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.
Leftfielder
Buck 65 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comfortable shoes, photo album and toothpaste
Road atlas, learning my way around
Kissing the pavement, lucky 'cause I may have drowned
Hotel notepad, three pens for five dollars
Black, red and blue, recommended by scholars
On foot, talking loud and telling fortunes
Steadily building up an empire and selling portions
Sawing a woman in half, on trial by fire
Call me country, I'm dry as a bone
Perhaps I would die if I was alone
I pray to saint christopher and shout at the devil
I made a million promises and have broken several
Man of the moment, trying to get some more
And you never heard it like this before
Fly fisherman, don't know, don't care
Straight out of the middle of butt fudge nowhere
Champion of breakfast, reverse kleptomaniac
Rainy day wall flower, what did you expect?
Pickled beats everywhere, daily pollution
Everyone's looking for a saline solution
Give me a lawnmower, something made of wood
Beat up contraptions that smoke when they heat up
Pygmalion, big city grease monkey
Maybe the most honest, probably the least funky
Raccoon with rabies, backstage hermit crab
Give me your zippidy do da and I will turn it sad
Permanent scar on a smooth face of mediocrity
Just leave it up to me to rock it awkwardly
Tin can evangelist, trying to make some more
And you never heard it like this before
The lyrics to Buck 65's "Leftfielder" paint a vivid picture of a person constantly on the move, living out of a suitcase and navigating through life with a collection of essentials. The first few lines highlight the simple items that the person has on them: comfortable shoes, a road atlas, a photo album, and toothpaste. Despite the constant traveling and new experiences, the person is grateful to simply be alive, acknowledging that they are lucky not to have drowned while "kissing the pavement." The lyrics also touch on the mundane reality of living on the road, such as buying hotel notepads and pens and using them to write fortunes or notes to themselves.
The song continues to describe the person's various roles and personas, such as spinning plates and performing dangerous magic tricks. They are unapologetically themselves, referring to themselves as "country" but also acknowledging that they would struggle if they were ever truly alone. The lyrics are peppered with references to religious figures and pop culture, depicting a person who is constantly seeking inspiration and guidance from various sources. Despite the odd and eclectic nature of their life, the person still seeks to make a name for themselves, aiming to "build up an empire and sell portions" while being true to their unique style.
Line by Line Meaning
Leftfielder, living in a suitcase
Buck 65 is a vagabond who carries his home in his suitcase
Comfortable shoes, photo album and toothpaste
He has very few things but they are things that he needs and cares about
Road atlas, learning my way around
He constantly travels and knows how to get around unfamiliar places
Kissing the pavement, lucky 'cause I may have drowned
He is grateful to be alive and celebrates each moment of his life despite the hardships he has faced
Hotel notepad, three pens for five dollars
He is frugal and knows how to make the most of his limited resources
Black, red and blue, recommended by scholars
He chooses his pens based on practicality instead of aesthetics
On foot, talking loud and telling fortunes
He is a street performer who shares his art with anyone who will listen
Steadily building up an empire and selling portions
He is a self-made man who works hard to build his career and sell his art
Spinning plates, disappearing, walking the high wire
He is constantly working hard to maintain his balance and avoid falling
Sawing a woman in half, on trial by fire
He has taken risks and faced intense challenges to succeed as an artist
Call me country, I'm dry as a bone
Despite his travels, he is always true to his roots and remains humble
Perhaps I would die if I was alone
He relies on the support of others to survive
I pray to saint christopher and shout at the devil
He acknowledges both his spiritual beliefs and his rebellious nature
I made a million promises and have broken several
He is imperfect but he keeps trying to improve himself
Man of the moment, trying to get some more
He is always working hard and is never satisfied with what he has achieved
And you never heard it like this before
He is unique and offers a fresh perspective that listeners have not yet experienced
Fly fisherman, don't know, don't care
He is not concerned with conforming to society's norms or expectations
Straight out of the middle of butt fudge nowhere
He comes from an isolated, rural area
Champion of breakfast, reverse kleptomaniac
He is skilled at making breakfast and at giving back, instead of taking
Rainy day wall flower, what did you expect?
He is introverted and unassuming, not flashy or showy
Pickled beats everywhere, daily pollution
He is surrounded by noise and chaos, but he still finds inspiration in it
Everyone's looking for a saline solution
People are searching for a quick fix or easy way out of their problems
Give me a lawnmower, something made of wood
He values simplicity and natural materials over extravagance
Beat up contraptions that smoke when they heat up
He prefers things that are functional but not necessarily pretty or modern
Pygmalion, big city grease monkey
He identifies with both classical mythology and blue collar labor
Maybe the most honest, probably the least funky
He values sincerity over style and is not necessarily concerned with appearing cool
Raccoon with rabies, backstage hermit crab
He is an oddball who prefers solitude over the glamor of the spotlight
Give me your zippidy do da and I will turn it sad
He has a unique ability to infuse melancholy and emotion into anything he touches
Permanent scar on a smooth face of mediocrity
He has faced challenges and struggles in his life but they have made him stronger and more unique
Just leave it up to me to rock it awkwardly
He embraces his quirks and imperfections and makes the most of them
Tin can evangelist, trying to make some more
He has a message and a mission and is committed to sharing it with the world
And you never heard it like this before
He is unique and offers a fresh perspective that listeners have not yet experienced
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOSEPH FRANCISCO SERRA, RICHARD TERFRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
haskettandrew
This man is ridiculous. This is awesome. Goddamn Halifax, you crazy.
SYLEX MUSIC
REAL HIPHOP...THANX BUCK SIX FIVE...
dasbakon
So Dope.
Ken Johnson
the centaur for Christ sake's
DarkKnightTrinity
He's from Mount Uniacke, actually...
HASSUM MAYHEMBLIK
Isn't this that guy with 65 tattoed all over his face?
HASSUM MAYHEMBLIK
4 years ago? (posted to fast)
EpicWaffles449
haha, good joke tho ;)