Black Pepper is a protest song that talks about the deep divide between the ruling class and the working class in Brazil. It highlights how the elite manipulates the population into fighting among themselves over ideologies that don’t truly represent them. While the poor defend meritocracy, politicians, judges, and high-ranking officials hold on to their privileges—funded by the hard work and sweat of the people.

Black Pepper
Everybody’s going crazy, no way to understand;
The guys up top just fighting for power in this land.
My friends don’t vibe no more, don’t even go for drinks;
Slaves to WhatsApp texts and the TV’s fake news links.

For some fancy congressman, some big-shot senator,
Honorable judge or the almighty prosecutor.
Waving their flags, trying to shove it down your throat,
Pushing their own side without a damn ounce of shame.

Nobody agrees, it’s just a big-ass fight,
And in the dead of night, they double up their might.
Stop all the beef and let’s go take a stand,
Against those snakes in suits who only wanna jam:

Black pepper—burns your ass, but they don’t care.

++++++++++ PORTUGUESE

Pimenta Negra é um música de protesto, que fala sobre o abismo que existe entre a classe dominante e os subalternos no Brasil. Fala sobre como essa classe manobra a população a lutar contra si própria por ideologias que não a abrangem. Enquanto o pobre defende a meritoricracia, os politicos, juízes e funcionários do alto escalão mantém seus privilégios, pagos com o suor do trabalhador.

Tá todo mundo louco, não tem como entender;
Os caras lá de cima nessa guerra de poder;
Meus amigos se estranhando, já nem saem pra beber;
Todos escravos de whatsapp e de noticia de tv;
Pelo nobre deputado, pelo ilustre senador;
Excelentissimo juiz ou o Dr. Promotor;
Levantando suas bandeiras, tentando impor;
O seu lado da sardinha sem o menor pudor;
Ninguem se entende, só tem confusão;
E eis que na calada os caras dobram o fundão;
Chega de brigar e vamos combater;
O falso planalto que só quer meter:
Pimenta negra, no cú dos outros é refresco.

Black Pepper (Pimenta Negra)

The Nasty Fruits

always blessed to have Rosie on a hook . Beat by Silencexbeats 

feat Rosie -https://soundcloud.com/user-970938411-920931407?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Fine With No One (Feat. Rosie)

Recorded in Modesto, Ca.   Featuring Vibraphone solo, Hammond B3 Electric Organ solo. Soprano Saxophone solo. Acoustic Stand-up Bass Rhythm. Hammond B3 Organ Rhythm with Bass Peddles. Drums Full Acoustic drums kit. Percussion Rain Tree, Tree Chimes, 22" Zildjian Crash Cymbal. 

Carmel

Summer Breeze

Cast of Characters:
Joe Stroffolino-- @joseph-stroffolino -- Taylor 114ce acoustic guitar, main vocals, harmony vocals, lyrics, composition

Llanpsych -- @llanpsych -- Tez – Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar

K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara -–Ken–drums and percussion

Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)–@josh-clary-1 –- four string Fender Precision Bass, and Roland organ

TexMex Shaman–@texmex-shaman –Stephen– Tom Anderson Custom T electric guitar, mix, mastering, and production

  
This song began when Joe, feeling a bit nostalgic, wrote the lyrics and composed it on his acoustic guitar. He recorded it and sang it with expert harmonies, then decided to share it with Eclectic Collective. We were all very excited to get work on our second song with Joe, as we all admire his songwriting.
  First up was Tez this time, oddly enough. He was able to identify all the fill spots and light up the solo without the rest of us even adding anything yet. Next came Ken, who usually goes first, adding his steady grooving drums and tasty percussion. Once the drums were down, Josh completed the rhythm section by adding his fretted bass. He also worked out an organ part to give the whole sound a bit of thickness. Also adding some thickness and texture, Stephen added a clean electric rhythm part, as well. 
  Once we had it in can we asked Stephen to mix and produce it for us, which he did in his always expert fashion. 
  This, as mentioned, is Eclectic Collective's second song with Joe, and we all enjoyed bringing it to life with him. He's a wonderful collaborator and an all around good dude. Do yourself a favor and go check out his page, which is rich in great songs. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it.

Original lyrics by Joe Stroffolino:

If you find yourself in trouble and you think you've lost your way. 
Here's hoping that you find a path to a better day.
I sure hope that you're happy.  I'm wishing you the best.
I hope you find what you're looking for as you continue on your quest.
I hope you find all the answers to all those questions vexing you.
I hope you can find a way not to bite off more than you can chew.
I sure hope that you're happy.  I'm wishing you the best.
I hope you find what you're looking for as you continue on your quest.
You spread your wings and you flew so far away from me.
I hope that you're enjoying your new reality
All those places that you said that you wanted to see.
I hope they're as good as you expected them to be.
I want you to know that you hold a special place in my heart.
I think about you often even though we are apart.
They say that when you love somebody sometimes you gotta be willing to let them go.
You gotta let them spread their wings and fly wherever the wind decides to blow. 
I sure hope that you're happy.  I'm wishing you the best.
I hope you find what you're looking for as you continue on your quest.
I hope that you're happy. I hope that you're doing well.  I sure hope that you're doing swell

Hope That You Are Happy-Joe Stroffolino/Eclectic Collective

Pole Shift

The earth shakes below
lightning flashes above
hearts and minds are broken
Poison all around

Nowhere else to go
Everywhere the same
There’s no time at all
where we find ourselves

If we could only see
That we lack nothing
fear would fade away
Only truth would stay

Swallowing the hook
we consume the bait
Can’t agree at all
Save the need for change

Divided in our minds
Can’t tell love from hate
Then before we know
It may be too late

Blind with mental plays
walk into the blaze
Cannot see what’s here
in front of our face

Earth shakes below
lightning flashes above
hearts and minds broken
Poison all around

If we could only see
That we lack nothing
fear would fade away
Only truth would stay

Earth shakes below
lightening flash above
Hearts and minds broken
Poison all around

If we could only see
That we lack nothing
fear would fade away
Only truth would stay

Seeing in real time
Following the way
Having seen what’s real
Only truth will stay

Lightly holding on
As the poles turn round
peaceful through it all
as the world falls down

Pole Shift (2025 Remaster)

I decided to take another stab at this song and play my guitars.
Guitars: (3 tracks): Taylor 114ce strumming and Fender Squire (strumming and picking) 
Keys: Logic Pro Session Piano  with sounds from Native instruments
Drums (two tracks): EZ Drummer 3 and PG Music (panned left and right)
Copyright 2025 Joe Stroffolino
***
Sea monkey’s are just brine shrimp
Easier to take care of than a pet chimp
You just buy a kit and that’s pretty much it
Much less work than a cat a dog or a pony
But those pictures that they put on the box are definitely phony
Sometimes it feels like we’re just a bunch of sea monkeys in a jar
Living on this great big rock orbiting a star
We pray to God for assistance but what if he’s just a little boy
And this world that we live on is just his latest toy
What if we’re living in some kid’s jar and the sun is a lightbulb
It’s not really a star
What if every time the human race takes it on the chin
There’s some kid looking down staring with a silly grin
Eight billion humans on the planet earth and we’re all trying to get by
I wonder if those sea monkeys knew the truth would they still even try
Did he sprinkle some eggs in the water and wait for the fun to begin
Did he watch he watch us fight our wars and root for the good guys to win
When the black death raged in the thirteenth century and good people started to die and he saw all that pain and and suffering did it ever make him cry
Eight billion humans on the planet earth and we’re all trying to get by
I wonder if those sea monkeys knew the truth would they still even try
Eight billion humans on the planet earth and we’re all trying to get by
I wonder if those sea monkeys knew the truth would they still even try
Sea monkey’s are just brine shrimp
Easier to take care of than a pet chimp
You just buy a kit and that’s pretty much it
You just buy a kit and that’s pretty much it

Sea Monkeys In A Jar

A satrical look at starving artists (Note: I'm married to one).  Influenced by the songs of Mose Alison and Terry Allen. The cover art is AI with the prompt "bad art in a museum." Maybe AI has a sense of humor?

Lyrics:
Tiki torches up on the wall
A Polynesian restaurant
At the end of the hall
Upstairs
They set up a gallery wall
Welcome to the cut-throat world of low-budget art

She's been dreaming of
A grant from the Walmart Foundation for the Arts
For her electrified
Polka dotted
Mannequin parts

He's been spreading genius around
All the other artists they just sit and scowl
But you can't buy his work at Sotherby's
Look for him in the parking lot of KFC

I am surrounded by
Amateur David Hockneys
I'm in cubist hell
Welcome to the cut-throat world of low-budget art

The 'MacArthur Genius Award'
They don't want to call me back
No one is to blame
Someone bought my work
But they don't want the painting
They just want the frame

Organic vegetables in a stall
At a Farmer's Market
At the mall
 I have my table set up
With my hot  🔥  avant-garde
Don't you know that I'm the vanguard?

I've got my genius on display
I've got my beret
Because I'm a genius
Let's keep that between us
The cut-throat world of low-budget art
The cut-throat world of
Low budget art

The Cut-Throat World Of Low Budget Art

The Living Death of Me

A bit of US Country Rock going on here , Dave Cooper sent me the lyrics and I knew straight away this would work ! I got Kim on board to add a bit of flavour to the song , and this is the result , we hope you like it ! Nearly finished a new one with Dave , a bit of Folk Rock . Me , Gaz and Nat are up next with a cracker of a song , followed by a song written by David Dunham that me and Axel Menningen recorded , lovely song ! Then it's me , Skippy and Kim , followed by Kim and I , then a real belter me and Andrea Brennan put together about a week ago . Lot's happening folks , thank you for all the support you give to me and the projects I'm involved in .
Charlotte and myself still have our album out there , have a listen to a track or two !
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nWWNcrIRv08J_eEbL7MJ_1UTdMo0MjJLM
https://open.spotify.com/album/78ewrWZjS41XvHT9mFWd6O?si=yDMcRADSSrOdWlanz6UPMw

Supersonic Dreamer

its a fragile life we lead, with too many excesses available, the weak ultimately stumble.. I long for the paradise earth...🏖️🌍

from the moment i struck the first chord it resonated so deeply.. The sound is a mix of Prince and oasis in a way.... well to me anyway...

#ballad #oasis #prince #rock #bluesrock #zakkwylde #blacklabelsociety #ScreamingTrees #80s #90s #grunge

***LYRICS***

Hit me one last time,
Down to the bottom of the
Bottle...
I slide.....
Cover me in in dirt and shame,
point the finger at me,
Theres No-one left to blame,
To blaaaaame.... 

Once upon a time,
I had purpose and meaning..
Had a life,
A family man of 2.5,
Now I'm all alone
But i know why... 

Hear my last request,
When I'm laid to rest,
Remember me no more,
Close this chapter,
Its end of the road 

And after the dust has settled 
After my final breath
This world will be
A better place... 

Hear my last request,
When I'm laid to rest 
Remember me no more,
Close this chapter,
Its the end if the road

Last Request

@officialmicrophonemafia 🏴 ⛓️  streaming Apple & Spotify as well . God bless

Fine With No One (Feat. Rosie)

Matt James