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.
Can of Worms
Buck 65 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ride by myself, on one wheel,
But I deal with the fact that you take,
What you get and ignore,
The shit and the piss,
That goes with the territory
Compare the story stuck to the fridge,
To that of the hermit living under the bridge
The other collects cash and butterfly nets
Talk about stuck, you can't even begin to know,
Pants around my ankles and I'm waiting for the wind to blow,
Waiting for the sun to shine - questionmark - underline,
I'm looking for the perfect break,
It seems as though there're none to find
The highest heel couldn't make me feel inferior
'cause you can't ever really camouflage your interior,
So even though sometimes I hide in the undergrowth,
I say my graces as if I were under oath
By the skin of my teeth and by the hair on my chin,
Guess but you'll never know, where I have been,
Around the block twice, across hell's half acre
I gave my girl a kiss and the devil a backbreaker,
When it's not classified you can't expect to rank it
All I need is my pen and my electric blanket,
Take that away and I'll have nothing left,
Unless you include my love,
In which case death is not an option
And neither is brainwashing,
So when you enter my temple,
Maintain caution - don't speak,
You can't speak intelligently
Forget your dynamite and skeleton key
When the mob comes running with pitchforks and torches I'll be safe and surrounded by sound,
Inside my fortress walls
The waters at the moat are alligator infested
Every situation has later been tested
After the initial hypothesis posed
The machine is outta order and the office is closed,
The boss called in sick,
And the crew's at lunch
Tweer wearing two different shoes at once,
It's all water under the bridge, it'll make sense one day when the sun sets digital.
The lyrics to Buck 65's song Can of Worms are complex and thought-provoking, delving into themes of individuality, struggle, and self-acceptance. The opening lines, "You ain't feeling me, until you feel what I feel / I ride by myself, on one wheel," set the tone for the rest of the song. Buck 65 is expressing the idea that true understanding and connection cannot be achieved unless one has walked in another's shoes. He imagines himself riding on one wheel, a metaphor for his unique perspective and individuality.
The lyrics become more introspective as the song progresses, with Buck 65 exploring his own struggles and triumphs. He acknowledges the difficulties of life, "The shit and the piss, / That goes with the territory," but also sees value in those struggles. He compares his own story to that of a hermit living under a bridge, recognizing that both have their own unique ways of counting blessings and confronting challenges.
The final lines of the song, "It's all water under the bridge, it'll make sense one day when the sun sets digital," add a layer of mystery and intrigue to the overall message. Buck 65 seems to be saying that even though life can be confusing and difficult in the moment, eventually, everything will make sense, albeit in a way that may be unfamiliar.
Line by Line Meaning
You ain't feeling me, until you feel what I feel
You can't understand my perspective unless you experience my struggles
I ride by myself, on one wheel,
I live my life on the edge with no support system
But I deal with the fact that you take,
I accept that you'll take what you can get
What you get and ignore,
You only focus on what you get and disregard everything else
The shit and the piss,
The unpleasant aspects that come along with everything
That goes with the territory
That are inherent in the situation
Compare the story stuck to the fridge,
Compare the mundane aspects of everyday life
To that of the hermit living under the bridge
To the lonely and isolated existence of a homeless person
One counts his blessings and asks what are my debts?
One finds solace in what they have, and considers what they owe
The other collects cash and butterfly nets
The other values material possessions and frivolous hobbies
Talk about stuck, you can't even begin to know,
You have no idea what it's like to feel trapped
Pants around my ankles and I'm waiting for the wind to blow,
I'm vulnerable and exposed, waiting for something to happen
Waiting for the sun to shine - questionmark - underline,
I'm hoping for a brighter future but it's uncertain
I'm looking for the perfect break,
I'm searching for the ideal opportunity
It seems as though there're none to find
But it feels like there are none available
The highest heel couldn't make me feel inferior
No matter what, you can't make me feel small
'cause you can't ever really camouflage your interior,
Your true self is always visible, regardless of what you project
So even though sometimes I hide in the undergrowth,
Sometimes, I try to conceal myself
I say my graces as if I were under oath
I'm grateful and appreciate what I have
By the skin of my teeth and by the hair on my chin,
I barely made it through some situations
Guess but you'll never know, where I have been,
You can't begin to fathom my journey
Around the block twice, across hell's half acre
I've been through a lot, and it's taken a toll on me
I gave my girl a kiss and the devil a backbreaker,
I'm not afraid to fight back against negativity
When it's not classified you can't expect to rank it
When things aren't straightforward, you can't judge or label them
All I need is my pen and my electric blanket,
I only require simple comforts
Take that away and I'll have nothing left,
Those two things are all I need to survive
Unless you include my love,
Unless you factor in the importance of love
In which case death is not an option
Because I have love, I have hope and refuse to give up
And neither is brainwashing,
I won't change who I am to fit someone else's mold
So when you enter my temple,
When you come into my personal space
Maintain caution - don't speak,
Be careful with your words and actions
You can't speak intelligently
Unless you're well-informed and thoughtful
Forget your dynamite and skeleton key
Don't try to force your way into my life
When the mob comes running with pitchforks and torches I'll be safe and surrounded by sound,
I'll be protected by the music I create
Inside my fortress walls
Within my personal space and mind
The waters at the moat are alligator infested
Even my defenses have dangers and obstacles
Every situation has later been tested
I've been through a lot, and it's made me stronger
After the initial hypothesis posed
Once you've made a prediction or assumption
The machine is outta order and the office is closed,
Things don't always go according to plan
The boss called in sick,
Even people with power or authority struggle
And the crew's at lunch
Sometimes, you have to wait for others to come back or contribute
Tweer wearing two different shoes at once,
Even small mistakes or quirks can cause a fuss
It's all water under the bridge, it'll make sense one day when the sun sets digital.
In the grand scheme of things, everything will be okay, and technology will change the way we see the world
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: RICHARD TERFRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FUZATl
One of my favourite track off of Man Overboard.
NPS
one of the greatest songs of all time - infinite wisdom here.
NPS
best cut on the album
grizzay fourthousand
Still love this!!
FUZATl
The outro comes from Ghost in the Shell.
AmongstTheMasses
It's from ghost in a shell. This is in my top 3 of his albums if not #1 and this is my second or 1st fav song of the album
meadow callisto
a bop
Nate Milburn
my fav
The1Mustache3
Top 3
Contemplattin
Yee