In addition to the release of Trial & Error, 2003 and 2004 were busy and evolutionary years for Classified. With the continuous support of VideoFACT, he was able to release two additional music videos for the singles "Just the Way It Is" and "Unexpected". Classified also continued to master his production skills and joined forces with some of Canada's most prominent emcees, including Choclair and Maestro Fresh Wes. He also teamed up with Shady Records recording artist, Royce Da 5'9" and opened for Ludacris, Snoop dogg, Busta Rhymes, The Game, Nelly, MC Grizzly, Captain Capota, Nas, The Black Eyed Peas and Black Moon.
Classified's tenth album, Boy-Cott-In the Industry, was a high point in his career. The album includes guest appearances by Choclair, Royce Da 5'9", Jay Bizzy, J-Bru, A-Wall, Spesh K, and Mic Boyd (Classified's younger brother and fellow MC). He has said he enjoys doing music with other people: "It keeps things exciting and there are tons of talented people in Halifax so you make connections 'cause it's not a huge scene." The album reached #46 on SoundScan's Canadian R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. The singles "The Maritimes", "5th Element", "No Mistakes", and "Find Out", which is the lead single of his 11th studio album, Hitch Hikin' Music, were all Top 20 hits on MuchMusic and MTV Canada that year. The music video for "No Mistakes" won him an MMVA for MuchVibe Best Rap Video. Boy-Cott-In the Industry also earned Classified a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year in 2006.
Riding high off of Boy-Cott-In the Industry, Classified released his eleventh album Hitch Hikin' Music. Produced like previous albums by Classified himself, it is arguably some of Classified's finest work. On "Fall From Paradise", Classified reflects on the difficulty of staying fresh and on top. In the hip-hop meets classic rock song "All About U", featuring singer Chad Hatcher, Classified shows the extent of his growth from his early releases. In "Hip Hop Star", he eschews the current bling-bling culture of popular hip hop to remind people that life is not about trying to impress others. The rest of the album includes guest appearances by Jay Bizzy, Mic Boyd, Jordan Croucher, Preacher K, White Mic and more. Four singles have been released off the album: "Find Out" (which won the 2007 East Coast Music Award for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Single), "Feelin' Fine Remix", "All About U", and "Hard to Be Hip Hop". Hitch Hikin' Music also received a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year in 2007.
Classified enlisted the help of fellow Nova Scotia native Joel Roy to beatbox during some of his songs. The actual singles that Roy beatboxed for are unknown but it is believed that he can be heard in the single "The Maritimes".
In early 2009, the hit single "Anybody Listening" brought Classified to mainstream success as it peaked at #52 on the Canadian Hot 100 and the music video received heavy rotation on MuchMusic. Classified's thirteenth studio album, Self Explanatory received highly positive reviews from the critics and debuted on the Canadian Albums Chart at #25 making it Classified's first album on that chart. At the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards on May 21, 2009, Classified won the MuchVibe "Best Hip-Hop Video of the Year" award for "Anybody Listening" directed by Harv Glazer and produced by Robert Wilson of TwoThreeFiveFilms. Off Self Explanatory, Classified would enjoy more mainstream success in early 2010 with another hit single, "Oh...Canada" peaking at #14 on the Canadian Hot 100 and was certified platinum in digital downloads by the CRIA. Also in early 2010, Classified received three Juno Award nominations, which was for Rap Recording of the Year, Single of the Year, and Video of the Year. In early 2011, "Oh...Canada" received a Juno nomination for "Single of the Year".
On March 22, 2011, Classified released his fourteenth album, though it was only his second major studio album, Handshakes and Middle Fingers. The first single off the album, "That Ain't Classy" reached #45 on the Canadian Hot 100. The album debuted at #7 on the Canadian Albums Chart, making it his highest charting album to date.
Where Are You
Classified Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Chorus - Saukrates] - w/ ad libs Where are you? Between the love, the hate and all the lies Where are you? You trippin, you must be lost and hypnotized Where are you? You must be runnin Where are you? You must be runnin Where are you? You must be runnin Where are you? You must be runnin Where are you? [Verse 1 - Classified] I'm right here with a look of despair And it's quite clear, why no one ever said life's fair I can feel it gettin cold in the night air Dreamin in a world where conditions are a nightmare As I stare at my child in her high chair I wonder what life is like in 25 years Wipe her eyes clear as she cries tears Prayin for the future, Lord answer my prayers (Look), we can't save the world through a song But I'll try to bring light to what you've known all along The fame, big house, money and the nice whips Is that what life is? I thought it was priceless I thought it all was in the palm of our hands But somehow we can't read the drawings in the sand People go hungry and others get richer Turn a blind eye and don't see the big picture Gotta get our vision and better our position Man against man, still killing for religion The system ain't workin, so how we suppose to get along? If this is life, tell me where the fuck we went wrong [Chorus] - w/ ad libs [Break - Saukrates] Or are you in between (Where are you?) Of gettin what you need (Where are you?) And doin what you want (Where are you?) Runnin, runnin [Verse 2 - Classified] Now I push on everyday but it's hard to ignore When the wealthy get wealthier and the poor get poorer We all know the rich don't need 7 cars Million dollar art or a 50 acre yard Ancient antiques that they think are eye raisin Thousand dollar shoes, that their friends say amazin You think they realize the money that they wastin While these crumblin nations could of used and embraced it? I'm done complainin, I'm done frontin Tryin to pass blame when, I ain't doin nothin Middle class folks wanna sit and point fingers I know we ain't rich but we ain't broke, come on think first You think we need (this), liquor or weed (this) XBox 360 to succeed? And you think we need these designer jeans These finer things for our life to be complete? (please) I hate preachin, I know that I don't do enough Tight with my money and I know that I should loosen up Life is tough and I know that it can seem hard But a lot of people are worse off then we are [Chorus] - w/ ad libs [Break] (Where are you?) [Outro - Classified - talking] The world's a little bit bigger than just the street you live on Open up your eyes a bit
The song "Where Are You" is a heartfelt rap by Canadian rapper Classified featuring Saukrates. The song is about the struggles of life, the dichotomy of love and hate, and how everyone is running towards something, but it's not clear what exactly they are running towards. In the first verse, Classified talks about how unfair life can be, how people are hungry while others are getting richer, and how difficult it is to save the world through a song. The verse ends with a plea to make the world a better place by getting our vision right and bettering our position.
The chorus by Saukrates is hauntingly beautiful, with the repeated question "Where are you?" evoking feelings of confusion and uncertainty. Saukrates sings about being caught between what you need and what you want, and how it's easy to get lost and hypnotized in the pursuit of those things. In the second verse, Classified talks about the wealth gap and how the rich don't need all the expensive things they have, while poor nations could use and embrace that money. He also talks about the middle class pointing fingers and being obsessed with material things, asking if we really need all of it to be happy. The song ends with Classified urging us to open up our eyes and realize that the world is bigger than just the street we live on.
Overall, "Where Are You" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that makes you question the direction of your own life and humanity as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
Where are you? Between the love, the hate and all the lies
Asking where the person is located amongst the emotions of love, hate and deception
Where are you? You trippin, you must be lost and hypnotized
Questioning where the person is and suggesting that they are confused and under the influence
Where are you? You must be runnin
Posing the question of where the person is and suggesting that they are on the move
I'm right here with a look of despair
The singer is present and conveying a feeling of hopelessness
And it's quite clear, why no one ever said life's fair
Acknowledging that life can be unjust and highlighting its inherent unfairness
I can feel it gettin cold in the night air
Sensing a shift in the atmosphere to a colder temperature
Dreamin in a world where conditions are a nightmare
Imagining a world where the circumstances are like a bad dream
As I stare at my child in her high chair
Looking at his child sitting in a high chair
I wonder what life is like in 25 years
Contemplating what the future holds in a quarter of a century
Wipe her eyes clear as she cries tears
Clearing the child's eyes of tears as she cries
Prayin for the future, Lord answer my prayers
Asking God for a positive future for his child
We can't save the world through a song
Stating that a song alone cannot solve all the world's issues
But I'll try to bring light to what you've known all along
Attempting to shed light on issues that people are already aware of
The fame, big house, money and the nice whips
Referring to the superficial things that people often strive for
Is that what life is? I thought it was priceless
Posing the question of what the true meaning of life is, and stating that it is invaluable
I thought it all was in the palm of our hands
Believing that the world's issues were within human control
But somehow we can't read the drawings in the sand
Having difficulty understanding the clear signs of change
People go hungry and others get richer
Pointing out the contrast between those who are struggling and those who are thriving financially
Turn a blind eye and don't see the big picture
Ignoring the larger problems at hand
Gotta get our vision and better our position
Understanding the need for perspective and improving one's own situation
Man against man, still killing for religion
Commenting on the violence that still occurs in the name of religion
The system ain't workin, so how we suppose to get along?
Realizing that the current system is not effective and struggling to find a solution
If this is life, tell me where the fuck we went wrong
Asking where society went astray in a world where things have gone so wrong
Or are you in between (Where are you?)
Questioning the person's location in between two things
Of gettin what you need (Where are you?)
Asking if the person has obtained what they require
And doin what you want (Where are you?)
Questioning if the person is pursuing what they truly desire
Now I push on everyday but it's hard to ignore
Continuing to go about daily life, but struggling to disregard the problems present
When the wealthy get wealthier and the poor get poorer
Noticing the inequality between the rich and poor, and how it is only getting worse
We all know the rich don't need 7 cars
Acknowledging that excessive wealth is unnecessary
Million dollar art or a 50 acre yard
Referencing the extravagant possessions that rich individuals possess
Ancient antiques that they think are eye raisin
Commenting on the value of antiques and how wealthy individuals perceive them
Thousand dollar shoes, that their friends say amazin
Describing the expensive clothing that the wealthy own and how their friends view them
You think they realize the money that they wastin
Questioning if the wealthy understand how frivolous their spending is
While these crumblin nations could of used and embraced it?
Wondering if the money could have been better used to help struggling nations instead
I'm done complainin, I'm done frontin
Finished with idle complaints and pretending that everything is alright
Tryin to pass blame when, I ain't doin nothin
Acknowledging that blaming others is not helpful, and taking personal responsibility
Middle class folks wanna sit and point fingers
Commenting on how middle class individuals often shift blame onto others
I know we ain't rich but we ain't broke, come on think first
Understanding that they are neither rich nor poor, and encouraging others to think logically
You think we need (this), liquor or weed (this)
Questioning if people truly require substances like alcohol and marijuana to be content
XBox 360 to succeed?
Asking if owning a gaming console is necessary to achieve success
And you think we need these designer jeans
Questioning the importance of designer clothing
These finer things for our life to be complete? (please)
Dismissing the idea that material items are necessary for a fulfilling life
I hate preachin, I know that I don't do enough
Disliking preaching but acknowledging the need to do more
Tight with my money and I know that I should loosen up
Realizing that they are frugal and that it might not always be a good thing
Life is tough and I know that it can seem hard
Acknowledging that life can be difficult and challenging
But a lot of people are worse off then we are
Recognizing that others have it worse and to be grateful for what one has
The world's a little bit bigger than just the street you live on
Reminding listeners that the world is vast and there are larger issues to consider
Open up your eyes a bit
Encouraging people to become more aware of their surroundings and the bigger picture
Contributed by Declan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.