Binary Star is back to change the game once again.
The duo of emcees One Be Lo and Senim Silla possess a lethal chemistry greater than the sum of its parts. Trading verses effortlessly, the two can create magic on the mic ranging from intricate storytelling to battle raps.
Hailing from Pontiac, Michigan – Lo and Senim originally met in high school and instantly developed a close friendship. However one poor decision that could have easily derailed their career, made the bond between them stronger and more focused. An armed robbery conviction landed them both in prison for a three-year sentence and during this time Binary Star officially came into existence in 1998.
Upon their release, Lo and Senim had grown more mature, focused, and immediately began recording what would evolve into Masters of the Universe and the classic song "Reality Check". Binary also had plenty of beats waiting from longtime friend Decompoze , who would co-produce a majority of the album.
After initially pressing up CD, vinyl, and tape copies – the Binary Star buzz earned the group a distribution deal that would convert music listeners into loyal fans with the release of M.O.T.U. in 2000. It went on to sell over 25,000 units and showed the viability of independent hip-hop during a time when major labels had begun the commercialization of rap music.
Shortly after recording the M.O.T.U. album, the two parted ways claiming creative differences. One Be Lo developed his own solo career by rocking shows across the country. In 2005 his solo debut S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. moved over 22,000 units on Fat Beats Records. Lo also kept fans happy with several releases on his own Subterraneous Records: Project: F.E.T.U.S., S.T.I.L.L.B.O.R.N., and The R.E.B.I.R.T.H.. This has set the foundation nicely for the highly anticipated B.A.B.Y.
They reunited briefly in 2002, doing a concert together at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, but they did not record any new material. Although there has inevitably been speculation about a reformation of Binary Star, One Be Lo has stated that this is unlikely. "I seriously doubt it", he said, proceeding to claim, "Artists are real, real picky and real, real closed minded. They can be real, real strongly opinionated. If there ain’t no real chemistry, it ain’t going to work."
In 2009, recently reuniting after a 10-year hiatus, Binary Star is back in the studio working on its long awaited follow-up to the classic debut album Masters Of The Universe (M.O.T.U.). Tentatively titled "Light Years Apart," the duo's EP serves as a mere prequel to a full-length LP.
On March 29, 2013, Binary Star released their first album in thirteen years, a self-titled EP, as a celebration of their 15th anniversary as a duo.
One Man Army
Binary Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
First mom and dad didn't want me to come here, they wanted me to be just
like them...respectable, hard working, a little house, a family
They drove me crazy with their god damn war grandma, you know mom..
I guess i've always been sheltered and special, I just wanted to be
anonymous, like everybody else, do my share for my country, live up for what
my dad did in first war, and dad did in second, well ... here I am ..
the end of the line most of them, small towns you never heard of, most of
them got nothing, they're poor, they're the unwanted, got the fighting first
for society and their freedom, it's weird isn't it? They're the best I've
ever seen grandma, the heart and soul..
(Starts singing)
Yo, it's like that
Comes equipped for warfare, beware...no doubt, no doubt, no doubt
Comes equipped for warfare, beware...mr. one man army
Comes equipped for warfare, beware...I'm still a soldier you're trying to
see me boy
You're still a soldier of it...soldier of it
You're still a soldier of it...soldier of it
You're still a soldier...soldier of it
You're still a soldier of it...soldier of it
It's the one man army, general subliminal
Fly through the sky, ready for war with syllables
Binarary military, top secret mission
You aint seen nothin' yet, it's like a stealth jet
My mental plane take flight, I air strike the mic
The mystery pilot in the cockpit all night
See how i keep the shows live, i never lost a dog fight
See how my enemies know style
The name of my plane is the pit bull terrier
Keep my targets locked in, the more the merrier
Over your head when I break the sound barrier
So fly my voice need an aircraft carrier
Travel airwaves, every track is a runway
Keep the jams packed like church on Easter Sunday
Rappers thinking they shall overcome one day
They must be dreaming and I'm lyrical James Earl Ray
It's the one man army
You're still a soldier of it
You aint seen nothing yet, (specialised in warfare of all kind)
You could put your whole army, against my team and..
You're still a soldier of it...soldier of it (you aint seen nothing yet)
You're still a soldier of it...soldier of it
You're still a soldier...soldier of it
You're still a soldier of it...soldier of it
It's the one man army, general subliminal
March across land, ready for war with syllables
Binarary military, top secret mission
You aint seen nothin' yet, I roll up on your set
With speed, movin' like a German blitz krieg
MC's relax is comin to get these rhymes
I've got what they missin', in action
stand at attention, military fashion
and listen to the rapper Rambo, the mic commando
fully equipped, i write rhymes with extra ammo
too much to handle, you had the nerve to try and grab the mic
that's like trying to fight the hacker
I'm too marvelous, when I'm droppin' this watch the mic
turn in to a nuclear test site
MC's better heed the word container (why?)
cause we don't need another hero steamer, check it out!
It's the one man army
You're still a soldier of it
You aint seen nothing yet, (specialised in warfare of all kind)
You could put your whole army, against my team and..
You're still a soldier of it...soldier of it
You're still a soldier of it...soldier of it
You're still a soldier...soldier of it
You're still a soldier of it...soldier of it
It goes like this..
It's the one man army, general subliminal
dive in to the water, ready for war with syllables
binarary military, top secret mission
you aint seen nothin' yet, how deep can i get
Six thousand leagues beneath MC level
a submarine negro with torpedo steel-o's
my strategies turn MCs into P.O. - W.'s
I love to battle with other rappers and sink they battle ships
I send them up the creek in they life boats paddelists
salt water navy seals strategists, dive in to your brain waves
the backstroke fabulous, no need to rest if it's shark infested
sonar equipment is a stupid investment
you can't see my style, and I've shown this too many times
I've been in more missions than a homeless
always on point like a compass
three hundred and sixty degrees
All the rhyme MC, it's the one man army
Specialised in warfare of all kind
Specialised in warfare of all kind
It's the one man army, general subliminal
fly through the sky, ready for war with syllables
one man army, general subliminal
march across land, ready for war with syllables
one man army, general subliminal
dive in to the water, ready for war with syllables
binarary military, top secret mission
you aint seen nothin' yet, I roll up on your set
With speed, movin' like a german blitz krieg
One Man Army in the place to be
Whether flyin' through the sky, in the land or sea
yo it's the one man army on a mission
it's the one man army on a mission
it's the one man army on a mission
Specialize in warfare's of all kind, yeah, yeah, yeah
one man army, general subliminal
one man army, general subliminal
one man army, general subliminal
The lyrics of Binary Star's song "One Man Army" describe the singer's experience in the military, where he expected to be anonymous and just do his share for his country, but instead felt like nobody really cared about him. He reflects on the fact that many of the soldiers he serves with come from small towns and poor backgrounds, and that they are the heart and soul of the military. The rest of the lyrics describe the singer and his abilities as a rapper in military terms, equating his rhymes to weapons and his performances to military missions. The chorus repeats the phrase "You're still a soldier of it" to emphasize the idea that the singer and his listeners are still part of the larger fight for their freedom and for society, just in a different way.
The lyrics of "One Man Army" are a commentary about the military experience and the larger societal context in which it occurs. The singer's feeling of anonymity and disconnection from society is highlighted by the fact that many of the soldiers he serves with are from small towns and poor backgrounds. In this way, the song can be seen as a critique of the social structures that lead people to join the military in the first place. At the same time, the song also celebrates the abilities and skills of the soldiers and the singer as a rapper, equating them to the tools and strategies of warfare. By doing so, the song can be seen as a way of reclaiming these skills and talents as valuable contributions to society, even if they are not always recognized as such.
Line by Line Meaning
First mom and dad didn't want me to come here, they wanted me to be just like them...
My parents wanted me to follow in their footsteps and live a normal life, but I chose to enlist and serve my country.
Comes equipped for warfare, beware...no doubt, no doubt, no doubt
I am prepared for any battle that comes my way, with no hesitation or fear.
Binarary military, top secret mission
I am part of a secret military operation with advanced technology and tactics.
So fly my voice need an aircraft carrier
My voice is powerful and reaches far and wide, like a military aircraft carrier.
You could put your whole army, against my team and..
I am so skilled and capable that I could take on an entire army with just my team.
I'm too marvelous, when I'm droppin' this watch the mic turn in to a nuclear test site
My rhymes are explosive and powerful enough to turn the microphone into a nuclear test site.
Six thousand leagues beneath MC level a submarine negro with torpedo steel-o's
I am much deeper and more skilled than other MCs, like a submarine with torpedoes.
Specialised in warfare of all kind
I am trained and specialized in all types of warfare and battles.
one man army, general subliminal
I am a one-man army, with strategic and effective tactics and abilities.
Contributed by Callie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.