Drapht attended Perth Modern School in Subiaco but was not involved in the school's music program. At school, he became friends with Damien Allia (aka DJ Armee) who introduced him to hip hop via gigs at the Hyde Park Hotel.
Drapht became a vital part of Perth's hip hop crew Syllabolix at the age of 17.
"I was real lucky. I hung around all the SBX members before I even started rapping. I was right in the middle of it all, I had access to the fucking dopest producer at the time Dazastah, freestyle sessions at Hunter's, and constant schooling from the whole crew. So, it was hard for me not to learn quick and be involved with it all." - Drapht
This involvement resulted in his first contributions being recorded and included on the Done DL album in 2000, only months after he had started seriously writing.
Drapht's first track, "Misunderstood", which sampled Nina Simone's 1964 song, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", was released as part of the Culture of Kings - Volume 3 released in 2003.
"I know a lot of people were big fans of that song, but I never put it in my live show 'cause it's a downtempo sort of beat. It was just a track I wrote in a span of a few days, and it was just lying around. So, I put it on Culture of Kings. Luckily enough, it was the intro song for the album. It has definitely helped to carry my career on." - Drapht (2008)
His debut album, Pale Rider, was released in October 2003, with all production handled by Dazastah (Downsyde), Fdel, and Drapht. Special appearances on the album include: Fdel (Invada Records), Downsyde, MC Layla, Hunter, Selekt, Carlsani, and Porsah Lane.
"With my first album, I just kinda got into it because I was hanging around the guys from Downsyde and Syllabolix. Essentially, I got into it just because I loved how Daz [Dazastah] tackled his writing style and his punch-lines. Aggression was the one thing I wanted to get rid of, which is why it came out more aggressive than any album I've done since. Being a teenager you seem to be more this way. Then, you [hopefully] let it all go." - Drapht (2008)
The follow-up, 2005's Who Am I, was also produced by Dazastah (Downsyde), Fdel, and Drapht. The songs touch on topics including politics, sex, and addiction to drunken antics. Guest appearances on the album include Pressure (Hilltop Hoods), Downsyde, Layla, Pegz (Obese Records), Clandestien, MJ (Funkola), and Hunter. It was released by Obese Records in both in a CD and a limited 2 LP vinyl format. Two tracks from the album, "Drink Drank Drunk" and "The Music", received airplay on Triple J, mostly on the Super Request program. Who Am I is more of an introspective album.
"I tried to focus more on my flow and the structure of the tracks but at the end I wasn't really happy with the subject matter of the songs." - Drapht (2008)
Drapht has opened for acts such as; Hilltop Hoods, Dilated Peoples, Downsyde, Koolism, Apathy, Rodney P & Skitz, Mystro, Killa Kela, and Resin Dogs.
The song "The Music" was selected by Triple J as a featured track for Ausmusic month in 2005. Drapht released a music video for "The Music", which was shown on Rage. He also performed a guest verse on the Hilltop Hoods album The Hard Road on the track "The Blue Blooded".
Drapht was nominated in the Best Urban/Hip Hop Act category at the 2007 West Australian Music Industry Awards. At the age of twenty-five, Drapht decided to pursue music full-time, leaving his other career as a roof carpenter.
Drapht's third album, Brothers Grimm, was released 10 May 2008, with the first song from the album, "Jimmy Recard", receiving significant airplay on Triple J, where it became the second most played song on the station in 2008.
"With Brothers Grimm, I tried to tackle subject matter more, and tried to make every single word more clear - not so intense. I wanted it to be more personal and truthful with what I stand for and have gone through in life, and the response has been really good." - Drapht (2008)
The album debuted at No. 64 on the ARIA Album charts, reached No. 9 on the V Energy AIR (Association of Independent Record Labels) Charts and No. 10 on the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Top 40 Urban Album charts.
Drapht appeared for the first time in a Triple J Hottest 100 with two entries in the 2008 countdown; "Jimmy Recard" at number 10 and "Falling" at number 77.
In October 2008, Drapht was nominated for the 'Best New Australian Independent Artist' award by the 2008 AIR Awards.
In March 2009, Drapht undertook a national tour of Australia with fellow Western Australians, Downsyde with a number of the eastern states performances being supported by Pez. Drapht also made appearances at Homebake, Pyramid Rock Festival, Southbound, Open Arms, and MS Fest.
"Jimmy Recard" was nominated for 'Most Popular Single/EP' at the 2009 West Australian Music Industry Awards and Drapht as 'Best Urban/Hip Hop Act', which he subsequently won.
In an interview with The Vine in November 2010, Drapht advised that he had not renewed his contract with Obese Records and that he will be releasing his forthcoming album The Life of Riley independently. The first song released from the album is "Rapunzel", for which he describes the love hate relationship that is Rapunzel- a subject that I had that was extremely close to my heart, so naturally the song itself was one of the easiest to write, but one of the hardest to nail in the recording process. Has to be one of my favourites to date, has made me fall in love with her all over again!
"Rapunzel" reached number 12 on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2010, #2 on the AIR charts, and peaked at #16 on the ARIA singles chart in February 2011, the highest charting single for Drapht to date. The single was also accredited an ARIA platinum certification.
The Life of Riley was released 1 April 2011 and was the first release on Drapht’s own label The Ayems, which is distributed through Sony Music. The album debuted at #1 on the ARIA Album Chart and was the first Australian artist to do so in 2011. The second track to be taken from the album was "Sing It (The Life of Riley)".
Lose Control
Drapht Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Represent my soul and my heart
Held for a start
Against the whole word in the dark
Fell from the ark
I'm noahs third animal
Never making the cut, fed to the canibals
Man I'm pulling my head out
I'm a fool but I've set out to represent your name
Maa
Came up from no fame and fortune
Just to live life and hold my head high
When i walk through the crowd of these doubting eyes
Walked every day
Every night
Never found the light
Just mounting ties with these hood rats and snakes
All the people you call crims I call my mates
I break laws to live
Never take more than needed
Skateboarders' them graphers leaving the walls bleedin'
Yeah we're reading
Yeah we're just as cultured as men holding holsters
And upper class vultures
A pulse is the only difference with you
While you drive a rolse royce I hold the vision of truth
While you hold the cash
I hold the bloody passion of a knife
That will fight for his king
And his country
And his life
I lose control (I lose control)
Of everything (of everything)
I've ever known (I've ever known)
I lose control (I lose control)
I lose control (I lose control)
Of everything (of everything)
I've ever known (I've ever known)
I lose control (I lose control)
Driven to the bottle
God has gotta save me
I'm lost in the matix
You must turns to maybe
He's forgotten, maybe betrayed me
Left me rotten
Maybe be thankful for life that he gave me
Remember
Yeah that lazy day in september
Blessed with a good heart
But cursed with a temper
Yeah 10 percent of your bloods from a emperor
The fam you decend from defend no surrender
And when ya
Lose it its your fault
Your bad
Cant catapult all the blame back on your dad
Mad cause the way that he raised you
Made you
The man you are today
Now one made those mistakes too
Its the break through
Finally see you making tracks
Make one wrong move bruz
See you taken back to square one
Where one will never recognize
That you switched your position until you go and check the dice
And the second time over isn't easier
No one will believe in you
And all your friends are leaving you
And growing up
Moving on
Know enough when you were wrong
People might remember to call you and ask you how your goin'
And no one gives that theres no existing love for you
Maybe you'll believe in yourself
And you'll start loving too
Knowing this is the key to the treasure chest
The last place you look that you'll never guess
I cant ever stress enough now man
I pick up blocks of gold
Turn em to sand
Everything i seem to touch
Seem to turn to stone
I sware I lead the pack
Look back, I'm alone
Cant control myself
Hold myself together
Losing faith in the game
Even tho I'm better than the competition
Its so undefined
I need to listen and the only problem is that
I lose control
The lyrics to Drapht's song "Lose Control" are introspective and emotional. The song touches on themes of personal struggle, redemption, and finding oneself in a world that can be cruel and unforgiving. The artist muses on his past mistakes, his relationships with others, and his own identity. He speaks to his feelings of disconnection and his search for meaning and direction.
In the opening verse, the artist declares, "I lose control/Represent my soul and my heart/Held for a start/Against the whole word in the dark." He seems to be saying that he is struggling to find his place in the world and to represent his true identity in the face of societal pressure and expectations. He reflects on his past mistakes, saying "Fell from the ark/I'm noahs third animal/Never making the cut, fed to the canibals."
Despite his struggles, the artist sets out to make a change and to "represent your name." He talks about his friendships with people who are often dismissed or vilified by society, saying "All the people you call crims I call my mates." He recognizes his own flaws and the challenges he faces, but he also asserts his own worth and value, saying "While you drive a rolse royce I hold the vision of truth."
Overall, "Lose Control" is a song about finding oneself in a difficult world and facing the challenges of personal growth and self-acceptance. The lyrics are raw and emotional, reflecting the artist's own journey of self-discovery and introspection.
Line by Line Meaning
I lose control
I am overwhelmed by my emotions and actions
Represent my soul and my heart
I express my true self and emotions
Held for a start
I struggled to succeed from the beginning
Against the whole word in the dark
I face adversity and opposition in life
Fell from the ark
I feel left behind or excluded from society
I'm noahs third animal
I feel like an outcast in society
Never making the cut, fed to the canibals
I feel like I don't fit in and have been rejected by society
Man I'm pulling my head out
I am determined to make a change for the better
Start making a change
I am taking action to improve my life and situation
I'm a fool but I've set out to represent your name
I may not be perfect, but I am trying to make a positive impact for others
Came up from no fame and fortune
I did not have any advantages in life to help me succeed
Just to live life and hold my head high
I strive to have self-respect and dignity
When i walk through the crowd of these doubting eyes
I face judgment and criticism from others
Walked every day
I have put in hard work and effort every day
Every night
I have consistently worked hard towards my goals
Never found the light
I have faced setbacks and have not yet reached my full potential
Just mounting ties with these hood rats and snakes
I have associated with negative and dangerous people
All the people you call crims I call my mates
I have loyalty and a sense of connection with people who others may view as criminals
I break laws to live
I have resorted to illegal activities to survive
Never take more than needed
I try to limit my harm to others while breaking the law for my own survival
Skateboarders' them graphers leaving the walls bleedin'
I am involved in graffiti and street culture
Yeah we're reading
We are knowledgeable and can educate ourselves
Yeah we're just as cultured as men holding holsters
Our culture and intelligence are just as important and valuable as those who carry guns
And upper class vultures
We see wealthy people who exploit others as predators
A pulse is the only difference with you
We are all human and equal despite our differences in wealth or status
While you drive a rolse royce I hold the vision of truth
I prioritize my values and beliefs over material possessions
While you hold the cash
Others prioritize wealth and power over other aspects of life
I hold the bloody passion of a knife
I am willing to fight and sacrifice for my beliefs and values
That will fight for his king
I am loyal and willing to defend my community and leaders
And his country
I have a sense of patriotism and obligation to my nation
And his life
I am willing to put my own life at risk for the greater good
Driven to the bottle
I have turned to alcohol to cope
God has gotta save me
I am reliant on a higher power for salvation and guidance
I'm lost in the matix
I feel trapped and confused by the complexities of life
You must turns to maybe
I am uncertain about my future and need to consider different possibilities
He's forgotten, maybe betrayed me
I feel abandoned or let down by God
Left me rotten
I feel neglected and in a state of decay
Maybe be thankful for life that he gave me
I should appreciate the blessings in my life, even amidst struggles
Remember
I need to reflect and recall important memories
Yeah that lazy day in september
I have a fond memory from the past
Blessed with a good heart
I have a kind and compassionate nature
But cursed with a temper
I struggle with anger and frustration
The fam you decend from defend no surrender
I come from a family who values perseverance and resilience
And when ya
When you
Lose it its your fault
You are responsible for your own actions and emotions
Your bad
It's your mistake or fault
Cant catapult all the blame back on your dad
You cannot solely blame your parents for your problems
Mad cause the way that he raised you
You are angry or upset with how you were raised
Made you
Your upbringing shaped who you are today
The man you are today
Your current identity and personality
Now one made those mistakes too
Your parents also had flaws and made mistakes
Its the break through
It's a transformative turning point
Finally see you making tracks
I can see that you're making progress and working towards your goals
Make one wrong move bruz
One mistake could derail your progress
See you taken back to square one
You will lose all the progress you've made and start over
Where one will never recognize
You may not realize the progress you had made
That you switched your position until you go and check the dice
You may not realize your growth until you look back and evaluate your progress
And the second time over isn't easier
Starting over again is not easier or less challenging
No one will believe in you
People may doubt your abilities or success
And all your friends are leaving you
You may lose support and connections during a difficult time
And growing up
Maturing and developing as a person
Moving on
Transitioning to a new phase or stage in life
Know enough when you were wrong
Recognize and learn from your mistakes
People might remember to call you and ask you how your goin'
People may check in on you or care about your wellbeing
And no one gives that theres no existing love for you
You may feel unloved or unnoticed by others
Maybe you'll believe in yourself
You may need to develop self-confidence and self-love
And you'll start loving too
You will learn to love and appreciate yourself
Knowing this is the key to the treasure chest
Self-love and self-acceptance is the key to happiness and fulfillment
The last place you look that you'll never guess
The key to your happiness may be in a surprising or unexpected place
I cant ever stress enough now man
I want to emphasize the importance of this idea
I pick up blocks of gold
I see opportunities and value in unexpected places
Turn em to sand
I can transform or manipulate these opportunities to my advantage
Everything i seem to touch
My actions have a significant impact on my life and circumstances
Seem to turn to stone
My efforts do not always yield positive results
I sware I lead the pack
I am confident in my leadership abilities
Look back, I'm alone
Despite my leadership, I am often isolated or unsupported
Cant control myself
I struggle with self-control and discipline
Hold myself together
I try to maintain my composure and self-preservation
Losing faith in the game
I am losing hope or confidence in my situation or life in general
Even tho I'm better than the competition
I am confident in my abilities despite facing competition
Its so undefined
My situation is uncertain and unclear
I need to listen
I need to be attentive and receptive to advice and guidance
And the only problem is that
The only issue or challenge is
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL RANKINE, PAUL RIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind