"FILM THE POLICE," has quickly become an anthem for the #Occupy generation, and shows no signs of slowing it's spread.
B. Dolan began performing in 1999 in the heart of the spoken word scene; New York City's famous Nuyorican Poets Cafe, where he developed his chops quickly. An 18 year old Dolan arrived for the first time as part of HBO's Def Poetry Series in 2002, and the respect earned with numerous performance poetry championships in the two years that followed.
2003 also saw the first release of "The Failure," [at the time] a two-disc, homegrown demo full of Dolan's earliest work.
After this self-release, Dolan disappeared from the poetry scene to pursue more overtly musical projects, as well as his own contribution to the struggle against social injustice.
In the midst of inventing the ragged, breakdown aesthetic of his later work, Dolan also dug in his activist roots by creating and co-founding the Knowmore.org website with former slam teammate and friend Sage Francis.
B. Dolan joined Francis on The Knowmore.org Tour in support of the project, which is when Francis expressed interest in releasing a revised version of "The Failure" on Strange Famous Records.
2008 brought about the official re-release of "The Failure" lp, which was trimmed down by a disc, and was critically acclaimed as a genre-defying, unheralded classic. It also earned a legion of die hard fans for Dolan's spoken word pieces, who've stuck around since to watch this unique artist's continual reinvention.
In 2009 he released House of Bees vol. 1, a full length mixtape that served to build momentum toward his 2010 release. Then, in 2010, "Fallen House, Sunken City" hit. Dolan's decidedly hip-hop sophomore lp was hailed by rap legends, critics and fans as a massive success. Alternative Press called the album "proof that underground hip hop still has bite," and The Onion's A.V. Club named it "One of the best albums of 2010." "Earthmovers," the album's first video, also became an MTVu Freshman of the Week and was entered into rotation on MTV2.
Since his signing to SFR, Dolan has toured exhaustively and internationally, most notably as part of the Paid Dues, SXSW 09, Soundset, and Rock the Bells festivals.
In addition to his partner and frequent collaborator Sage Francis, Dolan has also toured with the likes of Buck 65, Alias, Sole, Solilaquests of Sound, Prolyphic, Dan le sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Grand Buffet and others.
Kitchen Sink
B. Dolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Projected against the chemical smoke
It closes all around me
A taste bitter as paint thinner
Switch the sound off, breathe heavily,
They haven't found me--
Slouched over my desk,
with my head pressing the keys or
Blood pounding in my temple,
Remote controlled by the feed
Fingers slip between the blinds
This is what I see outside:
vampires. pedophiles. secret police.
Threat levels elevated for weeks.
Feel my blood pressure peak
Before I snap the blinds shut
Heart beating in the darkness,
Eating from the box
Half-conscious, half-life
Full of sad nights spent
Re-running my favorite programs over again
Light glowing on my skin
My face shows no emotion
I sink into the sofa like a city sinking into the ocean.
Is the kitchen in the house? Is the closet in the house?
Is the bedroom in the house? Is the living room in the house?
Alright then check me out:
Lead paint peeling spreading stains in the ceiling
Revealing rust, dust, roaches and rats,
they make a killing. The smell of death is filling
What remains of the building
53 sq. feet makes my cypher
complete
Whether drooling on my pillow
Or laid out on my sheets
I keep falling, the TV keeps me falling asleep.
The world is mine in my dreams.
I see myself selling myself to myself
I feel like hell and cry for help til I'm held
Until I'm safe in the arms of my home-body
Shut in. Nobody knocks on my door no more
Nobody comes in
Though I'm sure my existance is a topic of discussion
They must wonder what the fuck will be left of the mess uncovered
When they finally take a wrecking ball to my bedroom wall
I will show them all
something.
Is the kitchen in the house? Is the closet in the house?
Is the bedroom in the house? Is the living room in the house?
I don't go out.
I just wander the halls
Fingers run along the crumbling walls
Sick and deformed like the dip in the floor
The drip in the kitchen's on a mission
to kill me off, I should've died in a crib fire
And will before long. Smoke rising from the old wiring
Ring the alarm
Wish I could decorate the place with the smell of napalm.
Barricade to save face, never answer the phone
Stay away from the shades, try to vanish in the smoke
I no longer know If I'm the cancer or the host
Can't manage to cope without damaging my throat
Used to make plans to go but they cancelled my show
Now I watch Channel Zero for a pattern in the snow
From the clock to the mirror to the carpet full of holes
Things have gone well beyond a job
for pest control...
Is the kitchen in the house? Is the closet in the house?
Is the bedroom in the house? Is the living room in the house?
The lyrics to B. Dolan's song Kitchen Sink explore themes of isolation, fear, and paranoia. The singer describes their daily routine of being shut inside their small living space, surrounded by ghosts and chemical smoke. They feel threatened by "vampires, pedophiles, and secret police" and are constantly on edge, their blood pressure peaking at the slightest provocation. They are addicted to television, which keeps them distracted and helps them escape into their dreams. But even in their own home, they feel like a prisoner, unable to leave or interact with the outside world. The singer's use of vivid imagery, such as "lead paint peeling" and "the smell of death," creates a sense of claustrophobia and foreboding.
The song Kitchen Sink is a commentary on modern society and its effects on individual mental health. It highlights the pressures and anxieties that come with living in a fast-paced, technology-dominated world. B. Dolan uses his lyrics to critique society's obsession with material possessions and social status, suggesting that these things can ultimately lead to a sense of isolation and despair. While the lyrics are bleak, the song also offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that there is still something worth fighting for, even in the darkest of days.
Line by Line Meaning
Moving photos of ghosts
I am haunted by past events and memories that are constantly replaying in my mind.
Projected against the chemical smoke
These memories are clouded and distorted by my addiction to drugs or alcohol.
It closes all around me
My addiction has consumed me to the point where I feel trapped and suffocated.
A taste bitter as paint thinner
The high I get from drugs or alcohol is unpleasant and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Switch the sound off, breathe heavily,
I try to escape my thoughts by numbing myself through substance abuse and deep breathing.
They haven't found me--
I am hiding from the outside world and trying to keep my addiction a secret.
Slouched over my desk,
I am spending countless hours sitting in front of a computer or desk.
with my head pressing the keys or
I am either working hard or escaping reality through video games or social media.
Sitting up in bed, scene reflected by the screen
I spend many nights in bed staring at a screen, lost in the worlds of movies or TV shows.
Blood pounding in my temple,
I am stressed and anxious, feeling the physical impact of my addiction and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Remote controlled by the feed
I am being controlled and manipulated by the media and technology in my life.
Fingers slip between the blinds
I am peering out into the outside world, but only through the small spaces in my blinds.
This is what I see outside:
The world outside my window scares and depresses me, making me seek refuge in my addiction.
vampires. pedophiles. secret police.
I see the world as full of dark forces and corruption.
Threat levels elevated for weeks.
I am constantly on high alert and anxious about the state of the world around me.
Feel my blood pressure peak
The constant stress and anxiety is taking a toll on my physical health.
Before I snap the blinds shut
I retreat back into my world, shut off from the outside world and its dangers.
Heart beating in the darkness,
I am alone in my fear and anxiety, without any real connection to the world outside my window.
Eating from the box
I am indulging in unhealthy eating habits as I use food as another way to cope.
Half-conscious, half-life
I am living in a state of limbo, somewhere between life and death.
Full of sad nights spent
My nights are filled with sadness, loneliness, and despair.
Re-running my favorite programs over again
I seek comfort in repetition, watching the same shows or movies over and over again.
Light glowing on my skin
The only light in my life comes from the screens that I am constantly staring at.
My face shows no emotion
My addiction has stripped me of my ability to feel and express emotion.
I sink into the sofa like a city sinking into the ocean.
I am drowning in my addiction, sinking deeper and deeper into my own despair and isolation.
Lead paint peeling spreading stains in the ceiling
My living conditions are unsafe and unsanitary, with peeling paint and stains everywhere.
Revealing rust, dust, roaches and rats,
My home is infested with pests, highlighting the neglect and decay of my living conditions.
they make a killing. The smell of death is filling
The pests are thriving, while I am slowly decaying and wasting away.
What remains of the building
My living conditions are so poor that it is a miracle the building is still standing.
53 sq. feet makes my cypher complete
My tiny living space is all I have left and is the only place where I can truly be myself.
Whether drooling on my pillow
I am often in a stupor or passed out due to my addiction and lack of self-care.
Or laid out on my sheets
My bed is the only place where I feel safe and comfortable.
I keep falling, the TV keeps me falling asleep.
I am constantly falling deeper into my addiction, with my TV serving as a temporary escape from my reality.
The world is mine in my dreams.
My dreams offer me a sense of control and power that I lack in my real life.
I see myself selling myself to myself
My addiction has caused me to become lost in myself, selling out to my own vices and self-destructive tendencies.
I feel like hell and cry for help til I'm held
I am in constant pain and agony, seeking out help and comfort from others but always falling short.
Until I'm safe in the arms of my home-body
I long to be held and comforted by someone who truly loves and accepts me.
Shut in. Nobody knocks on my door no more
I am isolated and alone, with no one reaching out to me or checking in on me.
Nobody comes in
I am too fearful and ashamed to let anyone into my life and my addiction.
Though I'm sure my existence is a topic of discussion
Others are aware of my struggles and are talking about me behind closed doors.
They must wonder what the fuck will be left of the mess uncovered
Others wonder what will happen when my addiction is exposed and the true extent of my damage and decay is revealed.
When they finally take a wrecking ball to my bedroom wall
My world will come crashing down and I will be forced to confront the reality of my addiction.
I will show them all
I will prove to myself and to others that I am stronger than my addiction and can overcome it.
I don't go out.
I am too afraid and ashamed to face the world outside my apartment.
I just wander the halls
My world is limited to the hallways within my apartment building.
Fingers run along the crumbling walls
My living conditions are crumbling and decaying, highlighting the neglect and decay of my own life.
Sick and deformed like the dip in the floor
My addiction has transformed me into a sick and deformed version of myself, reflecting the disrepair of my living space.
The drip in the kitchen's on a mission to kill me off,
My living conditions are so bad that they are actively working against me and damaging my health and well-being.
I should've died in a crib fire
I feel like my life should have been over a long time ago, but my self-destructive tendencies have kept me alive, albeit barely.
And will before long. Smoke rising from the old wiring
My living conditions are so dangerous that I feel like I will die soon, with smoke rising as a foreshadowing of my inevitable demise.
Ring the alarm
I am crying out for help and trying to draw attention to my dire living conditions.
Wish I could decorate the place with the smell of napalm.
I wish I could destroy my living space and start over, rather than constantly living in the rot and decay of my own life.
Barricade to save face, never answer the phone
I am too ashamed and afraid to face the outside world, instead opting to hide and avoid communication with others.
Stay away from the shades, try to vanish in the smoke
I am trying to disappear and become invisible, hiding from the world outside my window.
I no longer know If I'm the cancer or the host
My addiction has consumed me to the point where I am no longer sure who I am or what my role is in the world.
Can't manage to cope without damaging my throat
I am self-harming and using unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with my addiction and the pain it causes me.
Used to make plans to go but they cancelled my show
I once had dreams and plans for the future, but now they have been destroyed or cancelled due to my addiction.
Now I watch Channel Zero for a pattern in the snow
I am searching for meaning and purpose in my life and addiction, watching TV shows for clues or signs of hope.
From the clock to the mirror to the carpet full of holes
My living conditions are full of decay and disrepair, reflecting the deeper issues within myself and my addiction.
Things have gone well beyond a job for pest control...
My addiction has grown out of control and has become a pervasive force in my life, infecting every aspect of my being.
Contributed by Emma J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jonathan White
As long as you actually buy. Lots of people talk about supporting and don't. These artists need to be supported.
Kadi Davidson
Jonathan White troof
Alex Zahn
@strangefamousrecords Sage, I found b dolan through your music, and let me say, after spending over an hour looking up all his songs, b dolan is fucking raw.
Ish the Stomach
i ordered the vinyl. it's about to be sent out; the full album. Right now this listening, as I type, it is the first time i've heard any track off the album. I wouldn't have even turned it on had I realized. trying to wait but, I'm glad to see the video too! mad excited
theghostwiththemost
Simply wonderful, The nation of England would greatly appreciate another state visit from Mr Dolan.
philoakes1111
saw him last night supporting Scroobius Pip! he was amazing
B Dolan
The funding was Free.99 for this video, in fact. If you read the description, you'd see it was produced entirely by a fan and sent over to us in this completed form. Humbling to say the least. Inspiration has no budget.
zeroarmy27
This hits way too deep.
Rafa Rivas
THAT THIRD VERSE...WOW
Aaron16
Awesome!