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Winter Breaks 1 & 2

by Bop Alloy

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1.
HOOK So... so... so chill So chill (Repeat) Let them fall, let them fall, let them fall... 'Til they rise once more (Repeat 1x) POEM The Fall finally fell Commencing the coldest winter ever Slipping into a mighty slumber Eventually Springing back into action Only taking a seat in the throne it once occupied After realizing that it was a Sum of her or his failures and triumphs And when the sky is your only limit… There is always room to grow. HOOK VERSE So chill we put the bur in December Ensuring your winter is cooler than the use so you’ll surely remember How too dope this is Like your first white Christmas or mistletoe kisses Never had the latter but had my fam’s love When we were a man down I managed to man up In a cold world, ice age post mammoth Hard not to slip, even harder to stand up But I never been a fan of excuses Made a couple but, as a man they are useless Weight’s cumbersome but struggle has its uses Many profit from and discover what their truth is Blessing! Til we return to the essence... Remember that the greatest present that a father can give is presence Til we return to the essence... Remember that the greatest present that a parent can give is presence
2.
VERSE 1 Yeah… Chuck a deuce to the cold ‘Cause your dude trying to go Where degrees never freeze Sixty two be the low... ...and the winters are tame All I want for Christmas is some tickets baring my name Rather chill where it’s warm I’ll provide the cool Not a flake in range whole sky is blue Big sis scooped the fam where we riding too She replies we can do whatever you tryin’ to do Bet that. Out here snow never a set back Plan to have an early winter tan when I get back (Ehh!) Strictly chillin in the figurative sense Plus I caught a whiff of an open grill by the fence Some may assume it’s May or June ‘cause the feelings immense Hipped your dude a year or two ago been missing it since Now I swap my winter coat for a White Tee Cup of hot cocoa switched with some Iced Tea Shaping up nicely… HOOK Not quite Summer fam But this a different type of winter wonderland And almost 80 degrees Inside evergreen outside there's palm trees And it feels kind of ill The smell of winter been replaced by a grill Don't get no better Hottest christmas ever on record and we out’chea! VERSE 2 No skull hats, long jawns or Timb boots Just sweats, short sleeve tops & gym shoes F! a snowman & snowballs I’m so gone Coppin’ snowcones or hitting up Coldstone Might even call home to rub it in a bit They like “Young, you so wrong… you know that you ain’t sh…” I’m like aww man, come on you could made the trip But ya didn’t so long we bout to hit the strip Bout to dip with the windows down feelin the breeze Feel like Spring but there’s Christmas lights still in the trees Feel at ease... couldn’t wait for winter break, see Did it right to ensure that winter didn’t break me Looking like we waited for this moment all year Smiles all around ‘cause the fam’s all here No one or cloud throwing shade, all clear Egg Nog in the cooler it’s normally all beer. Aww yeah! HOOK BRIDGE Back home it’s so cold, More of the same is lame and so old So I’m rollin’ (where the skyline’s blue) And golden, (so much more to do) Head to the backyard or the park Grill to the sun go down and it’s dark Then the next morning, (watch the kids open gifts) I’m soaring (Nothing quite like this) HOOK OUTRO Orlando we see you Miami we see you Honolulu we see you San Diego we see you LA we see you Phoenix we see you Tuscon we see you New Orleans we see you
3.
HOOK What you gonna do? What you gonna change Try something new or remain the same? Will you follow thru or give up like a lame? Time to start again. 90 RPMs (Repeat 1x) VERSE 1 Trying to better myself every year but falling short Should do it for growth but i focus on cheers I long support Probably should cut back on all of the beers that I had bought Lessen my eff-ups and get some clearer-minded thoughts Clearly, I am fault but hear me, I’m a sport That’s making some new resolutions I fear or all for naught Smeared what I’ve been taught. Steering toward folk On the road to perdition, frontier of all the lost HOOK VERSE 2 She wanna be ready for beaches, that’s why she barely be eating Depriving her body of anything Godly impressing these heathens Any new diet she find on a blog she pledging allegiance Get any smaller and she will dissolve, what is the reason Blind like a venetian, crying from all of the teasing This ain’t attack on a titan she fighting her inner demons Trying to pick up the pieces, finding what she’s been seeking Promise to finally love her true self... ‘Tis the season HOOK VERSE 3 (Some people be like) I will quit smoking, I will tweet less, work out more Manage my debt, manage my stress, play a new sport Volunteer, travel abroad, even recycle Learn to knit, get a good job, study my bible Go on more dates, meet some new people, try not to boast Get laid, get married, probably both Fix up my home, have a baby, get a new hobby Read a lot more, hang outdoors, other guys be Like “This is the year to put it in gear and soar Can’t tell you what’s different but listen this isn’t the year before Cause I had a vision of living a life that meant much more Taking a chance to dance at the top won’t be ignore I ain’t ever stopping, failure ain’t a option Said to hell with caution, walk the trail no talking Principles to live by, no more resolutions Excuses replaced by fruitful execution HOOK
4.
Spent 04:08
VERSE 1 My favorite holiday is Christmas Though I hardly qualify as Christian Got that good hair 'cause I'm part Indian Plus whole fam go hard at Thanksgiving If I'm missing it's cuz I'm lined up Trying to give'em my business before its marked up Stiff arm shoppers like it's all mine what Boy dem deep discounts done got me fired up Don't fool with Kwanzaa dog it's so wack They don't even do gifts and I ain't pro-black Man I'm pro-green and I gots to get it Second that I got it I gots ta spend it All brand names, I’m looking splendid Yall got no class like yall got suspended Bling for misses copped my son Batman All praises due to jolly old fat man, Amen! HOOK Man it just don’t make no sense I can hardly pay my rent All this doe that I done spent Out here trying to cop these gifts Just don’t make no sense All these festivities got me spent Times are hard so hard we went Almost spent up every cent BREAK VERSE 2 If my girl copped me a wack gift then we’re thru Might take back all that I copped for her too To be my boo and worthy of praise Need a PS4... plus some new Js I’m out here burning up doe real wreckless Swapped my check with a diamond necklace Nothing like diamonds to say “I love her” When you tryna slide her the stocking stuffer I know money can’t buy me love but I’m seeing more action Ji’like, somewhat Screwed like a lugnut when my funds shrank My account’s blank, no cash in the bank No gas in my tank Mrs. Clause leaving Nothing left to give, she done receiving No longer present, yet it’s a wrap... ironic Searching for gift receipts as I sip my tonic HOOK VERSE 3 They talking ‘bout boycotting Black Friday If I had my way, it would be 5 days Then they talking ‘bout supporting Black business I’m like it’s called Black Friday.. isn’t it Alright, I know that a tad too ignorant But I’d like to know why on earth should I give a ish When a TV worth a G’s now three… hundred Everything in me say hit the street running Then they say we’re that second class citizen, But we’re the first to give up all my dividends Outside of the neighborhood that we are living in Meanwhile, our life’s treated like it’s insignificant Sure plenty times the service be dreadful ‘Cause we ain’t really customers, thought of as a threat fool And the folks our tax pay to serve and protect us Most don’t do either let alone respect us So why should I care about a holiday special Tryna save a dime, when we need to save our self Too many of us dying and we funding movement They gonna kill your cousin, you ain’t gon’ do ish?! Who the real menace? Ain’t hard to call it But some of the ammo to fight back’s in your wallet They don’t worship prophets they worship profit Make them the target and hit them in the pocket Pow-er!!! HOOK
5.
VERSE 1 When I was little I had plenty of dreams But football & art stayed at the top it seemed The peak before I reached mine still doubt I have yet Studied greats, took notes like I’m stealing tablets Placid. Hadn’t a clue of why I was here Long as fun exceeded the total amount of my tears Years pass and peers flag my dreams with jeers And soon my vulnerable mind appeared to be drowning in fears Plus I was broken up physically But what really stopped me was they got to me mentally To be or not to be is my quandary, picture me Smoking opposition like Barbeque, Hickory Flawless victory what would you have done Should’ve been a track star all I could do is run Done playing on the field but still playing the field of dreams But football star no longer seemed real to me HOOK VERSE 2 Still ain’t sure what I’m here for ‘Cause sports faded from the plan in my mid teens Though art was still apart of the scheme I’m writing rhymes, part time Trying to hop on the scene I won’t be ignored Wasn’t hard to make green creativity And drive made my hustling keen, couldn’t stop me I was just spreadin my wings, trying to live out my dreams Wanted to live like Akeem and King Jaffe Raps on point but my grade’s obscene Momma saying I should join the marines I mean the army She think no college probably want a kid like me I told her let them see my art and we’ll see. Shouldn’t doubt me Meanwhile, teachers taking me to schools to speak And show my work, yo these youngin’ were me but even better Saw I made a difference later on when they would visit Then join the school I attended, look, another new beginning… Eh ma, by the way, peep this Pratt acceptance letter Never say never. HOOK VERSE 3 Now as a man, Stan managed to stand On my own when life was sketchy ‘cause I drew up a plan To combine my art and music and expand my brand Giving back to my students and of course the fans I’m sure my purpose is service So I see our challenges and work it out the best I can Below the surface, don’t do it for the vine or cam Fronting for a little backing never part of the plan So what you here for? Me? Busy chasing down these dreams When they close enough to see I be like “there it go” Got’cha! Never will I knock a-nother trying to discover Their path and where it leads. We travel at different speeds Battle until we bleed when it’s looking rather bleak Courage gather from deep til grasp what we seek Long for it like Nia but Nia is what we needed Some will chase it forever and may never get to see it (Most don’t see what I see / Most don’t hear what I hear) HOOK
6.
7.
Our Message 02:51
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11.
Gift Raps 03:15
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about

WINTER BREAKS 1
Independent Hip Hop duo Bop Alloy will release their first, holiday project on December 9, 2014. In February 2014, Bop Alloy was able to fund their 2nd LP, ‘Another Day in the Life of...’ using Kickstarter. The initial goal of the project was $7000. They more than doubled that amount in under one month and issued stretch goals, one of which included a holiday EP that would become ‘Winter Breaks’.

‘Winter Breaks’ compiles 6 sonically vintage Hip Hop tracks. Producer, Marcus D handles the live instrumentation mixes masterfully while infusing jazz, soul, and a pinch of Afrobeat samples. Lyrically, Substantial touches on the personal, social, and economical effects of the Holiday season, using thoughtful lyricism, wit, and a variety of flows to paint a different portrait of Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s.

“I wanted to do something that wasn’t a traditional Christmas/Holiday album. I celebrate Kwanzaa as well and I set out to make songs that give you a peek into this underexposed, wonderful world”, says Substantial.

“Regardless of how you celebrate, what you celebrate, and/or who you celebrate it with, this is the best time of year, and I think ‘Winter Breaks’ embodies that sentiment without the cliche "holiday raps factor”, says Marcus D. The ‘Winter Breaks’ EP is sure to be the only holiday music you’ll be playing from now through February.

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WINTER BREAKS 2
As we approach what may be an exceedingly difficult holiday season for most, Bop Alloy returns with Winter Breaks 2 hoping to end an abysmal year on a high note.

The tracks on Winter Breaks 2 exude light, warmth, honesty, and hope from every pore, which is exactly what you've come to expect from the intercontinental jazz hip hop duo.
One of the project's standout tracks, "What's it Without You" aptly captures the sentiment of the year with Substantial rapping, "Rather embrace the pain than run and hide from the truth/ that's my point of view/ hard to know what to do/ supposed to be 2020, our whole perspective is skewed/". Pismo's angelic vocal arrangement (which could easily be mistaken as a small choir) and T. Lucas' emotional letter to his father and everyone who lost loved ones this year hit differently.

But as always, even in times of global crisis and uncertainty, Bop Alloy chooses to accentuate the positive on tracks like "Our Message", "Same Energy", and "'Twas the Night Before", which plays like a much cooler, (and way less rapey) jazz-club duet version of "Baby It's Cold Outside" featuring a spectacular performance from Debórah Bond reminiscent of Ella in her prime. The duo ends the album with a poignant tribute to the parents who work miracles year after year to keep the holiday spirit alive for their children no matter the sacrifices. If Bop Alloy's Winter Breaks isn't already part of your holiday tradition, then 2020 might be the perfect year for you to try something new.

credits

released December 3, 2021

All songs written, produced, mixed, and mastered by Substantial & Marcus D.

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Substantial Alexandria, Virginia

Virginia based International Hip Hop Recording Artist from Maryland.

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