The dogged determination to prevail at any cost that both Strange and COGNITO share couldn't be a better match. The Fairfield, Calif.-raised father of two has poured his heart into albums, toured relentlessly, and stayed in the studio late numerous Friday nights when he could've been chilling at home with his family – all for the love of the game.
Growing up in the North Bay, COGNITO fast became intrigued with the burgeoning local hip-hop scene led by E-40 and B-Legit. The two hip-hop heavyweights exposed the young emcee to the hip-hop community, tapping his services at the Sick Wid It offices and schooling him in the art of promotion. He is the first to admit he was not the best student. But writing stories was his strong point in school. He started writing rhymes at 16, taking his cue from the people he was around. Yet it was hard to take rapping seriously as a career. A white rapper just wasn't considered normal yet. It wasn't until three years later, when Eminem's The Slim Shady LP released, that COGNITO's path became clearer.
“I don't think being a white rapper has held me back,” relays COGNITO about the always-controversial topic of the White Rapper. “It got me seen more. It got me out there. I stand out because I am white. But let my music speak for itself.”
As for the Eminem comparisons, COGNITO is flattered but suggests otherwise.
“When Eminem dropped minds were blown. I look at the Eminem comparison as an honor. He's the best rapper in game. But never once has a guy I work with said I sound like Eminem.”
At age 21 COGNITO earned himself a new title; father. In order to care for his family, he put hip-hop on the back burner for the next year, popping into the studio every so often to record tracks with producing partner D Buck. Mike Mosley, who had worked with E-40, TQ, C-Bo, Richie Rich and Tupac, heard COGNITO's music, and in 2002, offered him a deal with his Steady Mobbin' label.
“When Mike wants to offer you a record deal,” COGNITO states, “you take your career serious.”
COGNITO never dropped an album, but he did make a handful of important connections in the industry, one being QD3 producer Femi, one of the two producers he still consistently works with today. He continued doing shows and brushed up on the record industry rules.
2006 was a big year for COGNITO. He hooked up with Master P and his newly formed Gutta Music to release Recognition. It was an honor to be affiliated with P, a hip-hopreneur COGNITO had admired since hearing his West Coast Bad Boyz compilation in 1997. COGNITO would score his biggest hit to date, “Shift Kits,” from the Shift Kits and Hood Chicks DVD.
COGNITO stayed busy touring with fellow Bay Area rapper Andre Nickatina. When Nickatina took some time off, COGNITO hit the road solo. As fate would have it, COGNITO and Strange shared the same booker. Together on a string of show dates, COGNITO witnessed Strange's impressive stage show and extreme professionalism. COGNITO even shared a joke with Tech: He had previously recorded over Femi's “Slacker” beat, a song that appears on Tech's Absolute Power (2002).
The groundwork for the COGNITO-Strange merger was set in motion. Three years later when hip-hop activist Violet Brown, a longtime supporter of Strange, approached COGNITO about shopping a deal to the indie powerhouse, he was with it.
One conversation with Strange Music co-owner and CEO Travis O'Guin and another with Dave Weiner, Vice President of Strange Music West, plus one visit to Kansas City, the label's home, and COGNITO knew he was home. “I know it sounds cliché, but you can do anything you want,” tells COGNITO. “My motivation has been people saying I couldn't do this. I'm hardheaded. At the end of the day, you have to go get it and no one is going to give it to you. But I look at my progression. Seeing what I'm accomplishing on my own and knowing that if I go get it, it could happen. There hasn't been a goal I shot for that I haven't achieved when it comes to my music.”
Building on his own persistence, COGNITO is quick to admit his success has been buoyed by his supportive team: Violet Brown, Femi, Mike Mosley, Darien Smith, his studio engineer for the past seven years. The 29 year old has had an amazing team behind him, which has catapulted him to where he is today. Currently, COGNITO is working on his Strange debut, Automatic, scheduled for a February/March 2010 release.
“Stylewise, I'm a storyteller,” COGNITO points out. “Whether it's a club track or a serious, depressed track, I'm going to tell you a story and get my message across to you. I like when people can relate to a song. That's what I love more than anything.”
“I don't follow trends,” he adds. “I pride myself in making my music real. I don't like to front, but I also like to have fun. Take me serious, but don't take me too serious. Listen to me with an open mind. I want to be an inspiration like my musical influences were to me.”
As COGNITO prepares for the next stage of his career, he is more than ready for the full-time grind.
“From 21 until now I have given this everything. I don't stop until I achieve my goal. With Strange backing me, I feel that I can accomplish all my goals. I got a shot like this and I'm going to run with it and make it happen.”
Born 2 Be Fly
Cognito Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Tech N9ne):
Strange music baby
Cognito, Krizz Kaliko, Tech N9ne, yea
(Chorus)
We rockin, We rollin(repeat)
U ain't fresh as me, nah, U ain't fresh as me(repeat)
(Verse 1 Krizz Kaliko):
See I was born 2 take off, take off, and ain't no way that u can stop it
Yes I was a passenger, now I'm in the cockpit
Rock pits where I started it, snake and bats where I end it
Living ghetto fabulous, ain't got but I spend it
And I fly like an eagle
Watch me fly around, the knew guy n Town
And I never let em tie me down
U even acting like ya eying me now
The knew pilot, watch how high I get
When I Pull rope and quote how high I sit
Like ganja, high above came from under
Then so fly, now angels are under
The beast wanna get control of me
Spread my wings to fly high, when I'm to low to see
High like I'm ever a Jodeci, are high like Micheal Jackson, patrol the sea
Get way up in the solar system
Flow to slow and u missed him
Fly way above I level, fly to high for this devil
Kali
(Chorus)
(Verse 2 Cognito):
Never mind that I'm a genius
I never could know that I could take it to a level that celebrities go
Now that I made it, I separated the hated debated on what the hell imma do
when I make it to the show
Jump in the crowd were the mosh is
They know who the boss is
I'm cuttin my loses
Whatever the cost is
I'm never lookin back, I never wanna be the one that said I should've made it
So I sighed with the king of darkness
I'm claimin strange baby, I'm from the hood
And I would never trade it in for nothing, never take it back
Even if I could
To live a life of rock'n'roll, every night on the road
and every night another city, and it never gets old
never to weak to get beat with she a deva belive'a
and C O G, Kutt, Scoob, Kali, Lynch and Tecca Ninna
We the ultimate level of satisfaction
everlastin
call em industry assassins
so what u askin
so when they hate u with passion
that's when I cash n laughin all the way to the bank
with the money that I make
Take a little trip into the world of strange with us
we got everything u need
weed to angel dust
Come and take a couple of these pills
to make you lust
Why?
(Chorus)
(Verse 3 Tech N9ne):
11/8/71 is when everything is a'comin again I'mma feed em
begun of, be one of the dummies
get money in ton of gunna be
Who shoot ya, who got ya
No one ahead of me
Ya better just let it be
better close by the stands a posta for lead in me
if you ever be ready to sever me never be
U ?cocka? Muffucka
I got everything
Forever be king
The heap hunk of cheddar we bring
we never be seen
unless u got the weathery thing
U better be clean
I'm steady with the the feddy
Baby let it get green
I was born 2 be fly
So in the Sequoya
I'm addicted to riches and bitches and porn for me, HA!
know what the rocka really wanna come with the choppa
When I pop n stop
Believe the industry is torn when we die
Techs gonna murder
Better block your people
If u think u better better stop the ego
Niggers wanna battle but no prob for me though
The speed of Tecca Ninna got the NOS for negros
Flyin over niggas like a flock of seagles
You better get away cause I'm ma drop the C4
Tech Ninna n Kaliko n Cognito
CAUSE I WAS BORN 2 BE FLY, fly, fly, fly
Submit lyrics correction →
The song "Born 2 Be Fly" by Cognito featuring Krizz Kaliko and Tech N9ne is a self-exalting and confidence-boosting anthem. The opening lyrics with Strange Music Baby point towards the label owned by rapper Tech N9ne, which is where Cognito was signed to at the time. The chorus speaks about living a luxurious lifestyle and being fresh, implying that the artists were born to achieve it. The first verse rapped by Krizz Kaliko explains how he was meant to fly high and break free from obstacles to achieve his goals, be it from his struggles while growing up or his music career.
In Cognito's verse, he portrays himself as a genius who's made it to the top and will never look back. He talks about living a rockstar life, traveling from one city to another, and always staying content. He also talks about siding with his label, Strange Music, where he has found success and a family. Tech N9ne ends the song with a rapid-fire verse, bragging about his skills with flow and his abilities to make money. The egoism and self-assurance in the lyrics highlight the artists' belief in their potential and their repulsion towards anyone who opposes them.
Line by Line Meaning
Cause I was born 2 be fly
The singer is confident in their abilities and destiny to be successful.
See I was born 2 take off, take off, and ain't no way that u can stop it
The singer is determined to reach success and nothing can hinder their progress.
Living ghetto fabulous, ain't got but I spend it
The singer may come from humble beginnings but they still enjoy the good life and are willing to spend their money on it.
Watch me fly around, the knew guy n Town
The artist is making a name for themselves and getting noticed in their community.
The knew pilot, watch how high I get
The artist is the captain of their destiny and they will reach new heights in their success.
Spread my wings to fly high, when I'm to low to see
The singer will take risks and push themselves to achieve success even when they don't see a clear path to it.
I'm never lookin back, I never wanna be the one that said I should've made it
The singer is determined to make it to the top and will not let regrets hold them back from pursuing their dreams.
To live a life of rock'n'roll, every night on the road and every night another city, and it never gets old
The artist enjoys the music lifestyle and the constant travel involved, finding pleasure in the experience of performing for new audiences every day.
We the ultimate level of satisfaction everlastin call em industry assassins so what u askin
The group is proud of their success and their ability to make music that satisfies their fans, considering themselves to be unstoppable in the music industry.
Techs gonna murder
Tech N9ne is going to dominate and be successful in his career.
Contributed by Daniel F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.