Braintax originally performed as a duo, but former member DJ T.E.S.T. left in the mid-1990s. T.E.S.T. only appeared on one official Braintax release - the 1992 debut EP, Fat Head. Christie retained the recording name and it has since become synonymous with him as a solo artist.
Though Christie had been involved in the underground breakdancing and rapping scenes for a number of years, his career effectively started with the release of the Fat Head EP. Perhaps most noted was track 5, "Talk About The Future," sampling Quincy Jones's "Summer In The City." The sample was used in response to American hip hop act The Pharcyde's use of it in its track "Passin Me By," from album Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde. Braintax's lyrics reflected a maturity beyond his years and this track in particular was a sign of what was to come.
Throughout his career, Braintax's lyrics have been thoughful, hard hitting and reflective, ranging from politics to spirituality and the state of hip hop music to the war in Iraq. Decrying the fake posturing and the laziness of UK hip hop acts, Braintax, along with a slew of cohorts such as Blade, Harry Love and Lewis Parker, triggered a renaissance in the UK hip hop scene, both setting the pace and paving the way for new artists and labels. As well as the variation in production styles, the depth and complexity of Braintax's lyrics are a clue to his success. Though he may not like it, philosophical musings, such as those on "Oceans" (Biro Funk, 2001), on the essence of contentment and the struggle to find peace in the modern world, appeal to a wide audience and, significantly, a middle class audience. In any case, Braintax has been a pioneer of the renaissance in UK hip hop and remains heavily involved, constantly pushing the music forward: "If there is a point it should be that we benefit more from music we relate to than from that we just listen to."
Joe Christie has also recorded or appeared under the pseudonyms Brando Flux and Joey Brains.
Don't Drag Me In
Braintax Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Braintax)
You won't catch me on commuter trains at half past 8
I freeline at half 9 and I'm still not late
You'll never see me after work pouring money down my throat
Talking shit, gaining weight, for the sake of a joke
Or with the other suits in the gents hittin' the coke
Yeah you can call me self-righteous but I'll never lose hope
You'll never see me 9 to 5 getting over to cope
Not a typical life, I dream wilderness ways
I resisted being villanious back in the days
I was the one, seen my friends twocking for fun
Ripping car radios out then...run!
I'm up the ginnel quicker than the rest because I didn't smoke
Full belt round the corner, shit! this is no joke
Heard the helicopter buzzing overhead it's
Time for me to be out, time to get selfish
I can't be getting nicked for what someone else did
Blended with the bushes till shadows melted
And when the sun came up it was less hot
Stepped off down the cobblestones at a trot
I'm off to write rhymes, and I made the right choice
And I know a lot of people take issue with my voice
Even though we're al equal i'll be makin' my cream
Fuck a British state mind and the American dram... .
It's peer pressure
You make your own mistakes
But don't drag me in, I'm tryin' to elevate
(Mystro)
Course I ain't happy 'bout what's happenin' now
Stuff ain't goin too well for you so now you're dragging me down
And that is just foul so play fair, stop acting like you don't know
My struggle in this jungle is just standing on my own toes
And most won't accept the fact that times are hard
I say they..kinda are but still life is large
And I'm planning to make it big to you know - rhyme with stars
And have major companies bidding for me buying me cars
Be in my own show pedalling across the Earth
People I don't know begging me to drop a verse
'But what's this worth?' you ask, I say not everything mate
But it's where I'm tryin' to be at so don't get in my way
Just stay in your place
don't grab on me when problems are invading your space
Cos as for me blood if I make a mistake
I've only myself to blame plus I've dealt with pain
And the sunny side's always better when you've felt the pain
So deal with it - your umbrella is your metal state
I can't be the only one that's keeping my friends awake
And I know you ain't told me everything you meant to say
But we can set things straight cos that was yesterday
And day out and day in you might notice all these strange things
But realize I'm going through the same thing
The art from the start is maintaining and training your brain
And of course like they say with no pain there's no gaining..
It's peer pressure
You make your own mistakes
But don't drag me, I'm tryin' to elevate
The song "Don't Drag Me In" by Braintax ft. Mystro is a personal reflection on the artists' decisions in life, as well as an appeal to their peers to take responsibility for their own actions. In the first verse, Braintax talks about his refusal to conform to societal norms like working a 9-to-5 job, going out to drink after work, and using drugs. He discusses his desire for a more "wilderness" lifestyle and reflects on his past experiences with friends who chose to engage in illegal activities. He ultimately advocates for personal agency and self-determination in one's choices.
Mystro takes over in the second verse, delving deeper into the concept of peer pressure and the negative impact it can have on individuals. He stresses that everyone is responsible for their own fate and that his personal struggles do not excuse others from their own responsibilities. He describes his aspirations to make it big in the music industry and shares his determination to live life on his own terms. He encourages his peers to stay in their own lane rather than dragging others down with them.
Overall, the song is an introspective examination of the artists' lives and an important message on the dangers of peer pressure and taking responsibility for one's own choices.
Line by Line Meaning
You won't catch me on commuter trains at half past 8
I do not follow a typical routine of taking the commuter trains at an average hour of 8:30 am
I freeline at half 9 and I'm still not late
I have the freedom to go about my schedule and still be punctual, starting my day at around 9:30 am
You'll never see me after work pouring money down my throat
I do not indulge in wasting my earnings on alcohol after work
Talking shit, gaining weight, for the sake of a joke
I am against the idea of ruining one's health by making it a trend to overeat and have unhealthy conversations with colleagues
Or with the other suits in the gents hittin' the coke
I do not associate with people who resort to taking drugs to relieve stress, even if they are professionals like me
I like a smoke but I always keep an eye on my notes
Although I may enjoy smoking, I make sure to prioritize my responsibilities and keep track of my things
Yeah you can call me self-righteous but I'll never lose hope
I may appear to be overly confident in my principles, but I will always remain optimistic about the future
You'll never see me 9 to 5 getting over to cope
I am not the type of person to work from 9 to 5 and indulge in vices to cope with the stress of the job
Not a typical life, I dream wilderness ways
I envision living an unusual life, free from the constraints of societal norms and conventions
I resisted being villanious back in the days
I made a conscious effort to avoid engaging in any criminal activities during my youth
I was the one, seen my friends twocking for fun
I was the only one among my peers who did not find pleasure in stealing cars for fun
Ripping car radios out then...run!
My friends would steal car radios and flee the scene of the crime, leaving me behind because I did not participate
I'm up the ginnel quicker than the rest because I didn't smoke
I am faster than my friends at escaping unnoticed because I do not smoke and therefore, do not need to stay behind for a quick cigarette
Full belt round the corner, shit! this is no joke
I run as fast as I can while making sharp turns around corners, realizing the severity of the situation
Heard the helicopter buzzing overhead it's
I become aware of the helicopter hovering above me, indicating that the situation has escalated
Time for me to be out, time to get selfish
I realize that I need to prioritize my own safety and not worry about anyone else in this moment
I can't be getting nicked for what someone else did
I do not want to get in trouble with the law for someone else's wrongdoing
Blended with the bushes till shadows melted
I blend in with the bushes and remain hidden until the shadow of the helicopter no longer poses a threat
And when the sun came up it was less hot
The situation had cooled down and was less intense as the daybreak arrived
Stepped off down the cobblestones at a trot
I walk away calmly, confidently, and swiftly on the cobblestone pavement
I'm off to write rhymes, and I made the right choice
I made the decision to pursue my passion for writing music, which brings me utmost satisfaction
And I know a lot of people take issue with my voice
I understand that many individuals judge and criticize me for the tone, pitch, or style of my voice in music
Even though we're al equal i'll be makin' my cream
Although we are all humans and should be treated equally, I will continue to pursue my financial goals
Fuck a British state mind and the American dram...
I disregard any negative opinions or stereotypes surrounding British culture and American society
Course I ain't happy 'bout what's happenin' now
I am not pleased with the current situation or circumstances
Stuff ain't goin too well for you so now you're dragging me down
I notice that you are projecting your frustration and negativity towards me, which affects my mood as well
And that is just foul so play fair, stop acting like you don't know
Your behavior is unfair and unjust, so please act with honesty and stop pretending as if you do not understand my feelings
My struggle in this jungle is just standing on my own toes
My difficulties and challenges in life are only those that arise from being self-sufficient and standing firmly on my own, without relying on anyone else
And most won't accept the fact that times are hard
Many people cannot accept the reality that life can be difficult or challenging at times
I say they..kinda are but still life is large
I acknowledge that life can be tough, but I also believe it is vast, full of opportunities, and worth exploring
And I'm planning to make it big to you know - rhyme with stars
I have plans to achieve great success and fame, rhyming with stars and reaching new heights
And have major companies bidding for me buying me cars
I envision a future where large corporations compete to work with me and shower me with material possessions like cars
Be in my own show pedalling across the Earth
I want to have my own show or tour, travelling around the world to showcase my talents
People I don't know begging me to drop a verse
Strangers will approach me, asking me to perform for them and show off my skills
'But what's this worth?' you ask, I say not everything mate
You may question the value or significance of my achievements, but I believe that not everything is measurable or expendable
But it's where I'm tryin' to be at so don't get in my way
Regardless of what others may think, I am committed to reaching my goals and ask that no one impedes my progress
Just stay in your place
I urge you to remain in your place and not interfere with my journey to success
Don't grab on me when problems are invading your space
Do not expect me to be there for you every time you encounter problems and need support when I am also dealing with my own issues
Cos as for me blood if I make a mistake
As for me, if I make a mistake or an error in judgment, I will bear the responsibility for it
I've only myself to blame plus I've dealt with pain
I am responsible for my actions and their outcomes, having coped with hardships and disappointments in life
And the sunny side's always better when you've felt the pain
I believe that experiencing pain and suffering allows one to appreciate the positive aspects of life even more
So deal with it - your umbrella is your metal state
I encourage you to face your problems and handle them efficiently, relying on your own mental strength and resilience to cope with them
I can't be the only one that's keeping my friends awake
I cannot be the only person in my friend group who is constantly concerned about and attentive to others' problems, causing them to lose sleep
And I know you ain't told me everything you meant to say
I understand that you may not have expressed everything that you intended to communicate due to various reasons
But we can set things straight cos that was yesterday
We have the opportunity to correct any past misunderstandings or issues, as today is a new day
And day out and day in you might notice all these strange things
With each passing day, you may notice peculiar, unusual behaviors or occurrences
But realize I'm going through the same thing
However, it is crucial to recognize that I too am experiencing similar challenges or difficulties
The art from the start is maintaining and training your brain
The key to success is developing and maintaining mental fortitude, discipline, and focus
And of course like they say with no pain there's no gaining..
Ultimately, the process of achieving success may entail some degree of pain or struggle, as the saying goes - 'no pain, no gain'
It's peer pressure
The pressures to conform or to engage in certain behaviors arise from social peer groups
You make your own mistakes
It is up to the individual to accept responsibility and make amends for their own mistakes or misjudgments
But don't drag me, I'm tryin' to elevate
However, to achieve personal growth and success in life, one must not allow others to hold them back or impede their progress
Contributed by Scarlett D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@outpatient9320
These two were such a perfect combo, I wish they would just make more albums so bad
@RideBikes_Walkplaces
one of my all time favourite albums
@juankarlosg.surterraneo5142
Dope
@MrFoolishFiend
braintax is so good. so upset they aren't very popular in America. only rap / hiphop i ever listen to
@gregorpurdie338
+MrFoolishFiend
Damn straight. See also: Skinnyman and Foreign Beggars. Skinnyman's apparently a bit of a twat (allegedly), but he's still one talented SOB.
Foreign Beggars should be feckin superstars.
@braindancer6127
+Gregor Purdie I saw skinnyman just walking about at some free hiphop ting in london the other day he seamed like a really nice dude, massive smile and saying hi to everyone,,,,,, just sayin
@artysm7
Jehst too ;)
@lostangel696
tuuuuuune
@kiekz369
Leaf Dog brought me here