2. MC from Portland, Oregon.
3. Hardcore band, probably active in the 90's.
4. A hardcore punk band from Philadelphia, PA that has been active since 2012. http://braillephiladelphia.bandcamp.com/
1) As the house-oriented solo project of Praveen Sharma (see Sepalcure, Praveen, and Praveen & Benoit), Braille combines classic chicago house vocals with deep, dubby melodic elements, all under the pulse of post-dubstep-influenced, sub-dominating bass. His debut EP, The Year 3000, is slated for a May, 2011 release on Rush Hour.
2) Always on a musical mission, BRAILLE has become one of rap’s best-kept secrets. He has released three solo albums, performed throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan with artists like the late James Brown, De La Soul and others, been named one of the “Next 100” by URB magazine and collaborated with rap heavyweights such as 9th Wonder, CunninLyguists, and Pigeon John. All of these accomplishments set the stage for Braille’s fourth album, the splendid The IV Edition (Syntax Records).
In addition to being his fourth album, the title represents three other things. Braille wants the album to serve as an IV to distribute musical medicine for social illnesses directly into the veins of the society. IV also stands for “International Vision” (becoming more aware of what's going on in the world around us) and “International Version” (the album is made for an international audience and features German, French, Finish and Australian producers like M-Phazes, Aetoms, Staffro, etc).
The album’s title song serves as an ode to Braille’s rap roots. Produced by Marco Polo and featuring scratches from Rob Swift, the energetic, drum-driven tune is a lyrical showcase that caters to rap’s tremendous subterranean following. “The underground hip-hop base is a lot bigger than people think it is,” Braille reveals. “Sometimes when people think of the word underground, they think of basement albums that just get dubbed on tape. So I’m sticking to my roots. I believe that the audience for lyricism and good hip-hop is much larger than most people assume. I wanted to start with the hip-hop base and take it from there.”
Elsewhere, Braille acknowledges his personal and artistic history on “Remember Your Path” and channels the energy of music icon James Brown on “Main Squeeze,” with whom Braille toured as an opening act during 2005 and 2006. Then on “Calculated Risk” Braille gets personal by examining his decision to pursue and create lyric and beat-drive rap music with spiritual overtones. It’s been a full time mission since 1999. “This could really end up being really detrimental to my career. I understand the risk of doing what I’ve done thus far. I understand the risk that I might not make it, that people might not buy my records. I understand those risks, but it’s still worth it to me to put everything into a making a record the way I want it to sound and not worry about what’s going on in the industry and on the radio.”
Braille was attracted to hip-hop at a young age. Hearing the variety of different styles and artists that existed during the early- to mid-‘90s, Braille was inspired by the idea that he could write songs based on his own personal experiences and that he didn't have to fit into any specific stereotypes. One group that was fundamental in Braille's development at the time was A Tribe Called Quest, who changed his outlook on music with its landmark 1993 album Midnight Marauders. Rap was in the midst of a gangster rap renaissance at the time and the album’s uplifting, positive vibe gave the then teen-aged Braille a boost. “Hearing people talk from different perspectives, I started to realize, ‘Hey, I could make music and still be myself,’” the Portland-raised rapper recalls today. “It was fine that I grew up where I grew up. My size, stature and my personality are all attributes. They’re not negatives. That’s just who I am, so I felt that if I embraced those things, then I could do whatever I wanted with it.”
Growing up, Braille had more to worry about than music. Born in Portland, he and his family relocated to New Jersey when he was in high school. During his stay on the east coast, his family went bankrupt and returned to Portland to live with Braille’s grandmother. However, Braille enjoyed being close to Philadelphia and New York and decided to stay by himself on the East Coast. In 1999, when he was 17, independent startup ESWP music released his first album, Lifefirst: Half The Battle.
The battle to survive proved too tough, so Braille moved back to Portland only to find out there was no room in the house for him. He took a bus to Los Angeles in order to pursue a career in music. After a year in LA, he went back to Oregon and met the woman that would eventually become his wife. With music dreams, no high school diploma and newfound responsibility, Braille and his future wife started a business cleaning out repossessed homes.
That wasn’t the work Braille wanted to do, so he and his wife moved out of their place, put their stuff in storage and lived out of their van while they toured around the United States doing concerts. They didn’t ask for payment at shows. With no bills, they sold merchandise to pay for gas and food. “I didn't have many career options because I spent most of my teenage years working on music,” Braille says. “That’s where I invested all of my time, so I was willing to make some sacrifices in order to continue pursuing it.”
Fortunately, the more Braille pursued his dream of making a living making music, the more real that dream became. He buckled down and in 2004 released his second album, Shades of Grey. The collection featured collaborations with 9th Wonder (Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child) and Rob Swift and laid the foundation for a successful career. Thanks to such powerful, politically minded songs as “Keep On,” it was easy for URB magazine to tap Braille one of their “Next 100.”
The following year, Braille’s newly formed label Hiphop IS Music released his third album, Box of Rhymes. Following the album’s release he would experience the joy of becoming a father as well as the pain of loosing one. The IV Edition deals with these issues and provides an outlook compromising of social change, spiritual beliefs, confidence and the ability to carry on.
Though he did not grow up in a spiritual household, Braille found the spiritual references he encountered in rap encouraging and decided to act upon them. “I believed there was something out there,” Braille says, “and I started out trying to be a positive person. I felt a gut on my heart and I eventually ended up meeting this other artist, Trust One, and when we got together, I thought we were going to talk about hip-hop. He told me more about God and I started on my path as a follower of Christ. That had a big impact on the direction I took in life and as an artist"
3) No info about them, released a demo tape.
4) Four Adult Males from Philadelphia. 90s-influenced hardcore punk with its own unique twist. Sean, Dustin, Andrew, and John.
10 Years Feat. Toni Hill
Braille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
all they have is the music that they listen to
meet the world, it's trife (trifle) and frost bitten
our generations youth wander around like lost kittens
dodging stray bullets and advertise bulletins
fatal attractions, placed to pull you in
the media is feeding us with poison
people eat it up like it's valuable when really it destroys them
there's only one God but we're chasing after fractions
and fiction, full speed with no cause or mission
that's why, most live a life of contradiction
and words like love have lost their definition
the best way to make a statement is through actions
I'm through acting, I can't control how it goes
I take it one step at a time, walking this long road
I, Keep, Wondering
Where, Will I Be
I, Keep, Wondering
Where, Will I Be
I would like to let you know that you
can't predict what might go down next
life goes in many directions and sometimes
it takes us by surprise
I've been caught off guard by many challenges and challengers
that arrived un-announced, unexpected
I was once a young child filled with innocence
who I am now after many instances and experience?
How many times did my dreams change?
How many times did my mind change?
Ten years ago I was in seventh grade with no worries
but now I got plenty bills to pay
you know how it go when you got no dough
and the bills stack up while the interest rate grows
it's like the more that you save up, the more that you owe
and sometimes we do the same thing with our soul
I, Keep, Wondering
Where, Will I Be
I, Keep, Wondering
Where, Will I Be
Looking back ten years ago
I didn't know I was walking this road
now that I'm on it, if I'm honest
I'm not sure that I want it
sometimes my mind goes back and forth
trying to figure out, what I'm working towards
who am I working for? gotta do this right
the patterns I set now will follow me through life
The lyrics to Braille's song "10 Years" talk about the struggles of growing up and trying to find oneself in a world that seems so confusing and dangerous. The singer talks about how children often feel alone and turn to music for support because the media and society as a whole can be very destructive. There are so many distractions and temptations that can lead people down the wrong path, but the singer believes that actions speak louder than words and that living a life of purpose is the best way to make a statement.
The second verse takes a more personal turn as the singer reflects on their own life and how much has changed in the past ten years. They talk about the challenges that come with growing up, like paying bills and trying to make a living, but also the internal struggles of figuring out who they are and what they want out of life. The singer grapples with the idea that the choices they make now will have a lasting impact on their future.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the struggles of growing up and finding one's place in the world. It encourages listeners to stay true to themselves and live a life of purpose, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Children struggle to find someone to listen, that's why
all they have is the music that they listen to
Young people today find it hard to be heard and understood, so they turn to music to express themselves and cope with their struggles.
meet the world, it's trife (trifle) and frost bitten
our generations youth wander around like lost kittens
dodging stray bullets and advertise bulletins
The world is harsh and unforgiving, and today's youth feels lost and vulnerable amidst all the violence and media messages.
fatal attractions, placed to pull you in
the media is feeding us with poison
people eat it up like it's valuable when really it destroys them
The media entices us with harmful content and we consume it blindly, not realizing the negative impact it has on our wellbeing.
society is blind with so many distractions
there's only one God but we're chasing after fractions
and fiction, full speed with no cause or mission
that's why, most live a life of contradiction
Modern society is plagued by distractions and shallow pursuits, causing us to lose sight of our true purpose and leading us to live unfulfilling, contradictory lives.
and words like love have lost their definition
the best way to make a statement is through actions
I'm through acting, I can't control how it goes
I take it one step at a time, walking this long road
Meaningful words like 'love' have become diluted and meaningless, and our actions are more powerful than words in conveying our true feelings and intentions. We must accept that life is unpredictable and take it one day at a time.
I, Keep, Wondering
Where, Will I Be
The artist wonders about his future and where life will take him. He is uncertain and reflective.
I would like to let you know that you
can't predict what might go down next
life goes in many directions and sometimes
it takes us by surprise
Life is unpredictable and full of surprises, and we cannot predict what will happen next. We must learn to adapt and be resilient in the face of challenges.
I was once a young child filled with innocence
who I am now after many instances and experience?
How many times did my dreams change?
How many times did my mind change?
The artist reflects on his past and how he has evolved over time. He wonders how many times his goals and dreams have changed, and how many times he has changed his mind along the way.
Ten years ago I was in seventh grade with no worries
but now I got plenty bills to pay
you know how it go when you got no dough
and the bills stack up while the interest rate grows
it's like the more that you save up, the more that you owe
and sometimes we do the same thing with our soul
Ten years ago, the artist was carefree and had no real responsibilities, but now he struggles with financial and personal obligations. He illustrates how debt can spiral out of control if not dealt with properly, and how we can also overextend ourselves emotionally and spiritually.
sometimes my mind goes back and forth
trying to figure out, what I'm working towards
who am I working for? gotta do this right
the patterns I set now will follow me through life
The artist experiences indecisiveness and confusion about his goals and intentions. He questions whether he is on the right path and who he is really working for. He understands that the choices he makes now will impact the rest of his life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind