1. A rapper from… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists who use the name Devlin:
1. A rapper from London, signed to Island Records.
2. A gothic metal band from Sweden, last signed to Napalm Records.
1. Rapper from United Kingdom:
It’s taken a handful of years for Dagenham resident Devlin to take his deep, dedicated lyrics out of the confines of East London and prove his worth across the North/South border. It’s now not unusual to watch Devlin causing carnage on stage in Northampton or booking shows in Amsterdam.
At 18 years of age Devlin has what can only be described as a cult following of supporters that value his intelligent and evocative lyrics, in a pool of MCs that all too often spawn monotonous and lacklustre rappers. A diamond in the rough, Devlin’s road to success began at O.T. Recordings where he still currently resides with label-mates Dogzilla, Shotz, Syer, Rachet, and Deverlish amongst others.
Devlin was first brought to O.T's attention when he hit the airwaves on a local radio station at jus 13; even then it was easy to see he had real talent. Devlin would go up radio as much as he could with whoever would let him on, he was also writing and recording songs with friends and local producers at a very young age. It wasn’t very long before he built up a good reputation in the area. A few years later he was brought to Dogzilla's attention again, this time by a mutual friend, Dogzy decided to give Devlin a chance and took him to the studio to check him out and lay some vocals. At the time the Danny Weed's (Roll Deep) "Heat Up" was one of the most popular tracks around, Devlin jumped on it and didn’t disappoint, spitting a high level of content at a good speed and at the same time displaying a style and flow well beyond his years.
Devlin was soon introduced to the rest of the O.T Crew and Dogzy wasted no time in organising a radio slot on Flava FM. Flava was a well known breeding ground for new talent, the management at Flava have had almost every big name in the scene on there at some point so it was the perfect place for Devlin to start his membership with O.T. The sets on Flava FM were massive, every week the phone line would jam when Devlin touched the mic. He soon made the switch to Rinse FM where he was an instant hit. Still only 16 Devlin had shown he could mix it with the big boys; he even managed to do a set with the legend that is DJ Slimzee before his departure from radio.
His relentless progression continued with each track Devz featured on. The combination between Dogzilla and Devlin on tracks was deadly and a freestyle from producer Rootz showed just how far Devlin had come, and in such a short space of time. The Rootz track along with eight other tracks featuring Devlin was to appear on O.T Recordings fist mixtape release.
The London Borough of Barking & Dogenham Mixtape was released in Feb. 2006 and received great critical success. (Check Blog - Reviews/Interviews). One of the stand-out tracks on the CD was Devlin's Ghetto Kyote Remix freestyle which was produced by O.T Recording's Deverlish. The track was played right across the board, from pirate stations like Rinse to commercial radio stations such as 1Xtra and Kiss Fm. Devlin has performed live sets on both commercial stations; with DJ Logan Sama at Kiss100FM and DJ Cameo at BBC 1Xtra. He has also appeared on The Media Gang's Practice Hours DVD and Target's Aim High, Risky Roadz and Rinse FM's Rinsessions mixtape.
2006 saw Devlin hit the shops twice with the O.T Recordings mixtape, vinyl release April Shower from O.T producer Shotz and Firein produced by production talent Rachet. Devlin also featured heavily on Broad Street Stories and the uber-successful Shot City Mixtape.
More recently Devlin joined The Movement; a group of some of the very best MCs and producers in the grime scene including Ghetto, Scorcher and Wretch 32. Tempo Specialists was released in 2007 and proved that the best MCs in the scene had formed a strong alliance.
Devlin's first solo mixtape entitled Tales From The Crypt was released in November 2006. It featured collaborations with O.T and The Movement members and was considered one of the best grime mixtapes of 2006.
Since Devlin’s first solo release, the young MC is gearing up for his second effort ‘Blood, Sweat and Beers’ and the Devlin E.P as the talented MC garners more press attention and support throughout the UK and Europe.
http://www.officialdevlin.com/
2. Gothic metal band from Sweden
Members:
Marcus Ehlin - Instruments, vocals (SiebenbĂ¼rgen, Grand Illusion, Maledictum, A Canorous Quintet)
Lexi - Vocals
http://www.myspace.com/unofficialdevlin
Finally
Devlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm just trying to earn a living in this cold, cold place.
Then escape to the summer sands,
Until my time has expired I'll be trying and
I finally found something I'll never give up,
Finally found something I can be proud of
(I finally found something I can be proud of)
There ain't nothing worse than watching mummy struggling.
Suffering, and I can't tell you how easy it is
But I can tell you how tough it's been.
I know you're wondering, well first off,
I would need a warehouse to store my troubles in.
Nobodies aware of what I'm covering up
But one thing I'll erupt my bloods bubbling.
I'm stressed out, frustrated and hungry
That's enough to send a man over the edge humpty.
And if it ain't me against the world
Then I feel like I'm going against this whole country.
Nobodies on my side they wanna take my soul,
Body and my mind but I still got a problem with authority
So what should I decide?
How different is my life to another mans,
I'm just trying to earn a living in this cold, cold place.
Then escape to the summer sands,
Until my time has expired I'll be trying and
I finally found something I'll never give up,
Finally found something I can be proud of
(I finally found something I can be proud of)
First off, for too many years I've been worse off now
Every single verse is bloody worth dosh,
It's hard to always stay on track sometimes I swerve off,
Life's a lesson, in one second you could learn a lot.
Give me the chance to accelerate and I'm burning off.
Because I've been left too long to rot in the eternal fog
And I was always told to aim for the stars
Now I'm cruising through space like Scotty and the captains log.
Deep space mind, don't hate me just make yours how I make mine?
Take time to stay tight,
And when times get messy like a cage fight,
We will soon see which individual suffers stage fright.
I'll be ready on the double,
My flows flexible and supple leave you buried like a dead man in the ruble.
Fully proud how my teams emerging from the tunnel full of never ending trouble!
How different is my life to another mans,
I'm just trying to earn a living in this cold, cold place.
Then escape to the summer sands,
Until my time has expired I'll be trying and
I finally found something I'll never give up,
Finally found something I can be proud of
(I finally found something I can be proud of)
I was on the road all day or I was getting locked up.
Had find some other way to change my life up,
I was on the path but sometimes I fucked it right up.
I was either thinking I should leave or I should quit,
But something always telling me I don't know what it is,
I got something I am proud of, I'm enjoying this,
I know, I know, I know.
I would always try my best but nothing ever worked,
So someone please just tell me straight
'cause now I'm feeling worse.
Now my pockets on fire all my credits burnt.
I always paid the price and I never learned.
I was just a crazy kid, broke and I was lost,
Cause anytime I would flip and they would call the dogs,
Always scrapping, always fighting,
Show my teeth music changed my life now I'm never lost.
How different is my life to another mans,
I'm just trying to earn a living in this cold, cold place.
Then escape to the summer sands,
Until my time has expired I'll be trying and
I finally found something I'll never give up,
Finally found something I can be proud of
(I finally found something I can be proud of)
The lyrics to Devlin's song "Finally" speak to the struggles of trying to make a better life for oneself in a difficult environment. The opening lines lament the reality of trying to earn a living in a cold and unforgiving world, with the only respite coming from escape to the "summer sands." The repetition of the chorus, "I finally found something I can be proud of," speaks to the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that comes from finding a purpose and a passion in life, even in the face of adversity.
The second verse delves deeper into the struggles that led to this sense of accomplishment, with references to hustling and the difficulty of watching loved ones suffer. Devlin acknowledges that the road hasn't been easy, and that he's up against a lot of opposition, from stress and frustration to societal and institutional obstacles. Nevertheless, he remains determined, and expresses defiance in the face of those who seek to take control of his soul, body, and mind. The third verse continues along the same themes, with references to getting locked up and trying to find a better way forward, even when it seems like nothing ever works out.
Overall, the song captures the reality of trying to survive and thrive in a world that often seems hostile and unwelcoming. Through determination, passion, and a refusal to give up, Devlin finds a sense of purpose and pride that can carry him through even the toughest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
How different is my life to another mans,
I wonder how my life compares to others, as I struggle to make a living in this harsh environment.
I'm just trying to earn a living in this cold, cold place.
My goal is to make a living despite the challenging circumstances I find myself in.
Then escape to the summer sands,
When possible, I seek refuge from the difficulties of life by spending time in warm, sunny places.
Until my time has expired I'll be trying and
I will continue striving to improve my situation until my time on earth is over.
I finally found something I'll never give up,
After much searching, I have discovered something precious to me that I will never abandon.
Finally found something I can be proud of
I am proud to have found something that provides me with a sense of fulfillment.
Hustling, money coming in,
I work hard to earn an income for myself and those I care about.
There ain't nothing worse than watching mummy struggling.
It is incredibly difficult for me to watch my mother struggle to get by.
Suffering, and I can't tell you how easy it is
It is difficult to convey the extent of the hardship I have experienced.
But I can tell you how tough it's been.
I can attest to how grueling my journey has been so far.
I know you're wondering, well first off,
For those who are curious, let me explain.
I would need a warehouse to store my troubles in.
My struggles and hardships are numerous and would require a large space to hold them all.
Nobodies aware of what I'm covering up
I keep hidden the true extent of my struggles from those around me.
But one thing I'll erupt my bloods bubbling.
My frustration and anger are simmering just below the surface and are likely to boil over.
I'm stressed out, frustrated and hungry
I am dealing with high levels of stress, frustration, and hunger.
That's enough to send a man over the edge humpty.
These stressors are enough to push a person to the brink of their sanity.
And if it ain't me against the world
I feel like I am constantly battling against the odds and the world itself.
Then I feel like I'm going against this whole country.
It can sometimes seem as if the entire country is against me and my efforts to better my life.
Nobodies on my side they wanna take my soul,
It can feel as if everyone is against me and wants to rob me of my spirit and each achievement I make.
Body and my mind but I still got a problem with authority
Despite everything, I still struggle to submit to authority figures.
So what should I decide?
With so much stacked against me, I often question what my next move should be.
First off, for too many years I've been worse off now
I have been in a state of decline for many years now.
Every single verse is bloody worth dosh,
My music is a valuable source of income for me.
It's hard to always stay on track sometimes I swerve off,
It can be difficult to maintain focus and stay on course, and sometimes I lose my way.
Life's a lesson, in one second you could learn a lot.
Life is full of teaching moments that can occur in an instant.
Give me the chance to accelerate and I'm burning off.
If given the opportunity, I have the potential to make great strides.
Because I've been left too long to rot in the eternal fog
I have been neglected for far too long, and it has left me feeling trapped and aimless.
And I was always told to aim for the stars
I was always instructed to set my sights high and reach for the impossible.
Now I'm cruising through space like Scotty and the captains log.
I feel as if I am now making steady progress towards my goals and am finally gaining momentum.
Deep space mind, don't hate me just make yours how I make mine?
I possess a profound and visionary mindset, and I encourage others to adopt this perspective in their own lives.
Take time to stay tight,
It is crucial to take the time to remain focused and dedicated to achieving one's goals.
And when times get messy like a cage fight,
During the most challenging and chaotic moments, it's important to stay composed and determined.
We will soon see which individual suffers stage fright.
When the going gets tough, we will see who is truly afraid to take action and who rises to the occasion.
I'll be ready on the double,
I will be prepared and quick to act when the time comes.
My flows flexible and supple leave you buried like a dead man in the ruble.
My musical ability is versatile and adaptable, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Fully proud how my teams emerging from the tunnel full of never ending trouble!
Despite the many obstacles we face, I am proud of the progress that my team has made.
I was on the road all day or I was getting locked up.
I spent much of my time either traveling or being incarcerated.
Had find some other way to change my life up,
I knew that I needed to make a significant change in my life.
I was on the path but sometimes I fucked it right up.
I was on the right track at times, but I also made a lot of mistakes along the way.
I was either thinking I should leave or I should quit,
I constantly struggled with thoughts of giving up or leaving everything behind.
But something always telling me I don't know what it is,
Despite my doubts and uncertainty, I felt compelled to persist.
I got something I am proud of, I'm enjoying this,
Through all of my struggles, I have found something that provides me with immense joy and pride.
I always try my best but nothing ever worked,
Despite my best efforts, I often faced massive disappointments and setbacks.
So someone please just tell me straight
I am craving honesty and straightforwardness from those around me.
'cause now I'm feeling worse.
I am currently experiencing a low point and am in need of assistance.
Now my pockets on fire all my credits burnt.
I am currently broke and my credit has been exhausted.
I always paid the price and I never learned.
I have made mistakes in the past and suffered the consequences, but I have not necessarily learned from those experiences.
I was just a crazy kid, broke and I was lost,
In my younger days, I was reckless and directionless, and I was struggling to make ends meet.
'Cause anytime I would flip and they would call the dogs,
Whenever I lost my temper or got into trouble, authorities would be called and I would face consequences.
Always scrapping, always fighting,
I have always had to work hard and fight for every little bit of progress in my life.
Show my teeth music changed my life now I'm never lost.
Through music, I have found a sense of direction and purpose, and I am now in a much better place than I once was.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES JOHN DEVLIN, LEWIS ALASTAIR FRANCIS HODDER, JUSTIN CLARKE SAMUEL, RHYS TAYLOR, JUSTIN REGGIE SAMUEL CLARK, LEWI WHITE, RORY KNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind