Today, I turned thirty.

I never thought of that as being something that was going to happen, certainly not back when I was nineteen.

What I did do when I was nineteen is write a song about someone else turning thirty, and how that person might feel about certain things in his life.

In retrospect, I think there’s a lot that’s immature about this song, even though I wrote it with the best of intentions, trying to inspire listeners to not be such homophobic jerks. In my ham-fisted way, I worry that I may have only made homophobia worse. I don’t know, really.

Think of it as juvenilia, something that I wish I had done better or not at all but I was a kid and I thought it was important so there it is.

It’s called “A Single, Gay Male On His Thirtieth Birthday.”

I hope you can enjoy it at all, through all the wincing at my lack of subtlety or sensitivity!

Love,
Jesse D at 30

p.s. I used to rap this song into the faces of haters at shows. I hoped it would wither their masculinity by comparison. I like to think it did, a little.

Hey yeah, so if you happen to be visiting Osaka, Japan, Backburner’s own producer/mc/turntable artist Ginzu3 holds down every Saturday night on the 1 and 2′s with an eclectic mix of golden era, middle school and new school hiphop, combined with the vintage funk/soul sounds of Osaka’s own DJ Nao, at ClubBar Rodriguez Bros. in Minami, Osaka.
Ginzu, Nao and bar owner Shingo Rodriguez are putting in the work to provide an approachable and easy going venue for true school hiphop and crate digging types, in a city that, let’s face it, is overrun with dance clubs and karaoke bars.
The biz gets underway at 10:00 PM, and stays on lock till 3:00 am or whenever they feel like closing, as Osaka does. Kitchen open until 2:00 am, drink specials at random.

ClubBar Rodigruez Bros. is located off the Sennichimae Shotengai in Namba, Osaka. Peep Shingo Rodriguez’s Facebook post for details.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38330312974

Backburner fans or affiliates visiting Japan are encouraged to approach Ginzu3 directly and let the guy know what’s up, although you should be prepared for forced Yaggermeister shots.
Burner in the building.

The Les Kils EP has been recently deemed “New and Noteworthy” Hip Hop in the iTunes store!! Thanks for the props, Apple:

And be sure to check out Les, Kils and DJ iRATE appearing on CBC Radio show “Go!” Saturday October 17th! The show airs on CBC the same day 10:30 am, but all my Torontoites can see it live as part of the studio audience! Get your free tickets here.