Since 2004 Baba has toured his award-winning hip-hop theatre show, "The Rap Canterbury Tales", to dozens of cities around the world, including two tours of Australia, three critically-acclaimed runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, several college campus tours of the USA, including Harvard, and frequent returns to the UK and Europe. His rap adaptations are now used in hundreds of classrooms around the world.
In 2007, Baba founded the indie record label Lit Fuse Records, and released the debut album "Butterfly Man" from up-and-coming Vancouver singer/songwriter Aaron Nazrul. The lead single "When the Night" was recently featured on network television on 90210, and the video enjoyed Top Ten rotation on Much Music.
In 2008, Baba joined forces with UK BBC Slam Champion MC Dizraeli to form the hip-hop group Mud Sun, and they co-wrote and released two albums, including "The Rebel Cell", a hip-hop play that was one of the biggest critical successes of the Edinburgh Fringe, winning the "Spirit of the Fringe Award".
Baba's latest project, "The Rap Guide to Evolution" won the prestigious Scotsman Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2009, and went on to tour the UK and USA, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.
Baba is currently working with Brighton-based DJ/producer Mr. Simmonds on two new shows (and CDs) for the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe, a sequel to the Evolution show entitled "The Rap Guide to Human Nature" about the science of human behaviour, and a new rap storytelling show, "Rapconteur", which will feature adaptations of Gilgamesh, Beowulf, and the Finnish Kalevala.
When he is not touring, Baba Brinkman resides in Vancouver.
-Bio from his website, http://www.babasword.com
Shaman
Baba Brinkman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of frogs and crickets playing for us; my brain is porridge
As the medicine man prays to the source
Holding my head in his hands; my presence vanishes
Into the depths of this trance; images dance
And spin as he chants and shakes a bundle of plants
His lungs expand and flows of cigarette smoke
Exit his throat, the rumble in his chest grows
Then all at once he lets go; my head is sweat-soaked
I’m a humble guest, though, with no question marks
I think I just lost control of my wits in this pitch dark
A matchstick sparks; as the blackness splits apart
The medicine man sits with a candlestick
Held in his hands lit; the flame’s dance enchants it
Then he hands it to me and stands, and that’s it
Baba Brinkman's "Shaman" transports the listener to the mystical, awe-inspiring atmosphere of the rainforest. The lyrics describe the experience of taking part in a shamanic ceremony. The first verse sets the tone with the sound of the rainforest, a soothing yet overwhelming chorus of frogs and crickets that disorients the mind, leaving the singer's "brain in porridge." The medicine man takes over, "praying to the source," holding the singer's head in his hands, and leading him into a trance. The singer's consciousness travels to a different world, and he sees "images dance and spin" as the shaman chants and shakes his bundle of plants. The chorus of the rainforest becomes louder, but the shaman's voice and the sound of cigarette smoke become predominant, engulfing the singer's senses.
The second verse narrates the experience inside the trance. The medicine man and the darkness are the only companions, making the singer feel like a powerless guest, a witness to the mystical process. A spark of light jolts the singer out of the trance, and he receives a candlestick from the shaman. The shaman has finished his work, and he passes on the responsibility to the singer. The flame-dance enthralls the singer, and he is left in a state of wonderment.
"Shaman" describes the transformative, mysterious, and awe-inspiring experience of a shamanic ceremony. The atmosphere created by the rainforest sounds, the chanting of the shaman, and the smoke of the cigarette transports the listener to a different world. It is a beautifully written and thought-provoking song that leaves one feeling revitalized.
Line by Line Meaning
In the rainforest, I can hear a strange chorus
Amidst the lush green rainforest, I hear a peculiar combination of sounds emanating from various creatures living in harmony with each other.
Of frogs and crickets playing for us; my brain is porridge
The cacophony is made up of frogs and crickets who seem to be creating a special melody for us while my ability to think clearly is hindered due to the overwhelming experience.
As the medicine man prays to the source
The healer beseeches a higher power to bless and guide the subsequent ritual.
Holding my head in his hands; my presence vanishes
As the shaman touches my head, I lose all sense of who and where I am.
Into the depths of this trance; images dance
The trance takes me on a journey where I see vivid images that dance in the forefront of my mind.
And spin as he chants and shakes a bundle of plants
The shaman's chanting is accompanied by him shaking concoctions made of various plants with medicinal properties that help to enhance this tranquil state I am in.
His lungs expand and flows of cigarette smoke
The shaman's lungs inhale and exhale cigarette smoke that he uses to keep the flames from his torch alight so that there is light in this otherwise dark setting.
Exit his throat, the rumble in his chest grows
As he exhales, the sound from his throat resonates in his chest, making his chanting more intense, and the energy in the atmosphere palpable.
In the background, the jungle silhouettes glow
The dim light from the shaman’s torch casts haunting shadows of the silhouette of the trees in the background.
Then all at once he lets go; my head is sweat-soaked
Suddenly, the shaman stops the ritual, and my body, soaked in sweat, becomes aware of my existence again.
I’m a humble guest, though, with no question marks
I am a mere observer, without any queries, regarding this different phase of my consciousness.
I think I just lost control of my wits in this pitch dark
I have a feeling that I have lost total control over my thoughts in this darkness.
A matchstick sparks; as the blackness splits apart
The shaman lights a matchstick that illuminates the previously dark space, creating a visual split between darkness and light.
The medicine man sits with a candlestick
He reverently sits with a candlestick.
Held in his hands lit; the flame’s dance enchants it
The candle gives light to the area, and the shaman's movement causes the flame to dance, hypnotically enchanting those observing.
Then he hands it to me and stands, and that’s it
The shaman hands the candlestick to me and leaves me to wonder what the experience means as he ceases with his chanting.
Contributed by Jordyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nour Eddine
Great points from a great man!
Sam Olmos
Wow, great stuff.
Reb Short
Those were very true words; bird shit does come from birds.
john hannibal
Modern society has the problem of no shaming. This was the glue of human society
Lewis M. Henderson
one clause is almost always statistically more likely than the same clause as well as an additional clause
Chuck Duffy
After showing the picture of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, I cannot write anything negative. She is one of my few Hero's. I will only ask this one question, and that is, if most religions state that God always was, always is and always will be. What word other than Godcan be used to describe this claim ?Consider, Math.