Verse 1
Actual factual I’m a classical rascal, like Pachelbel
Armed devil first: call me sin-tactical
Make green like crazy: fanatical botanical
Edible house on the move: call that a casa-roll
Rhyme at the center stage of my act, call it word play
And I’m better than writing trap; I write master bait
I’m inconsiderate; deliberately illiterate
Been reading situations wrong and I couldn’t give a shit. Hit pause

Verse 2
Maybe I’m a lost cause. Insanity clause. Toss me out like a mistrial. Call girl named Ms. Try All
Gain some perspective. Academic elective
Borg in a telephone booth, call it collective
Made a paper machete out of sticky confetti
Went to Marshall Mathers’s house and had the vomit spaghetti
And my history worries me. I call that past tense
Wrong turn at the circus, now we’re driving past tents
Wrote a song about Christmas and how it’s hard to wrap
I’m drinking beer from a faucet and drinking water on tap. Mind the gap

Verse 3
I’m grasping at straws breaking laws as I’m punching jaws
Nozzle in the gas tank. Walking the plank
Calculation competitive congregation compact
Comatose in a casket quarter caught in a crack
Nonsensical indefensible reprehensible
Never gonna give you up: that’s unrelentable
I discovered these lyrics empirical investigation
Punch drunk on the track: sonic intoxication. Now be patient

Verse 4
Laying down my last verse parking the hearse could be worse. Fatal attraction is just dying of thirst
T-shirt in my briefcase, all torso and no waist
My restaurant went bankrupt no accounting for good taste
I’m teaching fallacies: pedagogical illogical
My glasses aren’t broken I’m just wearing two monocles
Betrayal on Wall Street; I call that a traitor
Next week going up, call that shit escalator

Hookless Phonics

Lyrics:

Let me tell you ‘bout tragic a tale we’ve heard before 
On the shores of new horizons and the closing of doors
Cold open on a kid kicking it after school, no rules
Lacking the tools to do anything he chooses
Has an older brother busy talking to this girl, and who
Thinks himself a role model, but he’s in another world
Dad is busy working; he’s really not around
And his mom is busy doing stuff in seven different towns
Cut to our protagonist who just turned 13 
On the scene of initiation, sneakers looking clean
Little does he know how the story’s gonna go, he’s told
To keep an eye out for the uniform of foes
Instructed to identify the colors of their rivals, he’s told
That it’s imperative to all of their survival
No time to think about the consequence of action
All he knew was what he’d do to satisfy his faction

Maybe it’d be different if he had some different peers
Shift gears from where he’s going; have some better years
What would life be like if he had registered for college?
Or done anything better with a little bit of knowledge?
Maybe if his parents had been just a little stricter
Or if his older brother was instead his older sister
Sadly as you might assume that isn’t his trajectory
If only the solution could have been so rudimentary

Anyway we’re back on site preparing with the crew, and
They’re asking him if he’s prepared for what he has to do
This young man was taught how to load a magazine
Compress the spring, the follower, a bullet and repeat
He had no idea he was a pawn inside their game
“Lil killa” was the moniker they traded for his name
At sunset they drove him to the west side of the tracks
Gun maxed, 7+1, in a single stack
Pulled up to the birthday party of a little kid
Whose father’s name was Sid: the target they’d get rid of
Lil’ killa and the driver rolled up really slow
It’s time to start the show, deliver the death blow
His hands were shaking as he held the target in his sights
No turning back. The time was now to start and end the fight
Sid looked back and tried to draw but it was too late
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Now they’re on the run, Lil Killa dropped the gun
He had no idea the shots were gonna leave him so stunned
The enemy was chasing. Lil’ Killa’s heart was racing
He never pictured this would be the life he’d be embracing
His vision went blurry, and in a wreckless hurry
The driver of the car crashed, left in a scurry
The enemy arrived. Lil Killa’s eyes were opened wide
They shot him until there was no confusion he had died
Sirens were blaring and neighbors were staring
The blood had soaked through to the sneakers he was wearing
Back at the morgue his parents swore it wasn’t happening
They pulled out the drawer and both started unraveling
At the funeral his brother couldn’t even speak
Knees weak, meek, with a trembling physique
No one from the gang had bothered with the short commute
They were busy at the school looking for a new recruit

Maybe it’d be different if he had some different peers
Save tears, grow older and be someone to revere
What would life be like if they had paid better attention?
Or if they’d known that he was falling for an old convention
Maybe if his parents had been just a little stricter
Or if his older brother was instead his older sister
Sadly as you see, that wasn’t his trajectory
If only the solution could have been so rudimentary
If only the solution could have been so rudimentary

The Revolutionary — EP

Lyrics:

When it comes to politics it's conquer and divide
Pick sides decide on which colors you should fly
The system devised on the rise of revolution
Has left us with a sickness and weak constitution
Two party voting mixed with church and state
Are great ways to incubate a nation of hate
The theory behind the American experiment
Was written in racism, hubris, and arrogance
Give me liberty or give me death
But don't give me this bullshit centrist left
Bereft of progress and full of half measures
Spineless policies and toothless endeavors
You're clever. Take a look around and you'll find
A country segregated by thin red lines
The legacy effects of the past electorate
Have gone on too long: time to correct it

Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)
Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)
Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)
Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)

We hold this truth to be self evident
The founding fathers were criminally negligent
That's the origin of the land of the free
Absolute power corrupts absolutely
Let me ask a question: on the Forbes 400
List of the richest Americans have you wondered
How many of the top 100 are White
If you guessed more than 90% you'd be right
Welcome to the home of the brave built on slave labor
Who paved the way for suburbs and safe neighborhoods
Then were forced into ghettos and projects
Denied the equity of historical context
No allegiance, no fealty to a flag
That drags down its Black citizens. There's no innocence
In staying complicit with the modern Jim Crow
Shout out the words if you know how it goes

Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)
Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)
Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)
Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)

Don't call me a model minority
That diet racist shit implies inferiority
Corollary: colonizers ain't authorities
On who is and who isn't good for national security
By the way, if your love for guns exceeds your common sense
With the pretense that you need a dozen guns for self defense
You should lead the charge for sensible regulation
Or don't you know the text of the 2nd amendment of our nation
Well-regulated conjugated in the past
Act fast to prevent any more of these mass
Shootings. We can't keep choosing to do nothing
Active shooter tools in our schools? What are we becoming
The world has changed, the world is watching, while
The price of our liberties is surmounting
Are we really free when there's nothing here but fear
I got something that that the politicians don't want you to hear

Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)
Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)
Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)
Which tea which harbor
(Which tea which harbor)

Which Tea Which Harbor

Lyrics:

When I moved into the uptown, they called me brave
They told me to watch out for the criminal wave 
Behavior—belligerence beleaguering Lake Merritt
Truth be told, those warnings came with little merit
Inherited infamy has become problematic
Cause calling Oakland scary is decidedly dogmatic
The proper panic of course, is those loser landlords
Listing housing at a price no single local can afford
Gentrification is an observable phenomenon
Going on and on until the natives are gone
Leaving Oakland stuck with bratty yuppies clutching their pearls
Talking shit about one of the greatest cities in the world
If you can’t handle getting down with the culture
We don’t want you around, you’re just a fucking vulture
You’re not with us, you’re against us; a distrusted adversary
If that’s how you really feel: Keep Oakland Scary

There’s a subtle language when you call a city “rough” 
Dismissing the people living here who barely have enough
It may be tough to identify, but let’s make a correction
Watch your fucking mouth when you use that inflection  
Use your discretion. Learn this little lesson
Critical thinking can lead you straight to this connection
Aggression is an expression of economic depression
And rhetoric you use can contribute to oppression
Note this observation: the ethnic population
Is a demonstration of the generational separation of wealth 
Here’s a dark deduction you can draw for yourself
Classism is racism in stealth
There’s nothing worse than people who think they’re first
In the social hierarchy of the whole universe
Honestly those stuck up cowards really make me wary 
Stay the fuck away, and Keep Oakland Scary

Let’s examine the city’s correlation with race
Demographics are important to distinguish in this place
Cause when somebody talks about criminals in East Oakland
They only ever seem talk about the brown folks in
An area segregated from affluent society
When you think of Oakland do you think of notoriety?
Imagine the anxiety being too poor to eat
Struggling to make rent, barely making ends meet
You’re closer to the bottom than you are to the top
Don’t disparage those in poverty. Take some time to stop
Think about your proximity between zero and a million
You’re one bad day from middle class to unhoused civilian
To sum it up in short: don’t denigrate the hood
You should be more considerate if you understood
The things that we’ve discussed cause they’re not arbitrary
And if you didn’t, we’ll Keep Oakland Scary

Have you ever walked down Broadway on a Saturday night?
Passed by the Paramount and had street meat by street light?
Round the corner by BART, and the Fox is in sight
If you’ve never loved a city, live in Oakland and you might
Take a tour down telegraph on the First Friday of the month
It’s only scary if you’re an asshole, if I’m being very blunt
The graffiti and murals are a testament to urban art
If you asked me today, I couldn’t pick my favorite part
Buy local, keep it colloquial
There’s so much to do, you’ll need an itinerary
Movies are sweeter seen at Grand Lake Theater
There’re so many ways to Keep Oakland Scary 
Buy local, keep it colloquial
So much to do, you’ll need an itinerary
Movies are sweeter seen at Grand Lake Theater
So many ways to Keep Oakland Scary

Keep Oakland Scary

The Revolutionary EP is a compilation of political rap that addresses contemporary local, national, and vignetted issues. Sonically, it takes inspiration from hip hop, blues rock, electronic music, jazz, and other musics with historical ties to protest. Covering topics like the wealth gap, ethnic disparity, firearm irresponsibility, sex and gender politics, and more, the EP seeks to contribute to important 21st century conversations.

Polite Discourse

Lyrics:

I'm not trying to be famous, but man, I kinda am, though
Don't want the money, but can't afford to go broke
I just wanna kick it making art with my friends, but
Sometimes you make art, and sometimes you make rent
Who gets to decide when an artist sold out, when we're
Constantly commending and compensating the clout
When you tie artists' value to commercial success
Are you shocked when songs appeal to kids with money, drugs, and sex
Can't deny I'd compromise my morals for a dime
Maybe I'm a hypocrite; think you wouldn't? You're lying
I'm just a product of a life controlled from A to Z
And as Method Man once said: Cash Rules Everything Around Me

I don't want the fame and fortune
Okay, give me the fame and fortune
Maybe give me just a portion of the fame
But give me all of the fortune
I don't want the fame and fortune
Okay, give me the fame and fortune
Maybe give me just a portion of the fame
But give me all of the fortune

If they can't afford the bread, then let them eat cake
But we've maxed out all our credit cards with nothing our plates
Here's a good idea if you'll listen to my pitch
If they can't afford the cake, let them eat the rich
Beneficiaries say to pull ourselves up
By bootstraps we've loaned from the shady and corrupt
Peddling lies designed to line corporate pockets
When you sell your soul, they're making the profit
If what they say is true: that money equals power
How much do you have if I pay you by the hour
The American Dream is a veiled arms race
And if you weren't the first to get there, you're in last place

I don't want the fame and fortune
Okay give me the fame and fortune
Maybe give me just a portion of the fame
But I could really use the fortune
(Visceral scream)
Okay give me the fame and fortune
Maybe give me just a portion of the fame
But I could really use the fortune

I can't compete with privilege or luck
All I have is skill. And the will to be stuck
Slinging 60 hour work weeks to the day that I die
There is no escaping this lower middle class life
We were encouraged to get into debt
Told the job market needs us to earn its respect
So we graduated college and brandished degrees
Then were blamed for the state of the economy
I don't have rich parents. I don't have rich friends
But everyday the rich elite goes on and pretends
That a million dollar concept is the key to success
Not mentioning that daddy was the first to invest

So fuck your fame and fortune
We reject your fame and fortune
We're sick of the extortion
Cause you and I are slaves to the fame and to the fortune
So fuck your fame and fortune
We're sick of the extortion
So fuck your fame and fortune
We're sick of the extortion, cause
You and I are slaves to the fame and to the fortune

EAT THE RICH (Fame and Fortune)

Internet viral is suicidal 
Catch me going idle as I dissociate
Sell my privates; confirmation bias
Got me acting childish, no time to contemplate
Algorithms curate hedonism
Like a syllogism, you can deduce the plan
Control through addiction; create predilection
Invented afflictions submit to commands
Ethical disasters cash me out faster
Money is the master. Surrender to your fate
Monetary masochist capitalistic strategist
Massive fists full of cash is the way to a full plate
Screw the underprivileged no one you know is innocent
Apocalypse is imminent we’re chronically depressed
Dystopian reality pseudo congeniality
Falling for every fallacy always getting finessed

It’s the collapse of our society
We’re drowning in our notoriety
We’re going down with the ship
But at least we got the Drip

Get verified to cement divides
We are stratified to rapport our lament
Kill remainders: enforce echo chambers
Distrust every stranger, reject their dissent
Classicism obstructs activism
Becomes cynicism; it’s all sabotage
White collar criminals: nefarious, subliminal
Legislation, minimal; they’re camouflaged
Manufactured views are dominating the news
Feasting on every ruse; polarization is profit
Critical thinking deficit, all of our leaders reticent
Gone are the days of reverence, cradled inside a coffin
Media is malevolent people online are petulant
Notice the way their negligence bastardizes the truth
Create a new distraction unlimited interactions
Are splitting us into factions and violating the youth

It’s the collapse of our society
We’re drowning in our notoriety
We’re going down with the ship
But at least we got the Drip

Dripp

Contact: alexbasacreative@gmail.com

Alex Basa & Co. is a duo act spearheaded by Alex Basa (guitar, lyrics) and Cordele Glass (composition, production). Frankly, it's kinda hard to categorize us. I'm not sure if it's because our music is novel or if it's just a little niche. It's probably the latter. I guess if I were checking a box, it'd be "alternative rap."

Our music is heavily inspired by blues rock, jazz, electronic, hip hop, and many other genres pioneered by people with a penchant for protest. Lyrically, the cadences are constructed to be conversational, and are best served when listening with intention, but no matter how you do it, thanks for listening at all. The best part about making art is creating things you love and having that love affirmed by others. We love making music. We hope you'll love what we've made.

With love,
Alex & Cordele