My name is rap legend Jesse Dangerously, and "Humble & Brilliant" is my sixth album.
My plan was, and remains, to release the album on vinyl. I've had a lot of interest, and I want to make this happen.
I released the album on March 10th, 2011, after working on it for three years. It's entirely self-produced hip-hop, influenced by the golden era and the avant garde. Half of it is fun raps and half of it is pretty sad. The beats are all sample-based, except for one song which I played live on ukulele, chord organ, and drum kit. I also play a little glockenspiel on the record, and did my own scratches.
There is no CD version of this album. I released it as a 70-page chapbook with a download code (or as just a download) to retrieve the album's 13 songs. Vinyl is my only plan for a physical copy of the audio recording.
The vinyl jacket is illustrated by Halifax cartoonist Mike Holmes, and the labels for each side of the record are illustrated by comic book heroes Bryan Lee O'Malley (creator of Scott Pilgrim) and Hope Larson (creator of many critically acclaimed comics including Grey Horses, Mercury, and a new official adaptation of A Wrinkle In Time). Full-colour photographs were taken by Jeff Ngan to grace the inner sleeve. The whole thing is going to be beautiful once it's made.
But this artist's life doesn't afford me much room to put that kind of money up front.
Even now that sales of the book and downloads have paid off the cost of recording, mixing, and mastering the album, as well as manufacturing the first 250 copies of the book, I do not find myself sitting on a lot of capital.
I'm not asking for donations - I'm hoping you'll pre-order the vinyl, and/or take advantage of some other special offers I'm bringing you here.
I started this pre-order campaign in September of 2011, and received an overwhelming response in the first few months, and people have touched me with their generous contributions that go beyond just purchasing the record, but about six months ago the pre-orders slowed to a trickle and I haven't been able to start the manufacturing process.
I feel very responsible to the people who have contributed in good faith, and I want to put this record into their hands, as well as into stores and the hearts and minds of millions.
If you want this record, or think you know anyone who might like to have it, please get involved and spread the word. It's not a charity, but it is a community. I can't wait to make this happen!!
thanks for your support and friendship,
rljd
