"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.
Lucifer
B. Dolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God: “Whence cometh thou?”
Narrator: “With a laugh, Lucifer replied”
Lucifer: “I come from walking to and fro upon the earth - and up and down on it!”
Gather round children, a tale I'll tell
Of waking one morning To Lucifer's Hell
The rain was pouring, ever harder it fell
On January 6th of 2021
Our kingdom was stormed, they'd pitchforks and guns
Middle-aged, old, and even the young
Parroting sound bytes, someone gotta get hung
We awoke that dawn somewhere outside
Feeling half dead and barely alive
Uneasy gnawing deep down inside
Lucifer's rain had just arrived
Into our mouths the rain did pour
Entered windows, seeped under doors
clternate facts, whack unabashed
Madness run amuck upon the moors
Hair combed over to hide the horns
Ill-fitting suits smugly adorned
We're out of the forest yet not in the clear
Of populist weapons; hatred and fear
What the world saw: an insurgency
‘Twas a revolution for some
To hell with democracy
That coup d'etat, what a sick outcome
Lucifer's rain, oh what a time
Soaked through the skin and into the minds
Demons summoned, eye of God gone blind
Obeying commands from a conman's mind
Cast from the kingdom without a crown
Gathered deplorables from farms and towns
To do his bidding, refused to step down
Transfer of power scorched, and burnt down
Now Lucifer's on trial, the gavel pounds
Court comes to order, his legion expounds
In the devil's defense, he attempts to confound
Corrupting truth, turning facts upside down
From the kingdom, Satan's been cast
The rain's now over, but will it last?
When evil's inflicted, damage is done
Remain ever vigilant, again Lucifer may come!
Shrouded in an cmerican flag and
Thumping a bible like it owed him money
That's the new sign and mark of the beast.
Look, over there, it's him, it's Lucifer!
He's back...
In the song "Lucifer" by B. Dolan and Buddy Peace, the lyrics depict a narrative conversation between God and Lucifer, setting the stage for a story that serves as a commentary on the tumultuous events of January 6th, 2021. The introduction, where God questions Lucifer about his whereabouts, sets a tone of confrontation and reckoning. Lucifer's brazen response about moving "to and fro upon the earth" signifies his disruptive presence and influence.
The subsequent verses delve into the chaotic aftermath of the events on January 6th, painting a vivid picture of a society in turmoil. The imagery of rain symbolizes the overwhelming onslaught of negativity and division that descended upon the people. The references to a kingdom being stormed, pitchforks and guns, and the lack of distinction between different age groups emphasize the widespread impact and participation in the turmoil.
The lyrics evoke a sense of unease and despair as the rain metaphorically infiltrates every aspect of society, from individuals' minds to the halls of power. The portrayal of alternate facts, madness, and a sense of being trapped in a nightmare reflects the distorted reality that unfolded during those troubling times. The imagery of individuals trying to hide their true nature, donning ill-fitting suits and disguising their horns, highlights the deception and hypocrisy at play.
As the song progresses, the narrative shifts to a trial where Lucifer, representing the forces of chaos and deceit, faces judgment. The courtroom scene serves as a metaphor for holding those responsible for sowing discord and spreading falsehoods to account. The warning at the end emphasizes the need to remain vigilant against the resurgence of malevolent forces, hinting at the cyclical nature of manipulation and power struggles in society. Ultimately, the lyrics serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of succumbing to demagoguery and division, urging listeners to learn from past mistakes and stand against tyranny.
Line by Line Meaning
Narrator: “cnd the Lord spoketh unto Lucifer,”
God asked Lucifer where he came from
God: “Whence cometh thou?”
God inquired about Lucifer's origins
Narrator: “With a laugh, Lucifer replied”
Lucifer responded with a chuckle
Lucifer: “I come from walking to and fro upon the earth - and up and down on it!”
Lucifer stated that he has been wandering all around the earth
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MShepherd88
Yeah, the album is great, especially considering it was released for free. Have you heard B. Dolan's new album? If so, what do you think of it?
AbattoirDream
i remember the weekend i got this album.. i listened to it once n then went off to a fight, and all weekend i was dyin to get home and listen to it again lol.. its soo dope.
Jesse
Do you remember writing this?
damn, time flies.
MShepherd88
Very nice, I never thought I'd hear a song about the Bhopal tragedy. Even though this happened back in 1984, it still is highly relevant today...the citizens of Bhopal still have yearly protests on the anniversary of the disaster, during which they burn and beat effigies of Warren Anderson. The site is also still polluted from when the Union Carbide plant was in operation.
Tawl Da Gawd
i love the new album, earthmovers, marvin, body of work, and the hunter r my favs.
ronko
@dudefromtheearth Yes, agree :) This is the real Hip Hop Amazing track....! (thanks to all great artists like B.dolan, Sage francis, Aesop rock, Eyedea and Abilities, ect. .... There's still hope ... : ) Regards from Bulgaria
Brandon H
NOW THIS IS REAL HIP HOP! You all are from my state. Hell yeah! Keep spitting truth!
Giulio711
where can i find the lyrics? thx
AbattoirDream
i think its pretty fuckin dope. unfortunately i think the way pretty much ALL of the tunes on it seem to have the same theme as each other doesnt help.. its one of those albums where if you play a track from it on its own, its amazing, but play the whole thing through and it just seems to drone on a bit, and there isnt alot of definition between each track. dont get me wrong, its dope.. just not as amazing as i expected yakno..
Romain Kamani
awesome