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.
Microphone Rush Feat. Manchild
Braille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not hardcore, but my foundation is rock solid
We're in critical times, criminal minds packing pistols and nines
blasting, speaking lies to the masses, UH
I rush microphones with multiple motives, compulsive doses
of potent truth spoken explosive
high voltage frequencies broadcasted
I'd rather starve to death then feed the beast, yeah, I'd rather take action
through the solar system, (with wisdom) I'm fixing universal damage
it's chaos, we're in a state of global panic
it's safer in outer-space then it is in our local planet
I'm planting seeds for the future, on a daily basis
my crew stands out from the rest like we had alien faces
from a, hidden location, or live in your area
text for the blind, letting my little light shine
ya ya ya you, can feel it in your mind and soul
ya ya ya you, can feel it in your body and bones
ya ya ya you, can feel it all over the globe
when we, Rush, the microphone
repeat
we're gonna rush, rush, rush, rush the microphone
braille from Lightheaded rush the microphone
In Braille's song "Microphone Rush" featuring Manchild, the lyrics speak upon the current state of society and how those in power are spreading lies and propaganda to the masses. Braille emphasizes that he can't fight with his fists, but rather with spiritual knowledge and rock solid foundation. He is rushing the microphone, not only to speak the truth but to plant seeds for the future. Braille believes in taking action and standing out from the rest, like having "alien faces," which allows him to shine a light on the chaos and global panic in society.
Overall, the lyrics touch upon the importance of spreading truth and knowledge in a world where propaganda and lies are so prevalent. Braille emphasizes that we all need to work towards making a change, planting seeds for the future, and speaking out against the chaos present in society.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't fight with my fists, I bring spiritual knowledge
I rely on wisdom and higher understanding, rather than brute force.
I'm not hardcore, but my foundation is rock solid
I may not fit the stereotypical tough guy image, but my beliefs and principles are unwavering.
We're in critical times, criminal minds packing pistols and nines
blasting, speaking lies to the masses, UH
Our world is in a dangerous state where criminals and corrupt politicians spread falsehoods to deceive and manipulate the public.
I rush microphones with multiple motives, compulsive doses
of potent truth spoken explosive
high voltage frequencies broadcasted
When I perform, I do so with great passion and with the intention to deliver powerful messages that resonate with the audience.
I'd rather starve to death then feed the beast, yeah, I'd rather take action
sick of seeing my people suffer while the poison gets blasted
through the solar system, (with wisdom) I'm fixing universal damage
I refuse to compromise my values or support systems that oppress and harm others. Instead, I use my platform to spread awareness and facilitate change for the greater good.
it's chaos, we're in a state of global panic
it's safer in outer-space then it is in our local planet
I'm planting seeds for the future, on a daily basis
The current state of the world is alarming and unsafe. I am dedicated to making the world a better place through my actions and messages, regardless of the present circumstances.
my crew stands out from the rest like we had alien faces
from a, hidden location, or live in your area
text for the blind, letting my little light shine
My group is unique in its approach and style, transcending societal expectations and limitations. We strive to reach all audiences with our message, including those who are visually impaired.
ya ya ya you, can feel it in your mind and soul
ya ya ya you, can feel it in your body and bones
ya ya ya you, can feel it all over the globe
when we, Rush, the microphone
Our music and performances evoke powerful emotions and connections within listeners all over the world.
we're gonna rush, rush, rush, rush the microphone
braille from Lightheaded rush the microphone
We are driven and committed to using our voices and performances to make a positive impact, both individually and as a group.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind