Binary Star is an underground hip-hop duo from Pontiac, Michigan. The two members, Senim Sill and One Be Lo, formed the group in 1998 and released Water World in 1999. One year later, they remixed their debut album and renamed it Masters of the Universe, which eventually became a well-known LP. The duo grew apart and had a falling out due to artistic differences in 2000, but they recently collaborated and released a new album in March 2013, more than 13 years after their split up. In “Honest Expression” Binary Star explains that hip-hop is a worthy and valuable form of art that needs to be respected with more honesty and less commercialization.
I’m going to put it on the table
I ain’t a thug nigga and player. I ain’t playful
I’m just Senim Silla, man without label
Standing on my own two. You’re trying to stay stable
Speaking what I know to only what I’m able
I ain’t the kind of guy who carry on for dough
The material cat who walk around for show
I’m just your everyday, merry way Joe on the go
While others go with the flow-Senim Silla
Grammar: ‘Everyday’ and ‘Every day’
Everyday and every day are pronounced exactly the same way. Everyday is one word and every day is two words, but what is the difference?
- everyday (adjective) – common and ordinary. I am just an everyday guy. I am not a special man, and most people think I’m an average Joe.
- every day (adverb) – daily. I listen to hip-hop every day. In other words, I listen to hip-hop 7 days a week.
- Every day is an adverb that can begin or end a sentence, but it cannot take mid-sentence position.
- I listen to hip-hop music every day.
- Every day I listen to hip-hop music. (less common)
He every day listens to rap music.
Vocabulary
- put it on the table (idiom) – to be completely honest. I’m going to put it on the table and tell you exactly what happened. I kissed your girlfriend last night!
- carry on (phrasal verb) – to continue doing something, especially after a difficult ordeal. Binary Star broke up in 2000, but they carried on and made music independently.
- dough (slang) – money. Some rappers only make music for dough. They do not care about hip-hop music as an art.
- material cat (slang) – a man who is obsessed with money and possessions. Some rappers are just material cats who chase after fast cars, women and dough.
- average Joe (idiom) – an ordinary man. Senim Silla is just an average Joe. He is just an everyday guy, but I think he’s so cool!
- go with the flow (phrase) – to do what others are doing or to have the same opinion. Some people cannot go with the flow, and society considers them misfits.
Discussion Questions
Is it important to be honest all the time? Is it ever acceptable to tell a lie or to be dishonest? Some people try to be different, which might be different from their real personality and identity. Why is it important to be true to yourself? Please write your comments below.