After grinding for 10 years, working with different indie labels and flirti… Read Full Bio ↴After grinding for 10 years, working with different indie labels and flirting with fame, Cognito has found the perfect label to call home: Strange Music, one of the most successful independent music labels in the world. “They work hard like I work hard,” assures COGNITO. “They put everything into their artists.”
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.”
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.”
Pill Poppin' Music
Cognito Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
INTRO
In my opinion, it's the music these days. These rappers think they can
do and say whatever they want, especially when it comes to drug use.
These kids listen to every word they say and apply it to their daily
routines. Rappers like Brotha Lynch Hung and Cognito; talking about
oxycotin, vicodin, even adderal. These influences are ultimately
going to lead to the self-destruction of today's youths.
[COGNITO]
*can't open this mothafucka...*
Strange Music, like drugs into your veins music,
Cocaine, obtained, deranged, not for the sane music
Sustain the pain maintain poppin' them things music
I'm a walkin' acid trip, the drug stains in my brain proves it
Still, I feel EXtra extraordinary and EXtra in-ordinary
Broke up with my EX so now I got one EXtra whore to bury
Actually, she overdosed on EX right after EXcercising
EXcellent, I got some EXtra chicks
Let's see who's nEXt in line
Ten NORCOS in a pill crusher mix it with bombing fluid,
That's how Cog would do, rewind it back so you can try too
I got some other methods you can break 'em up and try in food
Cognito, who you tryin' to fool?
You frontin', what tryin' to prove?
See these parents, see these rappers' images
the bitches' drugs and fringe benefits
AND wonder where they kids spending their dividends,
Leaving out the house late, spending money on clown paint,
hate to argue with you motherfuckers, but that sounds great
[CHORUS]
Fresh out the backpack, let me go and crack that (x8)
See it's one bottle to comatose, two bottles to overdose
third bottle to scare ya, in the hospital with liver failure
Had a ball with Adderal, par meclizine we mixed with coffee
some might call it syrup, some say liquid Oxy
Some don't know they limits, they start with valium and vicodins
downers to uppers, then they graduate to poppin' ex
breakfast, lunch and then supper
Disconnect your spinal cord, keep eatin' em til you can't find no more
You done tried everything prescription, wanna try some more?
You Started poppin' after school 'cause you was kinda bored
And after that your friends persuaded you to do a line or more
You like feelin' outside the norm, you likin' different kinds of porn
and all you hear is music blastin' outside your college dorms *DUDE*
An oxy and an Ambien and you in candyland
put your ass to sleep faster than Zany can
I'm the candy man, I got a PEZ dispenser spittin' out rittalin
After 10 of them, feel like I'm a kid again, everybody say!
[CHORUS]
[BROTHA LYNCH HUNG]
Yeah, I got a cocaine spit leaving with no name shit
believe it, I know they spit pills at age 17
They call me Mr. Codine Morphine
I got a bitch named oxycotin, too much of that shit will
leave your body rottin'
She wanted the whole bag I gave her all of it
she said she wanted the dick, so she swallowed it
She tried to say I raped her right in the back of the scraper
I didn't have to make her, it was a darvocet
So I'm throwin' up the set, putting the penis down her neck
Slappin, did it and did it, you could forget it, I live it
You grab ?minute? you bit, I grab ?minute? I slit it
Put the body in the river, pussy meat delivered
When she eat the liver, you shouldn't of been pill poppin'
I'm on the stage, and you in the crowd still rockin'
Christmas time, put lithium in your stocking
They said he had a mask on, but I was not him
it was
[CHORUS REPEATS]
Contributed by Brandon Huntley, Mar 05 2011
In my opinion, it's the music these days. These rappers think they can
do and say whatever they want, especially when it comes to drug use.
These kids listen to every word they say and apply it to their daily
routines. Rappers like Brotha Lynch Hung and Cognito; talking about
oxycotin, vicodin, even adderal. These influences are ultimately
going to lead to the self-destruction of today's youths.
[COGNITO]
*can't open this mothafucka...*
Strange Music, like drugs into your veins music,
Cocaine, obtained, deranged, not for the sane music
Sustain the pain maintain poppin' them things music
I'm a walkin' acid trip, the drug stains in my brain proves it
Still, I feel EXtra extraordinary and EXtra in-ordinary
Broke up with my EX so now I got one EXtra whore to bury
Actually, she overdosed on EX right after EXcercising
EXcellent, I got some EXtra chicks
Let's see who's nEXt in line
Ten NORCOS in a pill crusher mix it with bombing fluid,
That's how Cog would do, rewind it back so you can try too
I got some other methods you can break 'em up and try in food
Cognito, who you tryin' to fool?
You frontin', what tryin' to prove?
See these parents, see these rappers' images
the bitches' drugs and fringe benefits
AND wonder where they kids spending their dividends,
Leaving out the house late, spending money on clown paint,
hate to argue with you motherfuckers, but that sounds great
[CHORUS]
Fresh out the backpack, let me go and crack that (x8)
See it's one bottle to comatose, two bottles to overdose
third bottle to scare ya, in the hospital with liver failure
Had a ball with Adderal, par meclizine we mixed with coffee
some might call it syrup, some say liquid Oxy
Some don't know they limits, they start with valium and vicodins
downers to uppers, then they graduate to poppin' ex
breakfast, lunch and then supper
Disconnect your spinal cord, keep eatin' em til you can't find no more
You done tried everything prescription, wanna try some more?
You Started poppin' after school 'cause you was kinda bored
And after that your friends persuaded you to do a line or more
You like feelin' outside the norm, you likin' different kinds of porn
and all you hear is music blastin' outside your college dorms *DUDE*
An oxy and an Ambien and you in candyland
put your ass to sleep faster than Zany can
I'm the candy man, I got a PEZ dispenser spittin' out rittalin
After 10 of them, feel like I'm a kid again, everybody say!
[CHORUS]
[BROTHA LYNCH HUNG]
Yeah, I got a cocaine spit leaving with no name shit
believe it, I know they spit pills at age 17
They call me Mr. Codine Morphine
I got a bitch named oxycotin, too much of that shit will
leave your body rottin'
She wanted the whole bag I gave her all of it
she said she wanted the dick, so she swallowed it
She tried to say I raped her right in the back of the scraper
I didn't have to make her, it was a darvocet
So I'm throwin' up the set, putting the penis down her neck
Slappin, did it and did it, you could forget it, I live it
You grab ?minute? you bit, I grab ?minute? I slit it
Put the body in the river, pussy meat delivered
When she eat the liver, you shouldn't of been pill poppin'
I'm on the stage, and you in the crowd still rockin'
Christmas time, put lithium in your stocking
They said he had a mask on, but I was not him
it was
[CHORUS REPEATS]
Contributed by Brandon Huntley, Mar 05 2011
The lyrics to Cognito's "Pill Poppin' Music" are a critique of the hip-hop industry's glorification of drug use, specifically opioids and other prescription drugs. The song's opening skit features an unknown speaker criticizing the trend of rappers promoting drug use to their young fans. The song then transitions into Cognito's verse, where he describes the effects of drugs on his own life. He claims to be a "walking acid trip" and boasts about his drug use with lyrics like "Ten NORCOS in a pill crusher mix it with bombing fluid, That's how Cog would do." However, Cognito also acknowledges the dangers of drug use with lines like "See these parents, see these rappers' images, the bitches' drugs and fringe benefits AND wonder where they kids spending their dividends." The song features a chorus that repeats the phrase "Fresh out the backpack, let me go and crack that," suggesting that young people are easily influenced by their peers and media that glamorizes drug use.
The second verse features rapper Brotha Lynch Hung, who continues the theme of drug use with lyrics like "They call me Mr. Codine Morphine, I got a bitch named oxycotin, too much of that shit will leave your body rottin'." He also references sexual assault and murder, further emphasizing the self-destructive nature of drug use.
Contributed by Hudson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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