Their often politically-charged, culturally-introspective, and motivational lyrics find influence rooted in the early works of Nas, Public Enemy, Outkast and Common Sense. The production could be described as warm, soulful and organic -- born out of the school of producers that cite the likes of RZA, Pete Rock, Jay Dee, and DJ Premier. Cyne's "sound" is impacted by everything from Bad Brains to Krautrock, from Camp Lo to Kate Bush – it's a hybrid of emotional, historical, and challenging influences.
The group's debut release was a 12" entitled "African Elephants," released in 2001. Cyne has since released a number of EPs, singles, and two critically well-received albums. They have also collaborated on projects with internationally acclaimed artists Daedelus, Four Tet and Nujabes.
With previously released albums on Botanica Del Jibaro, P-Vine and City Centre Offices, Cyne has created a reputation as artists that stay true to the lyrical power and gritty cut-and-paste aesthetic of classic hip hop while managing to explore new sonic territory.
Rousseau
Cyne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The chimp in the jungle, I like to gather in wisdom in bundles
My arms swing from the branches of life, I write humble
My notes are crumbled, my hopes are fumbled
Can't drop it, a ghost among you folk that stumbled cross logic
I'm definite, like change I strain wit rewards while
Speck and, Enoch start bangin on boards
Daily routines like fiends that's stuck on the crack pipe
The emcee, and see y'all just tempt me wit
All ya propaganda, ya souls are empty
I was born free, now I stay confined, in this day of time
A slave to the way of the world, although I'm not blind
Machine gotta, hold on ya blue jean products
Whether you white or black, rich or poverty's product
It's a known fact, sorta like forty acres they owe blacks
I might, hitch hike on hope's road and never go back
I was born free, but now I'm like a slave to society
Can't get a license without consent, to feel sobriety
If you have a plan, they say life will flow beautifully
I need tech support, like Vanilla Sky
Cuz someone lied to me, told me shit was cool
I made good grades, but damn it got kicked outta school
It doesn't matter, my computer doesn't read the data
Even if you're smart, your life still can get shattered
Into little pieces, this is my thesis
Just cause I'm raised ? in the belly of the beast-es
My people died in vain, the pain is on my brain
And how can I get by when held by this mental strain
I just don't understand, I be's a grown ass man
But every time I see the cops they make me lift my hands
So they can pat me down, and I just don't see how
I played by they rules but they still treat me foul
Damn!
So what is this I'm livin, day in and day out earnin
My soul I hope to spend it, it's the petty change I'm gettin
Back through transactions, money limits my actions
I try to raise up but—(damn, damn)
Tryin to move I struggle, movin through hurt's trouble
Bumpin my head against the ceiling I ain't even stumble
My eyes are black and blue, rattle my shackles too
I try to remove 'em but damn.
Sounds like that I'm in jail, but really I'm in hell
The space between my two ears became my private cell
Ready and willin, able, anything justice stable
They just cut off my cable!
No food up in the kitchen, but I got dirty dishes
Does that make any sense?
My life ain't ever easy, my girlfriend's gonna leave me
Who scratched my Nas CD?
The song "Rousseau" by CYNE is a poetic exploration of the challenges of being true to oneself in a society that demands conformity. The lyrics begin with the image of a chimp swinging from the trees, gathering wisdom, and writing humbly. The singer sees himself as a ghost among the folk who stumble across logic, and he is definite in his belief, straining with rewards for change. He is accompanied by other emcees who are tempted by propaganda and souls that are empty, but he is determined to stay true to his free spirit, even if it means hitchhiking down the road of hope and never going back.
The chorus of the song asserts that the singer was born free but is now like a slave to society. He can't even get a license without consent to feel sobriety, and despite good grades, he got kicked out of school. The singer laments the limitations of transactions and the way that money limits his freedom of action. He struggles to move through hurt and his head bumps against the ceiling, feeling black and blue with shackles that he cannot remove. He has mental strain and feels as if he is in jail or hell, with no food in the kitchen and a girlfriend who is going to leave him. The final line reflects the absurdity of these struggles with a complaint about a scratched Nas CD.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, yo, yo, ayo
Introduction to the song
The chimp in the jungle, I like to gather in wisdom in bundles
I am like a chimp in the jungle, constantly searching for knowledge and acquiring it in abundance
My arms swing from the branches of life, I write humble
I am humble and grounded, like a chimp swinging from a branch, and I express myself through writing
My notes are crumbled, my hopes are fumbled
My writing may not be perfect, and I may struggle to keep hope alive in difficult times
Can't drop it, a ghost among you folk that stumbled cross logic
I cannot abandon my passion for writing, even when others around me seem to have lost their sense of reason
I'm definite, like change I strain wit rewards while
I am certain of my path in life and I work hard for the rewards I hope to gain
Speck and, Enoch start bangin on boards
My colleagues and I collaborate and make music together
Daily routines like fiends that's stuck on the crack pipe
Our daily routines can become addictive, like being stuck on a drug addiction
I rhyme over feedback, dare mics not to act right
I confidently perform my music and challenge the microphones to keep up with me
The emcee, and see y'all just tempt me wit
As an emcee, I am constantly being tempted by the negative influences of others
All ya propaganda, ya souls are empty
I see through the propaganda and recognize that those who spread it have empty souls
I was born free, now I stay confined, in this day of time
I was born with freedom, but now I feel confined by the limitations of society
A slave to the way of the world, although I'm not blind
I am trapped by the pressures of the world and its expectations, even though I am aware of the situation
Machine gotta, hold on ya blue jean products
The machines and companies making our clothes have too much power and control over our lives
Whether you white or black, rich or poverty's product
We are all affected by the systems in place, regardless of our race or economic status
It's a known fact, sorta like forty acres they owe blacks
It is a well-known fact that black people are owed reparations for the harm and oppression they have experienced throughout history
I might, hitch hike on hope's road and never go back
I may leave behind the negativity and oppression of society and find hope in a better future
I was born free, but now I'm like a slave to society
I was born with inherent freedom, but now I feel enslaved by the expectations and limitations of society
Can't get a license without consent, to feel sobriety
I cannot even obtain a license without submitting to societal norms and expectations of sobriety
If you have a plan, they say life will flow beautifully
Society tells us that if we follow a certain plan, we will have a beautiful life
I need tech support, like Vanilla Sky
I need help and support in navigating the complexities of life, like in the movie Vanilla Sky
Cuz someone lied to me, told me shit was cool
Someone misled me into believing that everything was alright, when it was not
I made good grades, but damn it got kicked outta school
Despite doing well academically, I was still punished and expelled from school
It doesn't matter, my computer doesn't read the data
Even if I do everything 'right,' I can still be met with failures and setbacks beyond my control
Even if you're smart, your life still can get shattered
Intelligence and hard work do not guarantee success or protection from the hardships of life
Into little pieces, this is my thesis
My argument is that society can break us down into small, insignificant pieces
Just cause I'm raised ? in the belly of the beast-es
I was brought up in a society that can be brutal and oppressive
My people died in vain, the pain is on my brain
My ancestors suffered and died for nothing, and their legacy of pain lives on within me
And how can I get by when held by this mental strain
The mental burden of my experiences is holding me back from progressing and thriving
I just don't understand, I be's a grown ass man
I struggle to comprehend why these injustices and struggles persist, even though I am an adult
But every time I see the cops they make me lift my hands
My interactions with law enforcement are filled with fear and unease, and they often exercise unnecessary force
So they can pat me down, and I just don't see how
I do not understand why I must undergo invasive searches and pat-downs despite having done nothing wrong
I played by they rules but they still treat me foul
I followed the rules and expectations of society, yet I am still met with mistreatment and discrimination
Damn!
Expressing frustration and anger at the unfairness of the situation
So what is this I'm livin, day in and day out earnin
What kind of life is this, where I must work hard every day to survive?
My soul I hope to spend it, it's the petty change I'm gettin
I hope to use my life and soul for a greater purpose, but all that I am currently earning is meager scraps
Back through transactions, money limits my actions
My life is limited and controlled by financial transactions and the power of money
I try to raise up but—(damn, damn)
Despite my efforts to improve my station in life, I am met with resistance and obstacles
Tryin to move I struggle, movin through hurt's trouble
I am trying to progress through life, but the painful experiences that I have endured make it difficult
Bumpin my head against the ceiling I ain't even stumble
I am trying to break through the limitations holding me back, but I have yet to succeed
My eyes are black and blue, rattle my shackles too
I have been beaten and oppressed, and the chains of that oppression still weigh heavily on me
I try to remove 'em but damn.
I try to free myself from the constraints of society, but it is difficult and exhausting
Sounds like that I'm in jail, but really I'm in hell
My life may seem like I am in a prison, but the reality is that I am living through a personal hell
The space between my two ears became my private cell
My thoughts and emotions weigh heavily on me, and I feel trapped by my own mind
Ready and willin, able, anything justice stable
I am ready and willing to fight for justice and a better life, and I am capable of doing so
They just cut off my cable!
Even the small comforts and pleasures in life can be taken away or limited by those in power
No food up in the kitchen, but I got dirty dishes
Even when I have nothing to eat, I am still struggling with the mundane chores and tasks of life
Does that make any sense?
Expressing frustration and questioning the sense and logic of the situation
My life ain't ever easy, my girlfriend's gonna leave me
My life is constantly filled with struggles and hardships, and I am losing the people I care about
Who scratched my Nas CD?
Expressing frustration and anger over the small injustices and annoyances of life
Contributed by Lucy J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.