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.
Heatwave
Buck 65 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strong supporter of law and order
Along the border.
Some of these bums should be drawn and quartered,
As far as I'm concerned.
I'm becoming submersed
In some of the worst perverts and scum of the earth.
Adults and juveniles and haven't had a drink since
High noon.
It's a typhoon of deep trouble underground.
I wonder how she got so lost before I gunned her down.
A true hater of bad guys, I'm a civil rights crusader,
Few greater, but there's more work to do later.
For example, tomorrow I may handle the day's scandal
With sunglasses and a hat on and a suit made of gray flannel.
Raid the headquarters of the guy that supplies the trash.
Confiscated some of the contraband for my private stash.
Survived a crash, stab wounds and gunfire,
Some liar with one prior.
King of rock, there's none higher.
One, two, three and four.
Fought in the Korean war.
Marine corps.
Sea and shore.
Danger, I'll be seein' more.
Drug busts and young lusts.
In my line of work
One must fight day and night against the unjust.
Obscenity. Amphetamines.
Everybody has positions on
Bad conditions created by beat poets and jazz musicians,
Hoodlums and perverts, the worthless variety.
Surface propriety.
Working for a perfect society
Heat wave!
Mean streets.
Clean sweep.
Heat wave!
Read 'em and weep losers!
Heat wave!
Mean streets.
Clean sweep.
Heat wave!
I'm comin' to get ya
No nonsense. Consequences.
Clean cut, conservative.
Drugs and gang violence, obscene smut, affirmative.
Breaking the speed limit.
Taking a free minute.
Mistakes it's OK to be making if he did it.
Peer pressure.
Corruption, had to sentence bad lieutenants,
Denied crimes.
We all have to follow the guidelines.
Observe we're correct.
We deserve your respect.
I solemnly swear I'm just hear to serve and protect
Heat wave!
Mean streets.
Clean sweep.
Heat wave!
Read 'em and weep losers!
Heat wave!
Mean streets.
Clean sweep.
Heat wave!
I'm coming to get ya
Buck 65's song Heatwave portrays a police officer’s perspective and the challenges he faces in maintaining order in a city filled with danger, crime, and corruption. The lyrics depict the officer's commitment to his duty and the lengths he is willing to go to protect the community. The line "I'm becoming submersed in some of the worst perverts and scum of the earth" highlights the dark and dangerous environment that the officer operates in daily. Throughout the song, he tackles various criminal activities, including drug busts and corruption, while flirting with the line between justice and vigilantism.
One of the defining motifs of the song is the heatwave, which serves as a metaphor for the escalating level of danger and chaos in the city. The lyrics' repetition of the phrase “Heat wave! Mean streets. Clean sweep” captures the officer's determined approach to eliminate the spread of criminal activity through the metaphor of a heatwave.
Line by Line Meaning
Long arm, that's me,
I am a law enforcement officer
Strong supporter of law and order
I firmly believe in preserving law and order
Along the border.
I work along the border
Some of these bums should be drawn and quartered,
I believe some offenders should be punished severely
As far as I'm concerned.
This is my personal opinion
I'm becoming submersed
I am deeply involved
In some of the worst perverts and scum of the earth.
I am dealing with the most despicable criminals
I've taken ink prints of a sequence of delinquents,
I am gathering evidence against offenders
Adults and juveniles and haven't had a drink since
I have been sober since collecting the evidence
High noon.
At noon
It's a typhoon of deep trouble underground.
There is a lot of criminal activity happening out of sight
I wonder how she got so lost before I gunned her down.
I am questioning how someone became involved in criminal activity before being caught
A true hater of bad guys, I'm a civil rights crusader,
I am passionate about protecting the rights of all people while combating crime
Few greater, but there's more work to do later.
I am one of the best, but there is still more work to be done
For example, tomorrow I may handle the day's scandal
I might be tasked with dealing with a new criminal incident tomorrow
With sunglasses and a hat on and a suit made of gray flannel.
I will be disguised while handling the incident
Raid the headquarters of the guy that supplies the trash.
I will be taking down the leader of a criminal organization
Confiscated some of the contraband for my private stash.
I took some items as evidence for my personal collection
Survived a crash, stab wounds and gunfire,
I have survived multiple dangerous situations
Some liar with one prior.
I have caught a criminal with a previous conviction
King of rock, there's none higher.
I am the best at what I do
One, two, three and four.
Counting off, indicating something significant
Fought in the Korean war.
I am a veteran of the Korean war
Marine corps.
I served in the Marine Corps
Sea and shore.
I have served both on land and at sea
Danger, I'll be seein' more.
I anticipate seeing more danger in the future
Drug busts and young lusts.
I encounter drug-related crimes and crimes related to youthful indiscretions
In my line of work
Due to my profession
One must fight day and night against the unjust.
I am constantly battling against criminals and injustice
Obscenity. Amphetamines.
I face crimes related to drug use and other indecent behavior
Everybody has positions on
Everyone has their own opinion on this matter
Bad conditions created by beat poets and jazz musicians,
Some people believe that certain art forms have contributed to bad societal conditions
Hoodlums and perverts, the worthless variety.
I encounter the worst type of criminals
Surface propriety.
Appearances can be deceiving
Working for a perfect society
I am working to create a better society
Heat wave!
There is a high level of criminal activity occurring
Mean streets.
The streets are dangerous
Clean sweep.
I will eliminate or clean up all criminal activity
Read 'em and weep losers!
I have caught and prosecuted the criminals
I'm comin' to get ya
I will catch these criminals soon
No nonsense.
I am serious and direct
Consequences.
There are implications for criminal behavior
Clean cut, conservative.
I have a certain traditional and respectable appearance
Drugs and gang violence, obscene smut, affirmative.
I acknowledge the existence of these societal problems
Breaking the speed limit.
I am willing to bend the rules in order to achieve my goals
Taking a free minute.
I am taking a break
Mistakes it's OK to be making if he did it.
It is acceptable to make mistakes as long as they are corrected
Peer pressure.
The influence that others have on one's decisions
Corruption, had to sentence bad lieutenants,
I have had to punish fellow law enforcement officers for being corrupt
Denied crimes.
Some criminals deny their wrongdoings
We all have to follow the guidelines.
Everyone must follow the rules and regulations
Observe we're correct.
We are doing the right thing
We deserve your respect.
We should be respected for our work
I solemnly swear I'm just here to serve and protect
I take my oath to serve and protect the community seriously
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: RICHARD TERFRY, JAY FERGUSON, PAUL R MURPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michelle Norman
I love this song.
pintaiL
fuckin right. great tune
Jonathan Dølstrup
370 views? Are you for real?
Dustin
Needs more comments
Tim Lewis
damn... this is some dusty tune...