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.
Zombie Delight
Buck 65 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zombies are coming to get'cha tonight (x2)
Zombies are on the loose be courageous
They're totally disgusting.
Their condition is contagious
They'll try to bite your body but don't let 'em.
The situations getting worse
Zombie apocalypse
The day has come the party starts
Look out for raggady people
With rotten body parts
Don't drink water from a contaminated source
It's time to do battle with the reanimated corpse
Prepare yourself physically and mentally.
Study, yes.
They're known for their muddy dress.
Their face is a bloody mess.
Zombie invasion
The problem's international
Don't try to reason with them-
Zombies are irrational.
These are dead people
Imagine how they smell
If you're bitten then you become a zombie yourself.
They don't eat raisins or peanuts or chocolate chips.
Shoot 'em in the head. It's the zombie apocalypse.
Zombie Delight Zombie Delight
Zombies are coming to get'cha tonight (x4)
Why is this happening?
People are frantic.
The military's overwhelmed
Wide spread panic.
Cities are destroyed
And the streets run red
How do we contain this
Plague of the undead.
Weaponize thyself
Call in the troops
Zombies have the tendency to mobilize in large groups
There's very little information and no answers
One weird thing is that they're excellent dancers
Watch this
Yeah, freaks from hell.
Revitalized remains
The only thing they know how to say is the word brains
That's all they're interested in is your grey matter.
Hey batter hit them in the head and they may splatter
The zombie tsunami it's out of control.
Hide in your basement or go on patrol.
The world is being pillaged of it's beauty and it's worth.
Brain dead zombies are takin over planet earth.
Zombie Delight Zombie Delight
Zombies are coming to get'cha tonight (x4)
(The following are the words being scratched by the dj)
Zombies
Mommy
Zombies are just doin what comes natural.
Brains
Yum yum yum
(Some stuff in Japanese?)
Dead
We gotta start protecting ourselves.
And they look like zombies.
Now I know they exist.
In "Zombie Delight" by Buck 65, the theme of a zombie apocalypse is explored. The song paints a picture of a world where zombies are everywhere and the only way to survive is to fight them. The lyrics are entertaining and humorous, with references to the way zombies look, smell, and behave.
The song's title, "Zombie Delight," is ironic. It suggests that the zombies are something to be enjoyed, but the lyrics reveal the opposite. The chorus, "Zombies are coming to get'cha tonight," is repeated four times, creating a sense of urgency and danger. The verses detail how to survive a zombie attack, including advice on how to defeat them, such as shooting them in the head. The song's mood is light-hearted, and the lyrics are full of puns and jokes, even as they describe the horrors of a world overrun by the undead.
Overall, Buck 65's "Zombie Delight" is a fun and engaging take on the phenomenon of zombie movies and TV shows. It shows how a serious topic can be handled with a light touch and sense of humor, making it appealing to a wide audience.
Line by Line Meaning
Zombies are on the loose be courageous
Be brave, zombies are out and about
They're totally disgusting.
Zombies are gross and repulsive
Their condition is contagious
Zombies transmit their condition to others
They'll try to bite your body but don't let 'em.
Zombies will attempt to harm you by biting you
The situations getting worse
Things are getting increasingly difficult
We better go get 'em
We need to take action
The day has come the party starts
The zombie apocalypse has arrived
Look out for raggady people
Be cautious of people who look unkempt
With rotten body parts
Their bodies are decomposing
Don't drink water from a contaminated source
Avoid drinking unsafe water
It's time to do battle with the reanimated corpse
We need to fight the resurrected dead
Prepare yourself physically and mentally.
Get ready physically and mentally
They're known for their muddy dress.
Zombies are commonly clothed in dirt
Their face is a bloody mess.
Zombies often have wounds or blood on their face
The problem's international
Zombies are a worldwide issue
Don't try to reason with them- Zombies are irrational.
Zombies cannot be reasoned with; they lack cognitive function
These are dead people
The zombies were once living beings
Imagine how they smell
Consider how zombies may have an unpleasant odor
If you're bitten then you become a zombie yourself.
Zombies can spread their condition through bites
They don't eat raisins or peanuts or chocolate chips.
Zombies are not interested in eating anything other than brains
Shoot 'em in the head. It's the zombie apocalypse.
The only way to stop a zombie is to shoot them in the head
Why is this happening?
What is causing the zombie outbreak?
People are frantic.
People are panicked and scared
The military's overwhelmed
The military is not equipped to handle the zombie epidemic
Wide spread panic.
Fear and panic are widespread
Cities are destroyed
Cities have been damaged or destroyed
And the streets run red
Blood is spilled on the streets
How do we contain this Plague of the undead.
What can we do to control the zombie outbreak?
Weaponize thyself
Arm yourself
Call in the troops
Ask for military assistance
Zombies have the tendency to mobilize in large groups
Zombies may move in large herds
There's very little information and no answers
Little is known about the zombie epidemic
One weird thing is that they're excellent dancers
Zombies have an peculiar talent for dancing
Yeah, freaks from hell.
Zombies are strange and terrifying
Revitalized remains
The dead are being brought back to life
The only thing they know how to say is the word brains
Zombies only have the ability to say 'brains'
That's all they're interested in is your grey matter.
Zombies are only interested in eating brains
Hey batter hit them in the head and they may splatter
Use a bat to hit zombies in the head; it may cause them to disintegrate
Zombie tsunami it's out of control.
The zombie outbreak is spiraling out of control
Hide in your basement or go on patrol.
Stay at home or patrol your surroundings
The world is being pillaged of it's beauty and it's worth.
The world is being destroyed and its beauty is being taken away
Brain dead zombies are takin over planet earth.
Zombies are dominating Earth
Mommy
An exclamation expressing fear or unease
Zombies are just doin what comes natural.
Zombies act on instinct and can't help their behavior
Yum yum yum
The sound zombies make as they eat brains
Contributed by Owen C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joel Pritchard
Ten years later, this song still rips.
Barnaclebeard
How did ten years happen already?!
blahblah
buck65 is always on point. one of the best lyricists ever to grace hip-hop.
latchcat
Man Buck has the best dance moves around, especially watching him live.
FanglyFish
This is my main jam for Halloween.
MCBucky4
Loving the new album buck! this is pretty cool!
Jack Dobiecki-Davies
This is god damn fantastic. You've done it again, dear sir.
Derek Romkey
This song is rockin. Live your work Buck
HowieSB3
You got me to buy an album, no small feat!!
Ben Morse Photography
this video is awesome. Creative, fast, textured... all good things. Congrats.