Starting out as a 2-man project ¡MAYDAY! has since evolved into a full-fledged 6-man band with a buzz so loud that it came to the attention of hip-hop mogul Lil’ Wayne who had to stop and take notice. He invited the band, which consists of MCs Bernz and Wrekonize, producer/guitarist Plex Luthor, bassist/keyboardist Gianni Ca$h, drummer L.T. Hopkins and percussionist NonMS, to be his on-screen band in 3 of his videos (“Get A Life,” “Da Da Da,” and “On Fire”), had them perform at his 2010 Super Bowl party, and then gave them the ultimate high-five by wearing a ¡MAYDAY! t-shirt in his “Get A Life” video and proclaiming himself the next member of the band. It doesn’t stop with Lil Wayne – as the #1 indie rapper alive, Tech N9ne quickly signed the band to his Strange Music label. So far, the relationship has proved fruitful. The band completed two US Strange Music tours, including the record breaking 90 shows in 99 days Hostile Takeover tour with Tech and Machine Gun Kelly; produced the entire Tech N9ne Klusterfuk EP which hit #1 on the indie Billboard charts; released their Billboard top 100 charting Strange debut album, Take Me To Your Leader, and most recently, released their new EP, Thirft Store Halos, which quickly hit #3 on the iTunes Hip-Hop charts on the first day of release. Numerous platinum and buzz-worthy artists and producers such as Cee-Lo, David Banner, Black Thought (The Roots), SpaceGhostPurrp, NORE, Jim Jonsin (TI, Lil’ Wayne, Kid Cudi), Ace Hood and more have stepped up to work with the ¡MAYDAY! crew.
¡MAYDAY!‘s distinctive fusion of urban and alt.rock is pushing the boundaries of music as they flex their muscles in areas of funk that hip-hop has yet to explore. Their attention to detail (they write, arrange, mix and produce all the music themselves) and explosive live show is impossible to ignore. Miami Magazine said of their performance: “¡MAYDAY!‘s musical mash-up fuels both its frenzied live shows and a new album that oozes Miami cool.” ¡MAYDAY!‘s signature style has already caught the ear of media outlets like MTV, XXL, RapRadar, HipHopDX, 2DopeBoyz and more, and as DJ Khaled proclaimed: “¡MAYDAY! is headed to the top floor.”
After premiering the video for their Cee-Lo assisted single “Groundhog Day” on Youtube, the clip achieved a record-breaking 2 million plus views in less than two days and garnered attention from The New York Times, ABC World News Tonight, NBC 6 Evening News and Inside Edition. Later that year “Groundhog Day” was featured on HBO’s Entourage. Other songs including “Watching Me” from ¡MAYDAY!’s debut album, have been used in video games (NBA Street Homecourt 2007) and television, including Stuck on an Island’s “On 2 Somth’n” which was featured in ABC Family’s popular show Lincoln Heights.
¡MAYDAY! has long been a force in the Miami underground scene. Live ¡MAYDAY! puts on an impressive show with a exhilarating party vibe. The Miami Herald said ¡MAYDAY! “…captures the electric excitement of a city on the verge of a breakthrough” and the Miami New Times called them “…one of Miami’s hardest-hitting bands.” After the release of their self-titled debut album, URB Magazine placed ¡MAYDAY! In their next 20 Artists to Watch and MTV chose them as one of the Freshmen Five giving them opportunities to travel the US performing to packed houses with a spectrum of artists ranging from Daft Punk to Big Boi to Method Man and Goodie Mob.
¡MAYDAY! is a band that fits right in, but their sound is different. It’s live, hard-hitting, future brand of music posted up somewhere between rock and a hard place, strangely familiar, yet brand new.
HighRide
¡Mayday! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Five and a palm tan in my lungs
Black skies and it's all up
City lights to our backs and we both run
Tinted with the windows lifted
Keep feelin' like we flyin' in it
You say you won't blink scared you'll miss it
Turn up something too explicit
And it's all too familiar right now
And I freeze when the smoke sneak out my mouth
But same thing that don't matter right now
It don't matter right now
In the bag got enough for a smile
So we slide when they ain't lookin' out
Sneaking out for a drive in the clouds
On a high ride, yes a high ride tonight
Take the long way just to dodge these flashing lights
On a high ride, yes a high ride tonight
Take the long way just to dodge these flashing lights
These flashing lights, These flashing lights
We take the long way just to dodge these flashing lights
These flashing lights, These flashing lights
We take the long way just to dodge these ah
Underneath the ragtop
Two a.m. in the middle of the road, road
Thinkin' this should be the last high
But you never seem to want to let it go, go
So let it fall to the floor
So we can pick it up get taught for some more
Phone calls from the lord, stars in the North and it's hard to ignore
That everyone of them felt farther before
Do you wanna take a ride on the skyline
Base underneath us fraying my mind
Walking on the clouds and it's feeling quite fine
You rockin' high heels and the robolo life
This could be another long ride off a short ledge
We might just never come back to the floor again
What you lookin' for? We don't need rolls
You know the window carry us where ever we go
High ride, this is my life
Gettin' by I'm, feelin' like time
Don't apply now, we above that
Never come down, never come back
On a high ride, yes a high ride tonight
Take the long way just to dodge these flashing lights
On a high ride, yes a high ride tonight
Take the long way just to dodge these flashing lights
These flashing lights, These flashing lights
We take the long way just to dodge these flashing lights
These flashing lights, These flashing lights
We take the long way just to dodge these ah
I'm on my way, on my way you know
I'm on display like an animal
Please don't blame all them chemicals
The ceiling's never felt so low
Oh, oh, oh
On a high ride, yes a high ride tonight
Take the long way just to dodge these flashing lights
On a high ride, yes a high ride tonight
Take the long way just to dodge these flashing lights
These flashing lights, These flashing lights
We take the long way just to dodge these flashing lights
These flashing lights, These flashing lights
We take the long way just to dodge these ah
The lyrics to ¡Mayday!'s song HighRide describe the experience of being on a late-night joyride, taking solace in the escape from the monotony of daily life. The opening line, "Simple never seemed so tough," suggests the struggles that come with trying to navigate one's way through the mundanity of everyday life. The phrase "Five and a palm tan in my lungs" is likely a reference to smoking marijuana and the drug's relaxing effects on the body, while "Black skies and it's all up" paints a picture of the darkness of the night sky and the potential for limitless possibilities. As the two passengers continue their drive, they feel a sense of freedom as they fly down the road, not restricted by the flashing lights of the city around them. The chorus repeats lyrics about the duo taking the long way to avoid getting caught, possibly alluding to the idea that they are running from something or someone.
As the song progresses, the lyrics touch on themes of escapism, longing, and recklessness. The line "Underneath the ragtop, two a.m. in the middle of the road" suggests that the characters are in a precarious situation and potentially putting themselves in danger. The song mentions phone calls from "the lord" and stars in the sky, suggesting that the characters are taking in the beauty of the world around them and trying to find meaning in their existence. The final lines "I'm on my way, on my way you know, I'm on display like an animal, Please don't blame all them chemicals, The ceiling's never felt so low" are a plea for understanding, admitting that the escape being sought might not be healthy, and questioning the depths of our own emotions when we finally allow ourselves to let go.
Overall, the lyrics of HighRide suggest a desire for escape from the mundane and a longing for something more, but also highlights the dangers of being reckless and the consequences that can come from taking risks.
Line by Line Meaning
Simple never seemed so tough
Things that were once easy now appear to be difficult
Five and a palm tan in my lungs
Expressing the feeling of smoking with the imagery of having a palm tree grow inside his lungs
Black skies and it's all up
Feeling overwhelmed and uncertain in a dark and uncertain situation
City lights to our backs and we both run
Running away from the city in search of freedom
Tinted with the windows lifted
The car windows are tinted and open, allowing for a sense of privacy and freedom while still being visible to the outside world
Keep feelin' like we flyin' in it
The sensation of feeling like they are flying while they drive
You say you won't blink scared you'll miss it
Fear of missing out on the experience by closing their eyes
Turn up something too explicit
Listening to music that is too explicit for the mainstream
She say that she can't wait to escape this town
Feeling trapped and wanting to leave the place they are currently in
And it's all too familiar right now
The situation is too common and easily recognizable
And I freeze when the smoke sneak out my mouth
The act of smoking and feeling a sense of fear or anxiety
But same thing that don't matter right now
The fear doesn't matter at the moment
It don't matter right now
The present is more important than the future
In the bag got enough for a smile
Having enough drugs in the bag to feel happy
So we slide when they ain't lookin' out
Driving away unnoticed and avoiding detection
Sneaking out for a drive in the clouds
Driving while feeling disconnected from the world and high
Underneath the ragtop
The top of the car is down
Two a.m. in the middle of the road, road
Being up late and driving aimlessly on the road
Thinkin' this should be the last high
Contemplating the idea of quitting drugs after this experience
But you never seem to want to let it go, go
Feeling addicted to the high and unable to let it go
So let it fall to the floor
Allowing things to fall apart and reaching the bottom
So we can pick it up get taught for some more
Picking themselves back up again and continuing to learn from their experiences
Phone calls from the lord, stars in the North and it's hard to ignore
Religious figures reaching out and feeling a connection to the stars, making it impossible to ignore the deeper meaning of life
That everyone of them felt farther before
Feeling like the people who have shared similar experiences have gone through worse
Do you wanna take a ride on the skyline
Asking if they want to experience something incredible
Base underneath us fraying my mind
Feeling like their mind is being blown by the experience
Walking on the clouds and it's feeling quite fine
Feeling happy and free like they are walking on clouds
You rockin' high heels and the robolo life
Living life on the edge with expensive clothing and a risk-taking mentality
This could be another long ride off a short ledge
Feeling like they are taking a risk by continuing to drive
We might just never come back to the floor again
Accepting that they might not come back down to reality
What you lookin' for? We don't need rolls
Not caring about material possessions and living in the moment
You know the window carry us where ever we go
The open windows are a symbol of freedom and adventure
Gettin' by I'm, feelin' like time
Just getting through life and feeling like time is irrelevant
Don't apply now, we above that
The rules of the world don't apply to them anymore
Never come down, never come back
Feeling like they will never have to come back down to reality and can continue living this lifestyle of spontaneity and freedom
I'm on my way, on my way you know
Embarking on a journey towards an unknown destination
I'm on display like an animal
Feeling exposed and vulnerable like an animal in a cage
Please don't blame all them chemicals
Asking not to be judged for their actions due to their drug use
The ceiling's never felt so low
Feeling like there are limitations to what they can achieve and experience in life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benjamin John Miller, Bernardo Emilio Garcia, Gianni Buryet Perocarpi, Jordan Heilig Davidson, Marco Antonio Jr. Rodriguez Diaz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Blake D.
Its depressing that these guys still don't get the recognition they deserve. this track has 145k views while beiber could post an interlude and get 10M views. Your real fans appreciate it tho mayday! you're some of my favorite artists, I find myself coming back to your tracks&albums time and again
Joker Grrrl
That's what's up.
H Macy
his track with k lamar has like 44 million views. hes doin aight!
Peytonr32
Was literally thinking the same thing dude. It deserves mainstream popularity when it's this good
Kristy W
100% they r soooo good even better live got lucky 2 see them in Pittsburgh twice n hooked forever they r such showmen. N wreck has such a smooth voice whether singing or speaking or Rapping n then bernz having the accent n his authentic voice n rap makes them even better . Their music thus far will always b my playlist in life. Love u guys ❤❤
TheWilsonsixone
Amen to that
Ghost
I love this song. MAYDAY is a great band. This song deserves more love. My Dad got me into the while Strange Music thing, I love them all. My Dad used to listen to this song. Jt's so quiet and soothing. Perfect beat. Perfect pitch. Love ya'll, Strange!
Un sane
Mayday is a hidden gem of music. I’ve cut a few people on to them lately. Very original style.
PerversePoster
Why the fuck is everyone sleeping on you guys?!?!? It's absurd, your skill is undeniable. Keep doing what you're doing guys, love from Australia.
Simba Leslie Choto
I realise that mainstream isn't always the best route. without a strong fanbase and a great team that allow the artist to express themselves you'll wither in mainstream. Mayday!s in a great team and has a solid fanbase. Much love from South Africa