190 - BUCKWILD: Fun Is Serious Business

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This episode's track list (title / artist / source / license):

1.  51st State, Eh? Rock Mix feat. Admiral Bob by J.Lang [ccMixter] (CC-BY 4.0) (2025)

2.  I Am Him by Jericho Jackson (Elzhi & Khrysis) [Nature Sounds] (CC-BY 3.0) (2025)

3.  Buried Alive by JP Reynolds [Bandcamp] (CC-BY 3.0) (2025)

4.  Move Around by SoSoon [Bandcamp] (2025)

5.  It's a Quarantine Thing (feat. Mega Ran) by Doctor Popular [Bandcamp] (CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0) (2020)

6.  The Democrats by Carsie Blanton [Bandcamp] (CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0) (2024) 

7.  Shenanigans feat. Conscious and Sum by Core Rhythm [Bandcamp] (2010)

8.  Texas Democracy Under Attack by Salanje [Jamendo] (CC-BY-NC-ND 3.0) (2025) 

9.  Staring At The Sun by The Dread [Free Music Archive]  (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) (2015) 

10. Relief Checks by Mikal Amin & Mista Mayday [Bandcamp] (2024)

11. What A World (feat. I Rebel) by Wiseman [ccMixter] (CC-BY-NC 4.0) (2024)

Sometimes when I need inspiration to tap into that "buckwild" energy for an upcoming episode, I'll return to a film that I have referenced on this show several times over the years:  God Bless America, released in 2011 and written/directed by Bobcat Goldthwait.  It's a dark comedy that's meant to be satirical, but I just watched it again and in 2025, it would be funnier if it didn't feel like a brutally honest reflection of present-day life in the USA.  It all feels upside down right now and unbearably cruel.  In one scene, Frank (the protagonist of the movie) asks his co-worker a question that I often ask myself:  "Why have a civilization anymore if we no longer are interested in being civilized?"  Whenever my mind gets stuck on that question, that usually means that it's time for BSOTS to get BUCKWILD.

I started recording this in November thinking that it would be finished and online during my birthday month, but to no avail.  Cold symptoms slowed me down midway through the month and its effect may be noticeable during my voice overs in the second half of the episode.  Strangely enough, I think that the cold gave me just the right amount of irritation that I needed during my final talk break in defense of podcasting for fun.  I'm probably one of the last podcasters that will admit to doing that, but I'm also a creative being who takes issue with referring to my work as "content," and I'll never make it in the industry with that attitude.

The "buckwild" episodes are always a great time to play some music with abrasive energy and irreverent personality.  "Shenanigans" feels like the lynchpin cut of the show.  Released at least 15 years ago, it's still potent in its lyricism and production.  Respect due to my brother Mtume Gant f/k/a Core Rhythm, who attacks the microphone on this joint alongside Conscious and Sum.  "Relief Checks" is that "barely making it" working class / working poor sentiment that I'm sure a lot of stateside residents can relate to right about now.  Much like Mtume, I've been representing for the music of Mikal Amin for as long as I've been producing this show.  Mikal and producer Mista Mayday share a friendship that goes back 30 years, and it's always great to hear these two still gettin' it in for the love of hip-hop.  The JP Reynolds joint hit me like a ton of bricks.  "Buried Alive" is the opening cut of his new E.P. REVIVAL: The Cutting Room Floor.  Due to the vulnerability captured in JP's voice as he spit these lyrics, I felt like he had eavesdropped on my emotions at the time that I heard it.  

If it's a dog eat dog world, then the Trump admistration is all too ready to hand out stars-and-stripes-ridden milkbone boxer briefs to the majority of America's citizens.  I was able to find a few Creative Commons tunes that reflect the times.  "The Democrats" by Carsie Blanton sums up my thoughts leading up to the 2024 Presidential election while Salanje's "Texas Democracy Under Attack" drops the listener in the middle of a protest.  J. Lang's "51st State, Eh? (Rock Mix)" adds a little levity to the show, but it's also a bit sobering in retrospect.  Remember when Trump wanting Canada to be the 51st state was the craziest thing he said this year?  Way too much has happened since then.  And because we're only five years removed from the global standstill brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, I included "It's A Quarantine Thing" by Doctor Popular, featuring spot-on lyrical commentary from Mega Ran.  It's also worth mentioning that I grabbed an opening monologue from a previous "buckwild" episode released eight years ago and it feels like it could've been recorded yesterday.  Its subject matter is in perfect sync with the politically charged music selections featured within this episode.

I always look forward to the audio surprises that I stumble upon while on Bandcamp. Such is the case with Jericho Jackson, the collaborative efforts of Elzhi (emcee) and Khrysis (producer).  If you follow these artists, then you understand what a blessing it is to have even a handful of their songs in the Creative Commons canon.  "I Am Him" is a head nod essential.  Meanwhile, "Move Around" by SoSoon (a single from his recently released album Life Be Life'ing) is a boom bap ode to the NYC subway system.  The Dread's "Staring At The Sun" sits at the intersection of rock and hip-hop while Wiseman's "What A World" closes out the show leaning into the double time rhythms of drum and bass.  

It's a lot served up in just under a hour, but the "buckwild" episodes tend to move fast.  It's the occasional primal scream for the podcast feed that serves as a sonic middle finger to everything worth leaving behind in 2025 (but may still grab hold of our heels as we enter 2026).  Here goes nothin'...and I hope that you enjoy the ride.

P.S.  I mention a guest appearance on Mtume's podcast Within Our Gates within this episode, which is out now to listen to and enjoy!  Check the links below for access to our conversation...

Theme music produced by Cy Tru (featuring Jonny Sonic).  ID drops courtesy of Mr. Ivory Snow, Mega Ran, Anji Bee, and Mikal Amin.  Background music includes "Small Town USA (instrumental)" by Foul Mouth Jerk and "Plastic Rumblings" by Ezekiel Honig.

Other BSOTS episodes referenced include:
Show #165 - BUCKWILD: Recovery Mode
Show #179 - In Conversation With Douglas Whitfield (pt. one)
Show #180 - In Conversation With Douglas Whitfield (pt. two)
Show #185 - BUCKWILD:  The Changing Same

Other key info:
Ryno The Bearded
Tha Bloc Report
The Bugcast
Within Our Gates: Beyond Blaxploitation - Discussing The Radical Outlier, Top Of The Heap w/Macedonia

The content of this episode has been released under a CC-BY-SA license.  All works within this episode retain their original releases.  See the show notes at bsots.com for more information.