What’s Real (with Stereotype)
Music by Daniel Flores, Alex Pauley, and Erich Schneider / Lyrics by Nicholas Nyemah and Vince Cruz
“Reality’s fucked, but make no mistake:
If you’re fucked up too, it’s not an escape.”
Performing with Stereotype was one of the most enjoyable opportunities I ever had. And the people who showed up to the live shows were among the best folks on earth.
When I think of Alex Pauley and Erich Schneider, the phrase that immediately comes to mind is “damn good at what they do.” When Alex and Erich joined the band, on bass and guitar, they brought serious chops to the game.
For decades, these brothers have been workin’ it out and makin’ it last, and their influence shone through on What’s Real.
Danny Flores, of course, provided the brains, talent, motivation, and inspiration for the creation. Indubitably, through the years, it was Danny’s drive that kept us alive.
What’s Real features one of my favorite verses from Vince Cruz, emcee turned screenwriter/director/cinematographer. No one else could so seamlessly rhyme “obelisk” with “hippogriff” with “Roanoke.”
And Melanie Nyema working her magic on the hooks. If she can take words I wrote and make them sound so beautiful, imagine what she could do with the words of one of the greatest writers of all time like Dr. Maya Angelou. Don’t imagine, watch this video. Or close your eyes and feel this video.
Shout to David Rozenblatt, composer, arranger, musical genius, and dope brother-in-law.
Finally, mad love to Jorge Avila, Stereotype’s drummer on day one. The funny one, the cute one, the edgy one, the cool one, el duque de cultura fina. Jorge has always been – and will forever be – all that. And a bag of chips. AHOY!
WHAT’S REAL:
Get the full album:
St. Nicodemus tha Lonestar
THE PEN, THE VIEW, THE ANGELS
Amazon | CD Baby | iTunes
BONUS MATERIAL:
Most Stereotype songs came about by the same process – Alex, Erich, Danny, and Jorge would come up with some instrumental ear candy, Vince and I would write some words based on how the music made us feel, and Melanie would next-level that. I wrote a lot of other verses just based on the music in my head. Most of those never turned into songs that we performed, but sometimes I’d do things like steal a beat from Mos Def to record them for posterity.
Inspiration for What’s Real:
The Pen, the View, the Angels 