The Rapper Inside- Introducing The Neapolitan
Joey Racano as the rapper 'Napoletan' on Comedy Central commercial for Tosh.0:
https://youtu.be/Y-SomtujyPU?t=26s
Joey as The Neapolitan, pronounced 'Nah Blee Don'
As a young rock musician growing up in Long Island, there always seemed to be some part of me uncomfortable with the other parts. In the late 1970's, for instance, I spent my days immersed in the lost art of *'record copying' rock guitar solos by day, and dressing in a 3 piece suit by night and haunting the biggest nightclubs in New York during the heyday of Disco. People who knew me as a musician would comment on the striking dichotomy, saying, "You play that stuff during the day and then come out to a disco?"
*(Record copying: The lost art of using one hand on the fretboard and the other picking the turntable needle up and down, over and over until you figure out the 'lick' in a guitar solo. No fancy instructional videos back in the days of analog and the Hi-fi Victrola!)
But disco had its redeeming qualities. There were some great songwriters, crossover gospel singers and the drummers and bass players were forced to stay 'in the pocket'- (keep the beat!). And besides- Disco is where RAP MUSIC came from. Later on, a new musical dichotomy arose within me. I was long ago a fairly accomplished musician when I recognized that something was gnawing at me from the inside. That something was a loud, boisterous Italian American wildman from inner city Brooklyn and Queens, not satisfied with sitting onstage playing gut bucket blues, helping people drown their sorrows. I wanted to RAP. Hell, I HAD to rap!
As a big mouthed, non-stop talker always using my 'outside voice', I was a natural. All it took was one excursion freestyling onstage at a bar to see the enormous difference in the reaction Rap music draws from people. When I rap, the whole club is dancing. Every head is bobbing to the beat. And that turns me the F*** ON!!
There is a niche to be filled by the Neapolitan, and it is one of Brooklyn, Italian bravura and braggadocio. Where I grew up, everyone portrayed themselves as the hottest thing since toasted jam, and it was fun. It was hilarious, even. Rap takes me back. And it lets me say in jest what I may actually be egocentric enough to believe, in the secret recesses of my megalomania. And again, anybody who has ever suffered through a one-way conversation with me will tell you I was born to rap. So, along with pursuing my rock, rhythm & blues, I decided to finally let it all out and do a Rap CD. That CD is entitled 'The Neapolitan.' I found recording it to be an incredibly emotional experience, dredging up all manner of long suppressed pathologos and such, little demons hidden deeply inside. The Italian upbringing, the inner-city horror stories of just trying to make it to my elementary school without being shot for my lunch money. That photo of the school up top? That is a real picture of the school I went to! It's a lot like a prison. I highly recommend my Neapolitan CD. Don't forget to check out the guitar solo I did on 'Beware of the Dog.' It was recorded the day my dog had to be put to sleep and it is a heart wrencher. Dedicated to you, Champion- RIP.
Here is the title cut from The Neapolitan, entitled, 'The Neapolitan':
*(Record copying: The lost art of using one hand on the fretboard and the other picking the turntable needle up and down, over and over until you figure out the 'lick' in a guitar solo. No fancy instructional videos back in the days of analog and the Hi-fi Victrola!)
But disco had its redeeming qualities. There were some great songwriters, crossover gospel singers and the drummers and bass players were forced to stay 'in the pocket'- (keep the beat!). And besides- Disco is where RAP MUSIC came from. Later on, a new musical dichotomy arose within me. I was long ago a fairly accomplished musician when I recognized that something was gnawing at me from the inside. That something was a loud, boisterous Italian American wildman from inner city Brooklyn and Queens, not satisfied with sitting onstage playing gut bucket blues, helping people drown their sorrows. I wanted to RAP. Hell, I HAD to rap!
As a big mouthed, non-stop talker always using my 'outside voice', I was a natural. All it took was one excursion freestyling onstage at a bar to see the enormous difference in the reaction Rap music draws from people. When I rap, the whole club is dancing. Every head is bobbing to the beat. And that turns me the F*** ON!!
There is a niche to be filled by the Neapolitan, and it is one of Brooklyn, Italian bravura and braggadocio. Where I grew up, everyone portrayed themselves as the hottest thing since toasted jam, and it was fun. It was hilarious, even. Rap takes me back. And it lets me say in jest what I may actually be egocentric enough to believe, in the secret recesses of my megalomania. And again, anybody who has ever suffered through a one-way conversation with me will tell you I was born to rap. So, along with pursuing my rock, rhythm & blues, I decided to finally let it all out and do a Rap CD. That CD is entitled 'The Neapolitan.' I found recording it to be an incredibly emotional experience, dredging up all manner of long suppressed pathologos and such, little demons hidden deeply inside. The Italian upbringing, the inner-city horror stories of just trying to make it to my elementary school without being shot for my lunch money. That photo of the school up top? That is a real picture of the school I went to! It's a lot like a prison. I highly recommend my Neapolitan CD. Don't forget to check out the guitar solo I did on 'Beware of the Dog.' It was recorded the day my dog had to be put to sleep and it is a heart wrencher. Dedicated to you, Champion- RIP.
Here is the title cut from The Neapolitan, entitled, 'The Neapolitan':
About the 'Neapolitan' CD...
The Neapolitan was recorded at Lupine Song Recording Studio in Los Osos, California on a 16 Track BR1600CD BOSS mixer, engineered by Frank Ring jr.
All guitars, acoustic and electric by Joey Racano
All Lead Vocals and most backups by Joey Racano
Additional backing vocals by Sandra Brazil (also Producer), Heather Sheridan, Adam Flood and others.
Bass by Joey Racano except on Beware of the Dog and Glass of Vino, Bass by James Edward Theobald
All songs written by Joey Racano
"Welcome to the show, come and listen to the story, all about Joe and his Chicken Cacciotore.
Tomato paste, ricotta and puree, prepare to taste the sauce of fury." From 'Glass of Vino'
-The Neapolitan
The Neapolitan was recorded at Lupine Song Recording Studio in Los Osos, California on a 16 Track BR1600CD BOSS mixer, engineered by Frank Ring jr.
All guitars, acoustic and electric by Joey Racano
All Lead Vocals and most backups by Joey Racano
Additional backing vocals by Sandra Brazil (also Producer), Heather Sheridan, Adam Flood and others.
Bass by Joey Racano except on Beware of the Dog and Glass of Vino, Bass by James Edward Theobald
All songs written by Joey Racano
"Welcome to the show, come and listen to the story, all about Joe and his Chicken Cacciotore.
Tomato paste, ricotta and puree, prepare to taste the sauce of fury." From 'Glass of Vino'
-The Neapolitan
"The drums beat sound with a mighty din about half-past ten when the bass kicked in. The Neapolitan waved his magic wand, put the amp on ten and started turning it on" -The Neapolitan