I’ll be back in a bit.

I’m gonna be, uh, busy.

The XBox 360 COD Modern Warfare Limited Edition Bundle.

Heh.

-ND

Beyond The Beat – Bring Hell

Yes, friends, gather ’round, for it’s time to take a trip into my demented little brain and explore the motivation behind my latest 100% original track, “Bring Hell.”

Check it out:

Lyrics:

I’m kinda sick up in the head in case you can’t, tell
The things I say all indicate that I’ma need, help
Don’t try to stop or hold me back, I know y’all mean well,
But I’m here to bring hell, to bring hell, listen.
(Repeat)

I’ve got some stuff inside my brain that I’ve been dying to get out,
Sometimes I’m haunted by a demon up inside of my mouth
It makes me speak in tongues, I dunno what I’m talkin about
It makes me do, things at 4AM outside of your house

Like break and enter, find out where your children sleep,
And while they snore I’m pourin poison in the food that they eat
And before they die, they’ll learn about the way they were born,
I took their Disney DVDs and switched them out with your (porn),

Now take it back for a second, cuz I’m an addict I reckon,
To sayin things that piss you off and wanna get me, I’m beggin
Cuz more and more I’m gettin kinda reckless how I’m steppin
All the kids that beat me up, before I die I swear I’ll get em,

And it’s back to the basics, and I’m glad that you made it,
You’re just in time to see why we’re all so hated,
And by we of course I’m talking bout the kids like me,
The ones they always bullied, now they’re gettin pissed like me, because,

(Chorus)

I’m not unstable, but sometimes I act a little panicky
A mini Tyler Durden is in me, well actually,
It’s me, it’s me, it’s me! My name is Timmy wait a bit though,
Is there a possibility I’m going crazy schizo?!

Balloons are in the air and all the birds are going psycho
A man with three nipples blowing kisses at the sideshow
And if I’m crazy off to Lalalaland, here watch when I go,
And don’t you try to follow or I’ll make sure that you die slow

A razor in your nostril, I ain’t talkin bout the cell phone,
Push it deep and make you scream so loud they hear you yell, homes,
Sometimes I go quick and then sometimes I spit it slow, folks,
Reliable factors to take in account when you judge the insanity shown, so,

Don’t take this wrong, yo, but I’m kinda sad though,
I’m outta speed and lost my mind can’t bring me back, yo,
But what’s remainin in my blood makes me delirious
So I dedicate this song to all of you that take me serious-ly, hah!

(Chorus 2x)

While I normally deliver my raps as fast as I humanly can, this track took inspiration from a lot of different sources.

It’s fun every now and again to just relax and spit nice and slow, and focus on the content.  Eminem was a huge influence in this song, and I put my own twist on his exaggerating style to create the sound you hear.  After I finished writing the song and recording it, I noticed that the second verse also unintentionally bears some resemblance to Em’s delivery in ‘I’m Having a Relapse’.

Making the beat was lots of fun too.

When I name my beats, I usually write the first thing that comes to my mind.  If you listen, you’ll hear a really maniacal ’saw’ synth sound that makes up part of the chorus.  I happened to name this particular beat ’sawyourheadoff’ and the lyrics came naturally after that.

I really enjoyed making this song.  Much in the way that blowing people up in video games relieves stress, writing twisted evil lyrics does the same for me.

If you enjoyed the song and would like to download it, you can right below:

Free track download:

ND – Bring Hell

Thanks y’all!  Comment away, and as always, stay beautiful.

-ND

Updates Galore!

Driving home from the set of NBC's Trauma. Sat in traffic from 4:20 till 5:45.

Much has transpired since the last time I’ve written here, and I’m starting to resign myself to the fact that I’ll probably only be updating only once in a while instead of every other day as I’d like to.

Maybe I’ll start writing more once the number of exciting/interesting things that take place in my life increase.

For now, here are some items of note:

TRAUMA on NBC:

Watch Trauma on NBC, Mondays at 9PM!

There are a few rumors floating around that NBC has CANCELED the SF-based medical action/drama show.  Let me state right here that according to inside sources, there is still hope.
Yes, ratings are down, but the next two weeks are crucial if Trauma is to stay afloat.  Please tune in and be sure to set your DVR!

Clothing Line:

The uGen Collection - Coming Soon.

I can’t speak too much about this, but it’s exciting and it’s almost ready.

Stay tuned.

Music:

Busy as always, things are going super.  I just finished a brand new track last night, and my next entry here will be a Beyond The Beat post.  The title of the track is “Bring Hell”.

Also, a couple producers and DJs have been in talks with me about possible collaborations and mixtape opportunities.  We’ll see how those go as well.

Until next time, stay beautiful, people.

-ND

Save Trauma!

Just got this in my email:

Despite what you may have heard, there may still be a chance to save “Trauma”! There are some rumors that if the ratings go up significantly in the next 3 episodes, NBC may reconsider. Remember how “Jericho” was resurrected after it was given the axe, or how NBC is ordering more episodes of “Chuck” thanks to the fans? It has been done before, and no reason for it not to be able to happen again so let’s make it happen here!

Please tell EVERYONE you know (and have those people tell everyone they know) to either watch or DVR the show. The next 3 weeks is crucial and it is imperative that we do everything we can to keep any series up here in the Bay Area. There has not been a single series shot up here since “Nash Bridges” which wrapped in 2001 – that is 8 years. None of the people in the business who work just as hard as those in LA or NY should have to wait another 8 years for this kind of opportunity again.

You can also e-mail NBC at:

http://www.nbc.com/contact/general/

Trauma airs tonight (Monday nights) on NBC at 9pm.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out Trauma, it’s a fast paced medical drama.  Take a gander, ya might like it.

-ND

Beyond The Beat – I’m Hot (Marco Polo Remix)

Happy Halloween!

The halloween spirits must’ve smiled upon me today– I literally just finished recording, mixing, and uploaded this song in the last hour, about 2 hours after I woke up.  I feel accomplished.

It’s rare that I find an instrumental that’s mainstream that I WANT to speed rap over.  I first discovered Twista’s version of this song on his mix-tape “The Calm Before the Storm” and enjoyed it so much I had to make my own version.

Click HERE to download the track for FREE:

ND – I’m Hot (Marco Polo Remix)

Lyrics:

When I rip it on a record double time it when I’m rhymin, people tend to find it hard to give an asian props
But the moment that I step up to the mic and start to do it everybody gonna know that ND finna rock

From the way that I spit,
And the way that I flow,
When I rock it at a show, I’m the fastest

Ain’t nobody gonna do it like I do it for the hip hop fans, I’m the Chinese asset.

To the people that be sayin that I’m cocky and they heard another dude spit it quick like me
Quit the jealousy and listen to the lyrics when I rip, bet you wish you getting chicks like me

Cuz I’m more than the cash
And I’m more than the clothes
I ain’t messin with the hoes, I’ma baller

And you underneath my status, and I got ya girly’s number, when I’m finished with this track, I’ma call her

Gotta do it for the people in the game that made it first,
(Thai, Viet, G)
Gotta make it for the people in the city of my birth
(S, F, C)

Cuz I’m harder than a boulder made of ice, you can tell it from the way that I keep it a cold flow
When I step into a room they got me laughin when I see the competition in the back goin ‘oh no’.

Haters, say oh no
Ladies, they want mo
Dealers, they stay low
And I just, just roll slow

Cuz I’m makin better moves and pullin cables stuffin money in my wallet doin everythin I’m able,
I ain’t never finna stop it until I get it and I’m focused on the goal of gettin signed to a label.
Yessssssss…

I’m hot, yessir.
(Repeat till fade)

The lyrics were the result of a pleasant stream-of-consciousness that lasted a solid hour.  Good stuff.

As I write this, my little sister is nagging me– I promised her IHOP.  Enjoy the song, and don’t forget to leave a comment!

-ND

Workin away…

I’ve been planning a few things here and there.  I wish there was more I could say here, but none of it’s concrete enough to really talk about for sure yet.

I’ll update y’all when I get a chance.

Until then, stay beautiful.

-ND

Beyond The Beat – Empty (Part 2)

(For Part 1, click here.)

In my previous post, I said I was gonna go into the background of my latest track “Empty”, and provide some insight.  Let’s get started.

If you’d like to listen to the song and read along with the lyrics, you can do so here.

I’ve mentioned in the past that sometimes the lyrics I write is dependent upon the mood of the beat.  In this case, I produced the beat myself with the intention of writing about my childhood.

My all-time favorite producer has to be Dr. Dre.

I first started listening to his work with Eminem in the sixth grade, and their work was what got me through a lot of the bullying I dealt with.  For that reason I wanted the beat to pay a sort of homage to Dre and Em’s work. Dre has a very slow, heavy feel in his beats, and he’s got a knack for coming up with the sickest bass lines.

I wanted a similar feel to this song.

Some of the works I was inspired by were two of Eminem’s tracks in which he talks about his childhood/feelings– “I’m Back” and “Marshall Mathers,” both cuts off of The Marshall Mathers LP, a wonderful album to listen to  if you’re down in the dumps.  If you listen to both of those tracks, you’ll notice similarities when compared to the beat in “Empty.”

Some of the lyrics were exaggerated for comedic effect, but for the most part, everything was accurate.

Here’s a listing of some of the things that were true from the song:

• I used to get a LOT of abuse via AIM.  To this day, I have no idea who the people were that gave me death threats almost daily, but I’m sure some of the people were the same kids that punked on me.
• My grades really did suck.  Especially in math.  So much for Asian stereotypes, eh?
• In the ninth grade, I cut class almost every single day, just to get away from it all.
• My extended family really did hate me, and I’m pretty sure they still do, because I’m not currently in law school or whatever profession their sons are in.

Some of the half-truths:

• I never had thoughts about shooting up my school, although I do tease about it in the second verse.
• In the song “Stan” by Eminem, the main character kills himself and his pregnant girlfriend.  This is not something I’d ever be upset enough to do, even though for the most part all of my girlfriends did cheat on me (I really can’t blame them– I was really dorky).

After I finished writing/recording this song, a weight was lifted off my chest.

I’m still not any happier about the people that picked on me, but it feels good to talk about what went on back then because for the most part, many of these painful memories have been festering inside me for a really long time.

This song might surprise a lot of people that already know me.

Some kids regarded me as ‘popular’ back then, although I don’t agree.  They also said I seemed happy most of the time and didn’t have a lot of close friends to make sure it was really how I felt.  Truth is, I was really good at hiding how I felt back then.  Today, most of the kids I grew up with are surprised when they hear about the crap that happened.

This was longer than I intended for it to be.

Ah well.  Next Beyond The Beat post will be considerably more upbeat.  For now, I’m just chillin to some 90’s Snoop Dogg tracks… yessssss.

-ND

Beyond The Beat – Empty (Part 1)

Hello friends,

A while back, I mentioned that the next track I did was going to be about my childhood.  Well, it’s been released, and while it’s not on YouTube just yet, I thought I’d give you guys the lyrics so you can follow along.

A 100% original, produced, written, and performed by me.

FREE track download:

ND – Empty: http://www.box.net/shared/e1v5tu7b4e

Lyrics:

People think I’m friendly
But I’m not if you don’t believe me come and tempt me
Wanna hear about the demons in me?  I got plenty
I’ll never sleep until I’m buried under ten feet.
Cuz I just can’t stop feelin empty

Reminiscing to the days when I used to be an outcast
Every other week, I got beated
I recall the days I’d wanna cut the bullies into pieces, take it to his friends and make em all eat it.

Thinkin back when every girlfriend cheated
And the times I was so mistreated
Thinkin back into the days of middle school when everyday I’d get on AIM and find a message and read it.

‘You better watch ya back’
‘What’d I do to you?’
‘I’ma get you cuz you talkin smack’
Blockin didn’t stop it cuz they kept on comin back and I was messin up in school I wasn’t on the right track

And it felt like I was goin off the deep end
Everytime I had to smile I would pretend
Everytime they beat me in the dirt I’d wanna die when nobody in the school would ever come to my defense

So many nights I felt depressed
Memories that I’ve got repressed
Every night inside my dreams and tryna drive me to insanity cuz I’ve been feelin pain and regrets.

And I got more stories than a Hyatt
Voices in my head won’t quiet
Ten years down the line and if you ask the people with me, every single one of them denies it.

Everything’s in the past now, right?
Ain’t nobody gonna blast now, right?
Kinda funny cuz I’m filled with all this anger even though everybody’s outta class now, right?

And my grades were always the lowest
Goin crazy but nobody ever noticed
From a kid that wanted nothing but to die to killin tracks and you would never guess today I’m in the showbiz, and that’s showbiz for ya.

(Chorus)

I remember one time,
All the fellas got together for a friendly pickup game of kickball
Except the ball was me, and a few years later I was cuttin everyday with sick calls.

Didn’t wanna have problems, anyhow I got em
Ain’t no one to turn to, to solve em
It’s amazin how I didn’t go in blazin with the drama that I had and shoot the people that caused em.

Columbine was first,
Followed by the Lake and then the Amish then it rounded out with VTech
The Slim Shady LP’s the only thing that kept me sane and I would bump it till it started makin me deaf.

Criminal, I’m Back, Drug Ballad, Purple Pills, Marshall Mathers, and the Way I Am
And I’d reenact the story up in Stan but back then I was dorky as hell and I couldn’t get a girlfriend.

My cousins,
Back then, they were better than me, grades higher than a kite breeze
This resulted in the fact that ain’t nobody in their families or anybody close would ever like me

Well sort of,
Cuz my parents were ashamed and they would lie about my schooling just to keep up
And I never really got it cuz it seemed like ain’t nobody in my family would get up off of these nuts.

What’s a kid to do?
When he’s told that he’s strong of the will, but he acts ill-minded?
It’s ironic cuz I rap about the beatings and the bullies and the blood and anything that it rhymes with

In reality, I’m feelin kinda bad about the drama and the trouble in the life I’ve been leading
In the future you can find me with a bullet to the brain and reminiscing with my arm still bleeding, so join me!

Download it, check it out, and leave a comment.  Part two of this post will provide insight on how the beat was made and the background of the lyrics.  Till then, enjoy.

-ND

Beyond The Beat – All I Wanna Do

This is a song I released a while back, but I thought I’d write a bit about since it was sort of a ‘rant’ about everything on my mind at the time I wrote it:

Lyrics:

I just can’t take it anymore
God my body it feels so weak
What the hell am I living for?
All I wanna do is sleep
(Repeat)

What’s with this world that we live in?
There’s so much drama, crap and strife,
in my everyday life
that I just wanna give in.

Since the days of watchin Bush lie
Saw the body count rise
And these days you could die
from contact with the wrong eyes

And our egos are all outta whack and the people attackin in spite of the fact that they lack any knowledge about what I do and how I became the person that I am

Forget the respect, cuz I’ve taken the steps and today I regret it cuz none of it’s worth the crap and worse than that, they voted me off the island.

And yet I’m still survivin
Everyday I thank the people in my life
That helped me take control when I felt like dying

And it doesn’t matter how I get to be what I wanna be
It’s in my bones, I ain’t a thug, but the fact is I got harmony.

So what you callin me?
You can say I be fakin my flow and the hood I be reppin but truth is this city and everything in it is part of me
Here’s what I’m gonna be
I’ma keep it legit, I won’t quit when I go for the goals when I flow to the snap of the sound of the clap till I fall asleep

And as I turn to dust
Hopefully my memories or another me’s released
cuz I know the haters they can’t get enough

Yeah I probably got a death wish
But we live on an earth where a perv from Argentina
lived for years and the whole time raped his two kids

And you really want a part of this?
Where the hell is justice?
Everyday kids in Burma watch their parents gettin dusted

Before you misunderstand and
pop off goin “who’s he”
You should pay attention to the folks
like Dr. Suu Kyi

A freedom fighter up in Burma
that got locked up
Just because she didn’t want no
child soldier shot up

And of all of the things that I’ve done and achieved and I’ve gained from the world and I’ve learned on my own
It seems like it’s nothing compared to the things she did in her home, locked up and alone.

And all the things she sacrificed to gain some world peace
I realized that maybe I got purpose too at the very least.
But at night the voices keep on hauntin me, can’t go to sleep
I hope when I’m deceased, that my soul’s released, I need some pain relief.

Yeah…
(Chorus)

I really enjoy rapping fast because it suits my style of thinking at times.

Sometimes my mind is bursting with thoughts that a few simple sentences just don’t cover, sometimes I feel upset and I want to rant, but there’s really no words to describe how elating it is to be able to step up to the mic and just let loose your thoughts at the speed they came to you.

Normally, when I make a video for one of my songs, it’s a simple placeholder image or two, nothing more.

However, for this project, I thought it’d be appropriate to have something more… touching accompanying it.

I put a lot of thought into this and I hope you like it.

A quick point of clarification:

At 2:01, you hear me mention a “Dr. Suu Kyi”.  You can read more about her life here and the US Campaign for Burma here.

While this song did cover how I felt at the time I wrote it, I still have some painful memories to get off my chest regarding my childhood.

That song is currently in production.

Stay tuned, friends.

-ND

Again?!

Yeahhhh, I fell off the map for a while there.  Things have been going quite well, and I thought I’d check in with an update for all you beautiful people.

A package arrived for me this morning.

Airmail express from Thailand– courtesy of Allurre, the CEO of LuxLivin, one of the official sponsors of my music video currently in production:

"Put Your Money Where Ur Mouth Is" T-Shirt

Check out the collection and pick somethin nice up for yourself, or for me– and be sure to tell Allurre that Andy sent ya. 

TRAUMA on NBC

Replica of SF General Hospital!

I’ve still been working on the set of TRAUMA, and just finished working two days ago as a patient on a gurney.  I had a brief chat with Cliff Curtis, who plays Reuben on the show, and he’s a nice guy.  He’s taller in real life.  I saw Aimee Garcia as well, and although I didn’t get a chance to talk to her, she seems cool too. Cute?  Definitely.

Here’s an interesting tidbit…

A while back, they were casting for thug-like characters for an episode filmed on Third street, which is one of the areas I grew up in.  They didn’t cast me, but ironically enough, they casted me as a background thug for a scene in the Tenderloin.

I guess this means I’m not qualified to be a G in my own ‘hood.  Heh.

Design Work

I’m still doing design jobs here and there.  Recently, a banner I designed for x106.1 FM was featured at a live event in downtown Modesto:

I designed the banner on the right for x106.1 FM! (Click to enlarge)

Although I wasn’t able to make it, I’m glad to see there was a good turnout!

Music

I’m still working on writing lyrics and perfecting my speed rap.  I recently met a cat who goes by Anom the Phenom and his work is AMAZING.  We’re in talks right now, but there’s a possibility that you’ll see quite a bit of his work on my first CD when it’s released.

Until then, stay tuned, and I’ll talk to y’all again soon.

-ND