Emcees
* P.O.S. has released four albums under the Rhymesayers record label in conjunction with the Doomtree label. His first album, Ipecac Neat, made its Rhymesayers debut in 2004. His next album Audition released in 2006. His third release, Never Better was released in February 2009. We Don't Even Live Here, his fourth album, came out October 2012.
P.O.S is the de facto leader of the group. He also performs with the punk rock group Building Better Bombs.
* Sims released his first full length album in July 2005, Lights Out Paris. He also released False Hopes 14 in 2009. In 2011, he released Bad Time Zoo to critical acclaim.
* Dessa released one of Doomtree's several False Hopes albums and often performs live with violinist Jessy Greene (who is featured on P.O.S's Audition). She is an accomplished spoken word poet. In January 2010, she released her first solo LP, A Badly Broken Code. 2011 brought Castor, The Twin, which was a re-imagining of many of the tracks from A Badly Broken Code, utilizing a live band.
* Mictlan has released Doomtree False Hopes albums Deity for hire and Deity for Re-hire. In 2008, Mike Mictlan and Lazerbeak released their album Hand Over Fist
* Cecil Otter released Hung Over-seas, a Doomtree False Hopes album in 2003. He was also a finalist in a national spoken word competition inspired by the 2004 presidential election. He released another album, simply titled Cecil Otter's False Hopes, in 2005. In 2006 Cecil Otter released his new full length album Rebel Yellow. He is also signed to Strange Famous Records.
Producers/DJs
* Paper Tiger has produced for Doomtree emcees and often spins records for Doomtree performances. He also provides graphic design for various flyers and other Doomtree visuals. He has released a solo album Made Like Us.
* MK Larada has produced many tracks for Doomtree emcees and is also Doomtree's resident artist. He has released an album Break In Two (Music For B People).
* Lazerbeak has produced many tracks for Doomtree emcees as well as several other Minneapolis hip-hop artists, including Toki Wright. He is also the guitarist of Minnesota indie band The Plastic Constellations. He has released his solo album Legend Recognize Legend
* Turbo Nemesis is the most common Doomtree DJ to spin at performances
http://www.doomtree.net
Lucky
Doomtree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whoaaa
Yeaaa. paper tigers, from doomtree man.
[Sims]
You're born with an outline
It's you're way to ink it in
Looks like the crimson king
While you're ship sets sail
You row with broken oars
Two thousand... what ever
No room for closing open doors
I hoped you hoped for more
But that heart went cold
Blame it on the weather
Remember when we wanted something
Better, ah- whatever
It's a new year
And thank god that you're here
I know the wings are getting heavy
I wrote this in the womb and
I carved it in the moon
As real as it could ever get
I feel like I could sleep 'til June
You're so plug in but
So out of tune
Time to change the station
Better yet change their shape
Stacked like sardines in a
Stacked city scape
But here we are tonight
We are the lights we are the bright escape
Plan, Minnesota
Cold sholders where I come from
Young solider on It's own
Bang a big drum
I'm nothing like a phenomenon
It's the same two step
I press on and on
Young lucky that I'm still alive
I should have died
I should have been the one
I hope I see you on the other side
Soon as I saw them lights
I thought a flight
And tonight I'll grab hold
And dig the cleats into my life
In Doomtree's song Lucky, rapper Sims starts with an introspective verse about how everyone is born with an outline, but it's up to the individual to fill it in. He references the Crimson King, a character from Stephen King's Dark Tower series, to suggest that the limits we face are often self-imposed. The metaphor of a ship with broken oars symbolizes how we try to move forward despite obstacles, and the idea that it's difficult to close open doors speaks to the fleeting nature of opportunity. Sims acknowledges that life doesn't always live up to our hopes and dreams, and that our hearts can grow cold as a result. However, he celebrates the new year and being alive, recognizing that it's an opportunity to change our situation for the better.
As the song continues, Sims raps about the need to change the station and find a new path. He describes feeling out of tune with the world, like he's stacked in a city scape, but the bright lights of escape are still visible. Sims references his home state of Minnesota and the cold culture that he comes from, but he's determined to press on and survive. The title of the song, "Lucky," comes from Sims recognizing that despite the obstacles he's faced, he's still alive and able to take hold of his life.
Overall, the song is an uplifting anthem about perseverance and finding the strength to keep going. Despite the challenges we all face, Doomtree suggests that there's always an opportunity for growth and change.
Line by Line Meaning
You're born with an outline
You come into this world with a basic path to follow
It's your way to ink it in
It's up to you to fill in the details and make your own unique mark
Looks like the crimson king pushed it to the brink again
It seems like destructive forces have pushed things to the edge once more
While your ship sets sail, you row with broken oars
You are trying to move forward in life, but your tools or resources are inadequate
Two thousand... what ever, no room for closing open doors
We are in a new millennium and opportunities are scarce, making it difficult to take chances
I hoped you hoped for more, but that heart went cold
I had hoped you aimed for something greater, but you lost your passion
Blame it on the weather
Find an excuse or scapegoat to justify your lack of motivation
Remember when we wanted something better, ah- whatever
Recall a time when you had higher aspirations, but now you are indifferent to improving your situation
It's a new year, and thank god that you're here
Although times are tough, celebrate the fact that you are still alive to face them
I know the wings are getting heavy
I understand that the burdens of life are weighing you down
I wrote this in the womb and I carved it in the moon
This message has been inside of me since before I was born and has been with me forever
As real as it could ever get, I feel like I could sleep 'til June
This is as authentic and honest as it can be, but I am so exhausted that I could hibernate for months
You're so plug in but so out of tune
You are very connected to the world around you, but you are not in harmony with it
Time to change the station, better yet change their shape
It's time to alter your environment, and if that's not possible, then change your perspective or approach
Stacked like sardines in a stacked city scape
Living in close quarters in a crowded urban landscape
But here we are tonight, we are the lights we are the bright escape
Despite our difficult circumstances, we are the shining symbols of hope and freedom
Plan, Minnesota, cold shoulders where I come from
I am from Minnesota, where people tend to be distant and noncommittal
Young soldier on it's own, bang a big drum
I am a youthful warrior, standing alone, but I will make a lot of noise to be heard
I'm nothing like a phenomenon
I am not extraordinary or special
It's the same two-step I press on and on
I just keep on moving, even though it feels like I'm stuck in the same repetitive pattern
Young lucky that I'm still alive, I should have died
I am fortunate to have survived, even though I have faced many hardships and dangerous situations
I should have been the one, I hope I see you on the other side
It could have been me who didn't make it, but I hope to be reunited with you after death
Soon as I saw them lights, I thought a flight
When I saw warning signs or danger signals, I considered fleeing or escaping
And tonight I'll grab hold and dig the cleats into my life
Tonight, I will take control of my life and fight to keep my footing and progress forward
Contributed by Scarlett J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.