Gibson's Story

"Gibson's Story"
Single by Flying Thunder
from the EP Bone Apple Teeth
Released	2017-12-17
Format	CD
Recorded	2017
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:02
Label	DatPiff.com
Songwriter(s)	Antoine Delacour
Producer(s)	Slick Rick

"Gibson's Story" is a song recorded by American hip hop artist, Flying Thunder. Taken from his mixtape Bone Apple Teeth, the song was a surprise hit among fans of the National Simulation Football League.

Background

The song is a re-telling of the story of Baltimore Hawks tight end, Carmel Gibson, who was suspended from the NSFL in the wake of a substance abuse scandal. It re-uses the exact same beat and song structure as the Slick Rick classic "Children's Story", which interpolates the notes of the bassline from Bob James' song "Nautilus". It is framed as Flying Thunder telling a bedtime story to his niece and nephew, much like Slick Rick did in the original Children's Story. Through the track, Flying Thunder tells the story of Carmel Gibson, his then-teammate with the Hawks. From his college graduation up to his suspension from the league, including the fallout of the revelations, and how it impacted the Hawks organisation at the time.

Reception

DatPiff.com listed it at 37 on their list of the top 100 rap songs of the year, and the song's popularity led to Bone Apple Teeth surging up the download charts. In the offseason following the 2017 ISFL season, Delacour was offered a record deal with Soul Temple. Though he declined, it did lead to a friendship with RZA and the Wu-Tang Clan.

Lyrics

Once upon a time not long ago
When people wore pajamas and lived life slow
When leagues were stern and justice stood
And players were behavin' like they ought ta good

There lived a college grad who was misled
By pharmaceutical reps and this is what they said:
"Listen up kid, and you can pad your stats,
Blockin' at the line and then makin' the catch"

They gave him drugs, glory came with ease
But homie couldn't stop, it's like he had a disease
He popped another and another, pancaked dudes like they was nothin'
Then he caught the interest of a journo, undercover

The journo smelled a fish, and started analyzin'
He said "Holy shit, these numbers are surprizin'!"
He started counting up, and he did the math
A hundred ten doses was the count that he had

Rolled up on our grad and said "Are you on TPE?"
The grad was silent, but his eyes were shifty
The journo got pushy and the grad stayed quiet
Thinking "This comes out, the whole league will riot"

So he cold dashed and went into hiding
Article released, tempers were rising
The grad stayed silent, let them investigate him
Looked on stoically and ignored all the baiting
All the furore around his team, all these accusations
The issue reached the top of this sim league nation
But dude was in the wind, might as well be dead
Didn't make a peep, nor sound, not even a breath

His GM made statements and swore his innocence
His teammates too, one and all they figured that
His elevated performance was just unexplained
The universe is mysterious what more could they say?

But players in the league were not impressed
And argued his team had more but now should have less
They said "They were cheating! That's not right!"
Couldn't help but feel some of the claims were spite

Head office disagreed and cleared his team
The grad was gonna come back, it had all been a dream
But then he heard word, still in trouble he was
Crashed back to Earth, lost all his buzz

Career was alive but his rep was in tatters
Released from his team, now the dream was shattered
Ran out of T weeks ago, still had a habit
Stormed a pharmacy, and aggressively demanded
Had the owner by the coat, said he was gonna be the G.O.A.T
He told the staff "Bring TPE or homie here's toast"
Deep in his heart he knew he was wrong
So he let the owner go and he starts to run on

It was all so strange, not what he'd intended
Then he got the call to say he was suspended
He dropped his cell, so went the glory
And this is the way I have to end this story

He was only twenty-three, in a madman's dream
The league ruined kid, I still hear him scream
This ain't funny so don't ya dare laugh
Just another case about the wrong path

Straight 'n narrow or yo' soul gets cast
Good night