Bas was born in Paris, France, in 1987, to Sudanese parents. At the age of 8, his family moved to New York City. He attended St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, New York.
In 2011, Bas released his debut mixtape titled Quarter Water Raised Vol. 1. In 2013, his second mixtape was released entitled, Quarter Water Raised Vol. 2.
In 2013, Bas was featured on J. Cole's "New York Times" along with 50 Cent from Cole's album Born Sinner, and then on DJ Khaled's "Hells Kitchen" from Suffering from Success. He then appeared on the Dreamville compilation mixtape Revenge of the Dreamers. That mixtape was released in celebration of Dreamville's partnership with Interscope Records, resulting in Bas being signed to Interscope. Two weeks prior to the release of his debut album Last Winter, Bas released a free EP titled Two Weeks Notice.
Last Winter was released on April 29, 2014, by Dreamville Records/Interscope Records. The album was a conceptual project that touches on the cold days in New York City recording the album. The album was supported by the single "My Nigga Just Made Bail" produced by GP808 and featured guest appearances by J. Cole. Last Winter would debut at 103 on the Billboard 200 with 3,601 copies sold in its first week.
Following its release, Bas went on a 10-city nationwide tour titled after the album. Bas followed his own "Last Winter" tour by going on a 24-city nationwide and international tour with TDE rapper Ab-Soul. In 2015, Bas supported J. Cole on the '2014 Forest Hills Drive' Tour alongside Omen, Cozz, Jeremih, YG, and Big Sean.
Bas released his second album, Too High to Riot on March 4, 2016. The album also includes guest appearances from his labelmates J. Cole and Cozz, as well as the Hics. The album would debut at 49 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 10,965 copies in its first week. He also later released a music video for each song on the album. Bas went on tour after the album in June 2016 with Cozz and EarthGang. It included 26 cities in North America and 10 cities in Europe. On January 29, 2017, the documentary highlighting the tour was released on Tidal.
On April 10, 2018, Bas released the one-off single "Pinball II", featuring Correy C. The first single for his third album "Boca Raton" was released on June 19, and featured ASAP Ferg. On August 22, he released the second single "Tribe" featuring J. Cole. Bas released his third album, Milky Way on August 24, 2018. The album debuted at number 35 on the Billboard 200, selling 13,150 album-equivalent units in the first week. Bas announced a 43-city tour to support the album, which began in November 2018 and concluded in February 2019. In late 2018, Bas announced he was working on an album with frequent collaborators, The Hics, the album is due out in late 2021 to early 2022.
Designer
Bas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Open and close
Safe as thoughts that I hold you in
Open and close
Open and close
Open and
Fly to Japan, seen a panda like Desiigner
Fly out to France, bought some pants that was designer
Did that by designer
Did that by designin'
'Cause I'm a star, dodgin;' bitches like they be comets
Or they be comics (funny) or read comics
Way too often ain't no hero, let me honest
Get a cake made, can never overstate
I'm dedicated to my pay-grade, I'm heavy going eighth
They play it safe it safe so they never be afraid
But my fears make me great
Make me feel alive, levitate
Let you bear the weight of how I feel inside
Let the pain go, I choose to move freely (freely)
Let my wings grow, I'm movin' too freely (too freely)
See, this game, it'll ruin dudes easy
Platinum chain, but the ego grows easy
So I fly to Japan, seen a panda like Desiigner
Fly out to London, the drugs was like designer
Fly out to France, bought some pants that was designer
Did that by designer
Did that by designin'
In a vault that I hold you in
Open and close
Safe as throughts that I hold you in
Open and close
Open and close
Open and
Be faithful, it's harder to stay in
I don't know how else to say it
The wonders of all the mosaics
I don't know I could stay put
Slim chance, I gotta straight crook
Like I trace edges, let my pace tell it
I shine like the cave dwellings on their first day smelling pine
Happy Earth Day, you heard, the world is mine
And don't it show?
And nigga hate to brag but it show
I been out collectin' bags 'cause the tape a classic
Told myself I would make it happen
Fly to Japan, seen a panda like Desiigner
Fly out to London, the drugs was like designer
Fly out to France, bought some pants that was designer
Did that by designer
Did that by designin'
The first verse of the song 'Designer' by Bas is full of interesting imagery and metaphorical content. The lyrics "In a vault that I hold you in" refer to the idea of protecting someone and keeping them safe within a vault. The repeated phrase "Open and close" could be a reference to the vulnerability that comes with opening up to someone, yet also the freedom that can come from doing so. The second part of the verse is a travelogue of sorts, with the singer describing their worldly adventures: "Fly to Japan, seen a panda like Desiigner/ Fly out to London, the drugs was like designer/ Fly out to France, bought some pants that was designer". Here, the word 'designer' takes on multiple meanings. It could refer to the actual designer clothing that the singer purchased in France, yet it could also refer to the drugs in London or the panda in Japan, both of which could be perceived as unique or 'one-of-a-kind' designs.
The chorus of the song reinforces the idea of the singer's free-spirited nature and their willingness to take risks. The line "Did that by designer" could be interpreted as the singer justifying their actions, as they are doing things on their own terms and in their own unique way. The second verse continues with this theme of self-assuredness and empowerment, with the singer proclaiming themselves to be a star who is "dodgin' bitches like they be comets". They express a desire to be honest about their fears and to embrace them in order to grow as a person.
Overall, 'Designer' is a song about individuality, self-assuredness, and freedom. The repeated phrase "Open and close" serves as a reminder that while opening up to others can be scary, it can also lead to personal growth and ultimately make us stronger.
Line by Line Meaning
In a vault that I hold you in
I have a safe place where I keep you, my thoughts of you are always safe.
Open and close
The safe is accessible, I can come and go as I please.
Safe as thoughts that I hold you in
My thoughts of you are safe, just like the items inside my safe.
Fly to Japan, seen a panda like Desiigner
I traveled to Japan and saw a panda, similar to rapper Desiigner who had a hit song about pandas.
Fly out to London, the drugs was like designer
I went to London and tried some drugs that were like designer clothes, high-quality and expensive.
Fly out to France, bought some pants that was designer
In France, I purchased designer pants, they were created by an acclaimed fashion designer.
Did that by designer
These actions were completed through the influence or quality of a designer, referring to high-end fashion designers or quality substances.
'Cause I'm a star, dodgin;' b*****s like they be comets
I am a successful artist, avoiding negative people that come into my orbit like comets that are unpredictable in their movements
Or they be comics (funny) or read comics
These negative people may be humorous or consume comic entertainment.
Way too often ain't no hero, let me honest
The majority of the time, I am not a hero, I want to be truthful about my shortcomings.
Get a cake made, can never overstate
I celebrate my achievements with a cake, and these accomplishments can never be fully expressed.
I'm dedicated to my pay-grade, I'm heavy going eighth
I am committed to my level of success and I am working hard towards reaching the next level.
They play it safe it safe so they never be afraid
People are too cautious and afraid to take risks and explore their dreams.
But my fears make me great
My fears motivate me to become better, I use them to push me forward.
Make me feel alive, levitate
My fears make me feel alive, they lift me up and push me to improve myself.
Let you bear the weight of how I feel inside
I am letting someone else carry the burden of my emotions.
Let the pain go, I choose to move freely (freely)
I will release my pain and move forward without any restraints.
Let my wings grow, I'm movin' too freely (too freely)
I am letting myself fully spread my wings and move forward without any hesitation or fears holding me back.
See, this game, it'll ruin dudes easy
The music industry can destroy people's lives and reputations easily.
Platinum chain, but the ego grows easy
My successful career has allowed me luxuries such as a platinum chain, but it is easy to become egotistical in this industry.
Be faithful, it's harder to stay in
Being loyal to someone may be difficult, especially in the entertainment industry.
I don't know how else to say it
I am struggling to find the right words to express what I am feeling.
The wonders of all the mosaics
My mind is filled with many different ideas and pieces, like a mosaic.
I don't know I could stay put
I am not sure if I can remain in one place, mentally or physically.
Slim chance, I gotta straight crook
My chances for success may be slim, so I have to be resourceful and clever.
Like I trace edges, let my pace tell it
I am taking my time and being meticulous as I work towards my goals.
I shine like the cave dwellings on their first day smelling pine
I am shining brightly, like the discovery of a new place with a fresh scent, full of potential.
Happy Earth Day, you heard, the world is mine
On Earth Day, I want to remind you that the world is mine or that I have the potential to conquer it.
And don't it show?
My achievements and success are evident, can't you see it?
And n**** hate to brag but it show
Other people may dislike when I boast, but my success is evident and cannot be ignored.
I been out collectin' bags 'cause the tape a classic
I have been acquiring wealth because I know that my music album is a classic, and I believe it will bring success.
Told myself I would make it happen
I made a promise to myself to achieve success and I am making it happen.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Abbas Hamad, Cedric Brown, Chri Sto, Kaleb Nathan Rollins, Mo Hamad, Ronald Gilmore, Thomas Misch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind