• "Karma Hotel," Does it Measure Up?

    From betweenthelinesfb@gmail.com@21:1/5 to A to the L on Sat Mar 24 03:49:23 2018
    On Tuesday, October 15, 2002 at 9:11:38 PM UTC+1, A to the L wrote:
    On Tue, 15 Oct 2002 15:47:58 +0000 (UTC), logubeli@lycos.com (lb)
    said:

    wow - you wrote all this for one of the wackest songs I've ever
    heard...

    I pity your poor fingers...

    PEACH

    A to the L

    Spooks is probably the band held in highest regard by hip-hop fans but
    with the lowest recognition factor among the general population.
    "Karma what?" "Spooks who?" "Well, I've heard of M&M, and Ice Cube,
    and LLCoolJ!"

    Karma Hotel is a track on their S.I.O.S.O.S CD, not as well know as
    Things I've Seen, the all time top download at rapstation.com.
    Laurence Fishburne opened his drug double cross drama, "Once in the
    Life," with it's intro of spacey vocals followed by the haunting and >melodic chorus, "Won't believe the things I've seen, far beyond your >wildest dreams." What's the lesser-known Karma Hotel about and how
    does it compare.

    If not structurally a twin brother, it's at least a close cousin. A
    vocal intro is followed by the entry of bass and drums to provide a
    beat of metronomic regularity. The sequence of three male rapped
    verses alternates with female sung choruses until the last verse,
    where Ming Xia is given a rare opportunity to beguile us with her
    voice from the front of the stage.

    Each verse relates a separate vignette; the playing of a game of
    Russian Roulette, a Dorian Grey like gambling episode, and a soul sale
    to the devil by way of sex. These tight stories are clearly portrayed
    in 25 or so lines.

    A cloyed seeker of thrill and zest finds a barrel at his dome.
    "Fourth time I clicked and popped BOOM! Money shot!" You can only
    pull the trigger so many times.

    Next, we "peep the gambling scene," where a great winning streak
    causes "green growing like chia pets." "Fans flock" to this intense >episode, but rapture transforms to stiff, wooden unreality for player
    and crowd alike. "Years have passed in one night," and he winds up an
    old man with cash who "never lived life."

    The last verse warrants the most attention. Students of the Book of >Revelations understand the disguised symbolism in "triple nines on
    nails danglin' off the door." "Macristo," the name a satanic
    variation of "Christ," makes an overt play for "Eve" with an offer of
    the apples equivalence.

    Succinctly and with poetic facility, the mechanics of the transaction
    is recounted. "Transform lust to thrust" relays intention becoming
    the act. Being won over: "ooh, invitation accepted, too good to
    reject it. So I join in unprotected" also graces the listener with a >triple rhyme. Four more in three lines adorn an interchange showing a
    lack of self-regard, "expected one life to live don't respect it."
    "Respect what?" "Ooh you poor child you've been neglected." Eve >delineates the unusual twist to the transaction, "Why do I feel so
    cold? It's like each time I climax you take a piece of my soul."
    Four bars of lively jazz guitar melody leads out the song.

    The first verse allegorizes a bold and dangerous venture; more >specifically, perhaps, the gamble on drug bliss. More sober persons
    found his body the next day "with a needle stickin' out of" his arm.
    Also implied is the phantasmic loss of insight that drugs cause; the >perceived excitement, pleasure and energy of a poison induced
    delusion.

    The casino episode can paradoxically depict a grindstone life that
    isn't lived or an intense desire for an objective whose attainment
    reveals the absence of it's worth.

    The title term karma, while encountered frequently, often is used
    poorly. It's a Sanskrit word that comes to us from the Hindu
    religion; literally it's a deed or an act. It describes the concept
    that present time thoughts and actions have consequences in the
    future. And not just later in the day after lunch, often pretty far
    into the future, such as after one dies and is reborn! This and other >eastern terms often are used to call up deep significance.

    But the term really isn't used well. Even when considering only the
    time frame, verses one and three pass in an hour. While karma might
    be seen to manifest thus as a result of thoughts and actions in the
    past, nothing of this sort was revealed to the listener. Verse two
    appears to take place over most of an adult lifetime and it's more >realistic to consider a decision to completely throw in with a
    gambling plan could produce this type of adverse outcome.

    Overall, the lyrics are sharp and colloquially lively, fit for verse
    with their clear descriptions and incidents of real life
    believability. An apparent description in verse three of erotic
    statuary; "the way they're entwined so good it's a crime." Many >mid-sentence rhymes are added gifts to the listener as are the choice
    of expressive verbs. Some of the nice word play: "Peep the drama
    another sad story at the karma," "rambled the fiends," mannequin
    matched with panickin' and "beat (not meet) the friends and family."

    The presentation of singing and speaking is excellent, as it was in
    "Things I've Seen." There's no amateurish gallop of sing song iambs
    but the professionally poetic ending of sentences and lines in
    different places. There's no rushing or dragging, no explosive over >emphasis or insufficient projection. There's an authenticity in >presentation such as a light touch on the consonant that ends the
    syllable, leaving the listener with more easy-on-the-ear vowel sounds.

    But even with these attributes and verses that relate complete
    stories, this song doesn't stand shoulder to shoulder with "Things."
    The lyrics lack the power and poetic inspiration and the choral
    melody, while pleasant enough, isn't as commendable and in fact,
    sounds derivative. There's nothing to compare to the formers summary
    line, "I've seen and experienced things that take the average to the
    edge and swan dive to death." They even spin a little out of control
    in the second verse, one eye open, watchin' his gat, back, stack, etc.

    "Karma Hotel" is a good song that should keep the band in the eye of
    their fans and earn them some downloads and sales, but it's not of the >quality to catapult it to the forefront. Don't expect to see it as a >number one all time download at any music sites.

    Lastly, I feel compelled to give a final message to you, Eve. I was
    moved by your concluding wail, "I'm trapped here for eternity." From
    your relation of your stunning reversal, you signed no contract with >Macristo, who failed to inform you beforehand of the full nature of
    the arrangement. You thus were unable to give informed consent.

    In addition, your payment was woefully insufficient. A soul usually >returns in compensation years, seven or more, of some combination of >immense fame, wealth, good fortune, not a fraction of an hour of
    sexual activity, no matter how many, well, some details aren't
    currently pertinent.

    I believe a good legal mind could invalidate that deal you made,
    restore to you your soul and the freedom to depart the hostelry. I
    happen to have a number for Lawyer Referral Service. Since you're >apparently unable to leave, perhaps a meeting there could be arranged.
    I have only your best interests at heart, young lady. Feel very free
    to call me!

    lb

    The lyrics to Karma Hotel can be found at: >www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/spooks/karmahotel.html

    Check the sites y'all... www.altrap.com www.raredj.com
    "A to the L owns all your stankin asses. Man can rap his ass off. The rest are scrubs." - Fatboy Roberts
    "...let's just say that I think that A to the L is an artist because of his ability to quantify different SHITS into words. That's art." - Alvin Smith

    I think a lawyer would fail here. 'Eve' made a pact with the devil by her way of life, her transaction with 'Cristo' is the final nail in the coffin so to speak. He is taking her payment for the way she's lived her life, her soul

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