The core of the band met as youths while all participating in an after school jazz ensemble at the Richmond Ave. Community Center, in Staten Island, New York. It wasn’t long before their common hunger for the rougher stripped down sounds of Soul Music brought them together for late night ferry rides into Manhattan, where they would sneak in the back door of the No Moore Club downtown to hear bands like Antibalas, the Sugarman Three, and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. It was there, in that basement hothouse packed with the only the hippest James Brown fanatics and Fela Kuti disciples, where the kernels of instrumental Afro-Soul were first sown into the fertile minds of these talented young men. Kernels which would later germinate and grow into the roots of their strong unique sound. After meeting resistance from the band director about the direction they were trying to take the music, they left the Community Center to form Los Barbudos, (spanish for “the bearded ones”) a name which was 2005 trimmed to The Budos Band after one of the boys shaved. With the recruitment of a few horn players from the neighboring borough of Brooklyn, the band began to practice regularly, exploring the outer cosmic boundaries of afro-beat and soul music from the safety of their tiny concrete rehearsal space on Sand St. As they learned and grew together, their music matured, expanding and settling into a groove as deep and as broad as the Hudson Bay itself. By the time they had arranged a chance to play for a Daptone A&R man, their sound had hardened to a diamond. They were signed on the spot and scheduled to go into the studio immediately for a recording session where they would proceed to cut a full length album in the better part of three nights.
Deep funk, Afro-beat, Ethio-jazz and soul influences can be heard in the Budos Band albums, both of which are Daptone Records releases recorded at the label's own studio, Daptone's House of Soul, in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Numerous other funk and soul outfits appear on the same label including: The Mighty Imperials, Sugarman 3, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, plus others.
Most of the following musicians appear on both studio albums:
BRIAN PROFILIO, Drums
DANIEL FODER, Bass Guitar
THOMAS BRENNECK, Electric Guitar
MIKE DELLER, Organ
JARED TANKEL, Baritone Saxophone
ANDREW GREENE, Trumpet
DAVE GUY, Trumpet
COCHEMEA GASTELLUM, Tenor Sax/Flute
DAME RODRIGUEZ, Cowbell/Clave/Tambourine
VINCENT BALESTRINO, Shekere
ROB LOMBARDO, Bongo, Congas
JOHN CARBONELLA JR., Congas/Drums
The first album, The Budos Band, includes special guest appearances by:
NEAL SUGARMAN, Tenor Sax, Tambourine
DUKE AMAYO, Congas
JOHNNY GRIGGS, Cabasa
DAISY SUGARMAN, Flute
BOSCO MANN (a.k.a GABRIEL ROTH), Rhythm Guitar, Cowbell, Congas
Chicago Falcon
The Budos Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seven shots down I'm on that lean like a diet
Lean like the side of the shoe on a giant
Lean like them DC Powders them DC pirates
Cause they be on their water
Pushing pills now they're off green like a golfer
Nigga want beef yeah go for it put them in a hole like a gopher
Then get ghost where they go-force
Sideways talk Dave Carr when I throw for them
I spit that garden of game look at the hoes on him
I got a liable larynx my throat warm
I speak that gospel flawless in a snowstorm
Battling the Eskimos with no coat on
So hold on blood pumps DC
But I get dap everywhere that I be
Talk
La la la la la la la lalala
La la la la la la la lalala
Yeah get it charge charge charge charge
Get it charge charge charge charge
Get it get it charge charge charge charge charge charge charge
Get it charge charge charge charge
Get it charge charge charge charge
Get it get it charge charge charge charge charge charge charge
I'm the best even when I'm cynical
Angle these beats like a pentagon
Whenever my pen involved
Ain't nothing here minimal
Counting my bread my account like a brunch at a synagogue
Get it charge that's a whole lotta bagels
See me off the bay with San Quinn in a beige coupe
A very bad man you can ask Babu
I get sign field Seinfeld with these rhyme skills
I'm Larry David gimme my paper
It's a cost more Cosmo like Jerry Sein neighbor
My Costanzas stand like Phantoms or Maybachs
You won't get a lane Elaine if you came wack
I hate rap like Kramer hate blacks
Still no label Wale ain't passed
But now I'm on Allido and everybody gassing
Mark gave me a check and some dap
Conversation
I'm the best even when I'm cynical
Angle these beats like a pentagon
Whenever my pen involved
Ain't nothing here minimal
Counting my bread my account like a brunch at a synagogue
Get it charge that's a whole lotta bagels
See me off the bay with San Quinn in a beige coupe
A very bad man you can ask Babu
I get sign field Seinfeld with these rhyme skills
I'm Larry David gimme my paper
It's a cost more Cosmo like Jerry Sein neighbor
My Costanzas stand like Phantoms or Maybachs
You won't get a lane Elaine if you came wack
I hate rap like Kramer hate blacks
Still no label Wale ain't passed
But now I'm on Allido and everybody gassing
Mark gave me a check and some dap
The Budos Band's "Chicago Falcon" is a rap song by Wale that is filled with clever wordplay and references to pop culture icons. In the first verse, Wale talks about being on lean, a popular drink among rappers, and comparing it to the side of a shoe on a giant. He goes on to mention DC powders, a reference to a popular drug in the DC area, and DC pirates, who are known for their love of water. Wale then says he'll put anyone who wants beef in a hole like a gopher, before comparing himself to Carl Lewis and Dave Carr.
In the chorus, Wale repeats the phrase "get it charge," which is likely a reference to getting paid or making money. He then repeats the phrase "charge that's a whole lotta bagels," which is another way to reference money. In the second verse, Wale talks about his ability to angle beats like a pentagon and his penchant for counting his money like he's at brunch in a synagogue. He also mentions San Quinn, a rapper from San Francisco, and compares himself to Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld.
Line by Line Meaning
Eye of the tiger no I'm never lying
I am confident and determined
Seven shots down I'm on that lean like a diet
I am feeling the effects of drinking lean
Lean like the side of the shoe on a giant
I am lean like the side of the shoe on a giant
Lean like them DC Powders them DC pirates
I am lean like the people who sell DC Powders in DC
Cause they be on their water
The DC Powders sellers are often involved in other illicit activities
Pushing pills now they're off green like a golfer
The DC Powders sellers are now selling things other than pills
Nigga want beef yeah go for it put them in a hole like a gopher
If someone is looking for trouble, I am ready to fight and take them out
Then get ghost where they go-force
After I fight and take them out, I disappear quickly
Yeah I'm Carl Lewis in his go-form
I am fast and agile like Carl Lewis
Sideways talk Dave Carr when I throw for them
My talk is not straightforward when I am trying to deceive someone
I spit that garden of game look at the hoes on him
I have an impressive style when I perform that attracts women
I got a liable larynx my throat warm
My voice is reliable and strong
I speak that gospel flawless in a snowstorm
I speak the truth clearly and without errors
Battling the Eskimos with no coat on
I am facing tough challenges and obstacles without protection
So hold on blood pumps DC
My heart is in Washington DC
But I get dap everywhere that I be
I am respected and recognized wherever I go
I'm the best even when I'm cynical
I am confident in my abilities even when I am doubtful
Angle these beats like a pentagon
I create complex and intricate beats
Whenever my pen involved
Whenever I am involved in creating music
Ain't nothing here minimal
Everything I do is big and impressive
Counting my bread my account like a brunch at a synagogue
I am counting my money, feeling rich and successful
Get it charge that's a whole lotta bagels
I am making a lot of money
See me off the bay with San Quinn in a beige coupe
I am hanging out with San Quinn in a nice car near the bay
A very bad man you can ask Babu
People know that I am a tough and powerful figure
I get sign field Seinfeld with these rhyme skills
My rhyming skills are as impressive as those of Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld
I'm Larry David gimme my paper
I expect to be paid well for my work, like Larry David
It's a cost more Cosmo like Jerry Sein neighbor
I require a lot of money to do business, like Jerry Seinfeld's neighbor
My Costanzas stand like Phantoms or Maybachs
My associates and partners are impressive and wealthy
You won't get a lane Elaine if you came wack
If you are not good enough, you won't be able to join us
I hate rap like Kramer hate blacks
I dislike rap music as much as Kramer dislikes black people
Still no label Wale ain't passed
Despite my talent, I have not been signed to a recording label like Wale
But now I'm on Allido and everybody gassing
Now I am signed to Allido and everyone is excited about my music
Mark gave me a check and some dap
Mark, a member of Allido, paid me and showed me respect
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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