Its my name.

I live in Eugene, Oregon during the school year, and Cleveland Heights, Ohio during the summer.

It enables music to spread very quickly which is great, but makes it harder to sell music since you can easily get it for free

Money
Ari Lesser
8/9/06


It ain’t about the money man, its about the sound
If you about the money man don’t even hang around
It ain’t about the money man, its about the flow
If you about the money man I think you better go

If was offered a deal, but have to change my sound
I'd tell those f***ers, I’d rather stay underground
Cause I’m not about the money and I’m not about the fame
I’d much rather have a message than I celebrated name
I won’t make shitty music just make a few bucks
I’d rather make no money than a record that sucks
To me it doesn’t matter how much money you shell-out
There’s no amount of cash that could cause me to sell-out
I love saying what I feel, and I’m never going to risk it
You want sign a sell-out go talk to Limp Bizkit
I’m not someone’s bi***, I don’t take any orders
Rather rap on the and street make a pocket full of quarters

It ain’t about the money man, its about the sound
If you about the money man don’t even hang around
It ain’t about the money man, its about the flow
If you about the money man I think you better go

I try to keep things simplistic my writing’s realistic
The music on the radio’s materialistic
I’m sick of other rappers talking about greed
You don’t need money in order to succeed
You think you a star cause you wearing new timbs
And you drive a new car with some 20” rims
I don’t want to hear a song about your mouth full of gold
Cause it doesn’t take long for that sh*** to get old
I don’t care about your bling, I don’t care about your stuff
I don’t care about your things, I got more than enough
You think that your wealth is what makes you impressive
Stop talking about yourself and say something progressive

It ain’t about the money man, its about the sound
If you about the money man don’t even hang around
It ain’t about the money man, its about the flow
If you about the money man I think you better go

I’m all about life, I’m about having fun
I’m all about the earth and I’m all about the sun
I’m all about family, I’m all about friends
I’m all about peace from beginning to end
I’m all about doing whatever it takes
I’m all about mountains, I’m all about lakes
I’m all about the ocean, I’m all about the trees
I’m all about you, and I’m all about me
I’m all about laughing at things that are funny
I’m all about the universe below and above
But I don’t care too much for money
Cause money can’t buy me love

It ain’t about the money man, its about the sound
If you about the money man don’t even hang around
It ain’t about the money man, its about the flow
If you about the money man I think you better go

My name is Ari Lesser, I'm 20 years old, and I was born and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. I graduated from Cleveland Heights High School, and now I am a Junior at the University of Oregon in Eugene. I am currently working on my Political Science major, and I have already have a minor in Business Administration. In case you didn't know Eugene is ground zero for the Hip Hop revolution that will soon be seen sweeping the nation.

I write and perform intelligent, conscious, and often political Hip Hop. I feel very strongly that the war in Iraq is an unjust war, that there must be a reinvestigation of the September 11 attacks, that George W. Bush cheated to win the presidential election in both 2000 and 2004, and since then has repeatedly lied to the American people, about everything from the Environment to the War in Iraq, and that the Bush Administration is the worst administration in the history of the United States. Now that the Democrats have regained control on the House and Senate they should attempt to Impeach Bush and his Posse and have them all tried for war crimes.

Alongside my conscious lyrics, I have a number of other songs that are meant to make people laugh and entertain them, and do not reflect my values and beliefs. Many of these songs are profane, chauvinistic, hedonistic, and sarcastic. I specifically label them as Ignorance, because (along with almost all mainstream rap you hear on the radio) that is what they are. So if you come across one of my ignorant songs, know that I do not in any way condone drug abuse, sexism, racism, or violence. Rather, these songs are my attempt to show the absurdity of the fact that these are the major themes in most mainstream hip hop.

On a side note, my family owns The Funny Times newspaper, which is America's longest running ad-free humor publication, and we have about 75,000 subscribers worldwide. Every month The Funny Times compiles the funniest short stories and cartoons, both political and nonpolitical, from writers and cartoonists around the country. If you're interested in Humor, Politics, and Fun, check us out at funnytimes.com.

Immortal Technique and Sublime are very influential.
Also Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, John Lennon, Afroman, and Rage Against the Machine

Eugene, Oregon and Cleveland, Ohio

My mouth and brain.