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.
"Ice"
Buck 65 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why in world was my mother taken from me
Up until the last minute Ive been looking for the answer
Hard as tried she couldnt out run the breast cancer
What am I supposed to do, I need at least another year,
There comes time everyday I need to have my mother hear
I need to talk to her it's important,
It seems to be
Who will be there to pick me up by the waste been
Plus one day I promised I would take her to grace land
There is things she needs to see
For instance I planned on building a family of my own
She never had grandchildren
She always helped to make my work in the kitchen painless
I want her to see when I am finally rich and famous
Who will I ask my stupid questions when they come up
My first impulse is I want to call my mum up
But then I am left standing there
Holding the telephone wishing this head ach would leave me the hell alone
The last thing I need now is for pain to fill my empty spaces
Right now I fell pain in plenty of places
I need to make her laugh more
I want to have pictures taken
She always telling her friend about the records her son Richard's making
I need to listen to her stories and tell her my own ones
I want her to watch when I hit lots of home runs
For there are a few things I need to say sorry for
Blame me instead of your-self
As for Lorry and Amy
Ill make sure there ok
And that they always where there seat belt
I promise to ease back when ever the heats felt
I want to go home and show off this weekend
But I can't and it fells like I might go off the deep end
Its painful being here
But it's unfit there
My mothers gone away and it's not one bit fair
The lyrics to Buck 65's song "Ice" center on the aftermath of the death of the rapper's mother from breast cancer. The song starts with a description of the physical and emotional pain the rapper feels with lines like "my head aching tummy" and "All my soul." The chorus repeats the questions that haunt the rapper: "What am I supposed to do? / Who will be there to pick me up by the waste bin?" The rapper also talks about the things he wanted to do with his mother that he now won't be able to, such as taking her to Graceland and introducing her to his future children.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of deep sadness and loss, with the rapper grappling with his own grief and the grief of his family. He promises to take care of his mother's friends and family, and to carry on in her memory. Despite the pain and the unfairness of his mother's death, he ends the song with the resolve to "go home and show off this weekend" and to keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
All my soul, my head aching tummy
I'm emotionally and physically drained, with a headache and upset stomach.
Why in world was my mother taken from me
I can't fathom why my mother had to die.
Up until the last minute Ive been looking for the answer
I kept searching for a reason, even until the end.
Hard as tried she couldnt out run the breast cancer
Despite her efforts, my mother couldn't beat breast cancer.
What am I supposed to do, I need at least another year,
I'm not ready to let go of my mother and need more time with her.
There comes time everyday I need to have my mother hear
I miss my mother and wish I could talk to her daily.
I need to talk to her it's important,
I have things I need to tell my mother that can't be left unsaid.
It seems to be
These feelings are overwhelming and consuming me.
I got to make her understand
I want to ensure that my mother knows and comprehends what I'm saying.
Who will be there to pick me up by the waste been
Who will be my support system now that my mother is gone?
Plus one day I promised I would take her to grace land
I had plans with my mother, such as taking her to places like Graceland.
There is things she needs to see
My mother deserves to witness important events in my life, like starting a family.
For instance I planned on building a family of my own
I had hopes of creating a family for my mother to be a part of.
She never had grandchildren
My mother passed away without seeing me have children.
She always helped to make my work in the kitchen painless
I have many happy memories of working in the kitchen with my mother and want to share that.
I want her to see when I am finally rich and famous
Achieving success was important to my mother, and I regret that she won't witness it.
Who will I ask my stupid questions when they come up
I feel a sense of loss, as my mother was always available to answer any question I had.
My first impulse is I want to call my mum up
I still feel the natural instinct to turn to my mother for comfort and advice.
But then I am left standing there
The reality settles in that I can't call her anymore.
Holding the telephone wishing this head ach would leave me the hell alone
I wish I could talk to my mother, but the physical pain of my grief keeps me from doing so.
The last thing I need now is for pain to fill my empty spaces
I'm struggling to cope with my mother's loss, and can't handle any more pain or discomfort.
Right now I fell pain in plenty of places
I'm feeling intense emotional and physical pain, in many different areas of my life.
I need to make her laugh more
I want to remember my mother for her sense of humor and make sure she felt joy.
I want to have pictures taken
I wish I could capture moments with my mother, since I can't create new ones.
She always telling her friend about the records her son Richard's making
Music was a big part of my life, and my mother was proud of my accomplishments in that area.
I need to listen to her stories and tell her my own ones
I miss hearing my mother's stories and sharing my own with her.
I want her to watch when I hit lots of home runs
I regret that my mother won't be able to see me achieve future accomplishments.
For there are a few things I need to say sorry for
I have some regrets and wish I could apologize to my mother.
Blame me instead of your-self
I don't want my mother to feel responsible for anything that happened between us.
As for Lorry and Amy
I want to make sure my mother knows my siblings are taken care of.
Ill make sure there ok
I want to make sure my siblings are coping with our mother's loss.
And that they always where there seat belt
I want to ensure that my siblings are staying safe, even in small ways like wearing their seatbelt.
I promise to ease back when ever the heats felt
I will take time for myself to grieve and find emotional healing.
I want to go home and show off this weekend
I have a new achievement that I wish I could share with my mother and others back home.
But I can't and it fells like I might go off the deep end
The weight of my grief is suffocating and making me feel like I'm losing control of my emotions.
Its painful being here
I'm struggling to find peace and happiness without my mother's presence.
But it's unfit there
Despite my pain, I know I can't go back in time and change things.
My mothers gone away and it's not one bit fair
I feel like my mother was taken away from me too soon, and it's not fair.
Contributed by Riley W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kerser1nr
This song always makes me think of my late mom Love you old lady...
@DarkKnightTrinity
I think you may mean an understatement, but yes, an incredible song. It resonates in your soul, when you realize how loss can be translated into unsettling hip-hop music, that moment you connect with this man of the supreme metaphor.
@ersc5669
Haunted us back in the day I had just turned 21 and was drinking a lot. This entire album haunts
@the1truth420
Booze is no good....trust me.
@deadmoney5580
So beautiful ....
@spornineteenninetynine4718
My mom died today. Was hoping i wouldnt have to hear this song and relate this soon.
@1040Drew
this song is something else.
@DarkKnightTrinity
My condolences.
@dhlimimunza633
So much soul
@DarkKnightTrinity
@id300129 Dear lord, this is the first time I heard the lyrics to this one. What a sad song...