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.
The IV
Braille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Twenty four minus eighteen, find a problem for everything
Don't try to tell me what I mean
Don't try to build yourself from the outside
Don't try to make yourself; you'll break every time
Don't try to take your guilt and leave it behind
I carry mine
I've learned too many times
You cuss when you see us
I'm taking all this in stride
I breathe too hard
My lungs are scarred
Have you tried to arrest yourself, arrested in time
Why change if you can't find the time
Try to make the most of this or get left behind
Everything comes at a price
You trust us when you need us
Why do I feel there's nothing inside
This crutch will relieve us
How can I fix this if I haven't tried
I want to send you roses before your death is staged
When understanding violence, suspects know their fate
I want another reason why I never help myself
I waste my days regretting why
Celebrate, Semper fi, Sic Transit Gloria
If you don't intend to go, never say that you want to
Stay home until you know, life's short, but quite a ride
Got eight months to go, a tightened grip will get you through
Don't forget your goals, time is on your side as long as you're alive
You want some closure
You almost finished
But couldn't fool your pride
Out of nothing, fake forgiveness
Never satisfied.
(What if I'd lied)
In the song "The IV" by Braille, the artist ponders about his own confidence, coming clean to himself and the world around him. He feels ambivalent towards everything and finds a problem in everything, yet doesn't want anyone to tell him what he means. He tells people not to try to build themselves from the outside, for they will break every time, and he carries his own guilt with him. The artist has also learned from his past experiences, stating that lust will defeat us and breathing too hard scars our lungs. He speaks about being arrested in time and the importance of changing and evolving with it, which can come at a costly price.
Line by Line Meaning
Confidence, coming clean, ambivalent to everything
I am confident and transparent, yet uncertain about everything in my life.
Twenty four minus eighteen, find a problem for everything
I always find a problem to everything, even when the solution is simple.
Don't try to tell me what I mean
I won't let anyone else define who I am or what I stand for.
Don't try to build yourself from the outside
Don't try to fit in by changing your external appearance or behavior.
Don't try to make yourself; you'll break every time
Trying to be someone else will only lead to disappointment and failure.
Don't try to take your guilt and leave it behind
You can't escape the consequences of your actions, so own up to your mistakes.
I carry mine
I'm willing to live with the guilt of my past and learn from my mistakes.
This lust will defeat us
Giving in to temptation and desire will only lead to regret and pain.
I've learned too many times
I've made mistakes in the past and have learned from them.
You cuss when you see us
Others judge and criticize us, but we won't let it affect us.
I'm taking all this in stride
I'm handling the challenges and obstacles in my life with grace and resilience.
I breathe too hard
I'm struggling to cope with something that's weighing me down.
My lungs are scarred
My emotional pain and struggles have taken a physical toll on me.
Have you tried to arrest yourself, arrested in time
Have you ever tried to take control of your life and change your ways, before it's too late?
Why change if you can't find the time
Some people don't see the point in changing their ways, even if they know it's necessary, because they're too busy or too comfortable in their current situation.
Try to make the most of this or get left behind
You have to make the most of your opportunities and experiences, or you'll miss out on life's adventures.
Everything comes at a price
Every choice you make and every action you take has consequences, good or bad.
You trust us when you need us
You rely on others for support and comfort when you're in trouble or feeling down.
Why do I feel there's nothing inside
Sometimes, even when surrounded by love and support, you can still feel empty and lost.
This crutch will relieve us
Sometimes, we rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms to get us through the tough times, even though they're not good for us in the long run.
How can I fix this if I haven't tried
You have to take the first step towards change, otherwise nothing will ever improve.
I want to send you roses before your death is staged
I want to express my love and appreciation for someone while they're still alive, rather than waiting until it's too late.
When understanding violence, suspects know their fate
Those who engage in violence or destructive behavior know the potential consequences of their actions.
I want another reason why I never help myself
I need to understand why I'm resistant to self-improvement and taking better care of myself.
I waste my days regretting why
I spend too much time dwelling on my past mistakes and missed opportunities, instead of focusing on the present and future.
Celebrate, Semper fi, Sic Transit Gloria
Life is fleeting and uncertain, so we should savor every moment and cherish our memories.
If you don't intend to go, never say that you want to
Don't make empty promises or pretend to be interested in something you have no intention of pursuing.
Stay home until you know, life's short, but quite a ride
Take the time to figure out what you truly want in life, because it's a precious gift that shouldn't be squandered.
Got eight months to go, a tightened grip will get you through
Even when you're close to achieving your goals, you have to maintain your focus and determination to cross the finish line.
Don't forget your goals, time is on your side as long as you're alive
Remember your ambitions and aspirations, because there's always time to pursue them as long as you're still breathing.
You want some closure
You're seeking clarity or resolution to a situation that's been bothering you.
You almost finished
You're close to ending or completing something.
But couldn't fool your pride
You couldn't fake your way through it or deceive yourself about the situation.
Out of nothing, fake forgiveness
Sometimes, we pretend to forgive others or ourselves without truly meaning it, because it's easier than confronting the truth.
Never satisfied.
We always want more, even when we achieve our goals or fulfill our dreams.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind