1. The Rapper: Cage Ke… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:
1. The Rapper: Cage Kennylz (born Christian Palko), commonly known as Cage, is an underground rapper based in New York City, United States.
Cage's life has gone from watching his father shoot heroin, to addiction and violence and mental institutions to cutting an album for Columbia Records and being a rising star in the heyday of the NYC independent rap scene, to the final culmination and personal triumph that his most current release Hell's Winter has become. It's a brand new record from someone who has been through more extreme circumstances than most people could ever imagine, and has come out triumphant and a better person because of it, and whose artistic vision now reflects this.
18 years old, fresh out of the lodge, Cage decided to pursue his the talent he honed while in hell and try to become a professional rapper. He made a demo, got a manager and was introduced to Pete Nice of 3rd Bass fame. Pete featured Cage on his solo effort "Dust to Dust" on the song "Rich Bring 'Em Back" in 1993. This was his first appearance on a rap record.
Through Pete Nice Cage met fledgling radio personality Bobbito Garcia who had just started his soon to be legendary late night mix show with DJ Stretch Armstrong. He was invited up to the show several time, earning a rep in the emerging underground NY scene as a savage and raw new MC with an original style based on his tortured life and demented imagery
Through his connection with that show, he met and formed a strong friendship with the KMD (whose front man Zev Love X would eventually be known as MF DOOM) and formed a very strong friendship with the late great Subroc. Cage was the last person to see Subroc alive before he was killed. He also became associated with and close to: Kurious Jorge, K-Solo, Godfather Don, Artifacts, Pharoah Monch, El-P (who actually worked with Cage briefly in 1994 on a 3 song demo now lost to the world), the Juggaknots and many more.
Bobbito and Pete Nice started a label through Columbia Records called Hoppoh and were on the verge of singing Cage as one of their first releases. At this time Cage was heavily abusing drugs and every time he got into the studio he was too high to record anything that Columbia thought was worthy of a major label release.
In 1997, Cage's friend and mentor Bobbito Garcia started his own independent label Fondle 'Em Records, and offered cage a twelve inch deal. Refocused and determined to get it right this time, Cage penned the single Agent Orange b/w Radiohead. The single would go on to be one of the landmark records of the golden era of NYC underground/independent rap music and propelled Cage into cult star status.
After a few more singles with Fondle 'Em, Cage met and became friends with Philly to New York transplant rap group The High And the Mighty. He formed a group with them called the Smut Peddlers, and Rawkus (who were riding high on albums by Company Flow and Mos Def, to name a few) offered them a full length album deal through Eastern Conference’s imprint, Eastern Conference. The record sold over 50 thousand copies and solidified Cage's status as a rising rap star in the independent scene.
Cage went on to do more records with Eastern Conference including his first solo record Movies for the Blind. The record was the realization of the very character he became through his tortured early years, relying on raw, savage, often cruel, misogynistic, gritty and rebellious attitudes he had formed through his earlier years. The record struck a chord, selling 15 thousand copies in just 2 weeks, and his legion of dedicated fans grew ever bigger, attracted to his visceral and dangerous persona and music. He traveled the world several times over in support of the record and became a major draw in the independent show circuit.
Soon after he started the supergroup Weathermen, comprised of good friends Camu Tao, El-P, Aesop Rock, Yak Ballz, Tame 1, Breeze of the Juggaknots and Vast Aire.
Restless with his artistic direction and feeling trapped by a persona created out of his troubled youth, he found himself at a crossroads. He felt as though he was squandering his writing abilities and catering to music with content that only scratched the surface of what he was about. He no longer wanted to project crazy for the sake of crazy and grew tired of showing the results of his past and how they reflected on his personality. Instead, he wanted to explain why he was the way he was and wanted to make a record that he could play for his daughter someday; a record that reflected the man he was now while at the same time finally shedding light on the source of his rage, pain and rebellion. It was at this point that he and El-p started to seriously talk about making an album that would truly realize his desire to take his art to another level. They cautiously talked and imagined this transformation for over a year, culminating with his signing with Definitive Jux records. Cage worked to to bring these ideas to fruition, and the result is a cathartic and radical statement of a tortured boy turned man. A detailed, imaginative and often disturbing look into the dark territory that Cage had so closely guarded from the fans that loved him.
Cage appeared at the end of the Head Automatica album Decadence on the track 'I Shot William H. Macy' - lead singer Daryl Palumbo appeared on the RJD2 produced track Shoot Frank, as well as his band being referenced throughout the album (notably on Scenester, with Cage urging the listener to "slip it in your Head Automatica folder"). Head Automatica also wrote a song called K-Horse about Cage on their new album Popaganda.
Actor Shia LaBeouf star of Transformers (July 2007) will be playing Cage in an upcoming movie about his life.
2. The Power Metal Band: (from website bio) CAGE formed in 1992 after the breakup of two outfits from San Diego, CRUSHER and NOMAD. The band has become an underground legend of sorts and are still active to this day. Their original lineup consisted of Sean Peck (Vocals), David Garcia (Guitar), Eric Horton (Guitar), Mike Giordano (Bass), and Damian Arletto (Drums).
In 2010 original bassist Mike Giordano and lead guitarist Anthony Wayne McGuiniss left the band, and new recruits bassist Steve Brogden (guitarist/vocalist for Howler) and former Brick Bath bassist Pete Stone were added on. Current lineup consists of Sean Peck(vocals), Dave Garcia(Guitar), Casey Trask(Guitar), Dwight Magic(Bass), and Sean Elg(Drums)
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Nothing Left to Say
Cage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There I was, unconscious on the floor
This place I never knew departing from me I'm sure
Awaiting the hand of God knowing I stand to fall
I stared into the pitch black to no hand at all
You're all alone and you think of home
Places you may have been and who you've known
This beauty they speak of I cannot see
Good ideas, hard to find, get one and stand in line
Been judged and judged, what's one more time?
Adoring suffocation through the pain of humiliation
Discover both sides of manipulation
Family picked up and went away
Some friends have left and some have stayed
I've trusted one and been betrayed
And you grow tired of lying on the ground
People walking on you
If you get to your feet, you struggle to stand
People you know withdraw their hands
And you don't know why
I know why..
[Verse1]
I am just unable to feel or God-fear
Some people you may have met on this planet are not here
Life taunts of violence, death plots of silence
If your soul's priceless, it's cause no one wants to buy it
If you relapse you quietly falling, nobody catches you
So the monkey on my back is still flinging shit at you
Wipe it off, let's move on, we have so much to do
So much to see, I have so much pain for you
When your life is sucking, you got vices
That are something to hold onto as you fall into nothing
It's like you're drowning but too good to take a hand and pities
While you cling to your addiction like a kid in swimmies
Silly habit, drugs are for kids, not adults
It is not free to live unless it's under a bridge
New York City could gauge its health with colours
They said I was a danger to myself and others
I have CC brothers, forget my enemies
W.M will live on like the Kennedys
Every amenity, you're loving this
Un-American not to be gluttonous
You have a big chain to accentuate the ugliness
My soul is stuck in this, unaware of its appeal or purpose
Manufactured for you to steal or purchase
You leave behind what you get for money, oh well
What's the weather like, kids?
It's always sunny in Hell!
[Chorus]
I have one thing left to say, I'd like to share it with you
If you don't care, is it too bad for me or too bad for you?
I know it's complicated, you suffer and try to make it
Now maggots just wanna be compensated
And live through Camu
[Verse2]
You picked at his flesh, the death of his death astounding
The WM on his arm and a circle around it
I like to think what he left behind you can really use it
Instead of saying his name just to move your shitty music
The day I feel the need to stand in a bathroom
And shovel cocaine into a human vacuum, I'll look you up
The day I need another hole in my face when you pass away
People think that you're checking your Myspace
Then your enemies give you public head quick
So wanted at my funeral, just pull out my dead dick
Thought to reject, see him at the gates, they let him in
I guess they needed you as much as we do yet again
I looked at the sky and opened my eyes and the Weathermen
Symbol in the cloud is just a memory of my friend
He stuck his head in the future where they sing his art
Where the wild card will be crowned the king of hearts
[Chorus]
If I had things left to say, why would I share it with you?
How you suck the life from the dead is even too low for you
The time we spent's depleted so that's just that so beat it
Join the kids that eat it up and tell 'em you knew Camu
--Atlanticfayte
The song "Nothing Left to Say" by Cage is a poignant reflection on the struggles of addiction, loss, isolation, and disillusionment. The song speaks to the feeling of being alone, grappling with past experiences and unresolved emotions that weigh heavily on the soul. The opening lines set the tone, describing the singer as unconscious on the floor, separated from a place they never knew, and waiting for a divine intervention that may never come. The song's introspective lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and despair, as well as a deep yearning for redemption and meaning.
As the song progresses, Cage delves deeper into the complexities of addiction and the toll it takes on the human psyche. The lyrics describe the feeling of drowning in vices and being too proud to accept help, clinging to addiction like a child to swimmies. The song also touches on themes of betrayal, loneliness, and the crushing weight of expectations. The chorus repeats the phrase "I have one thing left to say, I'd like to share it with you" before launching into a scathing critique of the music industry, suggesting that art has become more commodified than ever before.
Line by Line Meaning
There I was, unconscious on the floor
I found myself passed out on the ground
This place I never knew departing from me I'm sure
I don't know where I am and I'm losing my grip on reality
Awaiting the hand of God knowing I stand to fall
I feel like I'm about to fail and nobody can help me
I stared into the pitch black to no hand at all
I was lost and alone with no help in sight
You're all alone and you think of home
When you're lonely, you remember the places you came from
Places you may have been and who you've known
You reminisce on the people and experiences that made you who you are
This beauty they speak of I cannot see
I can't see the beauty in life that others talk about
As I imagine as a child it's make-believe
The happiness I felt as a child seems like a distant dream
Good ideas, hard to find, get one and stand in line
It's difficult to come up with good ideas, so when you do, you should be patient and wait your turn
Been judged and judged, what's one more time?
I've been criticized so much that one more time doesn't make a difference
Adoring suffocation through the pain of humiliation
Sometimes we're so focused on pleasing others that we forget to take care of ourselves, which can be suffocating
Discover both sides of manipulation
Manipulation can be used for good or bad, and it's important to understand both sides
Family picked up and went away
My family moved on and left me behind
Some friends have left and some have stayed
I've lost some friends over time, but others have stuck around
I've trusted one and been betrayed
Someone I trusted has let me down
And you grow tired of lying on the ground
Being stuck in a bad situation for too long can be exhausting
People walking on you
People are taking advantage of you
If you get to your feet, you struggle to stand
When you try to improve your situation, it can be difficult and painful
People you know withdraw their hands
When you're going through a tough time, some people will abandon you
And you don't know why
It's hard to understand why people would turn their backs on you
I am just unable to feel or God-fear
I'm numb to most things and don't have a strong connection to religion
Some people you may have met on this planet are not here
Some of the people we've met in life have passed away
Life taunts of violence, death plots of silence
Life can be unpredictable and scary, with violence and death lurking around every corner
If your soul's priceless, it's cause no one wants to buy it
Your soul has value, but nobody wants to pay for it
If you relapse you quietly falling, nobody catches you
If you fall back into old habits, nobody will be there to help you
So the monkey on my back is still flinging shit at you
I'm still struggling with my demons and they're affecting those around me
Wipe it off, let's move on, we have so much to do
We can't dwell on our mistakes and failures, because we have so much to accomplish
So much to see, I have so much pain for you
There's so much beauty in the world, but I'm still carrying a lot of pain
When your life is sucking, you got vices
When life gets hard, it's easy to turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms
That are something to hold onto as you fall into nothing
Our vices can give us a false sense of security as we spiral out of control
It's like you're drowning but too good to take a hand and pities
Sometimes we're too proud to accept help, even when we're struggling
While you cling to your addiction like a kid in swimmies
We hold onto our vices like they're a safety blanket, even though they're dragging us down
Silly habit, drugs are for kids, not adults
Using drugs is a childish and immature way of coping with our problems
It is not free to live unless it's under a bridge
Living is expensive, and sometimes it feels like the only affordable option is being homeless
New York City could gauge its health with colours
The health of a city can be measured by the colors it radiates
They said I was a danger to myself and others
People have been worried about my well-being, and that I might harm myself or others
I have CC brothers, forget my enemies
I have close friends who are like family, and I don't care about my enemies
W.M will live on like the Kennedys
My legacy will live on even after I'm gone, like the Kennedys
Every amenity, you're loving this
The luxuries of life are enjoyable, but they come at a cost
Un-American not to be gluttonous
In America, it's seen as strange if you're not constantly indulging in food and other pleasures
You have a big chain to accentuate the ugliness
People wear flashy things to try to distract from their inner ugliness
My soul is stuck in this, unaware of its appeal or purpose
I feel lost and don't know my true purpose in life
Manufactured for you to steal or purchase
We're often sold things that are supposed to make us happy, but they're really just distractions
You leave behind what you get for money, oh well
Material possessions can't come with us when we die, so their value is temporary
What's the weather like, kids? It's always sunny in Hell!
No matter what's going on in the world, there's always something negative happening
The WM on his arm and a circle around it
My friend had a tattoo with the initials WM and a circle around them
I like to think what he left behind you can really use it
I hope that my friend left behind something valuable that we can all benefit from
Instead of saying his name just to move your shitty music
Don't exploit my friend's memory just to make your music more popular
The day I feel the need to stand in a bathroom
If I ever feel the urge to do drugs again
And shovel cocaine into a human vacuum, I'll look you up
I'll reach out to someone who can help me before it's too late
The day I need another hole in my face when you pass away
I don't need any more pain or suffering when you're gone
People think that you're checking your Myspace
People assume that you're just on social media when you're really struggling with addiction
Then your enemies give you public head quick
When you die, even your enemies might suddenly act like they were your friends
So wanted at my funeral, just pull out my dead dick
I don't care about having a big funeral or people showing up for me after I'm gone
Thought to reject, see him at the gates, they let him in
I had doubts about whether my friend would get into heaven, but I believe he did
I guess they needed you as much as we do yet again
Even in death, my friend had something to offer the world
I looked at the sky and opened my eyes and the Weathermen
I think about my friend and his legacy whenever I look up at the sky
Symbol in the cloud is just a memory of my friend
I see something symbolic in the clouds that reminds me of my friend
He stuck his head in the future where they sing his art
My friend's music will live on and be celebrated in the future
Where the wild card will be crowned the king of hearts
Our unconventional friends and loved ones can still make a big impact on the world
If I had things left to say, why would I share it with you?
If I had something important to say, would you even care to listen?
How you suck the life from the dead is even too low for you
Taking advantage of someone who's vulnerable or deceased is despicable
The time we spent's depleted so that's just that so beat it
Our time together is over, so it's time to move on
Join the kids that eat it up and tell 'em you knew Camu
Don't try to use my friend's legacy for your own gain
Contributed by Nora P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.