Joe Scudda, the flannel-wearing, PBR-drinkin emcee uses his Not Your Average Joe EP to show how he breaks the common stereotypes associated with rap.
Joe describes “average” as “common, typical, and ordinary,” and often pokes fun at the many artists who fall victim to these traits in an effort to fit in with the crowd.
In the following video, which introduces the EP, Scudda talks about these artists and their behavior in a comical manner, over the dark “Think About It.”
Joe’s comments in the promo video are very similar to those given in our interview conducted a few months ago, where, unsurprisingly, I was offered a cold PBR.
Not Your Average Joe – Promo Video
Shout out to Matt Koza on directing the promo video!
Joe Scudda’s description of the typical rapper is pretty hilarious: “big chain, big car, VIP in the club, entourage of about 20 people, 5 of whom he knows, 15 of whom he just met. Paying $500 for an overpriced bottle of champagne he don’t even like.“ That part about being with twenty people but only knowing five has me cracking up!
Here’s my favorite, and quite possibly the most interesting, joint off the EP, where Joe takes on the party boy persona of Robert Downey Jr.
Joe Scudda – “Robert Downey Jr.”
Joe Scudda’s ability to portray himself as the infamous actor is just as impressive as the track is hilarious!
This excerpt should give you a good idea of the song’s general feel:
“Been on a binge for like weeks, it’s deep,
Locked in a hotel suite, no sleep,
till management threw me on the street,
Right on my ass with five dollars in cash,
Half a pack of smokes and a nickle bag of grass,
Tryin to catch a cab but they don’t seem to stop,
For people like me, then I turned and seen the cops,
They started walkin, I started runnin,
They threw the lights on, looks like I started something,
They finally caught me and asked me for I.D.,
I said I don’t got it, but I be feeling like,
*Hook begins here *
Robert Downey Jr,
All I ever wanted to do was party,
Someone please roll another joint, pass another bar, and get a bottle of Bacardi.”
It’s good to hear Joe take such an interesting concept and run with it. I really hope Robert Downey Jr. hears this at some point, ha!
Another standout track from the EP is “Pardon Me.”
Joe gets some shit off his chest on this cut, giving his opinion on topics that range from Mike Vick’s case to Gilbert Arenas bringing an unloaded gun into the locker room.
Here’s an excerpt where Joe gives a quick story about trying to smoke while eating at a restaurant:
“They tellin me I can’t smoke inside the place
I’m like why, they said ‘we don’t wanna smell your cigs,’
I said that’s cool well if I’m trynna eat my food, then I don’t wanna hear your dumb ass kids
Tell Timmy put a sock in it.
But they ain’t like that
I grabbed a cigarette and proceeded to light that
I blew the smoke in the air like I ain’t care
They told me to put it out but I acted like I ain’t hear, so,
Tell ‘em kiss my ass and I’ll show ‘em that,
They want apologies, fuck it I don’t owe ‘em that,
On my name, it’s a God damn shame,
I’m from the same state where these motherfuckers grow it at.”
His visual lyrics really brought that scene to life for me.
The final track I’m going to highlight is the bonus cut, “Catch Up,” produced by Statik Selektah.
Joe Scudda works in some messages to lame rappers while touching on his time in the game with:
“It’s been a long time comin,
A long time runnin,
The streets with no eats, I’m tryin to find somethin’,
To stop hunger pains,
It’s real how hunger change,
The rules of your life, it’s what I use when I write,
I’m a hard headed dude, wouldn’t use your advice,
I’m a mean motherfucker, with the rap shit I’m nice,
You dudes want the fame, too broke to pay the price,
That’s why I set the bar and you fools don’t suffice.”
I like that line about rappers wanting fame, but being too broke to pay its price.
If you still haven’t heard the Not An Average Joe EP, you can stream the whole project here.
