The band was formed in 1993 by Tony Nwachukwu and Charlie Dark. Charlie Dark was a part time journalist and DJ and had been approached by James Lavelle to produce and engineer tracks for his Mo Wax record label.
Their first release, Vibes, Scribes and Dusty 45's Ep, contained the down tempo classic Contemplating Jazz. Featuring the vocals of third member Roba El-Essawy, Attica Blues' sound contained the trademark trip-hop aspects like heavy beats, vocals and deep dark atmospheres. They released a follow up album, Blueprint.
Attica Blues were also often solicited for remixing and producing.
After the Mo Wax album Blueprint, they released a second album, Test,Don't Test on Sony Records.
The Quest (Featuring Roger Robinson
Attica Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am searching
I am searching for faith, beauty and hip-hop
I am searching for all those who died between hip hop and heaven
And all souls set adrift and free from bedlam
With headstrong lyrics that rise like smoke from silver incense burners
I wonder who stole the thunder with the rasping edge
And who banged for baptisms with butterflies, serpentine roads and sunsets broken by cicadas
Are we devoured by blind faith in the powers that be?
Are these words as tense as drawn bow strings?
Shall we rebuild the tears like sap from rubber trees?
Answer me!
Answer me you T.S. Elliots in goose down jackets with your felt tip urban hieroglyphs, spliff smoke, and spray paint
Answer me you soliloquists with clenched fists 'round the mike
Answer me you angels in adidas
Tell me
Do M.C.'s still howl rhymes into the purple black of midnight?
Do they still fight to make arrangements with deities courting them with a jangle of gold and silver bangles on their wrist?
I need yearning voices of mangled passion
I need rehearsed create those style of faith and fashion
I'm searching for hip-hop beats, stomping feet to implore the? ringing across the seagulls to muffle the sun
I'm searching for perfumed cherry blossoms and?
You see there will be no toast to the future in the banquet table of?
No golden petals weaving a carpet of light
No hint of arrogance on puckered lips
No wind-swept islands and dreams of sun-lit silence
No riot of flowers and beauty magnified through outmost attention
And no free-style incantations to save the souls of man
I'm peeling off your straitjacket so you feel the sun my friend
I want wings, a feather, and booms so we can fly like birds to better lands
I'm wondering
I'm wondering how temples are now smokestacks
I'm up all night in silvery moonlight with palms of?
Who stole my afro-pick?
Who licked my fingertips to sooth scratches from the vinyl groove?
Has anybody seen faith, beauty and hip hop?
I have to find faith, beauty and
Hip hop
The lyrics of Attica Blues's song The Quest featuring Roger Robinson express the artist's search for faith, beauty, and hip hop. The opening lines make it clear that the singer is searching for these intangible things, which are not easy to find. The song seems to be an ode to the lost souls that have been lost between hip hop and heaven. The lyrics are full of powerful imagery that evokes the struggle and chaos of urban life.
The artist's yearning for hip hop beats and passionate voices creates a vivid picture of someone searching for hope and inspiration. The use of metaphors and similes such as "headstrong lyrics that rise like smoke from silver incense burners" adds depth and complexity to the song. Attica Blues's use of rhetorical questions in the lyrics such as "Are we devoured by blind faith in the powers that be?" and "Have we really lost our century in an hour?" shows the artist's frustration with society's problems.
The repetition of the phrase "I am" at the beginning of each line creates a sense of intentional introspection and self-discovery. This song is a rallying call for the hip hop community to come together and work towards a better future. The main message is that faith, beauty, and hip hop can still be found, despite the chaos and confusion of the modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
I am
The singer is introducing themselves
I am searching
The singer is actively seeking something
I am searching for faith, beauty and hip-hop
The singer is seeking a blend of spiritual fulfillment, aesthetics, and artistic expression
I am searching for all those who died between hip hop and heaven
The artist wants to connect with those who have passed away and shared similar interests in hip-hop culture.
And all souls set adrift and free from bedlam
The artist is referring to those who have lost their way in life and are unanchored from society's ideals.
With headstrong lyrics that rise like smoke from silver incense burners
The singer is describing the power and intensity of lyrical expression in music.
I wonder who stole the thunder with the rasping edge
The singer is questioning who has taken the dominant reigns in the hip-hop industry.
And who banged for baptisms with butterflies, serpentine roads and sunsets broken by cicadas
The artist is referencing the stylistic and thematic diversity of hip-hop music and its connection to nature.
Have we really lost our century in an hour?
The artist is reflecting on how quickly time passes and wonders if society has lost sight of important cultural movements in a short span of time.
Are we devoured by blind faith in the powers that be?
The artist is questioning if the public's trust in authority is blinding them from recognizing societal issues.
Are these words as tense as drawn bow strings?
The singer is questioning the intensity and impact of their words and how they may be received.
Shall we rebuild the tears like sap from rubber trees?
The artist is questioning if society can repair and rebuild from pain and sorrow.
Answer me!
The singer is demanding a response from their audience.
Answer me you T.S. Elliots in goose down jackets with your felt tip urban hieroglyphs, spliff smoke, and spray paint
The singer is addressing artists and writers who use unconventional styles as a form of expression.
Answer me you soliloquists with clenched fists 'round the mike
The singer is addressing vocal artists who perform impassioned soliloquies on stage.
Answer me you angels in adidas
The artist is addressing the performers who embody and represent hip-hop culture.
Tell me
The artist wants to know something.
Do M.C.'s still howl rhymes into the purple black of midnight?
The singer is questioning if hip-hop artists still perform in the late hours of the night.
Do they still fight to make arrangements with deities courting them with a jangle of gold and silver bangles on their wrist?
The singer is referencing the connective nature of music and spirituality.
I need yearning voices of mangled passion
The artist is seeking artists who can evoke deep emotions through their music.
I need rehearsed create those style of faith and fashion
The artist is seeking artists who can craft their own styles and evoke feelings of faith and fashion through their work.
I'm searching for hip-hop beats, stomping feet to implore the? ringing across the seagulls to muffle the sun
The artist is seeking music that is powerful and has an impact on their surroundings and environment.
I'm searching for perfumed cherry blossoms and?
The singer is seeking natural beauty and alternative forms of artistic representation.
You see there will be no toast to the future in the banquet table of?
The artist is expressing concern over society's inability to prepare for the future.
No golden petals weaving a carpet of light
The singer is describing an idyllic image of natural beauty and wonder.
No hint of arrogance on puckered lips
The singer is suggesting that the individuals who hold power and influence should not abuse it.
No wind-swept islands and dreams of sun-lit silence
The singer is referencing a utopian society with peaceful, natural settings.
No riot of flowers and beauty magnified through outmost attention
The artist is expressing the importance of giving attention and admiration to natural beauty.
And no free-style incantations to save the souls of man
The artist is questioning the ability of hip-hop and other forms of art to truly enact positive change in society.
I'm peeling off your straitjacket so you feel the sun my friend
The singer is emphasizing the importance of freeing oneself from societal constraints and experiencing the joys of life.
I want wings, a feather, and booms so we can fly like birds to better lands
The singer is expressing a desire for freedom and a better future.
I'm wondering
The artist is reflecting on something with curiosity.
I'm wondering how temples are now smokestacks
The artist is concerned with how the world is changing and being destroyed.
I'm up all night in silvery moonlight with palms of?
The artist is describing a peaceful setting in which they are spending time in introspection.
Who stole my afro-pick?
The singer is jokingly referencing a small item that holds significant personal importance.
Who licked my fingertips to sooth scratches from the vinyl groove?
The artist is playfully engaging in nostalgic memories of listening to vinyl records.
Has anybody seen faith, beauty and hip hop?
The singer is questioning if these important cultural elements can still be found in modern society.
I have to find faith, beauty and
The singer is expressing the importance of finding these cultural elements.
Hip hop
The singer is emphasizing the importance of hip-hop culture.
Contributed by Ian B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.