After releasing a pair of albums with the Freestyle Fellowship, To Whom it May Concern... and Innercity Griots, Acey signed to Capitol Records and released his highly acclaimed solo debut, All Balls Don't Bounce, in 1995. He returned three years later with his second album, A Book of Human Language, a collaboration with producer Mumbles.
Acey returned solo again in 2001 with his third solo album, Accepted Eclectic. In 2002, the Freestyle Fellowship returned after 9 years for the release of their third group album, Shockadoom. 2002 and 2003 saw two more solo releases, Hip Hop and the World We Live In and Love & Hate and another A-Team album ('Lab Down Under'). In 2006, Aceyalone released two more solo projects, first, Magnificent City, a collaboration with producer RJD2, followed by Grand Imperial. 2007 sees Acey releasing the first in his planned explorations of world musics, Lightining Stikes.
Widely recognized as one of the more lyrically gifted in the history of emceeing, Aceyalone embodies the sophisticated west coast style that is showcased in other indie artists such as Blackalicious and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien.
Scribble On A Clean Surface
Aceyalone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How they felt on my back when he slow-dragged with me,
At a fateful "Blue Lights in the Basement" party
The dim lights making his honey-colored eyes barely visible as he,
Flashed a penlight in my eyes!
"Look directly into the light this time"
I say look into the light
[Chorus]
(I scribble on a clean surface, the earthless and worthless)
(It's life, at the tunnel of the point of purchase)
(Ey yo freedom got a microphone, and a AK)
(Make way, and prepare for the melee)
The microphone magic of Aceyalone
The method of my madness could never! Be known
Don't, try to set home or off of the dome
Because wigs are known to be split!
And a, fan is known to be hit with shit
Rubber band flows that snap back in place
Rap in they face, get this motherfucker outta here
He talks way way way way! too much
Spit for the victory, 'til they sick of me
I never wallow in the bickery or trickery
There's no con-fusion, just the fusion!
No il-LUSION, 'cause God rule them
Held high, nailed in the sky
The artistic eye leaves you mystified
You're once denied, soon openly obliged
[Chorus]
They say, "rock you don't stop" but what you talkin' bout
Well let me guess, you come fi test
But test not he who knows best, put nonsense to rest
Preachin' on a soapbox, dope on the block
Choke on your tongue, smoke from the gun
Broke in the middle, I hope you're havin' fun
High! Post, high dose, high strung
Wind through the lungs, spirit of the young
Salt on the slug, caught with the plug
Fought with the drugs, taught by the thugs
Eye of a tiger, head of a lion
Walkin' through the interior of Siberia
Chip away at the rock, or a dynamite block
Right where they had to stop, we continue
Think the worst, ink into the verse
Sink into the earth, die by the end of the rhyme
What a rush, too much to discuss
I close it up by sayin' this
[Chorus]
The opening lines of Aceyalone's "Scribble on a Clean Surface" depict a vivid recollection of a slow-dance with a past lover. The singer notes the "incredible butter softness" of the other person's fingers and the way they felt on their back as they slow-dragged to a bluesy jam. The song's title becomes relevant as the singer then mentions the moment being at a "Blue Lights in the Basement" party, the dim lights making their partner's eyes "barely visible" and "honey-colored." The partner then "flashed a penlight" in the singer's eyes, prompting them to "look directly into the light this time." This momentary blinding serves as a metaphor as the song progresses: how we interpret and view the world around us can be influenced by blinding moments in our past.
The chorus of the song is a rapid-fire exchange of phrases, describing the act of scribbling on a "clean surface" and the "tunnel of the point of purchase" that is life. The singer highlights the dichotomy between the wasteless, pure surface of a notebook or canvas and the transactional, commercial nature of life--we scribble messy, often meaningless things into our lives, all while capitalism and consumerism commodify our experiences. The chorus then suggests that we should prepare for the inevitable chaos that will come with these contradictions.
The second half of the song finds Aceyalone reveling in his own lyrical prowess, warning others to not "try to set home or off of the dome" and to not "talk way way way too much." He spits rubber band flows that snap back in place and raps until his opponents are "sick of me." The song reaches a climax as Aceyalone describes chipping away at the rock or facing dynamite blocks--when others reach their limits, he continues on. The song's final lines succinctly encapsulate its themes: "Think the worst, ink into the verse/Sink into the earth, die by the end of the rhyme. What a rush, too much to discuss. I close it up by sayin' this."
Line by Line Meaning
I had forgotten the incredible butter softness of his long fingers
I had not realized how amazing the feeling of his touch was on my skin
How they felt on my back when he slow-dragged with me,
I felt his fingers so gently caressing my back when we danced together
At a fateful "Blue Lights in the Basement" party
It was at a party called "Blue Lights in the Basement" where this experience happened
The dim lights making his honey-colored eyes barely visible as he,
The low lighting made it difficult to see his beautiful eyes properly
Flashed a penlight in my eyes!
He suddenly shone a bright light into my eyes
"Look directly into the light this time"
He wanted me to look straight into the light to see something special
I say look into the light
I am urging you to also see what is in the light
See what you look like
Look at yourself and see who you truly are
"I scribble on a clean surface, the earthless and worthless"
I write my words on a blank page, without any bias or preconceived notion of what should be considered valuable
"It's life, at the tunnel of the point of purchase"
This is the way we exist, in the midst of uncertainty and the need to constantly purchase and consume things
"Ey yo freedom got a microphone, and a AK"
Freedom has the power to speak out like a microphone and the ability to cause destruction like an AK-47
"Make way, and prepare for the melee"
Get ready for chaos and a fierce battle
The microphone magic of Aceyalone
I possess an extraordinary talent with my words when I hold a microphone
The method of my madness could never! Be known
My unique style and creativity cannot be understood or duplicated by others
Don't, try to set home or off of the dome
Don't try to challenge me on the spot or without proper preparation
Because wigs are known to be split!
If people try to mess with me, they'll end up getting humiliated
And a, fan is known to be hit with shit
I will not hesitate to insult or criticize those who do not fully appreciate my music
Rubber band flows that snap back in place
My rhymes are flexible and can go with the flow, but always have a sense of direction
Rap in they face, get this motherfucker outta here
I put my raps in people's faces and get rid of those who do not respect my craft
"He talks way way way way! too much"
This person talks too much and needs to be quiet and listen more
Spit for the victory, 'til they sick of me
I will keep rapping until I am victorious and no one can stand against me
I never wallow in the bickery or trickery
I do not engage in petty arguments or deceitful behavior
There's no con-fusion, just the fusion!
There isn't any confusion, just a blend of different elements in my music
No il-LUSION, 'cause God rule them
There is no deception in my music because God is always in control
Held high, nailed in the sky
My spirit is lifted up and reaching towards the heavens
The artistic eye leaves you mystified
My artistic vision and creativity will leave you awed and intrigued
You're once denied, soon openly obliged
Those who once rejected me will soon come to accept and embrace my music
"They say, "rock you don't stop" but what you talkin' bout"
People often say they want me to keep rapping and never stop, but what do they really mean?
Well let me guess, you come fi test
I assume that those who ask me to keep rapping are really challenging me to perform my best
But test not he who knows best, put nonsense to rest
Do not test someone who is highly skilled and knowledgeable, and focus on what is important
Preachin' on a soapbox, dope on the block
People who speak out about important issues can be seen as annoying or controversial
Choke on your tongue, smoke from the gun
Those who speak out may face backlash or violence
Broke in the middle, I hope you're havin' fun
Those who are struggling may still be able to enjoy the moment and find joy in life
High! Post, high dose, high strung
People can get too caught up in their own excitement and energy, and become unbalanced
Wind through the lungs, spirit of the young
The breath of life and youthful spirit are intertwined and powerful
Salt on the slug, caught with the plug
People can be slowed down or stopped by things they didn't expect or prepare for
Fought with the drugs, taught by the thugs
People can be both educated and influenced by negative experiences
Eye of a tiger, head of a lion
I have both the focus and determination of a tiger and the strength and courage of a lion
Walkin' through the interior of Siberia
I am navigating through a difficult and barren environment
Chip away at the rock, or a dynamite block
You can slowly and steadily work towards a goal or use explosive force to achieve it
Right where they had to stop, we continue
When others give up, I keep going and pushing forward
Think the worst, ink into the verse
I use negative experiences and emotions to fuel my writing and create powerful lyrics
Sink into the earth, die by the end of the rhyme
My words are so impactful that they can cause someone to feel as though they are sinking and come to an emotional end by the end of the song
What a rush, too much to discuss
My music can make you feel invigorated and inspired, but there's too much to cover in one song
I close it up by sayin' this
To sum things up, I want to make one final statement
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDWIN M. JR. HAYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Věrka Soukupová
on Impact
:::::Soundtrack of ME https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cODJMg8skB0&list=RDMM&index=6