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Growth & Decay

by Graphic Melee

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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    CD comes with lyric booklet and hand made paper containing seeds that can grow into tomato plants. Growth & Decay is the 24th solo album from Graphic Melee. 11 tracks of dense lyricism and heavy production recorded in 2023 exploring the ideas of growth and decay, and how they are connected. Includes digital download.

    Digital album extras are only available at graphicmelee.com

    Includes unlimited streaming of Growth & Decay via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    edition of 50 
    Purchasable with gift card

      $25 USD or more 

     

1.
A flower dies as another flower blooms. First flower fertilize new growth from the gloom. Decay give way to new sprouts from the dunes. Opposition in unison like the sun lighting the moon. Ashes make fertile soil but first they have to burn. Order to this operation every part has a turn. What’s a win with no losses? What’s light with out dark? What’s joy when you never felt the pain inside your heart? Experience takes mistakes and teaches permanent lessons. Trial and error pay the cost and earn multiple blessings. Death can bring new life and life all meets the same fate. Sources all different but they served on the same plate. Traveled oceans and waves lost and floating away. Hoped and prayed through the most hopeless of days Close your eyes and keep your mind open today every sight we see is just the growth and decay… Growth and decay. Rise and fall. Life and death. Push play push pause. All connected against all odds. Growth and decay. Push play push pause… Gourmet food still had to grow from the dirt. Feeding minds now that’s healing from the hurt. Greatest relief often follows the hardest work. The biggest seeds to grow ain’t gone be what you harvest first. What decomposed grows new birth in droves. First tree to fall’s the first row of a new grove. What’s fast with out the slow? Sudden shift from cold… only intensifies a warm glow. Old ways die making way for the new. Autumn leaves fell before the new ones grew. Grey skies bring rain before sun rays come through bringing new life and moon light’s the same sun too. Nothing’s permanent it’s all just holding a place. Only know inner peace once you’ve shouldered the pain. Last wise words the clouds spoke to the rain: “Everything you’ll see is just the growth and decay.” Growth and decay. Rise and fall. Life and death. Push play push pause. All connected against all odds. Growth and decay. Push play push pause…
2.
Last Rights 03:11
Last Rights (Check it out) Make a drum break shake rattle and roll. Over soul samples doing battle with my soul. Over sold holding the bag these rappers in the hole. This Web 3.0 why they still copping gold? Bought and sold what’s art minus integrity? That math don’t add up but often equals celebrity. Clever Thief but disingenuous I’ll never be. Forever seek continuous change to see a better me. Learning is unlearning. New ferns sprout in the ashes from old burning. Different as day and night but that’s just the globe turning. Two sides of the same dime while we all dying for earnings. Reaper show up like a no knock warrant. Anytime it rain down here it don’t stop pouring. If you were born to be flightless and you won’t stop soaring you’d be grateful for everyday you woke up and saw morning. Peace to everybody that the night took, every soul that never get the see the way these lights look. Hold ya head if you get rights took. Too many wrong folks tryna keep you from the right books… Head on a swivel never know when its ya last night. Walking on the sun and they tryna sell me a flash light. Never been a sucka in the present or a past life and that’s gone be the story til they reading the last rights… Smile in your face but when you suffer where’s the sympathy? That’s brush painting thin lines between friends and enemies. Got me watching my back for who’s seeking to see an end me. What’s a seat at the table when they using you like a center piece? Talk to em. Open doors and walk through em. Every great civilization eventually brought to ruins. Watch for the Judases, Willy O’Neals, and Brutuses. Cluelessness… They’ll crucify on some foolishness. Every letter like the moment when the tooly clicks. Truly sick, no antidote for when I move these lips. Moon eclipsed the sun and ancients thinking that the future flipped. Blacking out on these bars and nations callin truces in. Rooted in the movement Clive Campbell illuminated. Smooth as the suede Pumas when I’m riding what that groove created. Paint these picture like a Basquiat. Playing on top my game til the day the casket drops… Peace to everybody that the night took, every soul that never get the see the way these lights look. Hold ya head if you get rights took. Too many wrong folks tryna keep you from the right books… Head on a swivel never know when its ya last night. Walking on the sun and they tryna sell me a flash light. Never been a sucka in the present or a past life and that’s gone be the story til they reading the last rights…
3.
Higher 03:22
Sick of the same flippin a different game. Hopin these minutes and change bring out the change. Having us breaking the chains keepin’ us locked in a maze. Driving us all insane. Taking a minute and makin’ a map. Making a path, tracing a track, racing a lap, shaping a masterpiece. Mastered these techniques built to smash defeat from even thinking it could battle half of me. Takin’ it to higher plane. Breaking the mental kinda frame that leaving us thinking something higher we cannot attain. Outta my way I ain’t tryna hear it. We will never reach our destiny if we fear it. This’ll have ‘em feeling Mother, Son, and Holy Spirit… God. At it again. I graphically pen what could make the earth ecstatically grin from rare matter within. If imitations flattery’s friend, being yourself takes a new gravity then… What you mean you don’t know? What you mean looking for? Why you put yo dreams up on hold? Break the mould. This that get you in the zone. Get your mind elevated to that cloud that I’m on. Get higher. Get higher. Get higher. I just wanna take you higher. Something like truth before a tall tale or death before dishonor. I came up in the era when winter coats was bombers and movies was Sarah Conner with that terminator drama. Gettin’ inside before them street lights or answer to ya mama. 95 corridor. Fine Foods the corner store. Copped my first digi 22 who coulda wanted more? I did. So when that vision came I chased it. Coulda died at 15 so now a minutes never wasted. Payback is a dog. How they claiming they run it when that’s barely a jog. I’m bringing you clear visions if you caught up in the fog cuz folks running they jaws get you caught up in the claws. Transition from Little to X to El Shabbaz. Man listen I’m selling you heaven so hell can pass. Used to swig poison while passing them L’s of gas. Now I’m feeling like witch doctor with a spell to cast… Afrofuturistic meditating with the mystics. Negative energy what I put up on my hit list. Rhythm in the simplest hittin’ mind, body, and soul. Get yo mind elevated to that cloud I’m on… What you mean you don’t know? What you mean looking for? Why you put yo dreams up on hold? Break the mould. This that get you in the zone. Get your mind elevated to that cloud that I’m on. Get higher. Get higher. Get higher. I just wanna take you higher.
4.
Gospel 02:30
Feel like we floating out here drifting through open spaces with total freedom and feeling that total focus. Just tryna spark a change. I had to start the same. Give yo mind a rest and give yo heart the reigns. Giving thanks how I start the day. Growing smart with age. Side effects of the scars and pain. This the love that let know yo… heart is safe. Looking at the sky for those… stars to chase. Times stay hard to face, but the parts we make better together stay hard to shake when the darkness breaks. This the picture broken glass sparkling paints. It ain’t garbage day just some old baggage in the yard today. When being myself was the hardest way I’d walk it like I talk it when they mostly all bark today. No bite. Flash and they gone just like a strobe light while I’m busy giving you chills like I’m a draft on a cold night… This that real this that absolute. Just a passage passing through me that I pass to you. Universal rhythm. I’ma catch the groove. Opportunity’s callin’ lemme patch you through cuz we could all use a helping hand, and that’s the truth. Here like I never left. A testament in every breath. Set against a system that never let us catch some rest. Chess game played with 10 levels to it. We could go fast alone, but when we harmonize like music the distances staying infinite. So we put our minds together and move with no divisions in the ranks. Never drawing a blank in the think tank. Just full speed ahead on a ship that you think sank. A growing consciousness with no stopping in sight. A beacon for the seekers yo just watch for the light. This that gospel of life that push that flock into flight. Either we breaking the chains or they’ll be lockin’ ‘em tight…
5.
Feel 03:54
6.
Smoov 02:55
It’s about that time. Toss out the clout and shine just be bout that grind. Not a doubt in my mind every sound I find crowds go live stay making the room shout my rhymes. I’m bringing that poison pen til I’m out of time. The route I rides divine with a devilish side. Release the rebel inside when I meddle wit lines. Never settle for fine. Drop supreme new level designs. Textual Tetris. The lyrical leftist. Lose it all and built it better with the rubble I’m left with. Flow is electric high voltage shock in a message. Not phased by the type weak phrase they impressed with. The man you never should mess with. Not to be tested. Peep the words I’m cleverly stretchin’. Rhythmically hectic. Never been bested cookin and cheffin’. Shuffle in shake up the session. Smooth with the groove. Just a man on a mission. Smooth with the groove. Yo this jam here delicious. Smooth with groove. This here what you been missin’. Smooth with the groove. You better hold up and listen… Hol’ up… They really be thinkin’ that I won’t gone snap. Yo! They really be acting like this track don’t slap. Matter of fact I be actin a fool. Back of the groove. Bully beats like I’m waiting out back of the school. Back with the smooth grooves bashing a loop. Haters be bitter as old fashions when I’m catching the groove… Spittin that passionate truth. Flippin’ it sicker than a flu infected rat in the stew(stu). Truly just gotta laugh at the fool thinking I’m running behind when I’m bout to be lapping the dude. Fracture the tubes when they blasting my tunes. These beats stay hitting so hard it could put a crack in the moon. Ain’t just saying I’m nice I’ll pass you the proof. They looking for a challenge or they asking to lose? Cuz orchestrate it like Gershwin turn your rhapsody blue. Just have a doctor read the chart. It says I’m graphically smooth… Smooth with the groove. Just a man on a mission. Smooth with the groove. Yo this jam here delicious. Smooth with groove. This here what you been missin’. Smooth with the groove. You better hold up and listen…
7.
In The Air 03:05
It’s all uphill and it’s only getting steeper. We all getting born to shake hands with the reaper. They say the worlds burning like it’s something new. People been searching for apocalypse since Black Plague was runnin’ loose. Same cycle repeated it with a smile. Like walking for 10 years and only covered a mile. Learn from the past or just watch it all fall again. Would you play the same game if it’s impossible win? Never fix a problem that you never try to change. But what’s the point when the outro still play the same? What’s a chain around a neck when we still living in chains? What’s another year of struggle when we numb to every pain? 365 in the life. Jamie died by a knife. Jacobs was a genius O.D.ed on his vice. 12’s shootin’ they ain’t reading no rights. And I got 99 reasons I ain’t sleeping at night. The ones that really care are rare. Better learn what it is or be unprepared. When it’s to time to make a move don’t just stand and stare. A change is coming you can feel it in the air… Boot on the face and people asking where to kiss it so I’m cooking anarchist recipes with a gang of misfits. Putting politicians on a hit list. In an existence where we held hostage by their bad decisions. The world ain’t ending it’s just dragging us a long. We playing every note wrong and think it’s the same song. That type harmony hittin’ like out of tune choirs. Invited us to dinner but the table’s on fire. Out the flames to the frying pan. Running man between the 2 steps while the giants dance. Working to live. Living to survive. Spit some blood in the shark tank and jumped off the high dive. Climbing mountains just to see over the storming clouds. Learn a new perspective different from the place you’re born around. Bare my soul told my melody confessions every moment I’m above ground I count it as a blessing…
8.
Hot Music 03:02
Kicking the hot music. Playing it non stop music. Makin’ the room stop when the beat drop music. Never the pop music just that Hip-Hop music. Puttin’ a drum break to a bass and we got music. Beat box Pete Rock Rap-A-Lot music. Dillatronic Madlib P. Monch music. This that $54.11 on the Reeboks music. Watch me get on down (with the hot music) Illmatic Preem Sean P! and Rock music. Low End Theory to some Screwed N Chopped music. Bangin’ my line if they wanna talk music. You know banging out the trunk in the parking lot music. Diggin in the crates to Biggie and Pac music/ Wu-Tang bangin. out the boom box music. Parliament Funkadelic Cosmic Slop music / watch me get on down (with the hot music) Hot like it’s fresh out the oven cooking up something and they all gone love it. Only thing I’m here to do so let me make it clear to you. I’m only bringing in one thing anytime I’m steering through. Hot music. Hot music. Hot music. Hot music. This that giving you all it got music. The vivid story line with a deeper plot music. Too many of the rappers talking bout they pop a Glock music, but how many poppin’ a cop other than Tupac music? Hot music. Key to the lock music. Electrifying glow that spark a static shock music. Satisfying tones anytime I drop music. Watch me get on down (with the hot music). Fight the power grow your own crop music. Analogue gods not no Tik-Tok music. Keepin ‘em sweating to the oldies better bring a mop music. Taking you back like you musta forgot music. This that deep thought music. Hit you like a Bruce Lee chop music. Sonic cleanse when you need that detox music. Make you wanna shout it from the tree tops music. Watch me get on down (with the hot music). Hot like it’s fresh out the oven cooking up something and they all gone love it. Only thing I’m here to do so let me make it clear to you. I’m only bringing in one thing anytime I’m steering through. Hot music. Hot music. Hot music.
9.
Flickering like distant stars. Different scars shape the different parts in this deck of cards. Seconds start stretching into days til you met your mark. You’re only going where you set your… Heart… Think deeper because had to. Knowledge is like a castle. Breathing for 10 minutes when they only thinking I had 2 seconds of breathe for breathing or even a second less. First things first never the person to second guess. Lesson in every second and I ain’t missing a single one. Billions of minds connected we all orbit a single sun. Same air, same water, same dirt we walking on so what we really talking on? Life stay dropping on the tragedy the like gravity. Glad to be alive but sometimes living life is maddening. Flattening the mountains into plains and plateaus slows the whole focus showing in slow motion how horizons grow. Today shapes tomorrow so I’m living every second knowing my time is borrowed. Let the sorrow flow and fuel your dedication. You only miss your mark when you give in to hesitation… Flickering like distant stars. Different scars shape the different parts in this deck of cards. Seconds start stretching into days til you met your mark. You’re only going where you set your… Heart… Why we follow anything but our dreams? Aupport celebrities before we uplift our team. How many purchases made keepin’ billionaires up in the green? We buying local or just feeding the greed? This prolly read 5 seasons of grief. Accept the world for what is if you seeking relief. Deny it til you’re angry, bargaining with depression, and weak. Take my word for it or just see and believe. Seize every moment like I’m running outta time. Outta line what they call me I ain’t waiting on no ride. Take my time to get it right. Stay rising like high tide. Wanna truly know inner peace? Let your pride die. Little evil left after a little ego death. People stressed feeling like a fresh catch in an eagles nest. Learn your history so you know where the path leads. Direction’s more important than the speed… Flickering like distant stars. Different scars shape the different parts in this deck of cards. Seconds start stretching into days til you met your mark. You’re only going where you set your… Heart…
10.
Rain Drops 02:02
This that something put away when you’re outta sunny days. Clouds closing in and you wanna run away. Looking in the mirror what you gonna say? When the brighter days ain’t wanna come and play. When the grades won’t straight A’s. Dodging F’s rent way past days late. Gotta jet. Can’t be living like a wage slave. Gotta get the pay straight riding on the same wave that the greats paved. Adios waving to the grey days. Audio waves and grey haze on the grey chez. Counting ways to make gains. Stepping out the system never came to play games. Whats remaining sane while you watch a plague rage? On the same page next stage of the space age. Different lives but the same pains. Different car but same lane. Different dollars but the same change. Different collars but the same chains. Blue or white they gone dog you for the pay grade. Got you walking out the door at the start of day break. Day barely getting started and they asking can you stay late. Gotta change lanes if you wanna make waves. Everybody ain’t gotta go the same way, but we all living on the same clock of the same day. Different clouds, but it’s all the same rain… Rain Drops keep falling on your head. When the pain got you crawling bought to beg. This that little ray of sunshine peaking through the clouds when you feeling like you lost in the crowd…
11.
TIME 04:16
I’m just Thankful for another day cuz it didn’t have to go that way when hands on a clock move like lawn mower blades. Gaining off the growing pains. Fast or at slower pace. Every seconds golden when no moments left a throw away… Hop scotching through a mine field. Time feel different once you learn to let the mind heal. Ideal in vision but how many seconds time steal of the memories just glimmering on the outer edges defining real? Guess it’s what we make it. So time is what I’m taking. Earth make 1 rotation and inside the same equation we awaken and we shaping our surroundings til the day end. Day out. Day in. Praying we can beat the clock, but times just an illusion. Swear it’s real with how it feel with how we have to use it. Counting down the seconds, but I heard time never be losing. How would you spend your time if you had the chance to choose it? Let’s go cruising 1 lap around sun and see. Abundance needs attention just to sprout the growth wanna seed. 359 then you add that 1 degree. 365 chances dancing with our wants and needs… I’m just Thankful for another day cuz it didn’t have to go that way when hands on a clock move like lawn mower blades. Gaining off the growing pains. Fast or at slower pace. Every seconds golden when no moments left a throw away… The time is now if change is what we seek. Got it out the mud now we aiming at the peak. So my aiming when I speak keep my statements with the beat. Keeping the time speaking in common terms let’s say this time a week. 7 sun sets. Maybe half of the paycheck. About 4 to a month and the days ain’t slowing the pace yet. Working for the end of it while begging for some benefits or relief from other the 5 testing the mental discipline. Happens 52 times in a year. 52 times where a few climbs looking too high to clear. Hide in fear, but time stay ticking. Racing the clock but who play chicken like time is coming head on destiny filling your vision. Stop and listen existence move in a rhythm. Tempo shifts and time changes droop from where they’re hidden. If your younger self looked to you with hopeful eyes saying advise me, would you tell them time is precious spend it wisely? I’m just Thankful for another day cuz it didn’t have to go that way when hands on a clock move like lawn mower blades. Gaining off the growing pains. Fast or at slower pace. Every seconds golden when no moments left a throw away…

about

The 24th solo album from Graphic Melee. 11 tracks of dense lyricism and heavy production recorded in 2023 exploring the ideas of growth and decay, and how they are connected.

Digital extras only available at graphicmelee.com

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released July 14, 2023

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Graphic Melee Portland, Maine

"It's Hip-Hop. It's more than just music. Heal the soul if you know how to use it."
-Graphic Melee "iLoveIt"

Heavy beats, dusty vinyl, and dirty synthesizers are my specialties. I'm an emcee, producer, and DJ dedicated to my craft and I make raw Hip-Hop

-Emcee, Producer, DJ, Audio Engineer
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