In late 1997, Solesides became Quannum Projects and in 1999 Blackalicious released the A2G EP, which served as a precursor to their debut full length album, Nia, which was released the following year. This was followed by a major label contract with MCA Records and the release of the critically acclaimed album Blazing Arrow in 2002.
In May 2004 Gift of Gab released his first solo album, 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up, but he assured fans that Blackalicious was alive and well.
A third full length, entitled The Craft, was released on Epitaph Records imprint ANTI- on September 27, 2005.
4000 Miles
Blackalicious Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo
We take a journey through music right now
We take a journey through music right now
Yo, when music temptations can't be resisted
Fifths will be inconsistent, make me a misfit
Which is perfection and flexin' like I spent time in Nam
The beat is on and it's nice an easy
Instrumentals blendin' like cinnamon rice and peas
And life's a breeze when you don't have to kick it to find
Contemplate the creation with Blackalicious and I
Tuna fish is full of musical entities past gone
Tryin' to hold fast and grasp hits like last fall
So last long flash on keepin' the past strong
We grab songs and rhythm, so people can catch on
Yes
My mic, monicker, momma I twice promised her
Love life, if music is truly your wife, honor her
Burnin' to your thermometer stretch a million kilometers
Connect a population of Earth to one another for real
Music, deliver from within and it covers up everything
Music, when the melody and rhythm get to moving an unity
Movin', one force, one love, one whole community
Do it, keep travelin' on, keep travelin' on
Underground or overboard overload, oh my Lord
More and more pure sonic overjoyed soarin' towards shores
Unseen, uncharted, 'bout to get explored
Warriors breakin' all the limits, twistin' the laws
Now who said that underground is only just one more
I'm sellin' time and space and matter, makin' hula-hoops of Saturn's rings
And bring my bing, in sync, to think
That these was meant to be writ and be spits, so ever be writ
We on some destiny (shh shh), we just a piece of this
We often testament of every cultural element
Ever sent to us by the ancestors as though we manifest it
Some new world pedestrians
Just lounging with some fishin' poles up on the moons crescent
Just tryin' to make some history spittin' on a few records
I had a dream like Martin Luther King in adolescence
And now I'm out in Tokyo and Europe havin' sessions
The final destination used to be my main question
But then I looked and all that I was searchin' for was present
The final destination used to be my main question
But then I looked and all that I was searchin' for was present
And now I'm out and out on and on the road we play
Soundin' off like army ho replay
Talkin' 'bout walkin' miles of roads he paved
Travel out droppin' bombs with no delay
Music, deliver from within and it covers up everything
Music, when the melody and rhythm get to moving an unity
Movin', one guy, one love, one whole community
Do it, keep travelin' on, keep travelin' on
Now see we rock around the clock
We don't stop for nothin'
Gonna take it to the top, non stop, no frontin'
People listen when it drops 'cause it speaks to something
In they souls when they all alone, spacing in the zone
Or walking they block, talking to they homey at the shop
See the point is this
Even if the homey got the shot
Then there still be the bump knockin' in your trunk
Get ya out your slump rockin' it straight off the top
Concotcin' it like ingredients thrown haphazardly inside a crockpot
With a magic sock, schnapps, a big ass book, and some vodka
And pass it my way 'cause I'm a real big talker
And I love new experiences
I'm the godfather of gettin' into to trouble
On the road undercover shit, take your whole crowd if you leave 'em uncovered
And I believe even Hammer would say my shit's proper work
Not to put a damper on the underground answer shit
You dealin' wit motherfuckers not underground anthem thugs
Rocked from the west coast damn near the Athens and you still hate a whack song
As much as the next man
And still in love with the good one
We interact with listeners
This is our contribution on the war against
The whiteness and slightness, a constitution of fatness
Blackalicious, Jurassic, Maroons, Latyrical madness
Your mind is captured with tactics to get you blasted the fastest
And you still wonder, battled at just how long does this is lastin'?
We have the fashion to classic the pure love satisfaction
Is when the magic is captured and life actions made tangible with
Music, deliver from within and it covers up everything
Music, when the melody and rhythm get to moving an unity
Movin', one guy, one love, one whole community
Do it, keep travelin' on, keep travelin' on
We take (take) a journey through music right now
We (we) take (take) a journey through music right now (now)
We (we) take (take) a journey through music (a journey through music)
We (we) take (take) a journey
The lyrics to Blackalicious's song 4000 Miles talk about the power of music in bringing people together. The verses discuss how music can overcome temptation and resistances, and how it brings unity and a sense of community regardless of geography, language or cultural differences. The song also touches upon the search for meaning and the journey of self-discovery. In the end, the song emphasizes the importance of music in our lives and encourages the listener to keep on traveling and experiencing new things.
The first verse sets the tone for the song, describing the allure of music and how it can overpower one's resistance to it. The second verse delves into the need for perfection and the pursuit of musical excellence, which is compared to the intensity of war. The third verse focuses on the power of music to unite people and create a sense of community, which is described as a journey that the listener is currently taking. The fourth verse explores the idea of destiny and how music helps us connect with our ancestors and the world around us.
Overall, the song is an ode to the power of music and its ability to bring people together. From tempting us with its allure to uniting us in rhythm and melody, music is a universal language that transcends borders and cultures.
Line by Line Meaning
Fifths will be inconsistent, make me a misfit
When musical temptations cannot be resisted, Blackalicious will act on them even if it means not conforming to conventional standards.
Listed as a phenomenon, I got an oncoming bomb
Acknowledging their musical talent and what they will bring to the music scene.
Which is perfection and flexin' like I spent time in Nam
Their music is flawless and shows no signs of error due to the amount of time and effort put into it.
Instrumentals blendin' like cinnamon rice and peas
The intricate instrumental sounds mix together like flavors to make a cohesive sound.
Contemplate the creation with Blackalicious and I
Blackalicious invites the listener to experience the creativity in their music.
Tuna fish is full of musical entities past gone
Music is an art form that has developed over time and each entity is significant in its own right.
So last long flash on keepin' the past strong
Honor the past by keeping its memory alive through music.
Yes
An affirmation of agreement.
My mic, monicker, momma I twice promised her
The microphone and their pseudonym are just as important as their mother and are not to be taken lightly.
Love life, if music is truly your wife, honor her
Music should be treasured and valued just as one would value their significant other in a committed relationship.
Connect a population of Earth to one another for real
Music has the ability to bring people together and unite them, creating a sense of belonging within a community.
Music, deliver from within and it covers up everything
The power of music can be healing and cover up negative emotions or experiences.
Music, when the melody and rhythm get to moving an unity
When the melody and rhythm are in sync, it creates a sense of unity among those listening.
Movin', one force, one love, one whole community
Music has the power to bring people together and create a sense of oneness among a community.
Underground or overboard overload, oh my Lord
Whether their music is popular or not, Blackalicious is dedicated to delivering their sound to as many people as possible.
More and more pure sonic overjoyed soarin' towards shores
Their music is becoming more popular and their sound is evolving, which brings them great joy.
Taking dreams and turning them into reality, Blackalicious is breaking limitations and twisting the norm.
Their music is breaking boundaries and going beyond the norm. Blackalicious is willing to do whatever it takes to get their music to the people.
Some new world pedestrians
Describing themselves as someone who is discovering the world and bringing their music along for the ride.
The final destination used to be my main question
When they first started making music, they had a goal in mind to reach a certain destination.
But then I looked and all that I was searchin' for was present
They realized that they were already on the right track and didn't need to search for anything more than what they already had.
And now I'm out and out on and on the road we play
Reflecting on their journey, they realize that they are constantly touring and bringing their music to people all over the world.
People listen when it drops 'cause it speaks to something
Their music is powerful and speaks to something deeper within people's souls.
Even if the homey got the shot, then there still be the bump knockin' in your trunk
Even if someone is already well known and has their music on the radio, Blackalicious still believes their music deserves a chance to be heard and bump through someone's sound system.
We interact with listeners, this is our contribution on the war against
Their music is a contribution to the larger community and is their form of fighting for change and the greater good.
The whiteness and slightness, a constitution of fatness
The whiteness and slightness symbolize negative societal constructs that need to be eliminated for a better society.
Blackalicious, Jurassic, Maroons, Latyrical madness
Naming themselves along with other rap/hip-hop groups that are breaking boundaries with their music.
Your mind is captured with tactics to get you blasted the fastest
The goal of their music is to captivate the listener's mind, and get them hooked on their sound as quickly as possible.
We have the fashion to classic the pure love satisfaction
Their music has the ability to become classic and stand the test of time, bringing pure love and satisfaction to those who listen to it.
Is when the magic is captured and life actions made tangible with
Their music has a certain magic to it that allows people to feel it to their core and make life-changing actions based on what they are experiencing.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Lateef Kenneth Daumont, Xavier Lorenzo Mosley, Timothy Jerome Parker, Vincent Jean-Claude Louis Segal, Charles L. Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind