Monday, May 5, 2008

‘Wounded World’ is fun, sincere

By Sarah Poulton

On May 9, local hip-hop act DaBoonDox, hopes to show a diverse crowd unity through music in this “Wounded World.”

The album, “Wounded World” will be released at Barleys during their “End of Semester Bash” after being in the works for two years. Dox members Troy Napier and Jeff Killin say they wanted to take their time on the album — and it shows. The album starts out with the overall idea of how we all live in a “Wounded World,” and plays on our emotions and desires to find solutions to repair it for future generations.

It then progresses into fun, original beats and catchy hooks that are hard to forget, through party favorites, “Bikini Bottom” and “Someone Else.” These tracks enforce the idea that although the world isn’t perfect, it doesn’t mean they, and everyone around them, shouldn’t make the best of it and have some fun.

Killin’s favorite — “Move a Lil Closer” — falls into that category. As a professional DJ, Killin makes and mixes his beats from scratch, and says this is truly a fun song: “I’m a big freak. It gets me hyped when we play it.”

The album slowly, but noticeably, takes a grave turn and tackles some weighty issues. In the second verse of “Medications,” Killin flows from “said if ya sick then sick to the purest, FDA is just a scam like car insurance. I see the sicker get sicker, pharmacies get richer,” to “Making money off of other people’s pain and misery. And it’s sickening cuz you know they got the cures, keeping dirty lil secrets behind closed doors.”

The prior track, and Napier’s favorite, “Unity,” tackles the issue of separation because of differences. In the first verse, Napier rhymes, “Not only for us, a better future for these youngstas, pave the way so our babies don’t live amoungsta hate crime, police brutality. Teach em’ love, peace, for all humanity.”

Napier says he loves this song because of its overall message of togetherness and harmony. Napier says he’s a “crusader for bringing people together,” which is shown not only on the album, but at their live shows as well.

“This is a multicultural event,” Napier says. “We want people to know that when you come here, it’s different people with positive attitudes having a good time. We feel like, if people could see how we get along, they can look to us for inspiration.”

Killin agrees: “It just seems like such a fad right now. Everyone’s trying to act hard and look ghetto. It’s about everything but the music.”

As a whole, “Wounded World” is based on just that — how negativity, violence and drugs, as well as self-perception and selfishness has hurt humanity. The Dox do a fantastic job of introducing and explaining these issues in a way that can be understood and appreciated by fans.

“We structured the album around topics people can relate to other than the streets and the ghetto,” Killin says.

Napier agrees: “I’m really happy about it from start to finish. We hit you with everything — messages, dancing, serious issues, relationships. Basically, we give you us.”

As for the show itself, the Dox promises a “stage show out of this world.” S-Pomp will be opening for the Dox and Luck Penny will emcee the event.

“Wounded World” will be available for $5. Cover for the event is also $5, but anyone who brings a promotional flier will receive $2 off the cover price. DJ Killin’ will be spinning tracks throughout the evening, so there will be continual music during this nonstop party.

“We wanna have a constant party,” Killin says. “There isn’t gonna be a dull moment."