1. A house-centric alter-ego of Praveen Sharma (of Sepalcure, Praveen & Ben… Read Full Bio ↴1. A house-centric alter-ego of Praveen Sharma (of Sepalcure, Praveen & Benoît)
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.

Restless
Braille Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ain't getting no sleep no more
Ain't getting no sleep no more
I'm restless
I got a lot to do and I'm restless, yo check this

I got a checklist of things to do and I'm stressing out cause all my bills are due, I got less money in my bank account than the amount that I owe, so my checks will bounce, if I write them out that's a bondage, I don't want this to stand in the way of my focus, I stay zoning with deep concentration, late night, suffering from sleep deprivation, I don't got five pairs of Nike Airs, I only got one car, me and my wife share, I'm in the studio, my daughter is upstairs, walking in the kitchen or sitting in the high chair, I put food on the table, she wears a bib, sleeps in our bed instead of the crib, people get surprised when they visit my crib, like "Yo, I didn't know you were living like this", I got a nice house, but don't get it twisted, when I was growing up I wasn't a rich kid, I try to be wise, make good investments, so little time, and that's why I'm restless

I rap with tactics to pass to the masses, a message of hope and peace that surpasses understanding when I'm standing under rain clouds with warnings of lightning and thunder, no umbrella, so this young fella gonna have to get wet and run for shelter, oh well, I can get mad and upset or I can propel like fuel for a jet, I got tools in my box and I use what I got to build on the lot with the building blocks, and I'm building a lot, living on the block and they say that the streets are like a stumbling block, that's why we stumble a lot, running from the cops, hustling rocks and glocks, busting shots, no wonder we're lukewarm instead of being hot, getting caught trying to be something that we're not, and I'm not convinced that I simply exist to stand back and watch, I'd rather uplift, it's hard to sleep with all this in front of me, it's hard to work and only think about the money, so much to consider when I stand and deliver, and I figure I could help if I see the bigger picture, it's worth it to me, I'm willing to work for free, knowing God is willing to work through me

Overall Meaning

"Restless" is a song by Braille that conveys the artist's feelings of stress and exhaustion caused by the many responsibilities he has in life. He confesses that he isn't getting any rest, despite needing it dearly. Braille opens up about his struggles and the pressure he faces in achieving his goals. The artist shares his experience of the financial struggles he goes through regularly, and the hard work he puts in to provide for his family. He admits that he is always preoccupied with his work and that he is restless due to the many things he needs to get done.

Throughout the song, Braille shows his determination to accomplish his goals despite the obstacles he faces. He raps about his experiences and inspires listeners who are also struggling with achieving their dreams to keep pushing through, no matter the challenges they face. The song emphasizes that hard work, perseverance, and faith can help overcome any obstacle.

Line by Line Meaning

Ain't getting no sleep no more
I am having trouble sleeping these days

I'm restless
I am feeling agitated, stressed, and uneasy

I got a lot to do and I'm restless, yo check this
I have a long list of tasks to accomplish and it is causing me stress and restlessness

I got a checklist of things to do and I'm stressing out cause all my bills are due, I got less money in my bank account than the amount that I owe, so my checks will bounce, if I write them out that's a bondage,
I am anxious because I have several bills to pay, but I don't have enough money to cover them all. If I try to pay with a check, they will bounce, and that will cause more problems

I don't want this to stand in the way of my focus, I stay zoning with deep concentration, late night, suffering from sleep deprivation,
I don't want my financial problems to distract me from my work, so I try to stay focused and work deeply into the night, even if that means sacrificing sleep

I don't got five pairs of Nike Airs, I only got one car, me and my wife share,
I am not materialistic, and I don't have a lot of possessions - I only have one car, which I share with my wife

I put food on the table, she wears a bib, sleeps in our bed instead of the crib,
As a parent, my priority is providing for my family - I make sure my daughter has food, even if that means she is messy and wears a bib, and I let her sleep in our bed instead of her crib

people get surprised when they visit my crib, like 'Yo, I didn't know you were living like this',
People are often surprised to see how simply I live and how little I have

I got a nice house, but don't get it twisted, when I was growing up I wasn't a rich kid,
Although I have a nice house now, I didn't grow up with a lot of money or privilege

I try to be wise, make good investments, so little time, and that's why I'm restless
I try to make smart choices and investments, but I know that time is limited, which makes me feel anxious and restless

I rap with tactics to pass to the masses, a message of hope and peace that surpasses understanding when I'm standing under rain clouds with warnings of lightning and thunder, no umbrella, so this young fella gonna have to get wet and run for shelter
As a rapper, I try to spread a message of hope and peace to as many people as possible. Even when life is tough (symbolized by the rain and thunder), I will keep going and take whatever comes my way and seek safety if needed

oh well, I can get mad and upset or I can propel like fuel for a jet,
When things don't go my way, I can either get angry or use it as motivation to propel myself forward and achieve more

I got tools in my box and I use what I got to build on the lot with the building blocks, and I'm building a lot, living on the block and they say that the streets are like a stumbling block,
I have skills and resources, and I use them to build something tangible out of nothing, whether it's in terms of music or a physical building. Despite the challenges that the streets can bring, I am still building something important

that's why we stumble a lot, running from the cops, hustling rocks and glocks, busting shots, no wonder we're lukewarm instead of being hot, getting caught trying to be something that we're not,
Many people are set back by the things they face in the streets - they run from the police, hustle drugs, and use guns to fight their battles. Their actions are not authentic, and they often fall short of their potential

and I'm not convinced that I simply exist to stand back and watch, I'd rather uplift,
I believe that life is not just about existing, but about making a positive difference in the world by uplifting others

it's hard to sleep with all this in front of me, it's hard to work and only think about the money, so much to consider when I stand and deliver,
It is hard to stay grounded and focused on my work when I have so many things on my mind, including financial struggles. When I perform, I need to consider these things and try to keep them from overwhelming me

and I figure I could help if I see the bigger picture, it's worth it to me, I'm willing to work for free, knowing God is willing to work through me
I believe that I can make a difference in the world by seeing the bigger picture and working towards a better future, even if that means sacrificing my own time and resources. I trust that God is with me every step of the way

Contributed by Adam F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

n_hosway

13y

Dude. You left me speechless with this. I was browsing through your uploads and I saw this. Seeing Blazo, I was like "Oh sweet.", clicked on it, heard Rebirth, heard Restless. Left me speechless <3

stokelycalm

13y

wow i never heard braille under jazz instrumentals..he sounds amazing, even better...i remember this track off the IV edition album he released..but this sounds so improved with blazo's instrumental...great upload!