Busdriver guested on upward of 20 singles, and by 2001 he could no longer be contained by guest spots, releasing his first full-length, Memoirs of the Elephant Man (1999). There were just as many detractors as supporters for his singular style, which was so densely packed it made his chosen name seem a reference for multiple-personality disorder, and the lo-fi production also left more listeners scratching heads than nodding them.
His next album, This Machine Kills Fashion Tips (2002), continued in a similar manner before being trumped by better production and more focused rhymes on Temporary Forever the same year. Joined by another West Coast avant-garde MC, Radioinactive, and the breezy, fractured pop of electronic producer Daedelus, Busdriver released yet another odd puzzle piece in 2003, The Weather. Fear of a Black Tangent followed on Mush in 2005. After moving to Anti-/Epitaph, the rapper issued RoadKillOvercoat, which featured production from Nobody and Boom Bip. His second Anti- release, Jhelli Beam, appeared in 2009. In 2010 he put out a full-length mixtape of unreleased gems and illegal remixes called Computer Cooties. It was released as a free album. 2010 saw Bus toiling over a new album that will shock fans and confuse the unconverted into unwilling servitude. It is called Beaus$Eros and was released on February 21, 2012 on Fake Four. Beaus$Eros forgoes the lightening-speed rhyming that defined his style in favor of a diverse, off-kilter brand of pop and post-hip-hop.
Gun Control
Busdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey!
Cheaper cheeba, cheaper cheeba
I think it would be cheaper if I grow your cheeba
Hide your beeper, ride a zebra
I wonder why you glorify 9 millimeters
(scat) shoot (scat) at revolving doors
Gun control!
Hey!
Why would you pride yourself on being a Luger holder
When the only gun you held is a SuperSoaker?
But I'm a killer finger, but I'm a millimeter
Look on your face look just like gorilla sphincter.
When the NRA gave you the middle finger
Told you that you couldn't join the gun club due to your ethnic background
Said you were born from the septic trash mound
So put the gun back down
You may think your tough, bullet-proofed up
But the men who carry guns got mullets and crew cuts.
White conservatives, who formed the oligarchy
who'll call you "darkie", and they hate commies and Paul McCartney
The two nigga shooting at the general cinema
but their self-image is a mental enema.
Plus an exchange of gun fire will more likely kill your man Busdriver.
Cheaper cheeba, cheaper cheeba
I think it would be cheaper if I grow your cheeba
Hide your beeper, ride a zebra
I wonder why you glorify 9 millimeters
(scat) shoot (scat) at revolving doors
wild on the floor, involved in war, or crawling on all fours
Gun control!
Oh! Goodbye, cruel world!
I'll never see my children or my stuff again!
(clack, clack!)
Oh! On a scale of 1 to 10 my life was... pretty good.
I may be shot in any one of your city or hoods.
Hey!
Bullets are ricocheting, bouncing off church bells
Fools be bailing, all you see is shirt tails
But me and my personnel, we got merch' to sell
Besides violence and a pacifist don't work well
And this has had pouring rain putting out those warring flames
Warning shots in the air hit angles and I got blood in my storm drain
Sometimes I run over woodland creatures and they become roadkill
But still fans stood in the bleachers and come to the Blowed, still
But you, you're overkill, you wanna shoot at recordable CD's
Like they were clay pigeons, I told you I was babysitting
And you thought I came back from a gun fair, but I'm really into child care
Cheaper cheeba, cheaper cheeba
I think it would be cheaper if I grow your cheeba
Hide your beeper, ride a zebra
I wonder why you glorify 9 millimeters
(scat) shoot (scat) at revolving doors
wild on the floor, involved in war, or crawling on all fours
Gun control!
Oh! Goodbye, cruel world!
I'll never see my children or my stuff again!
(Argh!)
On a scale of 1 to 10 my life was a 30 below with a chance of showers
But still I had the manpower to sit in front of a mic stand for hours.
The song "Gun Control" by Busdriver is a satirical critique of American gun culture and its glorification of violence. The lyrics are filled with witty wordplay and colorful imagery, as he takes on the personas of different characters who stand on opposite sides of the gun control debate.
In the first verse, Busdriver questions the glorification of firearms in American culture and wonders why people take pride in owning guns, especially when they may not even have experience handling them. He also highlights the danger that comes with indiscriminate gun use, whether on the streets or in public places such as movie theaters.
The second verse takes a more political tone, as Busdriver criticizes the powerful National Rifle Association and their exclusionary practices towards people of color. He also pokes fun at the conservative ideologies that often align with gun ownership, mocking their hatred for Paul McCartney and their supposed war against communism.
The final verse is more introspective, as Busdriver reflects on his own mortality and the fragility of life in a society where violence is so prevalent. He also touches on themes of resilience and perseverance, emphasizing that even in the face of danger, he will not let fear and violence dictate his life.
Overall, "Gun Control" is a clever and thought-provoking analysis of the complex issues that surround gun ownership and violence in America, delivered with Busdriver's signature style of intricate rhymes and clever punchlines.
Line by Line Meaning
Cheaper cheeba, cheaper cheeba
The price of marijuana could be lower if it was grown personally
I think it would be cheaper if I grow your cheeba
The cost of marijuana is too high
Hide your beeper, ride a zebra
Sometimes doing things in unconventional ways can prevent scrutiny
I wonder why you glorify 9 millimeters
It is strange to take pride in owning a gun
(scat) shoot (scat) at revolving doors
People often shoot at vulnerable, helpless locations
Wild on the floor, involved in war, or crawling on all fours
Violence can escalate quickly and have a wide range of outcomes
Gun control!
Lack of control over guns is leading to more violence
Why would you pride yourself on being a Luger holder
It's foolish to take pride in owning a gun
When the only gun you held is a SuperSoaker?
Owning a toy water gun is not comparable to owning a real one
But I'm a killer finger, but I'm a millimeter
The trigger finger, not the gun, is what causes harm
Look on your face look just like gorilla sphincter.
You look foolish when you try to act tough
When the NRA gave you the middle finger
The National Rifle Association may discriminate based on race
Said you were born from the septic trash mound
The NRA tells some people that they aren't worthy of owning guns
So put the gun back down
Don't be a part of the violence problem
You may think your tough, bullet-proofed up
You may think you're invincible, but that's not true
But the men who carry guns got mullets and crew cuts.
The stereotypes surrounding gun owners are not favorable
White conservatives, who formed the oligarchy
The people in power have a specific political agenda
who'll call you 'darkie', and they hate commies and Paul McCartney
The people in power are discriminatory and anti-communist
The two nigga shooting at the general cinema
Gang violence is a major problem
but their self-image is a mental enema.
Their self-image is distorted and negative
Plus an exchange of gun fire will more likely kill your man Busdriver.
Violence is a real and present threat to rappers and other celebrities
Oh! Goodbye, cruel world!
Sometimes people feel overwhelmed by the negativity in the world
I'll never see my children or my stuff again!
The finality of death is frightening
(clack, clack!)
The sound of cocking a gun adds tension to the lyrics
On a scale of 1 to 10 my life was... pretty good.
Life is not always perfect, but it is usually worth living
I may be shot in any one of your city or hoods.
The threat of violence is always present in certain areas
Bullets are ricocheting, bouncing off church bells
Bullets can cause harm in unexpected ways
Fools be bailing, all you see is shirt tails
People often flee the scene of a crime
But me and my personnel, we got merch' to sell
Artists need to make money somehow
Besides violence and a pacifist don't work well
Being passive is not always the best course of action
And this has had pouring rain putting out those warring flames
Sometimes external factors can calm down a violent situation
Warning shots in the air hit angles and I got blood in my storm drain
Violence affects more than just the immediate participants
Sometimes I run over woodland creatures and they become roadkill
Sometimes accidents happen
But still fans stood in the bleachers and come to the Blowed, still
Fans continue to support Busdriver
But you, you're overkill, you wanna shoot at recordable CD's
Some people take their anger out in unreasonable ways
Like they were clay pigeons, I told you I was babysitting
Violence is not an acceptable solution to any problem
And you thought I came back from a gun fair, but I'm really into child care
People often make assumptions about others that aren't true
Oh! Goodbye, cruel world!
Repeating this line emphasizes the severity of the violence problem
(Argh!)
The sound of being shot adds tension to the lyrics
On a scale of 1 to 10 my life was a 30 below with a chance of showers
Sometimes life feels unbearable
But still I had the manpower to sit in front of a mic stand for hours.
Even in hard times, Busdriver is able to continue his career
Contributed by Mia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
elijah brown
hook is insane. this guy is insane period. i like how he steps outside da box
dPLEXSTAH
Killer track, I'm in love.
NukethewhalesMO
Oh God, this guy's a genius.
James Elliott
Great track. Mad lyrical content. Those interested in dope lyrics, check out the artists Jehst or Dr Syntax.
lilbich09
busdriver is a lyrical genius!
KQuick86
I Like dis guy, his dilivery is very unique. His other song imaginary places is my favorite of his so far.
musiclover01ization
And as i said before , I don't need enhancements to enjoys a good song by a good mc.
speshiled220
always the most on point!
Kim Roberts
I've always said that I don't like rap... I have been wrong. I can't stand the canned over-repetative entirely uninspired crap they play on the radio all day. This is friggin genius.
crimsonBZD
TO YE WHO HATES RAP BUT LIKES THIS: I know what you're feeling may be confusing, and I'm here to explain. This is Hip-Hop. Lil' Wayne is rap. Rap music is oriented toward the rhyme itself, while Hip-Hop does that while (in an extremely general sense) saying something. I'm glad I could clear that up for you. You're welcome.