Eligh became one of my favorite members of the Living Legends crew a couple years back when they dropped the “Classic” album. That album dropped right after I started HHL, and it was back when I was transcribing all the lyrics from a record before reviewing it.

While I was listening to “Classic,” I wrote down all my favorite verses to feature in the album review. And when I went back to read through them all, I realized that Eligh had some of my favorite verses from that album – which is saying a lot, since “Classic” is definitely a classic album in my mind, receiving a five star rating back in ’05. Ever since, I have been an apt follower of Eligh and the rest of the Living Legends crew.

So it was no surprise to me that the most played hip-hop album on my iPod this week was Eligh’s “Grey Crow.” Click the links below to check out some of Eligh’s music:

1. Album of the Week: “Grey Crow“
2. Video of the Week: Miss Busdriver (Rachel)
3. Quotable of the Week: When I’m A Dad
4. Track of the Week: Love Ov My Life

This week’s underground hip-hop video of the week is Eligh’s Miss Busdriver (Rachel), a track from this week’s featured album “Grey Crow.”

It was very difficult picking out just one featured quotable from Eligh’s “Grey Crow” – as the album was filled with dope lyrical and quotable tracks. But I picked this one because it is a song about future intentions, which I found very creative. When I’m A Dad is a song about things Eligh plans to teach his children when he becomes a father. The track touches on things that happened to Eligh as a child, and how they will influence the type of father he will be. Click below to listen to Eligh’s When I’m A Dad:

[See post to listen to audio]

And proceed through the break to follow along with the lyrics.

[Verse 1]
I could try to say that I was never one to run/
But I was never one to stay/
My daddy never taught me how/
To knock a motherfucker out/
I lay in bed and dred the day/
Ahead, a scrawny kind of kid/
Talking on his back/
I never told my friends that I was tortured by the fact/
That I was in the minority, ’cause where my school was at/
South Central Los Angeles/
Wouldn’t trade it for the world/
Adams and 32nd/
More to this man you mention/
In it’s essence evolved music, so how can I forget that/
In the first grade, I met that, fell in love and made that mine/
I never regret that when I think about the times/
When fat boys wanted to kick my ass for nothing in my mind/
Was stressed daily; now it’s funny, but then/
I learned to pray to god because I couldn’t tell my friends/
That I was bullied on the block, psychologically getting punked/
I never really got once or jacked for my lunch money/
But on the yard like a jailor kept my eyes peeled/
Fifth grade on the battlefield, man that shit was real/
But on the yard like a jailor kept my eyes peeled/
Fifth grade on the battlefield, man that shit was real/

[Chorus]
I will never run again and when I am a dad/
Put my kids on everything that I could never grab/
Teach them how to fight because the world is going mad/
Teach then how to love because that’s all we really have/
Love is number one to give my kids when I’m a dad/
Music number two because that’s what I’m all about/
I kiss them on the forehead when they sit there looking sad/
Shout out loud I will be there on the bow/

I will never run again and when I am a dad/
Put my kids on everything that I could never grab/
Teach them how to fight because the world is going mad/
Teach then how to love because that’s all we really have/
Love is number one to give my kids when I’m a dad/
Music number two because that’s what I’m all about/
I kiss them on the forehead when they sit there looking sad/
Shout out loud I will be there on the bow/

[Verse 2]
The children are the future always have and always will be/
Mine will be protected til the ending if it kills me/
They will know that daddy loved them with a passion/
And put nothing above them even when the world was crashing/
Around us in the end and some would say that’s coming closer/
I put my daughter on my shoulders, lover her til it’s over/
A change in consciousness could be the end of what we know now/
Not earthquakes, tidal waves, and nuclear meltdowns/
Try to be positive in the way I live to generate light/
So if I bring that life into this world to witness daylight/
The love will carry over from killing off all my selfish acts/
Help one other human being a day to get my bass out of hell/
Well runs dry daily, gotta reimburse/
Good beats come first/
I’m crazy in love with my unborn child/
Teach them to care then let them run wild/

[Chorus]
I will never run again and when I am a dad/
Put my kids on everything that I could never grab/
Teach them how to fight because the world is going mad/
Teach then how to love because that’s all we really have/
Love is number one to give my kids when I’m a dad/
Music number two because that’s what I’m all about/
I kiss them on the forehead when they sit there looking sad/
Shout out loud I will be there on the bow/

I will never run again and when I am a dad/
Put my kids on everything that I could never grab/
Teach them how to fight because the world is going mad/
Teach then how to love because that’s all we really have/
Love is number one to give my kids when I’m a dad/
Music number two because that’s what I’m all about/
I kiss them on the forehead when they sit there looking sad/
Shout out loud I will be there on the bow/

This week’s underground hip-hop track of the week is Eligh’s Love Ov My Life, one of my favorite tracks from his new album “Grey Crow.” While it’s a little cliche these days to talk about hip-hop as a woman you’re in love with, this track really hits for me both musically and lyrically – and is one of many relaxing tracks on the new album. Love Ov My Life features verses by fellow Living Legend Luckyiam, and vocals by Paris Hayes. Click below to listen to Eligh’s Love Ov My Life:

[See post to listen to audio]

Eligh “Grey Crow” Album Review
Eligh’s “Grey Crow” is my type of hip-hop album. I’m a lyrics guy – hence the website Hip-Hop Linguistics – and this album offers intellectual, motivational and quotable lyrics from start to finish. So much, in fact, that Eligh created a YouTube collection where he explains the meaning behind each song on the album, which you can view here. Unfortunately, most hip-hop fans don’t take the time to listen to and interpret an emcee’s lyrical content, so this album is unlikely to become a commercial success. Regardless, Eligh’s “Grey Crow” is one of the most stand out albums of 2010 for me, and I highly recommend it to anyone who sees hip-hop as a form of conscious thought or poetic wordplay, as this record contains both.

Why I Like This Album?

1. It is motivational – I think that a big part of the direction behind Eligh’s “Grey Crow” was motivational. A lot of songs seem to be based on making something happen in life instead of staying stagnant and wishing for good things. Soul On The Road talks about staying on the move and not allowing yourself to get old mentally by continually evolving your mindset and keeping your thoughts new. Wish I Would talks about eliminating the tendency to sit around wishing about something and making the decision to get up and do it. Shine talks about defeating darkness in life and allowing your inner light to shine. And Wake Up! encourages the listener to get up out of bed and make things happen in life.

A good example of this mindset can be found in one of my favorite tracks, Soul On The Road. The following verse from that song showcases Eligh’s motivational lyrics:

So many young folk lost on this Earth/
Walking over glass, leaving blood in the dirt/
Don’t wanna finish school, rather smoke than work/
That was me ditching class, getting beast too on the turf/
I never should’ve been on, I was fucking over friends/
But if I had it back, I’d probably do it all again/
‘Cause if I had the facts I’d still be thinking with my sins/
A time when she could never fix my age, I was a kid/
Nope, doing dumb shit always on my plate I had a grin/
Nope, and I always looking for some where to hide again/
Yup, the night my sis hits me that I need to get to class/
My teacher cared too much, so I knew she would kick my ass/
Right back into the past, I write to get reprieve/
And now I tell the truth so all my people can believe/
That they can make it too in any dream, in any league/
Like Pac said, fuck enemies, and ride on to the dees please/

2. Storytelling – I’ve always been a fan of emcees who can tell good stories through rhyme. While rhyming and sounding good is a difficult thing to do, it’s even more difficult to be able to incorporate stories into those lyrics. Eligh does a great job using his lyrics to tell stories throughout “Grey Crow.” Find Yourself is an autobiographical track in which Eligh tells the story of his past with hip-hop and drug use. Miss Busdriver is a storytelling song about Eligh’s aunt who passed away. And Whirlwind tells a story about current feelings of love, and how those emotions seem to be taking over Eligh’s world.

The best example of storytelling in “Grey Crow” can be found in Eligh’s autobiographical Find Yourself, which gives three verses about different periods in Eligh’s life. The following verse tells of his experiences as a youth which created a mindset that eventually led to drug use:

He was a child of the eighties/
Used to bat his eyelash and smile at the ladies/
Said it falls round single file like a crazy/
Boy with a small frame, parents called him lazy/
Used to entertain himself, his drawings were amazing/
Come up in the backyard, trees for a gazing/
At the skies over Echo Park, a live education/
Gunshots blazing, he would hide in a station/
Taught imagination he would rise to occasion/
When it embarked his interest and pride with no patience/
Kid couldn’t wait, used to steal what he wanted/
Learned karma quick, he could feel when he fronted/
Didn’t feel good but he wanted to be part of/
Didn’t know behavior like this would be the start of/
No self esteem and a dream deferred/
Started making stories didn’t mean the word/
Writing became the art that he preferred/
He liked to assemble, manipulate verbs/
He was shy and sprung/
Got took advantage of and didn’t mind once/
Just a little boy feeling hurt like a man/
Played like a toy violin in her hand/
Mom used to take him to buy them some gifts/
Never once got him a kiss on the lips/
Only got smashed on the floor when they dissed/
He liked girls young and he didn’t know why/
Didn’t know himself, yet couldn’t even try/

3. Metaphorical lyrics – While Eligh’s inspirational lyrics and storytelling tracks relied more on straight forward thoughts and words, other tracks on the album spoke more abstractly. Angel of Death is a song about the lack of good hip-hop in which Eligh compares himself to the Angel of Death in that he’s emerging to bring death to bad hip-hop. Track of the week Love Ov My Life speaks of hip-hop as a woman, while Stuck On You personifies the voice in your head that beats you down. And Beneath The Sea uses aspects of the oceans as various metaphors for life.

One great example of Eligh’s metaphorical lyrics can be found in his verse from Stuck On You, where he addresses the voice in his head with the following verse:

You see wherever I go, there you are/
I seen your face since I was a child in the car/
Getting dropped off at the bus stop man from the store/
From the beginning man I was involved so deep with the heart/
And if the way I didn’t think well with my head/
I spent my days under a spell with my lead/
Pencil number two drawing my way out the class/
I often wonder what would I be without the path/
I remember my little third grade ass loved to dance/
But somewhere along the way lost that in a trance/
Of insecurities, the older I got they advanced/
All my impurities flying my block took a stance/
A hard nosed belief, brick wall and some vans/
Beat my ass up and down the block til I couldn’t stand/
Why don’t you leave me alone?

4. Good Choruses – While I do think the overwhelmingly lyrical content of “Grey Crow” may turn some listeners off, I also think Eligh did a good job of softening this with great choruses that keep the songs flowing together well. I found many of the songs’ choruses stuck in my head throughout the course of the week, and I’d be singing along in my head while at work or on the train. Tracks like Soul On The Road, Love Ov My Life, quotable of the week When I’m A Dad, Wish I Would, Miss Busdriver, Shine, Stuck With You and Beneath The Sea are all sing along type of tracks that make the album memorable for non-lyrical listeners.

Overall, Eligh’s “Grey Crow” is a great solo album featuring seventeen good songs, quotable lyrics, and a chill vibe. I highly recommend picking up a copy for anyone who is a fan of the Living Legends crew, or of good hip-hop in general. Peace.

Eligh “Grey Crow” Track Listing:

1. Sad Of Eye (Intro)
2. Angel Of Death
3. Soul On The Road
4. Love Ov My Life (Ft. Luckyiam)
5. Find Yourself
6. When I’m A Dad
7. Wish I Would (Ft. Inspired Flight)
8. Miss Busdriver (Rachel)
9. Shine (Ft. The Grouch & K-Flay)
10. Stuck With You (Ft. Aesop Rock)
11. Desire (Ft. Inspired Flight)
12. Skitzo (Ft. Ellay Khule & Basik)
13. Whirlwind (Ft. Pigeon John)
14. Wake Up! (Ft. Brother Ali)
15. Beneath The Sea (Ft. Zumbi of Zion I & Scarub)
16. Maybe So
17. Suffocate (Ft. Marty James)

Miss Busdriver is the first single from Eligh’s upcoming album “GreyCrow.”

Brand new video for Weight Of The World, a track from the Grouch’s latest album “Three Eyes Off The Time.” If you like this, check out the video for Whatever I Say.

This is a nice little montage consisting of new tracks and show footage from Zion I and The Grouch’s Colorado tour. Apparently, they are working on a collaboration album.

Big ups to the cats from Thizzler On The Roof for sending this over. The Doorman Song is a brand new track from Mystik Journeymen (Sunspot Jonz & Luckyiam), off the upcoming retail version of “Return 2 The Love.” The track features fellow Living Legends crew member The Grouch, and is produced by San Francisco-based producer BOAC. Click below to listen to Mystik Journeymen’s The Doorman Song:

[See post to listen to audio]

And click the following link to download the track for FREE: Download

This is a new video for The Follow Through, a track from Afro Classics’ ’09 release “The Classic EP.” Afro Classics is the duo of Scarub from the Living Legends crew and Very.