Bas was born in Paris, France, in 1987, to Sudanese parents. At the age of 8, his family moved to New York City. He attended St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, New York.
In 2011, Bas released his debut mixtape titled Quarter Water Raised Vol. 1. In 2013, his second mixtape was released entitled, Quarter Water Raised Vol. 2.
In 2013, Bas was featured on J. Cole's "New York Times" along with 50 Cent from Cole's album Born Sinner, and then on DJ Khaled's "Hells Kitchen" from Suffering from Success. He then appeared on the Dreamville compilation mixtape Revenge of the Dreamers. That mixtape was released in celebration of Dreamville's partnership with Interscope Records, resulting in Bas being signed to Interscope. Two weeks prior to the release of his debut album Last Winter, Bas released a free EP titled Two Weeks Notice.
Last Winter was released on April 29, 2014, by Dreamville Records/Interscope Records. The album was a conceptual project that touches on the cold days in New York City recording the album. The album was supported by the single "My Nigga Just Made Bail" produced by GP808 and featured guest appearances by J. Cole. Last Winter would debut at 103 on the Billboard 200 with 3,601 copies sold in its first week.
Following its release, Bas went on a 10-city nationwide tour titled after the album. Bas followed his own "Last Winter" tour by going on a 24-city nationwide and international tour with TDE rapper Ab-Soul. In 2015, Bas supported J. Cole on the '2014 Forest Hills Drive' Tour alongside Omen, Cozz, Jeremih, YG, and Big Sean.
Bas released his second album, Too High to Riot on March 4, 2016. The album also includes guest appearances from his labelmates J. Cole and Cozz, as well as the Hics. The album would debut at 49 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 10,965 copies in its first week. He also later released a music video for each song on the album. Bas went on tour after the album in June 2016 with Cozz and EarthGang. It included 26 cities in North America and 10 cities in Europe. On January 29, 2017, the documentary highlighting the tour was released on Tidal.
On April 10, 2018, Bas released the one-off single "Pinball II", featuring Correy C. The first single for his third album "Boca Raton" was released on June 19, and featured ASAP Ferg. On August 22, he released the second single "Tribe" featuring J. Cole. Bas released his third album, Milky Way on August 24, 2018. The album debuted at number 35 on the Billboard 200, selling 13,150 album-equivalent units in the first week. Bas announced a 43-city tour to support the album, which began in November 2018 and concluded in February 2019. In late 2018, Bas announced he was working on an album with frequent collaborators, The Hics, the album is due out in late 2021 to early 2022.
Tribe
Bas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This one's for you
I think I made it
I think I made it, I think I made it
'Cause I'm always smiling, and you are the reason now
Girl, I can't explain it
It's all in the timing, I had to get low
I had to get low
I had to get back, I had to report
I had to get facts 'cause you are just that, you that
Girl, you share your truths with me
And I find them true, amused, you in the booth with me
Can't spoil time on nickeling and diming
I got me a girl, she don't want no diamonds
A daily reminder to holler at God
Like where did you find her? Good looking, my nigga
Everything 'round me I took it
Did it with only the niggas I knew
And a few niggas I thought I knew better
There go my bitches, I always do better
But, you're more top echelon
My next probably be a step backwards
Niggas front when they get struck with love
Like in drama, they used to be the best actors
I'm done with all that tough acting
John Madden when I saw it happen, and so it happens
My niggas want life's good things, they still dreaming
And you deserve them too, I'ma do it just so it happens
I think I made it, I think I made it
'Cause I'm always smiling, and you are the reason now
Girl, I can't explain it
It's all in the timing, I had to get low, I had to get low
I had to get back, I had to report
I had to get facts 'cause you are just that, you that
You share your truths with me
And I find them true, amused, you in the booth with me
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (this one's for you)
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (this one's for you)
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (I'm hella faded)
La, la, la, la, la (yeah)
La, la, la, la, la
I'm hella faded, I'm hella faded
These niggas been hating, I don't know the reason now
Sometimes I feel jaded
They don't see the real me
They only know Cole, they only know Co-ole
I had to get back, I had to resort to turning my back
I'm doing just that, true that
I thought He was through with me, but that wasn't true
The proof? You in the coupe with me
God shuffled the cards, dealt me a hand with impossible odds
Put an obstacle course up
Look, and I conquered them all (conquered them all)
With minimal effort I'm fresher than sock in your drawer (fuck)
They spinning my records so heavy, I'm topping the Forbes
Stuck in a rock in a hard place though
Is it true what they say? The higher you go, the longer the fall?
Well I dropped to the floor then knocking the door was on queue
I thought that I saw it all 'til I saw you
Now I call you when the sun shines and the rain dries up
I'm a pit bull, but for you I be on chain tied up (one more time)
In the backyard with a muzzle on tail wagging like Oregon Trail
Waiting on you to come through just like you do, well
I think I made it, I think I made it
'Cause I'm always smiling, and you are the reason now
Girl, I can't explain it
It's all in the timing, I had to get low, I had to get low
I had to get back, I had to report
I had to get facts 'cause you are just that, you that
You share your truths with me
And I find them true, amused, you in the booth with me
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (this one's for you)
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (this one's for you)
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (this one's for you)
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
I think I made it
I think I made it
I think I made it, I think I made it
'Cause I'm always smiling and you are the reason now
The song “Tribe” by Bas is an ode to the love of his life. Throughout the song, he expresses his love and gratitude for her and how she has helped him through his journey. Bas acknowledges that he had to go through difficult times in order to come out on top, but thanks to his partner, he was able to make it through.
In the first verse, Bas talks about how he’s always smiling now, and it’s all because of his partner. He feels like he’s made it, and he couldn’t have done it without her. She’s someone who shares her truths with him, and he finds her honesty amusing. He describes how he had to get low and report back with facts because of her - she’s that important to him.
In the second verse, Bas talks about how he’s hella faded and how some people have been hating on him. But he doesn’t let that get to him because he knows who he truly is, and now he has someone who sees that in him too. He acknowledges that he thought God was through with him, but then he met his partner, and his outlook changed. He compares himself to a pitbull, loyal and strong, but for his partner, he’s willing to be on a chain tied up. He’s waiting for her to come through because he knows that’s what she does - she supports him every step of the way.
Overall, “Tribe” is a powerful and emotional tribute to the love of Bas’s life. It speaks to the importance of having a partner who supports you through thick and thin and the value of true love.
Line by Line Meaning
This one's for you
Dedicated to the person listening to the song
I think I made it, I think I made it
I feel successful and accomplished
'Cause I'm always smiling, and you are the reason now
You bring me happiness and joy
Girl, I can't explain it
I can't put into words how you make me feel
It's all in the timing, I had to get low
I had to go through tough moments before reaching success
I had to get back, I had to report
I had to come back and share my journey with others
I had to get facts 'cause you are just that, you that
I had to gather information and details to describe how amazing you are
Girl, you share your truths with me
You open up to me and share your authentic self
And I find them true, amused, you in the booth with me
I connect with your honesty and enjoy creating music with you
Can't spoil time on nickeling and diming
We shouldn't waste time focusing on trivial things
I got me a girl, she don't want no diamonds
My girlfriend values things beyond material possessions
A daily reminder to holler at God
I remind myself to give thanks and praise to a higher power
Like where did you find her? Good looking, my nigga
People are impressed by my girlfriend's beauty
Everything 'round me I took it
I seized opportunities and made the most out of my surroundings
Did it with only the niggas I knew
I achieved success with the people I trusted
And a few niggas I thought I knew better
I also included some acquaintances whom I trusted
There go my bitches, I always do better
I outperform my previous romantic partners
But, you're more top echelon
You are in a class above all my past partners
My next probably be a step backwards
It will be difficult to find someone better than you
Niggas front when they get struck with love
People pretend not to care when they are smitten with someone
Like in drama, they used to be the best actors
They become great at pretending to not care about their feelings
I'm done with all that tough acting
I am over acting tough and avoiding my true feelings
John Madden when I saw it happen, and so it happens
I witnessed the connection between us and knew it was meant to happen
My niggas want life's good things, they still dreaming
My friends want success, but they are still hoping and imagining
And you deserve them too, I'ma do it just so it happens
You deserve success and I will make sure it happens for you
I'm hella faded, I'm hella faded
I am really drunk or high
These niggas been hating, I don't know the reason now
Some people dislike me for no apparent reason
Sometimes I feel jaded
Sometimes I feel discouraged and cynical
They don't see the real me
Some people only know me on the surface level
They only know Cole, they only know Co-ole
They only know my public persona, not my true self
I had to get back, I had to resort to turning my back
I had to go back to being myself and not trying to please others
I'm doing just that, true that
I am being true to myself
I thought He was through with me, but that wasn't true
I believed that God had given up on me, but that was not the case
The proof? You in the coupe with me
You being with me is evidence that God still favors me
God shuffled the cards, dealt me a hand with impossible odds
I was faced with difficult challenges in life
Put an obstacle course up, Look, and I conquered them all
I overcame all of these obstacles with ease and determination
With minimal effort I'm fresher than sock in your drawer
I look and feel good without trying very hard
They spinning my records so heavy, I'm topping the Forbes
My music is extremely popular and I am very successful
Stuck in a rock in a hard place though
I am in a difficult situation
Is it true what they say? The higher you go, the longer the fall?
Is it true that the further you succeed, the harder the failure hits?
Well I dropped to the floor then knocking the door was on queue
I experienced a major setback but quickly began to recover
I thought that I saw it all 'til I saw you
I thought I understood life until I met you and realized I still have much to learn
Now I call you when the sun shines and the rain dries up
I depend on you in good and bad times
I'm a pit bull, but for you I be on chain tied up (one more time)
I am fierce and stubborn, but willing to be loyal and committed to you
In the backyard with a muzzle on tail wagging like Oregon Trail
I am happy and excited to be with you
Waiting on you to come through just like you do, well
I rely on you to be there for me, and you never disappoint
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Abbas Hamad, Fernando Lobo, Jermaine Lamarr Cole, Markus Alandrus Randle, Paulo Valente Soledade
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind