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.
Right This Moment
Braille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll see if I get to finish this rhyme
Life on earth is cursed, the curtain closes, eyes open
Searching for peace in final moments, playing the game till it's over
Perfect strangers, perfection isn't obtained by
Momentary gain or, voluntary pain
Martyr your heart condition, sacrifice all your possessions
It's burning up in flames with violent aggression causing depression
The flesh flashed in his face fed his rage
On every tv station and magazine page
We keep falling (to temptation) cause this is how we're raised
I don't expect every line to make sense at first mention
That's why with this album I recommend repeated listens
My flow isn't the illest, my content isn't the sickest
These visions are to specific, I'm bringing you something different
Right this Moment, what's going on?
Step outside, turn on your tv, turn on the radio
Blaow, coming through your speaker right now
Music is more then just a style
Right this Moment, what's going on?
Step outside, turn on your tv, turn on your radio
Blaow, coming through your speaker worldwide
To many shades of grey, time to make it black and white
Right this moment, another rapper gets shot
You'd act surprised, but there's something you forgot
We reap what we sew, each lyric is a seed
Guns ain't killing rock stars, they only murder mcs
Many lives lost, stolen by bullets blasted out chambers
A clear and present danger, playing the game till it's over
It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt
Might just start shooting ourselves like Kurt, (for what it's worth)
Right this moment, soldiers invade foreign territory
Tear it down and bring terror to their family
I can't say if it's wrong or justified, I'm just a man who stands
Between behind the scene secrets, so I admit I have a weekness
We can sit and argue about, who's right and who's wrong
Who's good and who's evil, the discussion goes on and on
All I know is, (right this moment) I can make a difference in this world
Sit and watch it get worse or work to make it more secure
Braille's song "Right This Moment" is a commentary on the state of the world, with Braille addressing issues such as violence, war, and rape. The lyrics suggest that these problems are not going away anytime soon and that we are running out of time to make a difference. However, Braille also offers a message of hope, encouraging listeners to take action and work towards creating a better world.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, with Braille stating "yo we're running out of time" and questioning whether he will be able to finish his rhyme before it's too late. This sense of urgency is carried throughout the song, with Braille pointing out various problems in the world such as rape, gun violence, and war. However, he also acknowledges that these issues are complex and not easily solved, stating "I can't say if it's wrong or justified, I'm just a man who stands / Between behind the scene secrets, so I admit I have a weekness".
Despite the heavy tone of the lyrics, Braille also offers a message of hope and encourages listeners to take action. He suggests that although the world may seem overwhelming, we can all make small changes and work towards creating a better world. The repeated refrain of "Right this moment, what's going on?" serves as a reminder to pay attention to the world around us and take action when we can.
Line by Line Meaning
Right this moment, yo we're running out of time
Time is running out for us in this world and we need to realize it.
We'll see if I get to finish this rhyme
We don't know what the future holds, so let's make the most of the present moment.
Life on earth is cursed, the curtain closes, eyes open
Life can feel like a curse, and even at the end when our eyes close, there is still a bigger picture to see.
Searching for peace in final moments, playing the game till it's over
We all want peace, even in our last moments, but we still keep playing the game of life until the end.
Perfect strangers, perfection isn't obtained by
Even strangers may be striving for perfection, but it's not something that can be obtained easily.
Momentary gain or, voluntary pain
We may choose temporary gains or endure pain for a greater goal, but it's not always worth it.
Martyr your heart condition, sacrifice all your possessions
We should be willing to give up everything for what we believe in, regardless of the cost.
It's burning up in flames with violent aggression causing depression
The world can sometimes feel like it's on fire and causing depression in those who live in it.
Right this moment a women gets raped, there's no escape
Horrible things happen in the world and unfortunately, many people can't escape it.
The flesh flashed in his face fed his rage
Rapists are fueled by the sight of flesh, causing them to lash out in anger.
We keep falling (to temptation) cause this is how we're raised
We may give in to temptation because of how we were brought up and what we were taught.
I don't expect every line to make sense at first mention
It's okay if not everything makes sense at first, sometimes it takes repeated listens to understand.
That's why with this album I recommend repeated listens
The album is meant to be listened to more than once to fully comprehend its meaning.
My flow isn't the illest, my content isn't the sickest
My rap style and content may not be the best, but it's unique and different.
These visions are too specific, I'm bringing you something different
My visions are different from what people may expect, and I'm bringing something new to the table.
Right this Moment, what's going on?
What's happening in the world right now?
Step outside, turn on your tv, turn on the radio
Get informed about what's happening in the world by watching the news or listening to the radio.
Blaow, coming through your speaker right now
Here's a message coming through your speakers at this very moment.
Music is more than just a style
Music can be a powerful tool for change and expression, and it's not just about the style or genre.
To many shades of grey, time to make it black and white
There's too much ambiguity in the world, and it's time to make things clearer and more straightforward.
Right this moment, another rapper gets shot
Another rapper is tragically killed, and it's becoming all too common in the music industry.
You'd act surprised, but there's something you forgot
We act surprised when these things happen, but we forget that we're contributing to the problem.
We reap what we sew, each lyric is a seed
We get what we give, and each lyric we put out into the world has an impact.
Guns ain't killing rock stars, they only murder mcs
Rock stars aren't being killed by guns, it's the rappers who are suffering from gun violence.
Many lives lost, stolen by bullets blasted out chambers
Many people are dying because of the bullets that are fired from guns.
A clear and present danger, playing the game till it's over
There's a danger present in the world, and we still keep playing the game of life until the very end.
It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt
We may think everything is fine, but it's not until someone gets hurt that we realize the severity of the situation.
Might just start shooting ourselves like Kurt, (for what it's worth)
We may end up causing our own destruction, like Kurt Cobain did with his suicide.
Right this moment, soldiers invade foreign territory
Soldiers are invading and occupying foreign lands.
Tear it down and bring terror to their family
These soldiers are causing destruction and bringing fear to the families in these lands.
I can't say if it's wrong or justified, I'm just a man who stands
It's not for me to say whether this is right or wrong, I'm just an observer.
Between behind the scene secrets, so I admit I have a weakness
There are secrets being kept behind the scenes, and I admit that it's a weakness of mine.
We can sit and argue about, who's right and who's wrong
We can debate endlessly about who's right and wrong in these situations.
Who's good and who's evil, the discussion goes on and on
The discussion about who's good or evil can go on forever without a clear answer.
All I know is, (right this moment) I can make a difference in this world
What I do in this moment can make a difference in the world.
Sit and watch it get worse or work to make it more secure
We have a choice to either watch the world get worse or work to make it a safer place.
Contributed by Caleb E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@_MetrallaAcme
I LOVE this song
@SirPreissMC
Still love it in 2020!