KMD released their first album Mr.Hood on Elektra in 1991. A nearly impossible-to-find release (although since has been re-issued in Oct. 2006), Mr. Hood preached power and positivity, with obscure samples from Sesame Street found throughout the album, and saw future Metal-Faced-Villain Zev Love X in a uniquely different light. Two years later Subroc would be killed in a car accident forcing the promising MC, Zev Love X into the underground where he would later emerge as the tortured soul MF DOOM. With Onyx having left the group, controversial artwork by Zev, and Subroc's unfortunate death, the release of their second lp "Bl_ck B_st_rds" seemed improbable and was shelved by Elektra fearing negative media coverage due to the recent 'Cop Killer' song by Ice-T's group Body Count. The cover art for the album had sparked worries in Elektra's board room. After years of bootlegs, "Bl_ck B_st_rds" finally saw the light of day in 2001 on the Subverse record label.
Hard Wit No Hoe
KMD Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My (Soul!) but I can't find my (Damn Hoe!)
Poor X not only do I headsweat from headsets
Full time Era come at X from knockin' Z's correct
Next step's to count sheep
But too many sheep ain't jumpin' hurdles they sleep
Yeah they sleep I think I'll check a shorter story
Sleepless nights, though I feel quite over-aged
Yeah, I know turn the page
Ha-ha huh let's begin
Book-marks the first page
And reads once upon an age in a far far land
Lived three farmers, Tom, Sam and Bo of course
From behind Tom's black fence Tom peeps across
Just to witness Sam's crop business
Boomin' like the big guy's, but get this
Sam sold to uncles and cousins, poor Tom crams
He sold his to get a fence like Sam (yeah)
Page 2 Sam view's the sight -
What goes at Bo's over his picket white
Slowly he peeks only to see Bo plantin'
Sweet potatoes with his brand new hoe
Bo sees Sam but's not frettin', more sweatin'
Thinkin' about steppin' to the crib, forgettin'
'Bout his brand new hoe, Old Mickey D would say Sam's tricky
The plot thickens, onto page 3
Top of the mornin', sun's up, skies are blue
Once nothin then cock-a-doodle-doo
All three knew this tool more than well
Sure beats alarm bells, they induce head swells
Well, clock says Sam's off to tend to his crop
Time says Farmer Tom's off to mop
Bo's up and at 'em, then twitches one eye
For something here is not quite cipher
"E-I-E-I-O!" screamed Bo
"Left on my lawn, now it's gone, where's my hoe?
O woe is me, how will I ever plant seeds
Lay the fertilizer, dig up the weeds?
Plus make true my foremost desire
To get a picket fence and trash the chicken wire?"
By, uh, 100% life gets hard
When one hoe goes from one's garden
Page 4 Little Bo weeped
Cleared tears from eyes then Little Bo peeped
Through a hole in Sam's six foot fence
Where Sam was seen plantin' tall and short pea plants
Hence the moral of the fable
Always keep a boring book on your night table
A Tom is not able
But when you grow up to be a farmer keep an eye on your yard
'Cause with no hoe it's hard
The song "Hard Wit No Hoe" by KMD narrates a fable-like story about three farmers: Tom, Sam, and Bo who lived in a faraway land. Tom's farm was separated from Sam's and Bo's farms by their respective fences. Sam's farm was quite prosperous compared to Tom's farm. Bo, on the other hand, had recently purchased a new hoe to improve his harvest. However, one morning, he woke up to find out that his hoe is missing. The song then narrates the story of Bo's search for his hoe, and it turns out that Sam had stolen it. The song ends with the moral of the fable: always keep a boring book on your night table because with no hoe it's hard.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I could go along with you but I do have a problem. I've got My (Soul!) but I can't find my (Damn Hoe!)
I would love to accompany you, but I'm facing an issue. Although I possess my soul, I can't locate the necessary equipment.
Poor X not only do I headsweat from headsets Full time Era come at X from knockin' Z's correct Next step's to count sheep But too many sheep ain't jumpin' hurdles they sleep Yeah they sleep I think I'll check a shorter story Title Bo's Hoe sound's boring perfect for these Sleepless nights, though I feel quite over-aged Yeah, I know turn the page
I'm feeling tired from working hard and listening to music all day. Although I try to sleep, it's difficult due to the many thoughts racing through my mind. I decide to read a quick book about a man named Bo and his hoe, as I can't seem to fall asleep.
Ha-ha huh let's begin Book-marks the first page And reads once upon an age in a far far land Lived three farmers, Tom, Sam and Bo of course From behind Tom's black fence Tom peeps across Just to witness Sam's crop business Boomin' like the big guy's, but get this Sam sold to uncles and cousins, poor Tom crams He sold his to get a fence like Sam (yeah) Page 2 Sam view's the sight - What goes at Bo's over his picket white Slowly he peeks only to see Bo plantin' Sweet potatoes with his brand new hoe Bo sees Sam but's not frettin', more sweatin' Thinkin' about steppin' to the crib, forgettin' 'Bout his brand new hoe, Old Mickey D would say Sam's tricky The plot thickens, onto page 3
The book introduces three farmers, Tom, Sam, and Bo, who are neighbors. Tom envies Sam's successful crop business and sells his hoe to buy a fence like Sam's. Sam observes Bo's garden and notices him planting sweet potatoes with a new hoe. Despite seeing Sam, Bo is not worried until he notices his hoe missing. This sets up the plot for the next page.
Top of the mornin', sun's up, skies are blue Once nothin then cock-a-doodle-doo All three knew this tool more than well Sure beats alarm bells, they induce head swells Well, clock says Sam's off to tend to his crop Time says Farmer Tom's off to mop Bo's up and at 'em, then twitches one eye For something here is not quite cipher 'E-I-E-I-O!' screamed Bo 'Left on my lawn, now it's gone, where's my hoe? O woe is me, how will I ever plant seeds Lay the fertilizer, dig up the weeds? Plus make true my foremost desire To get a picket fence and trash the chicken wire?' By, uh, 100% life gets hard When one hoe goes from one's garden
The book describes a new day and the farmers' daily routines. Bo wakes up and realizes that his hoe is missing, causing him great distress as he needs it to plant and maintain his garden. Bo deduces that the thief is Sam, and he worries about not being able to achieve his goals without his hoe. The book emphasizes the importance of a hoe for a farmer and how its theft can impact one's livelihood.
Page 4 Little Bo weeped Cleared tears from eyes then Little Bo peeped Through a hole in Sam's six foot fence Where Sam was seen plantin' tall and short pea plants Hence the moral of the fable Always keep a boring book on your night table A Tom is not able But when you grow up to be a farmer keep an eye on your yard 'Cause with no hoe it's hard
On the last page, Bo peeks through a hole in Sam's fence and sees him using his hoe to plant tall and short pea plants. The book ends with a moral about the importance of keeping watch over one's property and to always have a backup plan. Being a farmer is challenging, especially when one's hoe is missing, making the job harder.
Contributed by Josiah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.