Brady and Les, who lived in Kirkwood and Webster Groves respectively, initially crossed paths during high school at a rodeo. However, it was not until they reconnected at a house party in 2012 that they contemplated collaborating. Winter of 2015 marked their first foray into joint music production, with recording sessions taking place in Chicago. Eventually, they self-released their debut EP, titled "100 gecs," on July 12, 2016. The origins behind their chosen moniker, "100 gecs," remain a matter of dispute, as varying and contradictory explanations have been provided by Brady and Les in interviews.
Despite initial plans to create more music together, time constraints hindered their progress until their collaboration for the 2019 Minecraft Fire Festival. Subsequently, they resumed working on songs by sending Logic files over email back and forth. They released their debut single, "Money Machine," on May 29, 2019. Shortly after, their first full-length album, "1000 gecs," was released on May 31, 2019, receiving favorable reviews. The album itself is described as a 23-minute sonic experience featuring a diverse range of musical influences, blending elements of ringtone rap, pop punk, trance pop, abstract sound structures, power ballads, rap, EDM, dubstep, death metal, and ska. The lyrics of the songs reflect the intricacies and anxieties of the digital age, with autotune-drenched vocals adding emotion and a sense of delirium.
In August 2019, Dylan Brady released the stems for "1000 gecs," inspiring fans and friends of 100 gecs to create numerous remixes. Reviewing the remixes, Brady and Les embarked on compiling a remix album.
In September 2019, it was announced that 100 gecs, alongside Slowthai, would support Brockhampton on their Heaven Belongs to You Tour later that year. Additionally, 100 gecs headlined six of their shows in various cities during the tour.
Rolling Stone recognized 100 gecs as an "Artist You Need to Know" in 2019. Music critic Jon Caramanica of The New York Times hailed "1000 gecs" as the best album of 2019, with various other publications, including Crack Magazine, Noisey, Paper, Pitchfork, and Stereogum, also ranking it among the best albums of the year.
On July 10, 2020, the duo released the remix compilation album "1000 gecs and The Tree of Clues." (initially titled "1000 gecs & th3 phant0m m3nace"). It features guest appearances by artists such as Injury Reserve, A. G. Cook, and Black Dresses.
In 2020, 100 gecs signed with Atlantic Records. Brady told NME they are trying to be as big as Ed Sheeran, while Les said Atlantic was a good fit for what they wanted to accomplish.
The duo headlined the Minecraft festival Square Garden in April 2020, sharing the virtual stage with notable artists such as Charli XCX, Kero Kero Bonito, Dorian Electra, and Cashmere Cat.
On November 15, 2020, they released the standalone single "Lonely Machines" with the American band 3OH!3. They followed this up with the Christmas song "Sympathy 4 the Grinch."
In early 2021, 100 gecs released a remix of Linkin Park's "One Step Closer" to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Linkin Park's debut studio album, "Hybrid Theory." Following this release, the duo embarked on individual projects.
In July 2021, they announced the 10000 gecs Tour, scheduled to take place from October to December in North America. On November 19, 2021, 100 gecs released the first single from their album, "MeMeMe," during the tour, accompanied by a music video.
On April 12, 2022, they released "Doritos & Fritos" as the second single from "10,000 gecs." Diverging from their established sound, the track exhibits more characteristics of alt-rock than hyperpop. A music video for the song premiered on May 16, 2022.
On December 2, 2022, 100 gecs released their second EP, "Snake Eyes," featuring a visualizer for the track "Torture Me" featuring Skrillex. On February 16, 2023, they released "Hollywood Baby" alongside a music video, serving as the third single from the album.
Following multiple delays, "10,000 gecs" was finally released on March 17, 2023, accompanied by the music video for the album's final single, "Dumbest Girl Alive," which garnered positive reviews.
bloodstains
100 gecs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm smoking dope in empty cans I got from corner stores
There's broken glass from broken pieces lying in my sink
I'll wash them down with water, getting harder, ending blinks
I'll hand with this old feeling, treat it like another friend
We'll sit and watch some YouTube videos, we're staying in
We'll feed a doggo, playing, looking good with new veneer
Then end the night in covers, whisper nothings in my ear
Don't say it's personal
'Cause I'm fine I can do anything
I don't need you
I don't need you
I've got bloodstains in my bathtub, I've got vomit on my floor
I've got Popov in my vomit, smell it as I leave my door
I've got three cans of Four Loko just to go and see your face
Going through it every weekend just to steven leave my place
It's really just a doggo feeling shy about their teeth
I'm walking feeling fall, I might just catch a falling leaf
I'll catch it in my mouth and I'll refuse to tear it up
I'll take it home and put it on my table in a cup
I notice it looks good, sitting with all this empty shit
I'll clean up, just a little, just to show it to my friend
I'll notice that they're leaving, but they leave their bags unpacked
They say it's nothing major and they promise to be back
Don't say it's personal
Cause I'm fine I can do anything
I don't need you
I don't need you
I've got bloodstains in my bathtub, I've got vomit on my floor
I've got Popov in my vomit, smell it as I leave my door
I've got three cans of Four Loko just to go and see your face
Going through it every weekend just to steven leave my place
The lyrics to 100 gecs' song "bloodstains" describe a night of heavy drinking and drug use that ends with feelings of loneliness and isolation. The singer is surrounded by empty cans, broken glass and vomit as they smoke dope and watch YouTube videos. Their only companion is a dog they feed and play with, but even that relationship feels strained as the dog is described as shy about their teeth. The chorus repeats the phrase "Don't say it's personal, 'cause I'm fine I can do anything, I don't need you" conveying the singer's desire to maintain a detached and independent persona.
The second verse is similarly dark, describing the singer's routine of getting drunk on Four Loko every weekend just to "go and see your face," suggesting a possible obsession with someone who does not reciprocate these feelings. The singer takes solace in catching a falling leaf in their mouth and displaying it on their table, only for their friend to leave in the morning without unpacking their bags. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus and the singer's admission that they have bloodstains in their bathtub.
Overall, the lyrics to "bloodstains" vividly depict a night of self-destructive behavior and the resulting feelings of emptiness and isolation in the aftermath. The song's themes of substance abuse and loneliness are common motifs in 100 gecs' music.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just staring at my empty cans that sprawl across my floor
I'm sitting in my room surrounded by discarded cans that once contained energy drinks or soda, while avoiding confronting my responsibilities.
There's broken glass from broken pieces lying in my sink
The shattered remnants of a glass that I broke in frustration are still sitting in my sink.
I'll wash them down with water, getting harder, ending blinks
I'll attempt to clean the broken glass by using water, but this effort only causes me to become more overwhelmed and exhausted.
I'll hang with this old feeling, treat it like another friend
I'll continue to struggle with my negative thoughts and emotions, but I'll try to accept them as a part of my life.
We'll sit and watch some YouTube videos, we're staying in
Instead of going out and doing something productive, I'll spend the day mindlessly watching videos on YouTube.
We'll feed a doggo, playing, looking good with new veneer
To distract myself from my problems, I'll play with a dog and pretend everything is okay while ignoring the fact that I'm struggling.
Then end the night in covers, whisper nothings in my ear
At the end of the day, I'll retreat into my bed to try and escape from my problems by whispering meaningless phrases to myself.
I've got bloodstains in my bathtub, I've got vomit on my floor
My mental health struggles have become so overwhelming that they've manifested themselves physically in the form of bloodstains and vomit in my living space.
I've got Popov in my vomit, smell it as I leave my door
As a result of my alcohol abuse, I'm now dealing with more vomiting, and the smell of it lingers even after I leave my apartment.
I've got three cans of Four Loko just to go and see your face
I'm using alcohol as a crutch to try and cope with the emotional pain of seeing someone I care about, even though it's not healthy.
Going through it every weekend just to steven leave my place
I'm putting myself through the same emotional turmoil every weekend just to be close to someone, despite the fact that it's causing me pain.
It's really just a doggo feeling shy about their teeth
The dog I played with earlier had teeth that it was self-conscious about, but I'm projecting my own feelings onto the situation.
I'm walking feeling fall, I might just catch a falling leaf
I'm aimlessly wandering around, feeling lost and melancholic, but I distract myself by focusing on trying to catch a falling leaf.
I'll catch it in my mouth and I'll refuse to tear it up
I'll successfully catch the leaf in my mouth, but I won't let go of it because it's the only thing that's bringing me any sort of happiness in the moment.
I'll take it home and put it on my table in a cup
I'll bring the leaf home with me and display it prominently on a table, as a reminder of the fleeting moments of joy in my life.
I notice it looks good, sitting with all this empty shit
I realize that the leaf looks oddly beautiful when juxtaposed with the rest of the emptiness and mess in my living space.
I'll clean up, just a little, just to show it to my friend
Motivated by a need for validation, I'll tidy up my living space slightly in order to impress a friend who's coming over.
I'll notice that they're leaving, but they leave their bags unpacked
Even though my friend is leaving, I'll cling onto the idea that they'll come back and stay with me, as evidenced by them leaving their bags behind.
They say it's nothing major and they promise to be back
My friend tries to downplay the situation and assure me that they'll come back to visit, but I know deep down that it's not a sustainable or healthy arrangement.
Don't say it's personal, Cause I'm fine I can do anything
I'm in denial about the harm that my lifestyle is causing me and refuse to acknowledge that it's taking a toll on my mental and physical health.
I don't need you, I don't need you
I'm pushing away those who are trying to help me, and trying to convince myself that I'm self-sufficient and don't require any support or intervention.
Contributed by Zachary V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.