo, known as the Sebutones, are Psoriasis and 50/50 Where It Counts. While still far from mainstream success, he received several odd jobs in Canada's entertainment industry, including making soundtrack music and providing narration for a TV commercial for NBA apparel, and song lyrics for the popular children's program Sesame Street. During a live performance Buck 65 told a story in which he attributed why he was chosen for Sesame Street to three things; his upstanding lifestyle of not drinking, smoking, or doing drugs, his intelligence that wasn't too intelligent for the kids, and Sesame Street's assumption that he was a virgin.
Man Overboard, originally released on the anticon. label, was a significant turning point in his career. The record, and the entire anticon. collective (of which Sixtoo was also a part), were considered hallmarks of a new avant-garde movement in underground hip hop. It was at this time that Buck met Cincinnati DJ Mr. Dibbs who inducted him into the 1200 Hobos, a loosely-knit hip-hop collective named for their proficiency in manipulating the Technics 1200 turntable.
Critical Acclaim
Many of his early projects attracted attention after they were re-released, first on the independent Metaforensics label and subsequently by Warner Music Canada. While Buck 65 has gained critical acclaim and worldwide exposure through his major label deal, commercial success has escaped him. Although Warner's worldwide affiliates distribute his records, Warner USA does not. After a deal was signed with V2 USA, This Right Here Is Buck 65 was released in the States, a sort of "Best of" that was marketed as an introduction to his work. However after V2 chose not to release his next effort, Secret House Against the World, the deal was amicably dissolved. Since then Buck 65 was signed onto Strange Famous Records where he's planning on taking over hip-hop with Sage Francis. His latest release is titled "Situation".
Buck's most recent albums have gradually moved away from his original 'pure' hip-hop sound into territory influenced by folk, blues and electronica, with some even comparing elements of his sound to Tom Waits. Some of Buck 65's music is used on the Canadian show Trailer Park Boys, frequently in the character Julian's car. He gained additional recognition in 2006 when he appeared at the national Juno Awards with Pamela Anderson.
Kerrang! “Controversy”
In August 2004, he sparked controversy in the underground hip-hop world over comments he made to an interviewer in Kerrang! magazine. Buck was quoted as saying:
“I now hate hip hop, the more I’ve educated myself about music, the more I’ve grown to hate it. I don’t use that word lightly, either.”
In response, former anticon. label-mate Sage Francis (in a post on his website) stated that
"Buck has had his head up his arse for many years now."
Buck later wrote in a letter to Exclaim!:
“I’m apologizing for all that. I lost my cool on tape which is never good. The journalist was provoking me, calling me a sell-out and a whore. I was trying to make a point by playing devil’s advocate, but I went way overboard. No hint of irony or role-playing or intelligence came across in the story. Now I just look like an idiot. I take it back. I don’t really believe any of that. I don’t think being able to read music is a concern. Most of my favourite music was made by non-educated musicians. It doesn’t matter. I still have heavy criticisms of most hip hop, but I really didn’t make them well on this particular day. I put my foot in my mouth and I’m apologizing for that."
Dirty Work
Buck 65 released a 5 song digital EP called "Dirty Work". It was released over a month long campaign, adding one song per week for free download via his MySpace page. All five tracks are still available for download on his official website. The EP comes with artwork drawn by Buck himself, and the tracks are all b-sides from the full length record 'Situation'.
Situation to present
Buck 65 released the album Situation on October 30th, 2007, on Strange Famous Records in the US and Warner Music worldwide. The album is a concept album based around the year 1957, and is a return to a more 'pure' hip-hop sound than the previous blues, country and avant-garde influences in Secret House Against the World. It was produced by fellow Halifax DJ Skratch Bastid, aimed at making a "classic hip-hop record that pulses with joy and clarity of purpose".
Buck 65 is currently working on a new album which, judging from live material, will feature much more prominent electronic beats than before. Additionally, Buck 65's collaboration project with "Greetings From Tuskan" auteur Joëlle Phuong Minh Lê, Bike for Three!, has its debut album completed for release in early 2009.
He has been a host of CBC Radio 3's web radio for the past year, and recently accepted daily hosting duties on CBC Radio 2's national radio beginning fall 2008.
Terfry is also a host at CBC Radio 3, with hosting a program on the CBC Radio 3 website's web radio station during weekdays. In addition, he will be the host of the weekday 3-6pm CBC Radio 2 show beginning in the fall of 2008.
Early career and influences
Terfry was born in 1972 and raised in Mount Uniacke, a rural community outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was first exposed to rap music in the mid-1980s while listening to CBC Radio's late night show Brave New Waves, and then by listening to Halifax campus community radio station CKDU. CKDU then broadcast at only 33 watts, and he had to climb a tree in his yard to hear the station's hip hop show on his cheap transistor radio. Fascinated by hip hop, the young Terfry taught himself how to rap, DJ, and, later, to produce records. His musical influences include MC Shan, David Lynch, Gitche Manitou, and Kool Keith.
Using the moniker DJ Critical, he later hosted a hip-hop show on CKDU called "The Bassment" (later renamed "The Treatment Program", when he assumed the stage name Jesus Murphy), which aired for several years. This period overlapped with many of his non-major-label releases.
Stage Names
Buck 65 has also used a number of other stage names including Johnny Rockwell, Stinkin' Rich, Haslam, and Uncle Climax. These pseudonyms typically represent different characters in his raps (as in Uncle Climax, Johnny Rockwell and Stinkin' Rich) or different aspects of Buck's creativity (as noted above, DJ Critical was his DJ name on CKDU.) Rumours abound that Buck 65's alias comes from his childhood nickname of Buck and his weight of 165 pounds; possibly the pseudonym comes from the weight of the first buck he shot or the $1.65 standard bus fare for Halifax Regional Municipality riders. He has been known to say on stage, "They call me Buck 65... I don't know why." Buck 65's website mentioned previously that he was named after his uncle's 1965 Buick automobile ("'65 Buick" is a track on the Synesthesia album); he performed a show under that name but the promoter mistakenly wrote the name as it is now spelled.
Recently Buck 65 has recorded an EP under the name of Dirk Thornton alongside Irishman DJ Flip, it was scheduled for release early 2007 but the date was not set.
The first release under Dirk Thornton will be a 7" single with the tracks "Yesterday's News" and "Catwalk".
He is also involved in an online collaboration with "Greetings From Tuskan" auteur Joëlle Phuong Minh Lê, as Bike For Three, though a release is yet unforthcoming.
Early releases
In 1993, he released his first cassette of rap tunes while performing under the alias Stinkin' Rich on the Halifax label No Records. The five song cassette was titled Chin Music, which was a reference to his past interest in baseball. The release brought Stinkin' Rich to the attention of members of Halifax alternative rock band Sloan. Sloan signed him to their independent record label Murderecords and released a 7" single and a full length cassette called Game Tight, again featuring a reference to baseball. (Terfry has often stated in interviews that in his teens he had been scouted to play for the New York Yankees but that the death of the talent scout coupled with an injury had caused the deal to fall through)
After a brief break, Terfry returned reconstituted as Buck 65, releasing Language Arts on cassette and the 12" single Wildlife Trilogy, followed by Vertex, which included his popular song "The Centaur." He recorded Sebutonedef (released in 1996 by Funtrip Records) as a collaboration with fellow Halifax artist Sixtoo. Other releases by the duo, known as the Sebutones, are Psoriasis and 50/50 Where It Counts. While still far from mainstream success, he received several odd jobs in Canada's entertainment industry, including making soundtrack music and providing narration for a TV commercial for NBA apparel, and song lyrics for the popular children's program Sesame Street. During a live performance Buck 65 told a story in which he attributed why he was chosen for Sesame Street to three things; his upstanding lifestyle of not drinking, smoking, or doing drugs, his intelligence that wasn't too intelligent for the kids, and Sesame Street's assumption that he was a virgin.
Man Overboard, originally released on the anticon. label, was a significant turning point in his career. The record, and the entire anticon. collective (of which Sixtoo was also a part), were considered hallmarks of a new avant-garde movement in underground hip hop. It was at this time that Buck met Cincinnati DJ Mr. Dibbs who inducted him into the 1200 Hobos, a loosely-knit hip-hop collective named for their proficiency in manipulating the Technics 1200 turntable.
Critical Acclaim
Many of his early projects attracted attention after they were re-released, first on the independent Metaforensics label and subsequently by Warner Music Canada. While Buck 65 has gained critical acclaim and worldwide exposure through his major label deal, commercial success has escaped him. Although Warner's worldwide affiliates distribute his records, Warner USA does not. After a deal was signed with V2 USA, This Right Here Is Buck 65 was released in the States, a sort of "Best of" that was marketed as an introduction to his work. However after V2 chose not to release his next effort, Secret House Against the World, the deal was amicably dissolved. Since then Buck 65 was signed onto Strange Famous Records where he's planning on taking over hip-hop with Sage Francis. His latest release is titled "Situation".
Buck's most recent albums have gradually moved away from his original 'pure' hip-hop sound into territory influenced by folk, blues and electronica, with some even comparing elements of his sound to Tom Waits. Some of Buck 65's music is used on the Canadian show Trailer Park Boys, frequently in the character Julian's car. He gained additional recognition in 2006 when he appeared at the national Juno Awards with Pamela Anderson.
Kerrang! “Controversy”
In August 2004, he sparked controversy in the underground hip-hop world over comments he made to an interviewer in Kerrang! magazine. Buck was quoted as saying:
“I now hate hip hop, the more I’ve educated myself about music, the more I’ve grown to hate it. I don’t use that word lightly, either.”
In response, former anticon. label-mate Sage Francis (in a post on his website) stated that
"Buck has had his head up his arse for many years now."
Buck later wrote in a letter to Exclaim!:
“I’m apologizing for all that. I lost my cool on tape which is never good. The journalist was provoking me, calling me a sell-out and a whore. I was trying to make a point by playing devil’s advocate, but I went way overboard. No hint of irony or role-playing or intelligence came across in the story. Now I just look like an idiot. I take it back. I don’t really believe any of that. I don’t think being able to read music is a concern. Most of my favourite music was made by non-educated musicians. It doesn’t matter. I still have heavy criticisms of most hip hop, but I really didn’t make them well on this particular day. I put my foot in my mouth and I’m apologizing for that."
Dirty Work
Buck 65 released a 5 song digital EP called "Dirty Work". It was released over a month long campaign, adding one song per week for free download via his MySpace page. All five tracks are still available for download on his official website. The EP comes with artwork drawn by Buck himself, and the tracks are all b-sides from the full length record 'Situation'.
Situation to present
Buck 65 released the album Situation on October 30th, 2007, on Strange Famous Records in the US and Warner Music worldwide. The album is a concept album based around the year 1957, and is a return to a more 'pure' hip-hop sound than the previous blues, country and avant-garde influences in Secret House Against the World. It was produced by fellow Halifax DJ Skratch Bastid, aimed at making a "classic hip-hop record that pulses with joy and clarity of purpose".
Buck 65 is currently working on a new album which, judging from live material, will feature much more prominent electronic beats than before. Additionally, Buck 65's collaboration project with "Greetings From Tuskan" auteur Joëlle Phuong Minh Lê, Bike for Three!, has its debut album completed for release in early 2009.
He has been a host of CBC Radio 3's web radio for the past year, and recently accepted daily hosting duties on CBC Radio 2's national radio beginning fall 2008.
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Buck 65 Lyrics
"Ice" All my soul, my head aching tummy Why in world was…
' 86 Jetta I've been droppin' jewels that are worth their price Since…
15 without making a sound at one hundred miles per hour, except…
15 Minutes to Live without making a sound at one hundred miles per hour, excep…
1957 I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed. Devoid…
2 The man with the hair would talk real loud He made…
3 Buck 65-Square 3 [intro] Music to be murdered by It is moo…
4 There's equal spaces between the hurdles and steeple chases …
463 I don't know what's wrong with the youth of today…
5 My dear so and so is very far away. The stone…
50 Gallon Drum My idea of heaven I enjoy the fixing of a flat…
Achilles and the Tortoise [Achilles] This collection of sketches, rough and sc…
Attack of the Nerds "I'm 65, I'm not retirin'" I don't care about your tippy…
bachelor of science I try to be nice and take care of my…
Bandits Cardboard crown across the side says "Fragile" Shirt unbutto…
Beauty Is a Skill I say tomato (toh-may-toh) so instead you say (toh-mah-toh),…
Benz You’re going down... Psycho. Stimulating. Speed of sound.…
Blanc-Bec Punk ass rapper I am, misanthrope No pants, tied to a…
Blood Of A Young Wolf Ten-thousand horses. Sable island. Endless summer Oh my god,…
Blood Pt. 2 You're not bloody swab paradise You're golden stars licked t…
Bush Pilot We should take a break from the computers and programs,…
Can of Worms You ain't feeling me, until you feel what I feel I…
Centaur Most people are curious Some want to get dirt on The Centaur…
Cold Steel Drum I lay it down for you, in black and blue, Life…
Cop Shades I got a classic, Magnetic mix tape fantastic, Turntable, Gym…
Corrugated Tin Facade Look at this mess He thought he was cheatin' God She leaves…
Craftsmanship Most folks spend their days daydreaming of finding clues My …
Cries a Girl I was raised on a dirt road ghost town. Stray dogs,…
Devil Devil's eyes I can see them when they scream at night Living…
Drawing Curtains Ma foi, ma force, ma voix, my vows Gypsy Madonna, all…
Driftwood I got dibs on drums and first say on the…
Drunk WIthout Drinking Hey boys, I've come a long way Along in the sun…
Exes She had exes on her eyes She was only good for…
Eye Make-Up Excuses Oh no it's them two shit-talking thin pricks The Sebutones, …
Final Approach The sun is always shining bright, at thirty thousand feet…
Frame and Fork Cracked foundations leak, it's a fact, That attracts rats, …
G.c. Luther [Buck 65] read the reviews, how can you say that rookie's…
Gauze Meanwhile, back at the command central circus, Doctors are …
Gee Whiz Tell me what is it is, Gee Whiz, I don't…
Grindstone Cowboy Little DJ critical, the analytically, Will ridicule and mak…
Grumpy Oops, up on the wrong side of the bed I'm in…
Hats on Beds Shoot the messenger, measure his wingspan. The organ grinder…
Heather Nights (So I'm cold and lonesome inside my apartment recording this…
Heatwave Long arm, that's me, Strong supporter of law and order Alon…
Hens After the show every rapper I know is like can…
Hot Lunch I look good, always, but especially today Professionally fre…
Ice All my soul, my head aching tummy Why in world was…
In Every Dream Home A Heartache In every dream home a heartache And every step I take Takes…
Jaws Of Life I used to march around the playground with my friends Yellin…
Kennedy Killed The Hat Baby! There's something wrong with you Maybe! You take advic…
Kennedy Killed the Hat (album version) Baby There's something wrong with you maybe You take advice …
Kennedy Killed the Hat (MSTRKRFT rock remix) Baby There's something wrong with you Maybe You take advice …
Le 65isme What kind of world are we living in anymore? Défilé…
Leftfielder Leftfielder, living in a suitcase Comfortable shoes, photo …
Lil' Taste of Poland Matko Boska, Maryjo Najsliczniejsza lilijo (repeats all the…
Lipstick Nice and naughty. Dark angel. Enticing body. Oddity. Sexual…
memory in parallax Suger in the gastank and sand in the vasoline, Buck…
Memory Is Parallax Suger in the gastank and sand in the vasoline, Buck…
Mouth Wash The F word feels ugly in my mouth Clumsy, huff and…
Mr. Nobody Mr. Nobody. Real life, fake lotus. Break focus. Way too norm…
Nerds "I'm 65, I'm not retirin'" I don't care about your tippy…
Off and Running 65, 6, 65, 65, 6, ,6 ,65, ,6 ,65 ,…
On All Four There's equal spaces between the hurdles and steeple chases …
Out Of Focus Dirty and low with the same pair of pants on Tables…
Pants On Fire Sky diver, your pants are on fire and the rest…
Paper Airplane (Jenn Grant) Down by the lake you saw me And you knew…
Pen Thief pen thief, i sit with my back to the television, thinking…
Phil 20 some years is a long walk even if it's not…
Plastic Bags Our father, who art here among us In thy name sacred,…
Poop and Pee Jen and me together kick enough ass to start a…
Protest The sun is shining on full blast It's garbage day Air in…
Pubic's Tube Spoken: Stinkin' rich is x-rated Guess who's squirtin', com…
Rat's Ass Standin' on the side of the road with a long…
Riverbed 1 I take my orders from the street lights, wind at…
Riverbed 2 The river itself feeds on souls The suicides, the ones who…
Riverbed 3 There's people living in the neighboring barges Guilty of a…
Riverbed 5 My dear so and so is very far away. The stone…
Riverbed 7 Here on the water no harm could come to me But…
Roses And Blue Jays I'm a lot like my dad I would have to…
Rough House Blues I'm going down the road feelin' bad bye and bye Deep…
Roughhouse Blues I'm going down the road feelin' bad bye and bye Deep…
Secret Splendor The word miracle, isn't really worth the same As a measure…
Seventeen This one's goin' out to all of those that don't…
She Kissed The Boy Witches with their brooms, twitches in the womb The darkeni…
She Said Yes She wrote back, too alone a single pair of shooting stars me…
Shutter Buggin' Dog eats dog. Give and take - take and giving. Hands…
Sick Stew With the force of a collision and the flames of…
Skill Saw Jiggy man (repeats 55 times) everybody say yeah!…
sleep apnoea "In my darkness I knew now upon this object of…
Slow Drama The race is over and I won, these are not…
Sore Vultures and helicopters overhead I'm broken down Used car …
Sounds from the Back of the .. I hide behind the curtain listening to whispers with my…
Spread 'Em I tell you there's some Someone at the door Alright, han…
Square 1 (song 1) it was the echoing voices of the old ones, through…
Square 3 Buck 65-Square 3 [intro] Music to be murdered by It is moo…
Square One (song 1) it was the echoing voices of the old ones, through…
Square Three Buck 65-Square 3 [intro] Music to be murdered by It is moo…
Square Two The man with the hair would talk real loud He made…
Stella i was raised on a dirt road ghost town, stray…
Stop Stop you need to listen Just let me show you and…
Style # 386 From dawn to sunrise, sunrise to dawn I drop math in…
Sunday Driver I walk the earth quietly, By day carry a net. With no…
Superstars Don't Love Michael Jackson died today Cycle's action, hideaway News fla…
supper at sundown I walked over sidewalk street by warehouse, through dark, br…
Surrender To Strangeness Fightin' with the neighbours and screwin' the wife Hip hop m…
Talking Fishing Blues I went down to the fishing hole And I set down…
That's The Way Love Dies It starts when you're a kid hiding in your room trying…
The Beatific Know-nothing bohemians, arcane and lenient. Disobedient hick…
The blues A game worth winnin' from the beginnin' of the first…
The Centaur Most people are curious Some want to get dirt on The Centaur…
The Floor I can remember being 7 years old and having gold…
The Outskirts Young and attractive Quote unquote old soul …
The Suffering Machine Black angel, carry me down Jacket and shoes, pistols and pe…
Tired Out [Verse 1] When I cheated on sarah I couldnt bring my self…
To Say The Very Least [A man's voice] More often a novel What's word's owning is w…
Totem Pole This is for us, us, and not for anybody else.…
Toxic Constituents Shit Some start smokin' for weird reasons concerning fash…
Untitled I wandered the fields and listen for the sound of…
Up the Middle yeah coming through from the 902 pop the line it's buck…
Wax Lips Â??Sleep offers me fortune, and wraps me in blankets/ Reveng…
Way Back When [Verse 1:] Old days golden covering the bases Back when we u…
While I'm Young I'm leaving home Left to my own devices I've packed a bag…
whispers of the waves I am the deck, you are the sea...* I am the…
Whispers of the Waves (With Gord Downie) I am the deck, you are the sea I am the…
White Bread Military perfection. Fragile tranquility. Artificial familia…
Who By Fire And who by fire? Who by water? Who in the sunshine? Who in…
Wicked & Weird [verse 1] Driving with a yellow dog, I95 He's got a smile…
Works Of Light I don't even know if it's really worth mentionin' That…
You Know the Science If you're anything like me, you probably don't read The…
Zombie Delight Zombie Delight Zombie Delight Zombies are coming to get'cha …
[untitled] I wondered the fields and listen for the sound of…