The debut Dabrye LP, One/Three, appeared in 2002 to major acclaim and was quickly followed by Instrmntl for Scott “Prefuse 73” Herren’s Eastern Developments label. Both albums earned glowing reviews for their rhythmic innovation and minimalist execution. Dabrye began work on his next release, Two/Three, in early 2003 with the song Game Over featuring Jay Dee and Phat Kat. He also collaborated on two tracks for Prefuse 73’s One Word Extinguisher.
air
Dabrye Lyrics
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The way it repeats can trick ya like a stuttering fool
Uttering butter king jewels
His mudda been cool
Schooled on how to wash away the crud in the drool pool
Made his chrome dome glisten
At first he couldn′t tell she had a chromosome missin'
Kept a spare somewhere
To helped her get the gum out her hair
They need to get they thumb out they rears
And show some skills the one time they come out in years
Instead of dumbin′ out in fears of they own shadow
In a game that swell 'em up to dead 'em like cattle
Take your rattle and skadaddle
Before you get a whippin′ with the pen and pad paddle
Ghouls, got ′em modeling gear
He came with more rhymes than molecules in air
The track was like a thorn in his back
As for the rhymes, I'll give y′all fair warnin', it′s crack
Whoever start smokin', come back
Quit, or catch a heart attack up in some bum shack
Sharper than a thumb tack
His body was a temple made of chemicals to the dimple
To him still it wasn′t so simple
Kept his right and left hand beefin'
One knockin' teeth in, the other one chiefin′
But first, this song′ll make you wanna stomp ya ten toes
Swooped up hooptie Pinto off a pimp my whip
Before they put the system in and had it all stripped
It ain't no need to trip
Indeed he ripped scripts from here to Jebip
Get a grip, leave it a dag mess for beer
Burnin′ like a bag of schwag cess in the air
The above lyrics are from Dabrye's track "Air," which appeared on his debut album, "One/Three." The song features an intricate beat that is likened to being sicker than the blood in someone's stool. The repetition in the beat can trick the listener, like a stuttering fool. The song includes vivid imagery, such as being "schooled on how to wash away the crud in the drool pool." The lyrics also touch on themes of love and rebellion against complacency.
The lyrics of "Air" paint a picture of a man with unique characteristics and an innate ability to rhyme. He is described as keeping a spare chromosome in his underwear and attending to his personal hygiene with care. Despite his eccentricities, the singer seems to respect the man and his abilities, claiming he has "more rhymes than molecules in air." The track is described as if it were a thorn in his back, but the rhymes are said to be a "crack" that will hook the listener.
The chorus speaks to the raw energy of the track, saying "This song'll make you wanna stomp ya ten toes." The song touches on themes of rebellion and staying true to oneself, with lines like "They need to get they thumb out they rears / And show some skills the one time they come out in years / Instead of dumbin' out in fears of they own shadow." Overall, the lyrics of "Air" are complex and packed with layered meaning, reflecting the intricate beat and production of the track.
Line by Line Meaning
The beat is sicker than the blood in your stool
The rhythm of the song is better than anything you've ever heard.
The way it repeats can trick ya like a stuttering fool
The repetition in the beat might fool you into thinking it's too simple.
Uttering butter king jewels
The rapper is delivering amazing rhymes that are like precious jewels in his mouth.
His mudda been cool
The rapper comes from a cool family.
Schooled on how to wash away the crud in the drool pool
The rapper was taught how to clean himself up and become successful despite his rough upbringing.
Made his chrome dome glisten
The rapper's bald head looks beautiful and shines brightly.
At first he couldn't tell she had a chromosome missin'
The rapper didn't realize that someone he was interacting with had a chromosomal disorder.
Kept a spare somewhere, in these underwear, he swear. To helped her get the gum out her hair
The rapper had an extra piece of gum to share, which he used to help someone get gum out of their hair.
They need to get they thumb out they rears
The people around the rapper need to stop being lazy and start doing something productive.
And show some skills the one time they come out in years
When the people around the rapper finally decide to do something, they should do it well.
Instead of dumbin' out in fears of they own shadow
Rather than being afraid of nothing, the people around the rapper need to take action and do something productive.
In a game that swell 'em up to dead 'em like cattle
In the music industry, many people can become successful quickly, but are then easily forgotten and left to die out.
Take your rattle and skadaddle
The rapper thinks that those who can't handle the music industry should leave.
Before you get a whippin' with the pen and pad paddle
If you can't handle the business of music, you will face harsh criticism from those who can.
Ghouls, got 'em modeling gear
People around the rapper are copying him and trying to dress like him.
He came with more rhymes than molecules in air
The rapper has an incredible amount of creative and innovative rhymes.
The track was like a thorn in his back
The instrumental in the song was difficult for the rapper to work with.
As for the rhymes, I'll give y'all fair warnin', it's crack
The rapper's rhymes are addictive and make you want to listen more.
Whoever start smokin', come back
Those who start listening to the rapper's music won't be able to stop.
Quit, or catch a heart attack up in some bum shack
If you continue to listen to the rapper's music, you might get too addicted and start to have problems.
Sharper than a thumb tack
The rapper's rhymes are incredibly clever and sharp.
His body was a temple made of chemicals to the dimple
The rapper uses a lot of drugs and chemicals in his life.
To him still it wasn't so simple
Despite the fact that the rapper's life is full of drugs, it still wasn't easy for him to make it to where he is now.
Kept his right and left hand beefin'
The rapper has conflicts between different parts of himself.
One knockin' teeth in, the other one chiefin'
One part of the rapper is being aggressive, while the other is doing drug addictions.
But first, this song'll make you wanna stomp ya ten toes
The song is so good that you'll want to dance and move around a lot.
Swooped up hooptie Pinto off a pimp my whip
The rapper got a used old car from a TV show about car customization.
Before they put the system in and had it all stripped
The car had sound equipment installed in it before it was given to the rapper.
It ain't no need to trip
There's no need to worry or stress about anything.
Indeed he ripped scripts from here to Jebip
The rapper wrote an incredible amount of songs and raps.
Get a grip, leave it a dag mess for beer
Hold on, don't worry about the details, just enjoy the party and have fun.
Burnin' like a bag of schwag cess in the air
The party is like a smelly and cheap type of weed burning in the air.
Writer(s): Tadd Bryan Mullinix
Contributed by Olivia T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.