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.
Raise The Dead
Braille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Move forward, they lock us up, we lock it up, and ?? give us the ?? to keep going. Let's go
Raise the dead spirits
How can we raise the dead when
They've been gone so long, Please
Bring them back to life
Is it possible to do that?
Their needs have been ignored
Screaming can't you hear this?
Raise the dead spirits
In the destitute land
We cry for revolution but don't execute the plan
Our people get executed instead
The land of the living dead
Pop shots aimed at their head
Lost ones, young sons who got guns, they pull it out
Make them shout when trouble comes
Nobody knows where he got it from
But when it blows he's got us on the run
The block is scared, living in fear
Total paranoia, he takes steroids and the boy is a destroyer
Bullets fly, inflicting his first victim
He said he would kill a second in a millisecond
Red and blue lights flashing
Cops harassing potential assassins
Mamas cry
These kids don't listen well
One in the grave and one in the prison cell
I'm speakin on those that we walk with talk with live with
Those we relate to even just a little bit
Mischievous misfits cops and killers
Every man woman and child that has been delivered
It's not God but made in his image
In the strive for perfection we all lose our pilgrimage
Humble in slum villages peace war and famine
Keep the young dumb and build up more smart cannons
Soft porn and hard landings
Found dead with this ??
Picked him up from a stray bullet
Here a gang bangers standing
Hand in your resignation
Lives cut short from violence stds or disease
Beef and pork
Worked for a living and forget to live
Save every nickel and dime but never give
Die to live live to die
Every life that you led
Lived to see another day
The lyrics of Braille's song "Raise the Dead" are a commentary on the issues troubling society. The song begins with the idea that moving forward is difficult when the system keeps trying to hold those striving for success back. The phrase "raise the dead spirits" in the chorus refers to the idea of bringing those that have been outcast or ignored by society, and whose needs have been forgotten, back into the fold. However, the question posed in the following line "Is it possible to do that?" is one of doubt, where the singer is unsure whether society can come together to fix the issues that plague it.
The first verse speaks about how revolution is sought, but the plan is often not executed, leading to frustration and ultimately death. The singer then moves on to speak about the cruel reality of gang violence that affects youth, where they often have access to guns and no one takes responsibility for stopping them. The block itself is scared and lives in fear, while the youth turn to violence to solve their problems. The chorus repeats to emphasize the desperation in the plea for help to save these lost souls that have been forgotten and left behind by society.
The final verse is a reflection on society at large, where the singer notes that everyone struggles to find meaning and purpose in their lives. Society is filled with misfits, cops, and killers - all made in the image of God but ultimately left to fend for themselves. The strive for perfection leads to the loss of their humanity and leaves them with a feeling of emptiness. Ultimately, the song ends with the idea that every life lived is valuable and should be cherished, but that people often forget to live life in pursuit of wealth and power.
Line by Line Meaning
Move forward, they lock us up, we lock it up, and ?? give us the ?? to keep going. Let's go
Despite being locked up, we still keep moving forward and doing our best. We don't need anyone's permission to keep going. Let's continue on this path.
Raise the dead spirits
We want to bring back the passion and life that has been absent for so long.
How can we raise the dead when
They've been gone so long, Please
Bring them back to life
Is it possible to do that?
We question whether it's even possible to revive the passion that has been absent for so long. We ask for help and guidance to bring it back to life.
Zombies in the streets
Their needs have been ignored
Screaming can't you hear this?
Raise the dead spirits
We see people living life without purpose and their needs being ignored. We scream for help and want to revive their spirits.
In the destitute land
We cry for revolution but don't execute the plan
Our people get executed instead
The land of the living dead
In a land of poverty and chaos, we call for revolution but our plans don't come to fruition. Our people are dying instead, leading to a lifeless existence.
Pop shots aimed at their head
Lost ones, young sons who got guns, they pull it out
Make them shout when trouble comes
Nobody knows where he got it from
But when it blows he's got us on the run
The block is scared, living in fear
Total paranoia, he takes steroids and the boy is a destroyer
Bullets fly, inflicting his first victim
He said he would kill a second in a millisecond
Red and blue lights flashing
Cops harassing potential assassins
Mamas cry
These kids don't listen well
One in the grave and one in the prison cell
Young men find themselves in dangerous situations where they're forced to pull out guns. They're living in fear and it leads to destruction. As a result, families and communities suffer with extreme grief and loss.
I'm speakin on those that we walk with talk with live with
Those we relate to even just a little bit
Mischievous misfits cops and killers
Every man woman and child that has been delivered
It's not God but made in his image
In the strive for perfection we all lose our pilgrimage
Humble in slum villages peace war and famine
Keep the young dumb and build up more smart cannons
Soft porn and hard landings
Found dead with this ??
Picked him up from a stray bullet
Here a gang bangers standing
Hand in your resignation
Lives cut short from violence stds or disease
Beef and pork
Worked for a living and forget to live
Save every nickel and dime but never give
Die to live live to die
Every life that you led
Lived to see another day
The people we live and relate to include those who are mischievous, as well as those in authoritative roles who have taken life. We're all human, but we strive for perfection and miss the mark. We see this kind of strife and pain in poor communities affected by war, famine, and disease. We're quick to build up weapons and ignore the needs of the youth. We see both small and large issues that are taking lives too soon, due to lack of care and concern. We're reminded that every day is a gift.
Contributed by Carson D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
coolnegative
same Braille from Portland, OR?