In it's absolute realest form reggae was a voice of the street. Spat out of the mouths of poor blacks in Trench town ghettos, this music was religiously motivated, yet violently orientated. "Machine-Gun-Lyrics" like that of former butcher CUTTY RANKS preached of killing your enemies, punishing sinners with death, and cutting them to pieces. All for the praise almighty Jah Rastafari.
I only get sleepless nights...
I've been thinking of him lately.
"Give me a RAH" -Him
"Rah"-Me
"Give me a Headbut" -Him
"What? Man!" -Me
"A Headbut, Give me a Headbut!"-Him
That was a Friday in 1995 and my very first encounter with Wesley. I was 14. Heavily blunted off seed-ie weed from our walk off the Belmont #77 bus. Derek and I sat across the street from Wrigley field, in front of Chicago's Metro, killing time for the crowd to loosen up. Slipping a $10 to security was our entry to the sold-out Blue Meanies show. During our wait, as high as Wu-Tang gets, we met Wesley. He sat at a table in front of Metro selling his drawings (architecturally based Chicago-skyline drawings in blue ball-point pen).
"Give me a RAH!" Wesley demanded. After I delivered several rahs and headbuts we pushed off and got in the show. From that moment on I'd run into Wesley about 4 times a year until his death in 2003.
RIP Chicago Artist, Musician, and Legend, Weasley Willis.
Check out his drawings and music, throughout his career. He recorded well over 1,000 songs.
Music Links:
I Whooped Spiderman's Ass
He Goes to Prision
Fuck with me and Find out
Bio Links:
http://www.alternativetentacles.com/bandinfo.php?band=wesleywillis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Willis
I saw Antipop at the Empty Bottle in Chicago about six years ago while they were promoting their album Arrythmia. It was the first time I met Oscar, and it ended up being one of the best concerts I've seen. Beans wore mysterious sunglasses and bobbed his bald head back and forth throughout the set so hard I thought his head might fall off when he was rapping. They were a little crazy, ahead of their time, and were never fully appreciated for their musical experimentation. But you see, what happens is this: the under-appreciation by the masses makes me cherish them all the more.
AntiPop is currently recording a new album. Tickets are on sale for two shows March 22nd at Knitting Factory in NYC followed by a European tour. No other stateside shows as of yet. You can listen to their new single here.
The latest in American street culture, art, and events.
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