The group formed with five members in 1993 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York with the name Bushwick Bomb Squad. The main members were Q-Unique, D-Stroy, Freestyle, Swel Boogie and Jise One, although the number of members eventually grew to eight. Q-Unique was a member of New York City's well-known breakdancing crew, the Rock Steady Crew. The group released the single, "The Session", in 1996, which found airplay on New York radio stations and brought offers from record labels. They signed with the independent label Fondle 'Em Records and changed their name to the Arsonists. They released their debut album, As the World Burns, in 1999 on Matador Records. The group went from five members, down to three: Q-Unique, Jise One and Swel Boogie, for their follow-up album, Date of Birth (2001). With their live performances, the group is known to be very varied in their rap style, drawing on many old school hip hop and east coast hip hop influences. Not all members where black
Venom
Arsonists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
WITHIN MY INTRICATE
WEAVE OF BRAIN CELLS
I WITHHOLD THE MAIN SPELL
TO CAST UPON YOU DEMONS PLOTTIN' AND SCHEMIN', DREAMIN' ABOUT
THINGS THAT WILL NEVER OCCUR
IN THIS DIMENSION, FAR BEYOND YOUR WILDEST IMAGINATION, THE ILLUSTRATION'S SUSPENDED ANIMATION
I PUT YOU ON PAUSE 'CAUSE YOU'RE
DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF YOU'RE MAD AT ME
FILLIN' JAWS WITH CAVITIES
IF YOU'RE STILL BREATHIN' YOU SHOULD BE GLAD TO BE ALIVE, SOME DON'T SURVIVE OR LIVE TO SEE THE NEXT DAY
YOU CAN'T RESET AND AIN'T NO FREEBIE IN THE GAME THAT YOU PLAY
YOU SLITHER SKILLFULLY AND WILLFULLY ALL OVER MY TRUST
THEN IT'S A MUST THAT YOU BITE THE DUST, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GET BUST
OR PERSECUTED, EXECUTED, LYRICALLY DEGRADED
MENTALLY DECAPITATED, MAKIN' SURE YOU NEVER MADE IT
'CAUSE I'M FED UP WITH YOU'RE MISSION, STUPID NIGGAS NEVER LISTEN, TALKIN' 'BOUT THEY'RE NEVER DISSIN', ON THEIR OWN PEOPLE THEY'RE PISSIN'
THE HISSIN'S AT A TONE
UNDETECTABLE BY EARS
THE ADVANTAGE IS HIS OWN IF YOU HAVE NEGLECTABLE FEARS
SLIDIN' THROUGH CRACKS AND CREVICES, NO MATTER HOW TIGHT
SHOW FRIGHT,
AND PREY GETS SWALLOWED UP IN ONE BITE...
VENOM - Freestyle's third and last verse of the song
WORD... ALL JOKES ASIDE
THIS MATTER CAN BE COMPLICATED
YOU COULD
FAIL IN UNVEILIN' THE ONES WHO PERPETRATE, KID
THEIR CLOAK AND DAGGER HIDES THEIR DESIRE TO USE THE NEXT KIN
IT'S HEREDITARY AND NECESSARY TO SHED SKIN
IT TENDS TO BURN WHEN YOU'RE TOUCHED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
PRESENTED WITH THE WORD OF GOD AND YOU DON'T WANNA HEAR IT
YOU CAN'T BE NEAR IT, YOU FEAR IT, IT ALWAYS FOILS YOUR PLANS
YOU DEAL WITH GREED AND ALWAYS FEEDIN' OF THE BLOOD OF MAN
IT'S ALL A HOAX, YOU TRY TO COAX WHEN YOU'RE UP IN MY CENTER
YOU ENTER BUT THE TEMPTOR'S NOT MY MENTOR
IT'S MY BELIEF WITHIN THE CHEMISTRY, I PREACH MY MINISTRY
GOT MY SEAL OF AUTHENTICITY, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ALWAYS DISSIN' ME
INTERFERENCE WITH SIGNAL'S THE THING I ALWAYS TRY TO PREVENT
SLIPPERY SERPENTS
YOU NEED TO REPENT
AND AIN'T NO REPTILE WITH FANGS LONG ENOUGH TO TAKE MY SHIT
FROM TIME TO TIME I PRAY AND STAY AWAY FROM DEEP SNAKE PITS
In the first verse of Arsonist's song Venom, the artist presents himself as a powerful force against those who plot and scheme in their minds. He implies that he is capable of inducing illusions of demons and monsters that rule over one's mind. Arsonist emphasizes the uniqueness of his imagination, which is beyond the accepted norms of reality. He warns his listeners not to waste their time bending rules while he breaks the laws of gravity since they will only end up with nothing. Arsonist stresses that the game they're playing has no reset button, and there is no freebie to win the game they're wasting their time on. He exposes the idea that people who are untrustworthy but skillful to deceive will eventually get what they deserve in the end.
The third and last verse of the song contains a serious message. Arsonist contends that uncovering hidden perpetrators can be complicated, and his words are directed at people who have an inherited tendency to use their relatives to satisfy their twisted desires. Arsonist also speaks of the conflict between the Holy Spirit and those who choose to ignore the Word of God. He explains that people who are corrupted by greed consistently feed off the blood of humankind. Arsonist implies that his ministry of chemical allegiances is a genuine seal of authenticity, and that is why he is always despised by those who stand against him. He acknowledges that his ongoing challenge is to prevent interference with signals, dealing with slippery serpents who persist in plotting, scheming, and attempting to deceive him.
Line by Line Meaning
WITHIN MY INTRICATE
WEAVE OF BRAIN CELLS
I hold a great knowledge within my mind
I WITHHOLD THE MAIN SPELL
TO CAST UPON YOU DEMONS PLOTTIN' AND SCHEMIN', DREAMIN' ABOUT
THINGS THAT WILL NEVER OCCUR
I have the power to protect myself from those who are planning harm, even in their fantasies
IN THIS DIMENSION, FAR BEYOND YOUR WILDEST IMAGINATION, THE ILLUSTRATION'S SUSPENDED ANIMATION
I exist in a reality that is beyond your comprehension, where even the impossible can be made real
I PUT YOU ON PAUSE 'CAUSE YOU'RE
TOO BUSY BENDIN' RULES WHILE I'M BREAKIN' LAWS OF GRAVITY
I have control over time and space while you are too caught up in following the wrong principles
DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF YOU'RE MAD AT ME
FILLIN' JAWS WITH CAVITIES
I don't care about your anger when I am doing what's necessary, even if it hurts you
IF YOU'RE STILL BREATHIN' YOU SHOULD BE GLAD TO BE ALIVE, SOME DON'T SURVIVE OR LIVE TO SEE THE NEXT DAY
Be thankful for every moment because others haven't had the same chance
YOU CAN'T RESET AND AIN'T NO FREEBIE IN THE GAME THAT YOU PLAY
There are no second chances and no handouts in the game of life
YOU SLITHER SKILLFULLY AND WILLFULLY ALL OVER MY TRUST
THEN IT'S A MUST THAT YOU BITE THE DUST
You manipulate and abuse my trust, so now you must face consequences
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GET BUST
OR PERSECUTED, EXECUTED, LYRICALLY DEGRADED
MENTALLY DECAPITATED, MAKIN' SURE YOU NEVER MADE IT
You might face punishment or public shame, ensuring you never have a chance to succeed
'CAUSE I'M FED UP WITH YOU'RE MISSION, STUPID NIGGAS NEVER LISTEN, TALKIN' 'BOUT THEY'RE NEVER DISSIN', ON THEIR OWN PEOPLE THEY'RE PISSIN'
I'm tired of your attitude and goals that harm others, and the fact that you don't even care about your own community
THE HISSIN'S AT A TONE
UNDETECTABLE BY EARS
THE ADVANTAGE IS HIS OWN IF YOU HAVE NEGLECTABLE FEARS
The dangers are subtle and only detectable to those who are aware, while the manipulator has an advantage over those who are easily scared
SLIDIN' THROUGH CRACKS AND CREVICES, NO MATTER HOW TIGHT
SHOW FRIGHT,
AND PREY GETS SWALLOWED UP IN ONE BITE...
The manipulator can find a way in, no matter how small the opening is, and can easily take advantage of those who are afraid
WORD... ALL JOKES ASIDE
THIS MATTER CAN BE COMPLICATED
YOU COULD
FAIL IN UNVEILIN' THE ONES WHO PERPETRATE, KID
This is a serious issue and not one to be taken lightly, and you could easily fail in attempting to identify the culprits
THEIR CLOAK AND DAGGER HIDES THEIR DESIRE TO USE THE NEXT KIN
IT'S HEREDITARY AND NECESSARY TO SHED SKIN
Their secretive behavior is meant to hide their misuse of their own family members, and they believe it's necessary for them to continue their abusive ways
IT TENDS TO BURN WHEN YOU'RE TOUCHED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
PRESENTED WITH THE WORD OF GOD AND YOU DON'T WANNA HEAR IT
YOU CAN'T BE NEAR IT, YOU FEAR IT, IT ALWAYS FOILS YOUR PLANS
Their dark deeds become unbearable when they are confronted with the possibility of redemption, and they will go to great lengths to avoid it
YOU DEAL WITH GREED AND ALWAYS FEEDIN' OF THE BLOOD OF MAN
IT'S ALL A HOAX, YOU TRY TO COAX WHEN YOU'RE UP IN MY CENTER
YOU ENTER BUT THE TEMPTOR'S NOT MY MENTOR
You are motivated by a desire for power and control over others, but it is all a deception, and you will not find success in controlling me
IT'S MY BELIEF WITHIN THE CHEMISTRY, I PREACH MY MINISTRY
GOT MY SEAL OF AUTHENTICITY, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ALWAYS DISSIN' ME
I have faith in my own abilities and message, and that is why you criticize and undermine me
INTERFERENCE WITH SIGNAL'S THE THING I ALWAYS TRY TO PREVENT
SLIPPERY SERPENTS
YOU NEED TO REPENT
I try to prevent others from interfering with my goals and message, and you need to change your ways and become accountable for your actions
AND AIN'T NO REPTILE WITH FANGS LONG ENOUGH TO TAKE MY SHIT
FROM TIME TO TIME I PRAY AND STAY AWAY FROM DEEP SNAKE PITS
No one can take what is mine, and I take precautionary measures to avoid dangerous situations
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ALAIN WISNIAK, LENE LOVICH, MARC CERRONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fish Fart
Its crazy how many people come back to this everyday... this song is masterpiece!!
Davidoff
its preaching the bible. The real word of God. Hard not to when Gods word be this hot!
dj Revue
ok bot
Fish Fart
@dj Revue not bot hahahaha
Peter De Grouw
Still love this dope track in 2018 it still is a 10/10.
TheFiendishOne
Hard for new rappers to compete with this gem, still a 10/10 in 21
Marco Reali
Played this one so much when younger!!!
TOMTOM617
one of the best lyricist in the world brings back my childhood much luv arsonist
Sven P
discovered them yesterday through this track.
I like 2-3 tracks from this album - but this one is just the absolutely best /loop
Christoph Schnapp
i own this album and only now I really paid attention to this dope cover!