While opening for Devin The Dude in Kans… Read Full Bio ↴It all started on stage.
While opening for Devin The Dude in Kansas City, Ces Cru thoroughly impressed hometown rap kingpin Tech N9ne. Tech motioned to Ces Cru’s Ubiquitous and let him know that he loved what he was hearing.
Fast forward a few years to Kansas City barbeque staple Jack Stack. There, a friend of Ubiquitous gave Tech N9ne a copy of Ces Cru’s 2009 album, The Playground. Tech took the album home, listened to it and tweeted that he was vibing out to the music of Ubiquitous and his partner-in-rhyme, Godemis. In 2010, Tech N9ne and Strange Music CEO, Travis O’Guin, called to offer Ces Cru a slot on Tech N9ne’s forthcoming Bad Season mixtape. Along with the mixtape appearance, came an opportunity to open for Tech at the Beaumont Club, a prestigious KC entertainment venue. Ces Cru’s impressive contribution to the Bad Season track, “Livin Like I'm Dyin”, along with their energetic live performance, paved the way for the duo to join the Strange Music roster. “This is like passing the bar or something,” Godemis says. “It’s a really big deal. It means everything to me. I feel super-validated. We’ve been working for a really long time and this is the best place we could be.”
Indeed, Ces Cru has been putting in work for nearly a decade. The crew went through a number of different group members before becoming the trio of Ubiquitous, Godemis and Sorceress in the early 2000s. In 2004, the group released its debut album, Capture Enemy Soldiers. But while promoting the project, Sorceress wanted to fire the group’s then-manager. Ubiquitous and Godemis disagreed, so Sorceress departed the group. The impact of Sorceress’ exodus was immediate and significant. “Sorceress’ leaving definitely shaped how our next record was going to go,” Ubiquitous says. “We had to focus on a new dynamic when we were making songs. We had to figure out how to fill that space. The formula goes from just everybody just submits a verse and we put a chorus together to now it’s just kind of fluid. Her leaving made us break that writing box that we’d been in. We had to fill more space, work harder.” Part of working harder included appearing on a bevy of albums, mixtapes and recordings from local and regional artists. Another important undertaking was securing production and producers for forthcoming Ces Cru material.
Ces Cru found its new sonic partner in well-rounded producer Lenny D. “He was someone who focused all of his efforts into us,” Godemis says. “We didn’t have that and we needed that.”
Both Ubiquitous and Godemis dedicated themselves to writing more potent, intricate and meaningful rhymes. They also enhanced their song-making skills, better understanding how to strengthen the impact of their material thru doubling vocals, ad-libs and learning how to better navigate production with their voices. The hard work certainly paid off. Ces Cru’s next album, 2009’s The Playground, signaled marked artistic growth. Ubiquitous and Godemis earned critical acclaim thanks to such songs as the break-up anthem “DYT,” the chest-thumping “Float” and the politically-charged “Teeter.” In fact, the release contains such powerful material that Ces Cru will be releasing videos for The Playground cuts “Hate Season” and “Eye on Dat” in 2012, a full three years after the album’s initial release. As the group continued their evolution, Ubiquitous and Godemis realized that the meaning of Ces Cru also changed with the times, too. Originally an abbreviation for “Conglomerate Elements of Self-Consciousness,” Ces has also taken on the additional meanings of “Children Everywhere Smiling” and “Cost Effective Strategy” to Ubiquitous’ recent favorite “Can’t Entertain Stupidity” and Godemis’ tongue-in-cheek “Can’t Eat Sweets.”
“Having the name stand for different things brings a certain versatility to our culture,” Ubiquitous says. “We’re constantly building our own personal culture and adding to it.”
The next additions to Ces Cru’s catalog will be Ubiquitous’ Matter Don’t Money solo mixtape, which features the standout selections “Harmony of Spheres” and “Larry David.” Godemis’ The Deevil will also come out in early 2012, prior to Ces Cru’s debut Strange Music LP. The duo is starting the pre-production process with Strange Music production stalwart Michael “Seven” Summers (Tech N9ne, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne). Now, after grinding for years in the underground, steadily building its following and releasing high-quality material, Ces Cru is set to take a major step thanks to its recent signing with Strange Music and its visionary artistic leader Tech N9ne.
“We’re from the same era of music and like the same kind of things,” Godemis says of Ces Cru’s relationship with Tech N9ne. “Tech sees something different in us and always comments that we’re on some real MC stuff. We put our best into the music. I think Tech sees that and can tell we’re not some flash-in-the-pan group. We give it our all.” Creating Endless Success may be the next thing Ces Cru is known for.
Fate
Ces Cru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never ask how, conceive it then speak in whens
I man will work his whole life to see his ego shed
I sew it up needle head all I need is thread
A team can only take it as far as its strongest leader
The streets are red, runnin with the blood of non-believers
So play your part I'll make a star out of a bottom feeder
The romans fell under his knife but made a God of Caesar
For every offense there's a defense 'til I break the shield
For every fake a real, I guess that my fate is sealed
I'm drivin drunk off a power trip somebody take the wheel
Told travel light, what you hold will weigh you down
Big noise, Bob Dylan, you don't make a sound
The golden truth, motherfucker I don't roll with mute
Show and prove yourself, fuck am I supposed to do?
EPMD, teach a man to fish
Learn from me only if you seek advantages
Complaints about the game? You need to speak with management
Best crew, Ces Cru it seems to be unanimous
I'm out for action what the fuck are y'all about relaxin?
They doubt my sanity but they could never doubt my passion
I don't know why they deceive us, feed us lies mislead us
He who denies what he has seen is worse than blind believers
I just play the cards the way they're dealt
It's hard enough to change the world I'm tryin' to change myself
The choice is this: except your conditions as they exist
Or accept responsibility and change the shit
She handed me my change after I completed my purchase
I thought of spitting game but I managed to fight the urges
I said it must be strange for you all alone on the surface
She said it was a curse to be perfect without a purpose
Feeling nervous, I stepped in the opposite direction
Her comment resonated, I tried to sever connection
Is this a twist of fate with some karma and misdirection?
I'm standing in the mirror still looking for my reflection
What am I trying to say rocking all this ink on my body?
I'm King, Hathaway, Donnie, most people know me as Godi
It's ill though, I kick it like Fei Long with a steel toe
They run amuck and couldn't give a fuck with a dildo
For real bro, my hater scoping' Dumbdar's been on
So I don't give a bloody fuck who's dropping the N bomb
We bout to shake it up till the planes fall
Then cut through all the tension y'all invent with a chainsaw
Is that a threat? No it's a request
To be correct it's a requirement, you're fucking with Ces
And if you try to fix your place to say that we ain't the best
It might as well be tryna work a deal with nothing for less
And I'm up in the nest
Never depressed I'm pressin' my tears
Conquering fears, and never cave in from the pressure of peers
Swilling my beers while telling Jehovah to thank heaven
All I need is six addy's, a shot, and a tank seven
Tell a bitch I am dynamite, she might blow me
And the shit I'm snorting is China white just like OT
Pardon my passion, it feels like I'm ripping my OG
My [?] will K I M the day that I OD
Bitch
The lyrics to Ces Cru's song Fate are about the journey of life and how one's fate seems to be sealed. The first few lines talk about the number of people who pursue a journey but never get to see the end. The lyrics then transition into the importance of shedding one's ego and working towards a bigger purpose; a team can only be as strong as its leader. The streets are depicted as red, running with the blood of non-believers, emphasizing the harshness of life. Every great leader has a Brutus with a blade of steel, and every offense has a defense until the shield is broken. The lyrics also highlight the idea of taking responsibility for one's life and making changes to make a difference. The song ends with the artist expressing his passion, thanking heaven for his life, and declaring his strength in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
How many start a journey, but never see the end
Many people begin a journey or project, but unfortunately not all of them finish it.
I never ask how, conceive it then speak in whens
I do not worry about how things will happen, I think and plan for when they will happen.
I man will work his whole life to see his ego shed
A man works tirelessly to shed his ego throughout his life.
I sew it up needle head all I need is thread
I can fix anything with just a needle and thread.
A team can only take it as far as its strongest leader
A team's success is limited by the abilities of its strongest leader.
The streets are red, runnin with the blood of non-believers
Those who do not believe in us will suffer consequences, hence the streets are painted red with their blood.
So play your part I'll make a star out of a bottom feeder
If you contribute to the team or project, I'll elevate you from the bottom to a star position.
The romans fell under his knife but made a God of Caesar
Even though Caesar killed the Romans, they still worshiped him as a god.
For every Caesar there's a Brutus with a blade of steel
Behind every great leader, there's always someone who wants to take them down.
For every offense there's a defense 'til I break the shield
There is always a defense for every attack, but I'll keep going until I break through.
For every fake a real, I guess that my fate is sealed
For every fake thing, there is something real. In my case, my fate has already been determined.
I'm drivin drunk off a power trip somebody take the wheel
I'm full of power and going in the wrong direction; I need someone else to take control.
Told travel light, what you hold will weigh you down
I advised to travel with less because what one holds will burden them.
Big noise, Bob Dylan, you don't make a sound
Bob Dylan's iconic status is so big that people don't need to say anything about it; it's already known.
The golden truth, motherfucker I don't roll with mute
I only deal with the truth, and I don't hang out with those who won't express themselves.
Show and prove yourself, fuck am I supposed to do?
You need to prove yourself, how else am I supposed to know what you're capable of?
EPMD, teach a man to fish
EPMD is a teaching, and it teaches you to teach what you know so it can be useful to society.
Learn from me only if you seek advantages
If you want to benefit, then learn from me.
Complaints about the game? You need to speak with management
If you have a problem with the game or system, then complain to management; don't complain to me.
Best crew, Ces Cru it seems to be unanimous
Ces Cru is the best, and everyone agrees.
I'm out for action what the fuck are y'all about relaxin?
I'm taking action, what are you all doing just relaxing?
They doubt my sanity but they could never doubt my passion
People may question my sanity, but they'll never question my passion and dedication.
I don't know why they deceive us, feed us lies mislead us
I'm not sure why people try to deceive us, feed us lies, and mislead us.
He who denies what he has seen is worse than blind believers
Those who deny something they have seen are worse than people who blindly believe without any evidence.
I just play the cards the way they're dealt
I just make the best of the situation and resources provided to me.
It's hard enough to change the world I'm tryin' to change myself
Changing myself is difficult enough, so imagine changing the whole world.
The choice is this: except your conditions as they exist
You have two options: accept the present conditions as they are or change them to better suit yourself.
Or accept responsibility and change the shit
Take responsibility for the situation and work to change it.
She handed me my change after I completed my purchase
The cashier returned my change after I finished buying something.
I thought of spitting game but I managed to fight the urges
I had the urge to flirt or come onto the cashier but decided against it.
I said it must be strange for you all alone on the surface
I commented on how the cashier must feel alone on the surface of the world.
She said it was a curse to be perfect without a purpose
The cashier stated that it's a curse to be perfect without a reason or purpose.
Feeling nervous, I stepped in the opposite direction
After that conversation, I felt uneasy, so I walked away in the opposite direction.
Her comment resonated, I tried to sever connection
I couldn't stop thinking about what the cashier said, so I tried to distance myself from her.
Is this a twist of fate with some karma and misdirection?
Is this experience a result of fate, karma, or some other unforeseen circumstance?
I'm standing in the mirror still looking for my reflection
I'm staring at myself in the mirror, searching for my reflection.
What am I trying to say rocking all this ink on my body?
What message am I trying to convey with all the tattoos on my body?
I'm King, Hathaway, Donnie, most people know me as Godi
I have different aliases and names, but most people know me as Godi.
It's ill though, I kick it like Fei Long with a steel toe
I'm skilled and impressive, like the character Fei Long who fights with a steel-toed shoe.
They run amuck and couldn't give a fuck with a dildo
The people who oppose us are acting recklessly and don't care about anything, even with a sex toy.
For real bro, my hater scoping' Dumbdar's been on
My haters have been watching and criticizing everything I do.
So I don't give a bloody fuck who's dropping the N bomb
I don't care who says the N-word and when they say it.
We bout to shake it up till the planes fall
We are going to mess with things until it all comes crashing down.
Then cut through all the tension y'all invent with a chainsaw
After the chaos, we'll get rid of all the unnecessary tension and conflict with a chainsaw.
Is that a threat? No it's a request
I'm not making a threat, but a simple request.
To be correct it's a requirement, you're fucking with Ces
Actually, it's a requirement, and you should watch who you mess with since it's Ces you're messing with.
And if you try to fix your place to say that we ain't the best
If you're trying to fix your position by saying we're not the best, then you're wrong.
It might as well be tryna work a deal with nothing for less
It's like trying to negotiate a deal with nothing or less value.
And I'm up in the nest
I'm at the top, in control, and observing everything.
Never depressed I'm pressin' my tears
I'm never feeling down, I'm pressing out my tears instead.
Conquering fears and never cave in from the pressure of peers
I'm overcoming my fears and not giving into pressure from those around me.
Swilling my beers while telling Jehovah to thank heaven
I'm enjoying my beers and thanking God for the blessings.
All I need is six addy's, a shot, and a tank seven
I only need Adderall and alcohol to feel unstoppable and confident.
Tell a bitch I am dynamite, she might blow me
I'm telling a girl that I'm explosive and exciting, and she might just want to be with me.
And the shit I'm snorting is China white just like OT
I'm snorting high-quality drugs, just like the drug OT in China white.
Pardon my passion, it feels like I'm ripping my OG
Excuse me for my enthusiasm, it's like I'm tearing my originator apart.
My [?] will K I M the day that I OD
I will kill myself unintentionally when I overdose.
Bitch
An exclamation to end the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DOMINIC KING, FRANK MUSKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind