We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Corona Diaries

by BRK BRD

supported by
happy happy james
happy happy james thumbnail
berkshirestrings
berkshirestrings thumbnail
wwar3o7uuh84
wwar3o7uuh84 thumbnail
darkillak
darkillak thumbnail
/
1.
Corona Diaries 04:13
lyrics
buy track
Yo I kept pursuing what they thought that I would never do Now I got revenue streams from streaming revenue I keep my circle tight you got enemies sitting next to you We’re watching from the other side of the room as the pressure you Trust your gut even when they question you Some people just wanna know they can control what’s precious to you It’s BRK BRD baby you waited watch us get wavy I’m at my best lately going a buck eighty Running through the gauntlet as the industry trying to change me And starting to deal with the fame that name gave me For now I’m making earthquakes from my birthplace Wait O Q and Dram taught me to rhyme in the first place This is for the people who RIP’d pre-R.S.Y.P. Even I was childishly avoiding sobriety Watching puppet masters controlling society Had to get irie this is my corona diary My daughter making music now she gotta a couple hits We bump it in the whip while we cruise around the Pitt She make her own beats she can calibrate the pitch She 8 imagine when she turn 26 she going to be legit As her father my goal is give all the light that I can and let her grow Teach her what I know take her far as I can go And cheer with our family from the front row let it show The support that a family provides help you rise Sometimes cutting family ties help you survive Growing up for me was hard I ain’t going lie Having my own family brought me back alive And I strive to take it all in while I win Reminiscing back to the wind traded in All my stress I’m way too blessed y’all can’t retire me That inspires me this my corona diaries  Coming of age as water resembles glass as it cascades Never want to be broke again so I budget  Every dime on each and every wage I get  So many days I spent doing my best not to stress  Could care less to impress I'm trying to make rent  My pens my hustle my jobs my struggle I'm so intense  Sometimes it don't make sense no longer chasing clouds  I want to break new grounds and leap new bounds  Voice travel worldwide to reach you now  Got experience under my belt I can teach you now Composing no hocus-pocus just lethal rounds Congratulations like I graduated no cap and gown  Broke down weeks to alleviate sadder days  So when they see me now it’s greet and bow namaste  But I figured I've been searching for a liver me  But never be denied what scribed corona diaries Hate to admit it man I’m only fair to middling Introspective though so focused just like some Ritalin I’ve been getting into some deep shit make me weep kid From myself I can no longer keep secrets But I can throw a treatment frequent on a sequence When smelling weakness I keep it drippy like a streamlet Or estuary man I got some ghosts to bury And eulogies for all of them but I ain’t in no hurry Tried to keep it breezy and stay off in my bag though Swerve herbs absurd words and kick it with some bad hoes A little mad a lot of sad I fucking miss my dad bro A lot of glad we got a pad and landed at the gnome home Had a break-up with a great butt and had to skate what Let me kick back and pick slack and chill and get my cake up Tragedies and trauma bombs blessed like a priory Spitting heat and dragon beats my corona diary
2.
God's Time 03:08
lyrics
buy track
I’ve been manifesting astral projecting shit I’m Demi-God I used to be a demon and scheming and letting semis off Nothing short of spectacular blessings that I’ve been bestowed My kids look like saints their mother like a centerfold Ninja scroll I move like Jubei I move like I move weight I’m cool like I’m Cool J Whatever games you play I’ll never participate no time for that I’m digging in my mind like a mine to bring a diamond back To my physical plane let me explain I been manifested a couple things I’ve obtained the impossible through hard work that’s logical And through God’s grace that’s highly probable What you think faith is and prayer too And what have these things gave to you Have they been instrumental helping you make it through It does what I make it do Look we on God’s time we shine like the stars shine I’m sharp as muthafuck that’s from my hard grind I manifest good shit aligned with my star signs That’s why I talk that talk not just making bars rhyme Cuz we on God’s time I been with the demons too I can do what demons do but roll with a righteous crew That’s why we blessed BRK BRD we fresh Manifest our destiny the best couldn’t be less Yo we on God’s time We on God’s time I ain’t sharing my vision with anyone anybody who’s doubting me Only people who believe in who I am about to be Thousands of people cheering and hanging off the balcony People showing love it’s the only way to get down with me Haters still following and secretly they’re proud of me Leading by example I’m showing the people how to be Searching through my soul so I can bring these words out of me Remember that you the one who’s in charge of your destiny Not many people know it that’s why the world is a mess Recipes for success instead of being depressed With a flick of the wrist you could think and grow rich It all starts in the mind so you gotta focus That’s why my flow is ready for showbiz you know this Walking on oceans making waves with emotions That’s why I rhyme cuz it’s time to remind you You can do anything you put your mind to Look we on God’s time we shine like the stars shine I’m sharp as muthafuck that’s from my hard grind I manifest good shit aligned with my star signs That’s why I talk that talk not just making bars rhyme Cuz we on God’s time I been with the demons too I can do what demons do but roll with a righteous crew That’s why we blessed BRK BRD we fresh Manifest our destiny the best couldn’t be less Yo we on God’s time
3.
Structure 03:18
lyrics
buy track
This one ain’t for fake heads we welcome you to break bread With true school jewels verbs nouns and adjectives Heard what he said as we let the music spread We twice nice right spit venom like copperheads No sedatives true Hip Hop representatives Vocals unlimited bringing you idiots Back to the proper structure of sentence Not trying to sell an image and trust if I said it then I meant it Yo who’s that kicking blues rap never snooze jack You think you nice as me yo you need to prove that I put on like a kayak on a roof rack Spit the four-course while you picking up some food scraps We hella smooth Jack what you got to lose black We shine formats on tracks and blind you like a cataract Matter of fact you best learn how to act Or we gonna bring it back like two dope boys in a Cadillac Bread gets broken spoken in the lingo you hoping for Matic came in the door tool sharpened to settle the score Metaphors rattle rappers to the core and I said it before BRK BRD forever more I explore the infidelity in what the system’s telling me I gotta kick rhymes as I listen to the melody Forget about the media and what they’re trying to sell to me I keep it radical cuz shit’s about to rupture You you motherfuckers need structure You you motherfuckers need structure You you you motherfuckers need structure You you you motherfuckers need structure Music’s a mission not a competition Rhythmic subdivision when I hit them with these prose No competition for this mission that I chose I'm taking the long road leaving them on froze Teach suckers how to grow then pass it back to O No you didn’t we steadily smashing limits We living where you just visit your style is just a gimmick Flip it so exquisite even if for just a minute The medicine I’m bringing it it’s such a heavy dose Dominating no debating leave all of you cowards faded Bring it back to the basics then change stages like I shape-shift We make hits for burnt tips backpacks and skate kids Ain’t no debate bitch we keep it floating like we weightless Word to the jury and the plaintiff you’re mistaken If you think this fire is something you can play with Destined for greatness true enigma for your days of Hip Hop We came to save it BRK BRD nothing to play with You you motherfuckers need structure You you motherfuckers need structure You you you motherfuckers need structure You you you motherfuckers need structure Music’s a mission not a competition
4.
Y'all Be Like 02:06
lyrics
buy track
Yo Real talk Shit is wild out there The whole fucking country's on fire Beasts everywhere This that cinch in time we're going to spit that shine I've got fury in my eyes fuck your thin blue line You're not moving me my people want equity and unity You want civilians under heal and qualified immunity Where opportunities to terrorize community And fluidly murder men of color like with impunity I see the images they're coming much faster Mic is the pulpit I'm preaching it like a pastor You're barely actors let's face off like Castor The evolution of the Deep South slave catchers But try to front like race ain't a factor That's why we be Ronins no Gods no masters Watch how we spark the movement like a pack of matches As soon as my rap dispatches across the fucking atlas The way the cops are acting on the streets is something tragic Busting in doors waging wars reeking havoc Disrespect and under-serve keep the poor from being heard With our taxes that's absurd when the homeless on the curb The simple fact is it's all for the Establishment The system is tied up in a knot until we unravel it I'm stepping through rubber bullets and tear gas Step to me and see how long your riot gear lasts The march toward justice is moving slow When mass incarceration is the new Jim Crow We're too busy trying to preach instead of trying to teach it Remain speechless commit to the action and reach it Bigotry's blindness why can't the whole world see it Police hate the deepest politicians keeping their secrets My mind struggle intensifying my pen's hustle My skin's perception to society's for causing trouble Senseless killings display a lack of comprehension No contingency plan just leads to more apprehension I wanna take the pain away to ensure That my legacy will never see a day of being a slave And then elevate the state of being brave Stay on the right path and truly never cave The time's shorter building walls to patrol borders Mental chemistry holy water to these coke snorters And I'm feeling it's demeaning to the core I'm screaming Fuck due process we need to do more
5.
Asshole Frameworks (Interlude) 00:42
info
6.
Archangels 03:14
lyrics
buy track
I’m a mess to em’ I’m a mess to em’ I’m a mess to em’ but I came to put a rest to em I’m a mess to em’ I'm a mess to em' but I came to put a rest to em' No contest to em' I could care less what the best doing Archangel rep solidified star-spangled Had to maim you to prove that this is what it came to Mind flex no rest you can’t hold his pen Do your best to contest until I broke his chin Dominate all over the map ain’t no fucking with them I suggest you do your best before you meet your end I got more sweet sixteen than fifteen grade tens Pour heat unseen at seventeen made men Can’t compete good lord Dom is at it again You fucking sweet buckwheat who let you out of your pen It’s ridiculous D & D is limitless with skillfulness Witness this meticulous ubiquitous omnipotence See the simple syllabus infectious like syphilis It’s masterful maliciousness like gifts from St. Nicholas Fucking frivolous and your wickedness is villainous My name come out your mouth 24:10 Leviticus You into this hooded serpent spit my poison frictionless The infamous deliciousness of instruments and stimulants BRK BRD synthesis indigenous and infinite Crushing all heavyweights bloodbath indiscriminate From the bone to ligament painting pics with vividness I spend the time like stimulus to end your age of innocence I'm a mess to em' but I came to put a rest to em' No contest to em' I could care less what the best doing Archangel rep solidified star-spangled Had to maim you to prove that this is what it came to Look you in the last leg of a bad race Bars are barely bumping son you got a tired taste Keep up this fucking bluffing be in a bad place Fuck around make you Harlem-shake like you was pastor Mase Disrespect will get you boxed like a crawl space If you’re as happy as you say then why the long face At odds with something so great It kind of leaves you with a bad taste Let's conversate a few facts to be faced The broadest minds suffocating in my mind frame So long after I'm dead weight You'll read this and still feel some kind of way Biting my tongue is not my forte I'm different No you not listening I'm different On the level of life that's unscripted But I guess we don't have to get into specifics On all ten toes and the flow’s unblemished Niggas is dick-riding today fuck consensus Born and raised in the trenches adopted mass living Prophetic through scriptures even my weak blast tremendous I'm a mess to em' but I came to put a rest to em' No contest to em' I could care less what the best doing Archangel rep solidified star-spangled Had to maim you to prove that this is what it came to
7.
Pre-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Interlude) 00:49
info
8.
Notes from the 5th 02:25
lyrics
buy track
In these dark times I read headlines looking for light Television telling lies to my vision my insight Tells me revolution has been looming I feel like If Trump doesn't get what he want he will strike So I'm buying ammo battery packs and candles My girl think I'm out of my gourd like look at Rambo Desert E's M.R.E.s first aid kits Smoke grenades and serrated blades Doomsday shit I ride beat steady collapse is coming stay ready Dissension in the streets so much beef it's so heavy I bet he throws some gas and a match on the tinder box Riot cops and socials locks burn it to the cinder blocks Will it ever stop we make it hella hot while bullets pop Breaking down shop bug-out bags stacked with extra Glocks So we can flee the spot social decay turns to fucking rot We need to sure up what we got before they fire the opening shot Assuming position prepping the proper provisions From these idiots with tiki torches on a vigilante mission But a lot of liberals standing on the sidelines complacent Look I got a whole fucking bunker I'm building in my basement Cuz next Tuesday could turn into a civil war Doomsday We got to get our act together before it's too late I'm dumb-mad driving by these houses seeing Trump flags Never empty-handed fighting for justice we bust back I'll never deny that a higher power made me Cuz nowadays folks have become a little power crazy Oh what a clove hitch knot insanity weaves from the powers that be Open for suggestion for all eyes to see Bordering compound sirens ignited on these war grounds Back to lottery for your children to barring arms now Providing provisions for the bunker It's a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder Doomsday taking me under
9.
Eat the Rich 05:18
lyrics
buy track
(Eat the rich before there’s nothing to save us) (There’s nothing to save us) (Before there’s nothing to save us) Yo I to step away but what we had was special I’m sorry I couldn’t be the one to come to your rescue To be honest you never were your best you Getting defensive when anyone tried to test you Plus you’ve always tried to dominate and outlast But you can’t escape the clutches of your dark past Pillaging indigenous villages while spreading villainous illnesses And pushing the wrong syllabus until the kids Fill their heads with prejudice and turn into colonized militants Plus you still killing innocents and fucking with immigrants While pushing ignorance and downplaying the underlying sicknesses While skewing the images so no one is depicting this It’s just a symbol of your impotence Covering up the truth with due diligence all just for the thrill of it Fuck your viciousness fuck your loan and what the interest is I gotta let you go if this is what your mission is Eat the rich before there's nothing to save us One percent are the players the intent to enslave us They use stressors to enrage us Cannibalistic behaviors until we consciously raise up They can't phase us they can’t play us No justice no peace my mind's already made up They can't phase us they can’t play us No justice no peace my mind's already made up Cuz while we struggle pockets broke no hope with ribs touching Flex muscle no joke with my finger on the button Tell me something how are we the greatest free nation? We got hatred for other races and greatest generation It’s amazing all this money all this innovation In every single sector except health and education Man I’m hating we about to have the 5th PlayStation And corporations are caking on boner medication But tell our classroom teachers that they got to be patient And buy their own supplies continued Ed while on vacation It’s just shocking B now the prophecies about monopoly With bucks for charters while publics churn out mediocrity Done sloppily defunding schools duopoly’s pornography Fuck both sides of the aisle their supremacy’s not stopping me We got to be jockeying for way better positioning When education comes to bear we’re ready to be listening Eat the rich before there's nothing to save us One percent are the players the intent to enslave us They use stressors to enrage us Cannibalistic behaviors until we consciously raise up They can't phase us they can’t play us No justice no peace my mind's already made up They can't phase us they can’t play us No justice no peace my mind's already made up Reality TV It's only day two Feeling like my life is stuck on stay tuned  We puppets to media post when we move But streaming life and death to repeat on YouTube  Well I guess that's the news  Trolls do the most getting six million views  There’s no standard the life it's whatever you choose  I'm hard pressed to win wondering where to begin  But stat quo based now on cardinal sins  And lines truly blurred who's enemy or friend  Great artist with low spins bad songs that don't end  But rarely conversed in thoughts of what trends  My mind’s on Mars with quality bars  But I'm scratching my pad saying let's try again  You can ghostwrite stardom with another man's pen But actors do it best when it comes to pretend so we'll Eat the rich before there's nothing to save us One percent are the players the intent to enslave us They use stressors to enrage us Cannibalistic behaviors until we consciously raise up They can't phase us they can’t play us No justice no peace my mind's already made up They can't phase us they can’t play us No justice no peace my mind's already made up Police overseers clapping my people we dodging mistreatment Still looking to be equal and deeper than that I ask my neighbors about the blue they back They say that all lives matter that’s a truthful fact it’s truthful that Life can be precious but when you’re more prone to being Tested disrespected and arrested We’ve been neglected been living with death-wish Running from oppression my slave catchers invested In my downfall that’s why I got the toolie packed I’m pushing back against ruling class and doing that Is the only thing that works that’s a proven fact I feed the rich to my dogs like they Scooby snacks See we shooting back see we growing food See we finding allies see we showing you You’re less powerful than everything we got to do And now is the time for us to show and prove eat the rich  Eat the rich before there’s nothing to save us There’s nothing to save us There’s nothing to save us Nothing to save us
10.
Shame on You 03:42
lyrics
buy track
I stood in the cut And watch how snakes gonna move Once their back's to the wall Tell me what you gonna do Curse my once my nigga And that's shame on you  Curse me twice my nigga Nothing remains of you I stood in the cut And watch how snakes gonna move Once their back's to the wall Tell me what you gonna do Curse my once my nigga And that's shame on you  Curse me twice my nigga Nothing remains of you My guess is I'm hard to digest This was not intended for y’all to except It's a cocky way to say fuck what you expect But nonetheless face the fact I'm next Chauffeured your career never surpassing my stretch Y'all don’t even ride in them lanes that I swerve in  Designs that don't follow the lines divergent Gift and the curse that’s the life of a wordsmith When Matic drop lines y'all get nervous Shout to the artists and lyricists I serve with Comfy as can be with everything in my reach I don't need y'all to follow my lead Nothing new beyond the horizons I see But I gave them the belief that the beast had to sleep Every flow I compose at an optimum leap  Tired of telling new niggas y'all not my league I stood in the cut And watch how snakes gonna move Once their back's to the wall Tell me what you gonna do Curse my once my nigga And that's shame on you  Curse me twice my nigga Nothing remains of you I stood in the cut And watch how snakes gonna move Once their back's to the wall Tell me what you gonna do Curse my once my nigga And that's shame on you  Curse me twice my nigga Nothing remains of you I confess just not impressed All the shit you niggas flex just a hot ass mess The conclusion’s forgone that the kid can flex I passed the test suppressed while my mic’s at rest You’re right I’m blessed you sit there on house arrest Stress about flipping sess and bullet-proof vests You dispossessed these bars that I manifest At y’all behest is heavy can’t be compressed So come and chase us lord knows you never wanna face us Craft these bars in the forge of Hephaestus  We Titans and demigods make tectonic plates shift Verbal virus gone viral infections in your platelets We ageless faithless claims to greatness baseless Misstatements outrageous you motherfuckers shameless I make hits dark dungeons son and in the basement And spit 16s that slay agents on hiatus I stood in the cut And watch how snakes gonna move Once their back's to the wall Tell me what you gonna do Curse my once my nigga And that's shame on you  Curse me twice my nigga Nothing remains of you I stood in the cut And watch how snakes gonna move Once their back's to the wall Tell me what you gonna do Curse my once my nigga And that's shame on you  Curse me twice my nigga Nothing remains of you Setting sails on this ship cuz I'm going out whaling Y'all ain't even pushing off the dock you already failing I'm in the tempest where it's raining and hailing perfect storm Cuz the haters are bailing off the stern waving and flailing I'm climbing up the mast while you walking the plank Cuz the game's just too crowded like a lobster tank I've traveled this far and I got a lot to thank Looking over my shoulder boats lost and sank While I'm getting back to land like a monsoon Lyrical harpoon new voyage gonna start soon Moving swiftly in a hurry nothing could deter me When the fog's on the water and your vision blurry Only a chosen few can embark on this journey Cuz nothing will remain of career if you curse me My whole crew on deck putting in that labor Stop you in your course like I'm dropping down the anchor
11.
Impersonations (Interlude) 01:04
info
12.
Letter to my Fam 05:00
lyrics
buy track
So many angels in my life who stood beside me through the strife If I die tonight it will be alright tell my wife And mamma and my babies that my life has been too crazy I was floating out there lost it was the gravity you gave me That pulled me back to safety thank you baby you're the best I'll provide for you and die for you already know the rest I am a man I'm just flesh try my best that's a fact If I love you I will put you on my back if it's that If it's anything thing else tighten belts if it's beef I'm Wyatt Earp if it's water Micheal Phelps and I felt If I didn't let you know it would be too much unsaid And in case I ever go to forever let it show When I was down-down bad and thought I wouldn't be the same By my side you remained through the pain through the change Through the tide you watched it fall and rise If it wasn't for what you do then I wouldn't be alive Thank you God for my family my life everything I'm doing right For the lows for the heights I rose from the strife And as a man I promise I will stand My attitude is gratitude my heart is in your hands This letter's to my fam Shit I done done the best for y'all Rip previews to the epilogue Stack the data against the wall Cut copied and cataloged Rockstar life I had a ball Never had a wife but I had some dolls Bet I did it right man we crashed the mall Icarus in flight and I had to fall Landed on my knees though had to crawl Power to my people thanks to y'all Omega got no equal on the ball Started growing up though made the call Harder showing up too played and all Smart-mouth part see my cabal Shot out of the dark y'all had the gall To act like BRK BRD wasn't here to brawl You help rise from my setbacks When I reach out you always text back Even when I've been MIA like an ex-pat All the haters I don't give a shit, ex-lax I just laugh and forgive those who trespass Share with my fam like puff pass Since me and my bro running around like rug rats Love that what up Matt I know you've been struggling down Maybe it's time to get up out of town Fighting a feeling I stare at the ceiling And pray for your healing it's up to you now Going through heavy things fam over everything It's the wisdom my grandmother Greta brings Plus all of my ancestors up in the clouds Please know that I love you I'm out When I was down-down bad and thought I wouldn't be the same By my side you remained through the pain through the change Through the tide you watched it fall and rise If it wasn't for what you do then I wouldn't be alive Thank you God for my family my life everything I'm doing right For the lows for the heights I rose from the strife And as a man I promise I will stand My attitude is gratitude my heart is in your hands This letter's to my fam I embody you physically mentally and spiritually For all of you is where I exert my energy Always take the time to remind you my love's infinity To all my boys y'all all kings and your mothers a Queen There's no limit I won't push to make sure you have everything In the event I'm not with you never lose sight of your dream Don't be so uptight relax only speak in matters of fact Remember that it ain't where you're from it's always where you at My baby down-down bad hope to never leave you lonely If crime she would be my Co-D centerpiece in my game of Shogi  Truly my forever only no shed a tear I'm always here And to be clear I'm as close as a breath of air I got your back have no fear through the good and bad times I'll keep you right by my side we're at our best when we combined Thank the heavens above for the way you were designed So connected it's a vibe It's like you read my mind When I was down-down bad and thought I wouldn't be the same By my side you remained through the pain through the change Through the tide you watched it fall and rise If it wasn't for what you do then I wouldn't be alive Thank you God for my family my life everything I'm doing right For the lows for the heights I rose from the strife And as a man I promise I will stand My attitude is gratitude my heart is in your hands This letter's to my fam
13.
BRK BRD 04:26
lyrics
buy track
With my foot on the gas destination unknown I zone bypass false faces like clones To where do I roam L's used to cloud my window I'm more humble these days The highway hypnotizing my mental Stronger now happiness not a past to rekindle Priorities inner demons finally not sparring me Comfortably searching the knowledge I seek Dimwitted flees fall to simplicities and instabilities While I'm blazing a trail that I can one day teach Shoot for the quasars the stars have always been in my reach Loving life right now only want to be D Casual on the streets in the booth an emotional beast Circulation pushed me to the forefront socially Potency reign globally when it's delivered vocally Take it to the streets while we be blazing beats uncontrollably  BRK BRD laced it I embraced it arms openly What can I say I'm redefining myself Sharpen my mind toughen my grind more regarded to health Like Noah exhausted my help I'll place the ark on the shelf Chose to harness the wealth without losing myself Each moment is precious so I pursue with the best effort Beautiful mind that should be treasured every time that I sketch it  Bearing fruits of knowledge for all likes if you dare to catch it One of a kind last to run it first to set it They say Mega where you been shit I'm just doing me Catch me out under the trees man keeping my bees Believing in me please it's the best way to be The effort for we is cultivating capturing peace With passionate speech man there ain't a peak we can't reach Life's sweet like a peach of Mai Tai's on the beach Playing smarter now up off the bench king's we starters now Lessons not losses we got sons and daughters now The next stage clearly no flex not theory Putting practicum in practice so the whole world hear me Stop please don't approach me with that energy Old man unpleasant memories no enemies You get it pops stakes is high like De La Don't get me hot cuz now I give a fuck about a day job I'm low stress yes but I don't want mess or hassle Come for mine you see me shine like I'm Frank Castle We fucking marvelous pull up a chair and share some bars with us Not arduous full up with flare don't dare to argue bro Regards to trust most don't compare but fair we carbonous It's hard enough see it all there but me I'm lossless O where you been man I'm up in my head Writing bars made of lead while I'm tending my stead Grieving my dead full chest said what I said Stay well-read and fed while we breaking this bread I use to pack Uzis jotted on loose leaf Move unruly stay in some new beef Whoever that knew me tell you that I'm real and though I'm not perfect they know by how hard I go Sewed the rap closed I done stitched it up Got off my path for a second but I fixed my strut In the tour suite tell the butler get my tux I got my scotch neat plus I got my squid my duck And my mind state focused as fuck We been winning and plus This still feel like the beginning for us Niggas hate I don't know why I can't relate They was hating when I was broke it has nothing to do with cake When someone doing this great it should make you proud This should make you smile Catch me bumping BRK BRD with the bass up loud I know you bitch niggas hate my style tadow  If they don't hand it over then we'll take it instead Cuz we're not doing much else than breaking the bread At the crack of dawn I'm waking and making the bed Making music full-time while they shaking their head Cuz my rhymes conjure spirits like I'm raising the dead And rapping keeps me stable like I'm taking some meds There's been times when I had to take a break and re-assess But every time I step away I feel an ache in my chest It's not a good sign like a flag that's half mast When I was young it kept me away from a bad path I was hanging with some shady cats now I see the aftermath Full-grown adults acting like kids in a cabbage patch Every day I wake up feeling like I have to rap That's why I'm about to blow up like Bill Murray in Caddyshack Time you can't have back I was chilling playing hackysack Now the future looking blurry like a cataract Spent years fixing myself reversing mistakes Now it's a privilege to be in a room with the greats The snakes and fakes intimidated by my pace I'm unstoppable like going down a hill with no brakes I'm just finding my place with these gifts I was graced Just hoping I can show my face and leave some kind of trace 99 percent of people's dreams go to waste So you gotta keep pursuing your passion and having faith (99 percent of people's dreams go to waste So you gotta keep pursuing your passion and having faith)

about

Western Massachusetts hip-hop artists Quintavious Walls (Carolina Black), Regi Wingo (Dominik Omega), Eric Shuman (D.R.A.M.A.T.I.C.), and Jackson Whalan collaborated to put out a full-length album called Corona Diaries, under the group name BRK BRD.

The album delivers 10 songs and three interludes, spanning the importance of family, racial identity, politics, pandemic, and more. The artists trade rhymes over classic-sounding hip-hop beats. Corona Diaries is supremely original, but spiked with the influence of The Roots, J Dilla, Souls of Mischief, Gangstarr, The Fugees, Dead Prez, and many more.

These artists have known each other for over 20 years. When Walls, Shuman, and Wingo were in their early 20s and Whalan was a young teenager they introduced him to rapping when they hosted a workshop at the Railroad Street Youth Project drop-in center in Great Barrington, MA. The drop-in center was a place where kids could stay out of trouble and explore what they were passionate about. 

Back then, the three artists were releasing music of their own and performing frequently. Jackson's personal journey with rapping transformed into a music career with encouragement from Walls, Shuman, Wingo, and other local hip-hop artists around Great Barrington in the early 2000s.

Over the years, everyone has stayed in touch, and this album is the result of things coming full circle.

Whalan co-produced the music for the album with multi-talented keyboardist and composer, Ian Evans, who is also local to The Berkshires. Shuman (D.R.A.M.A.T.I.C.) produced the beats for “Eat the Rich” and “Shame on You”. Live horns are featured in “Letter To My Fam” played by Tyler Gasek and Ian Stewart. 

The majority of the songs were recorded in Housatonic, MA at Jackson's previous studio. His studio was located in the building next to Cook's garage. Cook's is now abandoned, but is where all four artists recorded their music decades ago with music producer Pablo Zukowski.

The album was mixed by Ameen Rahman (A.Rob) in Philadelphia, PA, and mastered by Robert Macchiochi (Subvert Central Mastering) in the United Kingdom.

The project was recorded over the course of three years through the pandemic. Commentary on social unrest, police brutality, and the educational system, appears on songs like “Y’all Be Like”, “Notes from the 5th” and “Eat the Rich”. Other tracks are more about lyrical abilities, introspection, self-confidence, and the raw craft of hip-hop.

“This album is for the people who we grew up with. It's a hyper-local project that carries on a legacy of hip-hop that has existed in Berkshire County for over 20 years. I hope people can hear the depth of our story in the music.” - Whalan

credits

released September 9, 2022

Produced by Jackson Whalan, Ian Evans & D.R.A.M.A.T.I.C.
Lyrics written and performed by Carolina Black, Dominik Omega, D.R.A.M.A.T.I.C. and Jackson Whalan

Trumpet on “Letter to my Fam by Ian Stewart
Saxophone on “Letter to my Fam by Tyler Gasek

Recorded at Jackson Whalan Music studios in The Berkshires, MA

Mixed by Ameen Rahman (A.Rob)
Mastered by Robert Macchiochi (Subvert Central Mastering)

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jackson Whalan image

Jackson Whalan

Recording artist and producer from the woods.

shows

contact / help

Contact Jackson Whalan

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Jackson Whalan recommends:

If you like Corona Diaries, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now