Miller rose to popularity in the early 2010s with an experimental approach to Southern hip hop. His debut album Mista Thug Isolation gained him notoriety in the underground hip hop scene. Since then, he has experimented with a number of styles within and outside the hip hop genre, most recently releasing the indie rock album Volcanic Bird Enemy and the Voiced Concern. His other work spans genres including instrumental and abstract hip hop, black metal, free jazz and noise music.
Career
Miller began recording music in the 2000s under a number of aliases. Much of his early music cannot be found today on the internet, however some of it has been re-released, such as on his Register compilation album. Some of his early work included the black metal projects Vudmurk and Seidhr, the industrial and noise projects Across, Public Garden and Rats, and the underground hip hop group The Legacy, during which time he rapped under the name Young Gus.
Miller began releasing hip hop under the name Lil Ugly Mane on Bandcamp and producing beats for himself and other artists under the name Shawn Kemp in 2010, releasing his debut mixtape Playaz Circle in 2011. His early work under the Lil Ugly Mane name drew on various styles of underground Southern hip hop from the 1990s such as Memphis rap and chopped and screwed. His style was similar to that of the contemporaneous Raider Klan collective, with whom he collaborated. His 2012 debut album Mista Thug Isolation earned positive reviews from Mishka NYC, among others and support from members of the popular hip hop collective Odd Future. The album has since been hailed as a classic of the 2010s underground hip hop scene, earning later praise from Pitchfork and The Needle Drop. The album was followed by a number of smaller releases, including the Uneven Compromise EP, which is ranked in the top 10 greatest EPs of all time by user-generated music review site RateYourMusic, and the single "On Doing an Evil Deed Blues", in which he outlined his grievances with the music industry and his intention to retire the Lil Ugly Mane project.
Miller announced he would release one final album under the Lil Ugly Mane name, and began sporadically releasing compilations of beats and older material on Bandcamp, including the Three Sided Tape series, the final installment of which, Third Side of Tape, received positive coverage from Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop among others. In 2015, Miller released what was intended to be the final Lil Ugly Mane album – Oblivion Access and the final Shawn Kemp project – Trick Dice, a collaboration with rapper Nickelus F. Oblivion Access saw Lil Ugly Mane taking a more experimental approach divorced from his earlier '90s Southern rap influences.
In 2017, Miller announced he would continue rapping under the name Bedwetter and released his debut project under the name – Vol. 1: Flick Your Tongue Against Your Teeth and Describe the Present. The album continued with the more introspective and experimental style of Oblivion Access. Around the same time however, Miller began rapping under the Lil Ugly Mane name again as part of the group Secret Circle with Antwon and Wiki. After releasing a few singles, the group disbanded and scrapped their debut album due to a personal falling out. Miller began working with the remaining members of GothBoiClique, however then appeared to go on hiatus, only releasing small collections of older material sporadically.
In 2021, Miller began releasing new music under the Lil Ugly Mane name. He released the single "Headboard", followed by "Porcelain Slightly" and then his third major release under the Lil Ugly Mane name – Volcanic Bird Enemy and the Voiced Concern, which was covered positively by Sputnik Music and Stereogum. Around the same time, Miller released a new black metal demo under the Vudmurk name.
Throw Dem Gunz
Lil Ugly Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comin' at ya with that real
Let me put it down on all these hoes, ya heard me?
Sewers to the slums where I'm from
Yeah I'm gettin' dumb
Yeah I'm feelin' numb when that herb fill up in my lungs
My swagger actin' foul, blackin' out
Roofie up my absinthe in the club, before I stagger out
Live or die, I'd rather take the latter route
Take the latter route
Rope around my neck and kick the ladder out
There's no need to drag it out
28 grams, gotta bag 'em out
Standin' in the rain feelin' bad about
The mommas losin' jobs over the rocks
That I be passin' out in vast amounts
As fast as I can trash an ounce
The first to come, the last to bounce
Countin' pen just put the block into a frenzy
The Glock is my appendage
I will pop you out the Bentley
Never catch a player actin' friendly
Talkin' to the devil like he sent me
If you got big guns throw 'em up
Break that ho, split that dutch
Stick 'em up, bitch, stick 'em up
Got some skrilla let 'em know
Stack yo money, sniff that blow
Tell me how that pussy hittin' bitch
You know I keeps it low
Still on that real, ya heard me?
Lil Ugly Mane, 2012, ya heard me?
Fuck all ya hoes, bitch!
In Lil Ugly Mane's song Throw Dem Gunz, the lyrics describe a life of drugs and violence in the ghetto. The opening lines establish Lil Ugly Mane's presence as he comes in strong with realness. The song takes place in the sewers and slums where Lil Ugly Mane is getting dumb and feeling numb from smoking weed. He blackens out from his swagger acting foul and drinking roofied absinthe in the club. He is not afraid of death and would rather take his chances with it than the alternatives. As he stands in the rain feeling bad about the mommas losing jobs over the rocks that he is passing out in vast amounts, he is also counting pennies to put the block into a frenzy. His Glock is his appendage as he pops out of the Bentley with his big guns and splits dutch. He is unapologetic and rough, talking to the devil like he was sent by him.
The song highlights the harsh realities of life in the ghetto, where drugs and violence are rampant. The lyrics are raw and explicit, providing a glimpse into the lives of those who live in poverty. The imagery used is powerful, painting vivid pictures of the streets and the people who inhabit them. Lil Ugly Mane's delivery is aggressive, matching the tone of the song and the subject matter.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah motherfucker, Lil Ugly Mane in this bitch
Lil Ugly Mane is introducing himself with strong language.
Comin' at ya with that real
Lil Ugly Mane is presenting genuine content.
Let me put it down on all these hoes, ya heard me?
Lil Ugly Mane is vocalizing his intention to speak to and impress all his listeners.
Sewers to the slums where I'm from
Lil Ugly Mane is stating that he is from an impoverished and rough area.
Yeah I'm gettin' dumb
Lil Ugly Mane is feeling inebriated or foolish.
Yeah I'm feelin' numb when that herb fill up in my lungs
Lil Ugly Mane is describing his physical and emotional state when smoking marijuana.
My swagger actin' foul, blackin' out
Lil Ugly Mane is suggesting that his presentation of himself is inappropriate and he is losing consciousness.
Roofie up my absinthe in the club, before I stagger out
Lil Ugly Mane admits to spiking his drink with a date rape drug and leaving the establishment in a drunken state.
Live or die, I'd rather take the latter route
Lil Ugly Mane is making a reference to committing suicide.
Take the latter route
He further emphasizes his preference to commit suicide.
Rope around my neck and kick the ladder out
Lil Ugly Mane describes how he will commit suicide.
There's no need to drag it out
Lil Ugly Mane is saying that there is no point in prolonging his life in misery.
28 grams, gotta bag 'em out
Lil Ugly Mane mentions the quantity of drugs that he has to divide into smaller bags for sale.
Standin' in the rain feelin' bad about
Lil Ugly Mane expresses guilt and remorse while being in inclement weather.
The mommas losin' jobs over the rocks
Lil Ugly Mane is admitting that mothers lost their jobs due to their addiction to the drugs he sells.
That I be passin' out in vast amounts
Lil Ugly Mane admits to selling drugs in huge quantities.
As fast as I can trash an ounce
Lil Ugly Mane is referring to how quickly he can sell an ounce of drugs.
The first to come, the last to bounce
Lil Ugly Mane describes how he always shows up first and leaves last.
Countin' pen just put the block into a frenzy
Lil Ugly Mane is admitting that people in his area get excited when he counts his money.
The Glock is my appendage
Lil Ugly Mane strongly identifies with his firearm.
I will pop you out the Bentley
Lil Ugly Mane states that he would shoot someone in their luxury car.
Never catch a player actin' friendly
Lil Ugly Mane never shows kindness or mercy.
Talkin' to the devil like he sent me
Lil Ugly Mane believes that Satan has a hand in his success.
If you got big guns throw 'em up
Lil Ugly Mane is encouraging those with large firearms to show them off.
Break that ho, split that dutch
Lil Ugly Mane is suggesting to have sex with a woman and smoke marijuana.
Stick 'em up, bitch, stick 'em up
Lil Ugly Mane's commanding someone to put their hands up.
Got some skrilla let 'em know
Lil Ugly Mane instructs someone to show off their money.
Stack yo money, sniff that blow
Lil Ugly Mane tells people to save their money but use their drugs.
Tell me how that pussy hittin' bitch
Lil Ugly Mane is asking someone how their sexual experience is.
You know I keeps it low
Lil Ugly Mane values his privacy.
Still on that real, ya heard me?
Lil Ugly Mane is continually presenting authentic content.
Lil Ugly Mane, 2012, ya heard me?
Lil Ugly Mane states his name and the year when the song was produced.
Fuck all ya hoes, bitch!
Lil Ugly Mane expresses disdain to all his female listeners.
Writer(s): Lil Ugly Mane
Contributed by William Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.