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.
Secret Splendor
Buck 65 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As a measure of marvel in heaven, as it is on earth
Because extraordinary happenings are commonplace in the promised land
So the precedent is modified
God itself decides the phenomenom fairly fantastic in nature
Happens very rarely by standards set by the practicing masters
Of the spectactular arts in paradise
As I strolled aimlessly edges of sacrement one day
I wasn't looking and died by accident
With sugar on my tongue and a breeze in each armpit
I descended to heavan cross-legged by magic carpet
Carried along through tunnels by a flow of waves
I met this soul with the role of issuing halos
His name was aurora, one time bet-maker
Everything he sang like chet baker
He explained the significance of the halos intentions
The way that each incriment of its dimensions
Bore a correlation to the core of your essence
With factors including the learning of lessons
Things that matter the most here being
Reflect and direct on the gleam that your seeing
Overall size of the particle density
As it corresponds to the mission intensity
Well over 400 factors with gradiance
Come into play with each new halos radiance
With congratualations and repeating my name
He also assured me that no two are the same
It allows you a glimpse of each persons spirit
Without having to come anywhere near it
So with halo in place and my thankfulness pledged
My resident status in heaven was full-fledged
One day in eternity after riding a teter-totter with God
I fell asleep with my feet in the water of a lake by a tree
In a quiet little place where I could be by myself with the sun on my face
A little while later I awoke to a rumbling
Opened my eyes to see a scene so humbling
I couldn't quite catch my breath
And my pulse doubled as the lake looked like it boiled as it bubbled
But instead of sclading my skin it was soothing
And it only felt like my imagination was melting
And trickling into a pool of fluid intuition
As secret splendor came to fruition
My own eyes surrendered as rapture found its purpose
As beautiful harmonies danced on the surface
Abstract shapes of all colors first did a dance and then floated
From each bubbled bursted
Literally billions of magnificent things
Would quake and quiver on top of the lake
I glanced left and right to see if maybe anyone else was
Dreaming this dream
When I turned all the way with my back to the spectre
I saw there an angel in the form of perfection
I felt paralyzed and my voice tried to hide
She glided and gently moved her hips from side to side
Without moving her feet, her hand held out in front of her
Calm and collected my hopes in her palm
The closer she came, and something about her
The most soothing sound grew louder and louder
Intense pleasure ran the length of my spine
As I pulled her towards me with the stength of my mind
When our hands finally touched she told me she loved me
And the shapes from the lake filled the whole sky above me
Instead of our tongues we spoke with our eyes
While music and color pulsed from the skys
It shines
Our edges are dreams running lengthwise
Our secret wishes fluttering light years
We fashioned inferences in disguise shapes together
You are the space between my exhales
Our way of understanding is eyes closed navigation
We twist slivers of unconsciousness into sacrement
Ghosts wlatz around our backs
Our ideas converge to form corners to hide in
Quicker than dreams we traded our charms
Then spent eternity in each others arms
It was a miracle in heavan
You could see it and hear it everywhere
The synthesis of two souls and one spirit
Our halos were the exact same size
In "Secret Splendor," Buck 65 tells the story of his experience in heaven after dying by accident with sugar on his tongue and a breeze in each armpit. As he journeys through the tunnels of heaven on a magic carpet, he meets Aurora, the soul in charge of issuing halos. Aurora explains the significance of the halos' intentions and the factors that go into each halo's radiance, such as the learning of lessons and mission intensity. Buck 65 is grateful for the halo that allows a glimpse of each person's spirit without having to come anywhere near it and pledges his thankfulness. In a quiet little place in eternity, he falls asleep with his feet in the water of a lake by a tree and experiences secret splendor when he wakes up to the scene of the lake boiling and bubbling. The abstract shapes of all colors dance on the surface, and an angel in the form of perfection appears before him. They trade charms and spend eternity in each other's arms. In heaven, it was a miracle to see and hear the synthesis of two souls and one spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
The word miracle, isn't really worth the same
Miracles on earth don't hold the same value as miracles in heaven.
As a measure of marvel in heaven, as it is on earth
Extraordinary events are common in heaven which makes the concept of miracles different.
Because extraordinary happenings are commonplace in the promised land
Extraordinary happenings in heaven are not considered miracles but a common, everyday occurrence.
So the precedent is modified
The act of what is considered a miracle is altered in heaven compared to earth.
God itself decides the phenomenon fairly fantastic in nature
God determines what constitutes a fantastic phenomenon in heaven.
Happens very rarely by standards set by the practicing masters
Even by heavenly standards, fantastic phenomena are rare.
Of the spectacular arts in paradise
Fantastic phenomena are considered an art form in heaven.
As I strolled aimlessly edges of sacrament one day
The artist wanders through a sacred area without a clear goal in mind.
I wasn't looking and died by accident
The artist died by accident while not paying attention.
With sugar on my tongue and a breeze in each armpit
The artist reflects on the state they were in when they died.
I descended to heaven cross-legged by magic carpet
The singer arrived in heaven on a magical carpet.
Carried along through tunnels by a flow of waves
The artist is taken through tunnels on waves.
I met this soul with the role of issuing halos
The singer meets a person who is responsible for giving out halos.
His name was aurora, one time bet-maker
The person who issues halos is named Aurora and was a gambler in their lifetime.
Everything he sang like chet baker
Aurora speaks in a soothing manner.
He explained the significance of the halos intentions
Aurora explains the meaning behind the halos.
The way that each increment of its dimensions
The size of the halos is directly related to one's personal qualities.
Bore a correlation to the core of your essence
The size of the halo corresponds to the essence of a person.
With factors including the learning of lessons
Personal growth and development affect the size of a person's halo.
Things that matter the most here being
These factors are the most important aspects of a person's halo size in heaven.
Reflect and direct on the gleam that your seeing
One should consider the reflection of their halo size and what it means.
Overall size of the particle density
The size and density of a person's halo as a whole.
As it corresponds to the mission intensity
The intensity of one's personal mission in heaven affects their halo size.
Well over 400 factors with gradience
There are many factors and degrees that affect one's halo size.
Come into play with each new halo's radiance
All of these factors affect the brightness of a person's halo.
With congratulations and repeating my name
Aurora congratulates the singer and repeats their name.
He also assured me that no two are the same
Every person's halo is unique and personal to them.
It allows you a glimpse of each person's spirit
A person's halo provides insight into their spirit.
Without having to come anywhere near it
One can understand another person's spirit without direct interaction.
So with halo in place and my thankfulness pledged
The singer thanks Aurora for their halo and accepts their residence in heaven.
My resident status in heaven was full-fledged
The singer is now a full resident of heaven.
One day in eternity after riding a teter-totter with God
The artist spends time with God in heaven.
I fell asleep with my feet in the water of a lake by a tree
The artist falls asleep by a lake in heaven.
In a quiet little place where I could be by myself with the sun on my face
The artist seeks a peaceful place to be alone.
A little while later I awoke to a rumbling
The singer wakes up to a rumbling sound.
Opened my eyes to see a scene so humbling
The artist is overwhelmed by a beautiful sight.
I couldn't quite catch my breath
The singer is stunned and breathless.
And my pulse doubled as the lake looked like it boiled as it bubbled
The lake appears to boil and bubble, causing the singer's heartbeat to increase.
But instead of scalding my skin it was soothing
Despite its appearance, the bubbling water is not hot, but comforting.
And it only felt like my imagination was melting
The artist feels as though their imagination is melting away.
And trickling into a pool of fluid intuition
Their imagination feels like it flows into a pool of knowledge and insight.
As secret splendor came to fruition
The beauty of the scene finally becomes fully realized by the singer.
My own eyes surrendered as rapture found its purpose
The singer becomes awestruck, fully embracing the beauty before them.
As beautiful harmonies danced on the surface
The bubbling water creates beautiful patterns and music.
Abstract shapes of all colors first did a dance and then floated
The shapes and colors of the water create a breathtaking display.
From each bubbled bursted
New shapes and colors appear with each bubble that bursts.
Literally billions of magnificent things
There are countless beautiful things to see in the scene by the lake.
Would quake and quiver on top of the lake
Everything on the lake's surface vibrates with beauty and wonder.
I glanced left and right to see if maybe anyone else was
The singer looks around to see if anyone else is witnessing the beauty before them.
Dreaming this dream
The singer questions whether this is all a dream.
When I turned all the way with my back to the specter
The singer turns around and sees an angel behind them.
I saw there an angel in the form of perfection
The angel appears as a perfect being to the artist.
I felt paralyzed and my voice tried to hide
The artist is frightened and speechless in the presence of the angel.
She glided and gently moved her hips from side to side
The angel moves gracefully in front of the singer.
Without moving her feet, her hand held out in front of her
The angel extends her hand towards the singer without taking a step.
Calm and collected my hopes in her palm
Despite the artist's fear, the angel calmly offers them comfort.
The closer she came, and something about her
As the angel approaches, the artist feels a strong connection to her.
The most soothing sound grew louder and louder
The sound of the angel's presence is comforting and grows stronger.
Intense pleasure ran the length of my spine
The singer feels immense pleasure as the angel comes closer.
As I pulled her towards me with the strength of my mind
The artist uses their mental strength to pull the angel closer to them.
When our hands finally touched she told me she loved me
The angel expresses love for the singer when they touch hands.
And the shapes from the lake filled the whole sky above me
The beauty of the scene by the lake fills the entire sky above them.
Instead of our tongues we spoke with our eyes
There is a deep, emotional understanding between the singer and the angel despite not speaking aloud.
While music and color pulsed from the skies
The beauty of the sky is accompanied by music and colors.
It shines
The beauty and splendor that the artist experiences is beyond words.
Our edges are dreams running lengthwise
The singer feels connected to the angel on a deep level that is beyond reality.
Our secret wishes fluttering light years
There is a sense of endless possibility between the singer and the angel.
We fashioned inferences in disguise shapes together
The beauty they see together inspires them to create new ideas together.
You are the space between my exhales
The artist feels deeply connected to the angel, even on a physical level.
Our way of understanding is eyes closed navigation
The artist and the angel understand each other in a way that exceeds words or logic.
We twist slivers of unconsciousness into sacrament
Together, they transform their deepest thoughts and feelings into something sacred.
Ghosts waltz around our backs
There is a sense of the spiritual and the supernatural between them.
Our ideas converge to form corners to hide in
Together, they take their ideas and build upon them in a way that makes them feel safe.
Quicker than dreams we traded our charms
Despite the intensity of their connection, they understand that it is fleeting.
Then spent eternity in each other's arms
Despite this, they are content in knowing that they have each other forever in heaven.
It was a miracle in heaven
The beauty that they experience together feels like a miracle.
You could see it and hear it everywhere
Their connection and the beauty that surrounds them seems to be everywhere in heaven.
The synthesis of two souls and one spirit
Their deep connection is a synthesis of two souls connected by one shared spirit.
Our halos were the exact same size
Their connection and love for each other is reflected in the fact that their halos are the same size.
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: RICHARD TERFRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
addy bishop
Lyrics:
The word miracle,
isn't really worth the same
As a measure of marvel in heaven,
as it is on earth
Because extraordinary happenings are commonplace
in the promised land
So the precedent is modified
God itself decides the phenomenom fairly fantastic in nature
Happens very rarely by standards set by the practicing masters
Of the spectactular arts in paradise
As I strolled aimlessly edges of sacrement one day
I wasn't looking and died by accident
With sugar on my tongue and a breeze in each armpit
I descended to heavan cross-legged by magic carpet
Carried along through tunnels by a flow of waves
I met this soul with the role of issuing halos
His name was aurora,
one time bet-maker
Everything he sang like chet baker
He explained the significance of the halos intentions
The way that each incriment of its dimensions
Bore a correlation to the core of your essence
With factors including the learning of lessons
Things that matter the most here being
Reflect and direct on the gleam that your seeing
Overall size of the particle density
As it corresponds to the mission intensity
Well over 400 factors with gradiance
Come into play with each new halos radiance
With congratualations and repeating my name
He also assured me that no two are the same
It allows you a glimpse of each persons spirit
Without having to come anywhere near it
So with halo in place and my thankfulness pledged
My resident status in heaven was full-fledged
One day in eternity after riding a teter-totter with God
I fell asleep with my feet in the water of a lake by a tree
In a quiet little place where I could be by myself with the sun on my face
A little while later I awoke to a rumbling
Opened my eyes to see a scene so humbling
I couldn't quite catch my breath
And my pulse doubled as the lake looked like it boiled as it bubbled
But instead of sclading my skin it was soothing
And it only felt like my imagination was melting
And trickling into a pool of fluid intuition
As secret splendor came to fruition
My own eyes surrendered as rapture found its purpose
As beautiful harmonies danced on the surface
Abstract shapes of all colors first did a dance and then floated
From each bubbled bursted
Literally billions of magnificent things
Would quake and quiver on top of the lake
I glanced left and right to see if maybe anyone else was
Dreaming this dream
When I turned all the way with my back to the spectre
I saw there an angel in the form of perfection
I felt paralyzed and my voice tried to hide
She glided and gently moved her hips from side to side
Without moving her feet, her hand held out in front of her
Calm and collected my hopes in her palm
The closer she came, and something about her
The most soothing sound grew louder and louder
Intense pleasure ran the length of my spine
As I pulled her towards me with the stength of my mind
When our hands finally touched she told me she loved me
And the shapes from the lake filled the whole sky above me
Instead of our tongues we spoke with our eyes
While music and color pulsed from the skys
It shines
Our edges are dreams running lengthwise
Our secret wishes fluttering light years
We fashioned inferences in disguise shapes together
You are the space between my exhales
Our way of understanding is eyes closed navigation
We twist slivers of unconsciousness into sacrement
Ghosts wlatz around our backs
Our ideas converge to form corners to hide in
Quicker than dreams we traded our charms
Then spent eternity in each others arms
It was a miracle in heavan
You could see it and hear it everywhere
The synthesis of two souls and one spirit
Our halos were the exact same size
Ash
Heard this today and I’m in love!! , really wish it were on Spotify :(
Christina Diangelo
Same
rayzian
buck makes sick beats, i never knew this was on degrassi
sparkle
I HEARD THIS ON DEGRASSI AND IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO FIND IT
??
Same
Matilde Melo
Sameeee
Tim Thurman
Whoa, this was on DeGrassi? Sorry, never watched it, was "too young" for me at the time...dumbass kid I was.
Melisa Hindori
i had the same thinggggg now
Exhaling Vertigo
I remember first hearing this song on Degrassi in like 2013 and loving it, it was nice to rediscover it on rewatch
Harley Jean
I will be forever grateful to Degrassi for leading me to this amazing song yeaarrrssss ago 🥺♥️