P
Wonda: Middle East Stand Up!
By Seleah Bussey
Complete interview on AllHiphop.com
The Middle East is popping right now and we ain’t
talking about Iraq. The Middle East according to rapper P-Wonda can be
better classified as the land that lies in the center of the east coast
of the United States. This land is the state known as North Carolina where
P-Wonda and his main man, as well as sole producer, Waleed Coyote are from.
These two men are just small entities of the larger movement of Othaz
Records.(Interview
of P Wonda continued)
I try never to be condescending when reviewing another artists work. It is only by standing in their proverbial shoes that one can even begin to have a hint at what motivates them to do a certain thing a certain way. It has been said that there “ain’t” nothing new under the sun. If we believe that to be true, then we as artists are constantly reinventing what was already there and trying to find a way to put a fresh face on it.
Rap, although
a relatively new phenomena as musical genre’s go, has been pushed to its
very creative limits by virtue of
its popularity. P-Wonda
is an artist that is striving for his own pure voice in this industry as
evidenced by the CD whose review proceeds this statement. How can one distinguish
themselves in the ever evolving cacophony of emerging beats , sounds,
ideas and tunes becomes the question? The answer: “Know thy self.”
P-Wonda is an artist in search of himself and in my opinion is closing in fast as regards knowing who he is and where he is going. In this CD we get several glimpses of him as a true artist.
(1) “SHOOT YOU IF YOU STUNT”
The lyric is mean and
bruisin’ but you get the feeling that P.Wonda
is also having fun with this. Like this is an inside joke that I am going
to let you in on. I really don’t mean this but it could happen that I will
“Shoot you if you stunt”. The vocals are clear and melodic
and you can hear every word. He has a nice flow to this song and in my
opinion though the song seems to be touting violence, when you listen closely
you discover that it is one MC’s challenge to another and that the real
shooting he is rappin’ ‘bout comes from the mouth. This is a very good
joint. I liked it, music and all.
(2) “JODY”
The hook here
is reminiscent of the songs that black men used to sing while working on
a “Chain gang” while incarcerated in the deep south. Imagine
that accompanied by Hip-Hop music and a blazing fast rap. The lyrics testify
to what happens to a man’s woman when he is locked up and another man comes
into her life. “JODY” is the man that moves in on everyman
when he is away. Very descriptive lyrics. To his credit the words in this
song are clearly heard if you listen closely because he is spitting out
the words at supersonic speed. This is a song that will be understood by
anyone who has been incarcerated or away from their woman for a long time.
Interesting tune.
(3) Untitled Track
Good hook and rousing
lyric. This tune seems to be a team effort. It Sounds as though a group
of homies are having a party and swapping tales about the same wild girl
from the hood.
(4) SHE GOT THAT WET-WET ? (Uncertain of
song title)
This song is very erotic.
Too erotic for my tastes, the lyrics are sexually too graphic for teenagers
in my opinion. I wouldn’t want my 16 year old daughter or son listening
to any of the lyrical content contained here. This would be great for a
porno flick or something that is XXX rated but too risqué for the
average consumers taste especially young children who embrace Hip-Hop music.
(5) WHERE AM I GOIN’ ? (Uncertain of song
title)
This song has very
strong lyrical content but it is marred by the use of the “N” word which
the rapper so easily calls himself and others. Still, the song is soul
searching and compelling. The lyrics are clear and emotional. I really
felt for this young man in the rap. He states his situation like a street
professor. He talks about being confused and how to find ones way. He talks
about the importance of questioning where you are going before you get
someplace terrible and its too late. This song would be great if it were
not for his use of the “N” word. In my opinion, the use of
this word is counter productive to the inherent goodness the song strives
to achieve. Nice tune. Good beat. Good lyrics. Lose the “N” Word player,
you don’t need it.
In closing, P.Wonda
offers some interesting insights as it pertains to Black life style in
the so-called middle East. There are some interesting points
to be made that inform us as educators that we must be more aware of what
our students are going through in order to break through on a level that
will enable them to learn what we have to teach them. It reminds us that
we must be willing to learn in order to find the proper way to teach the
inner city youth of this day. ”Where am I going?” is
a song that could serve as an anthem for this generation with a few corrections
here and there. I am less tolerant of the risque’ material included on
this CD and feel it is cross genre material that belongs, but not here.
From a Cultural Anthropological standpoint, this CD is a treasure trove
of learning through Hip-Hop expression.
--Glenn Towery, Filmmaker
The
Frequency: "Five Percenters...they do exist"
Special Note:
(?) Where ever this appears as part of the “song
title” I used the most prominent part of the hook in the song to title
the cut.)
The public is invited to send
us your candid comments on "P
Wonda: Middle East Stand Up! "
to bryworld@aol.com
Send your press packages to:
Bryan World Productions, LLC.
Attn: Bob Bryan
PO Box 74033
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Tel: 323/856-9256
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