The over-the-top, bazooka wielding action star of hip hop, charismatic Flor… Read Full Bio ↴The over-the-top, bazooka wielding action star of hip hop, charismatic Floridian word master Celph Titled began his professional entrance into the rap game as a teenage lyricist and local production staple during the late 90's indie 12-inch vinyl boom. Being a member of, and producing for, a number of boundary-pushing Tampa rap crews at the time, he networked heavily to take his music worldwide and began contributing beats and rhymes to a non-stop tirade of vinyl singles during a time when the 12-inch single market was key in building a cult fan base. Now embarking on a focused solo career with over ten years of industry know-how, respect, international touring and die hard loyal fans, the "Celph"-made independent pastor of punchlines sets out to solidify his stamp on the scene as a major factor once and for all.

Celph Titled was born in Tampa, Florida and grew up in the heart of Hillsborough County's rapidly expanding multicultural landscape. The product of an Ybor City Cuban-American mother and a German-Scottish father, Celph's folks always encouraged his knack for creative expression. In the 80's, young parents that videotaped all the classic videos on MTV and an uncle in a popular local rock band had a big impact on the scope of Celph's musical inspirations. "My dad used to show me all the classic videos; 'Thriller', 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' and everything else from Herbie Hancock to ZZ Top, so I was always glued to MTV. Then one day I saw a Fat Boys video it was over. I knew I loved this music," Celph recalls fondly. After penning some of his own lyrics and making beats with minimal equipment, he began recording demos in the early 90's on his uncle's 4-track machine. When asked to describe that particular time in his life, Celph states, "I knew from that point on that I wanted to be a recording artist and I never stopped chasing that goal. I was quite the mischievous kid but it soon became clear that hip hop was my calling."

Still a teen fresh out of high school, Celph's relentless hustle and talent were noticed when he was courted by an independent record company to relocate to New York City and begin working as an in-house producer and A&R. This was the move that would change his life and give him the platform to establish a name in underground hip hop. The now-defunct BUDS International and Bronx Science Records released all of Celph's early records on vinyl, including his original group, Equilibrium, and singles from career-long partner-in-rhyme, Apathy. After soaking up the NYC scene for a few years, the hard work and dues-paying finally began to pay off as publications, websites, taste-makers and even major record labels began taking notice of the pale-skinned Latino and his associates. As a leading member of two legendary crews, The Demigodz and Jedi Mind Tricks' Army of the Pharaohs collective, Celph became a fan-favorite for his standout quotable-filled performances and hard-hitting East Coast-style production featured on the crews' respective blockbuster releases. In addition, Grammy-winner Mike Shinoda, of Linkin Park fame, invited Celph to join his Los Angeles cohorts, Styles of Beyond (S.O.B.), as an official part of 2005's Fort Minor project, released on Linkin Park's Machine Shop/Warner Bros imprint and executive produced by Shawn Carter a/k/a Jay-Z. Aside from his appearance on that album, and his jaw-dropping verses on the industry-approved DJ Green Lantern Invasion "Fort Minor: We Major" mixtape, Mr. Titled embarked on a nationwide tour with FM in 2006. Following the tour, Celph released a unique compilation entitled, "The Gatalog." The impressive quadruple-disc set captured a long discography of Celph's guest appearances and freestyles, going all the way back to his early releases from 1998. The comp was a great success, continuing to buzz and remain a top-seller consistently, even years after its release. The word of mouth spread vigorously and it became the catalyst in generating a tidal wave of demand for a proper solo debut from Celph Titled. It was a plan that worked better than ever, as it set up the enterprising MC to have the privilege of releasing an official debut to a thriving fanbase that already viewed him as a seasoned veteran.

After the release of "The Gatalog" and a move back to his Gulf Coast hometown, Celph spent three years working with iconic 'Diggin' In The Crates (D.I.T.C.)' multi-platinum producer, Buckwild, on what would become his October 26, 2010 debut album, "Nineteen Ninety Now" on No Sleep Recordings. Spearheaded by longtime friend James "DL" Ellison, the project set out to be a first of its kind, utilizing never-before-released tracks made in 1994 and 1995 and creating new songs out of them with the stylings of present day. As a true scholar of the 90's golden era of rap, Celph explains, "This is the project I've always wanted to do. To have my debut produced by a legend like Buckwild can't be topped in my mind. My first album is always going to be looked at as a masterpiece by my fans. It reminds you of the techniques no longer used in today's hip hop and it takes you right back to that feeling, even if it's just for one album." With a critically acclaimed solo album under his belt, Celph Titled is now an independent mogul and a monster force to be reckoned with. To feed the fans' rabid appetite to be a part of his movement, he has created his own brand called Mad Ammo, which will represent not only his apparel line but also the next wing of the Demigodz/Pharaohs family.

Truly no words can do proper justice to describe the uncanny attributes of this man's character. A militant, war-savvy style inventor that can only be self-described and does whatever the f**k Celph decides.

The Battle
Celph Titled Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Intro)

Time’s up, time’s up
(Yeah) Hold up
(Alright, that’s all you got?)
Alright, Celph, you got 30 seconds, are you ready?
(Yeah)
Alright, Celph Titled, hit ‘em

(Verse 1: Celph Titled)

Yeah, listen, yo
These hungry rappers battle
Fora buck and some change
There really be kids starving
Give a fuck if it change
Shot raps, got that,
You get signed, you might blow up
Release party in Iraq, you might blow up
I see you trying to think a few lines
You might get at me with
Slap happy with babies who born with crack in they cribs
Too much to cram under your oversized fitted
And the public school system failed you
Either you ignorant or you isn’t
Ain’t concerned with scuffing my sneakers
My demographic listening
But not too many rappers teaching
And I find a way to fill a hard drive up
With songs containing mainly: bitch, ho, shit fuck
Yo, you know what’s up
There’s some ill shit going on
So wrong, it’s not topics that I’ve really spoken on
I’m just like you, a kid who wants to rap
Get money, put an album out, mansion with a fountain spout
Out in the front yard, sidewalk leading to the street
Which leads me to speak, my speech reaches the whole world
And yet still, I’d rather rap about what I got or what I’ll do to you
If you disrespect, you guessed it, I’m shooting you
Who’s the true villain and who’s illing the mix tape

Gun shots ain’t really killing, who’s dying? It’s tough luck
Can’t figure out if I’m the problem or the world’s just fucked up

Overall Meaning

In Celph Titled's song The Battle, he reflects on the state of the rap game and the societal issues that plague it. He opens by acknowledging the desperation of many aspiring rappers who are willing to battle for mere scraps of money, while the less fortunate in society struggle to survive. He criticizes the shallow and vulgar lyrics that have become commonplace in modern rap, which often perpetuates negative stereotypes and fails to address important issues.

Celph also examines his own position in the music industry, questioning the value of the fame and wealth that he is pursuing. He recognizes the power that his platform could have in spreading a positive message and educating listeners, but ultimately acknowledges that he too is drawn to the allure of material success. He concludes by expressing his frustration with the state of the world and the difficulty of knowing where to place blame for society's problems.

Overall, The Battle is a thought-provoking and introspective track that challenges both the rap industry and society at large. Celph Titled raises important questions about the role of art in shaping culture, and the responsibility that artists have to use their platform to inspire positive change.

Line by Line Meaning

Time’s up, time’s up
The time limit for the battle has ended

Yeah, listen, yo
Celph Titled starts his verse by requesting the audience to listen

These hungry rappers battle
The rappers are competing with each other for fame

Fora buck and some change
They are struggling to make a living from their craft and get very little money

There really be kids starving
While the rappers struggle, there are children who are starving and in need of help

Give a fuck if it change
The rappers are not concerned about the larger issues or making a difference

Shot raps, got that,
They are focused on creating music that will sell and make them famous

You get signed, you might blow up
If you get signed by a label, you might become famous

Release party in Iraq, you might blow up
You might become famous even in war-torn countries such as Iraq

I see you trying to think a few lines
Celph Titled is aware that his opponent is trying to come up with a rap response

You might get at me with
His opponent might try to challenge him with his rap lines

Slap happy with babies who born with crack in they cribs
There are serious problems affecting society like drug-addicted newborns who are neglected and abused

Too much to cram under your oversized fitted
There are too many issues to address in only a few bars

And the public school system failed you
The education system has failed many young people who turn to rap as a way to make a living

Either you ignorant, or you isn’t
Either the rapper is uneducated or unwilling to speak on important issues

Ain’t concerned with scuffing my sneakers
Celph Titled is not worried about getting his shoes messed up in the battle

My demographic listening
His target audience are those who want to hear rap lyrics that focus on more than just money and fame

But not too many rappers teaching
There are not enough rappers addressing these important issues and teaching their listeners

And I find a way to fill a hard drive up
Celph Titled has a lot of inspiring songs that he wants to share

With songs containing mainly: bitch, ho, shit fuck
Most rap songs contain negative language-such as curse words and derogatory terms about women

Yo, you know what’s up
Celph Titled reaffirms that his audience also recognizes what he’s addressing

There’s some ill shit going on
There are many terrible things happening in the world which need to be addressed

So wrong, it’s not topics that I’ve really spoken on
Celph Titled has not addressed these issues until now

I’m just like you, a kid who wants to rap
Celph Titled and his audience share a passion for music

Get money, put an album out, mansion with a fountain spout
The ultimate goal for many rappers is money and fame.

Out in the front yard, sidewalk leading to the street
These rappers want the luxury of having a beautiful home for everyone to see

Which leads me to speak, my speech reaches the whole world
He recognizes that he has a large audience and wants to share his message with the entire world

And yet still, I’d rather rap about what I got or what I’ll do to you
Even though he wants to address serious issues, he also recognizes that bragging about his possessions and threats of violence against opponents will still be popular

If you disrespect, you guessed it, I’m shooting you
He still appeals to the violent themes in rap music, as he threatens those who disrespect him

Who’s the true villain and who’s illing the mix tape
He questions who is truly the cause of the issues in the industry and who is negatively influencing the music scene.

Gun shots ain’t really killing, who’s dying? It’s tough luck
He recognizes that the effects of gun violence are severe, but with such a crowded music industry, he doesn't know who is truly dying from it.

Can’t figure out if I’m the problem or the world’s just fucked up
Celph Titled is questioning whether he himself is part of the problem or if the world as a whole is just defective.

Contributed by Matthew G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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