Although Dwele has had somewhat of a short career as a commercially avaliable artist, he has a vast catalogue of material currently unreleased that die-hard fans revere as some of his best work, considerably superior to his material released as a signed artist that showcases the true depth of his artistic and diverse talent, displayed without constraint.
Gardner was raised on the west side of Detroit in a musical family. He played piano from the age of six, later taking up trumpet, bass and guitar. He was deeply affected by the fatal shooting of his father outside his home when he was age ten, later stating "I learned to put my emotions into music; it was my therapy."
He cites Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Roy Ayers, Miles Davis, and Freddie Hubbard as favorite artists, and took inspiration from hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, becoming an MC, and working with Slum Village. Gardner recorded a demo in his bedroom, called, The Rize, and sold it out of the trunk of his car. He had about 100 copies, which sold out within a week. He caught the ears of local heroes Slum Village and more specifically their world-renowned producer J Dilla. Slum Village invited Dwele to sing the hook of the song "Tainted" for their album Trinity (Past, Present and Future). It became an instant classic and led to more high profile work with female rapper Bahamadia, the all-star group Lucy Pearl and London's New Sector Movement. Dwele signed to Virgin Records in 2003, who released his debut album, Subject, which mixed neo soul and hip hop. In a 2005 review in The Independent, his style was summed up: "Dwele's rooted in vintage soul but isn't stuck in the past, overly reverential or an exercise in pastiche - there's a major hip-hop edge which betrays his original incarnation as a rapper." A second album, Some Kinda..., followed in 2005. He then later signed with RT Music Group and KOCH records in March, 2008. He is coming out with his fourth album titled, W.W.W. (W.ants. W.orld. W.omen) coming out June 29, 2010. Dwele was recently featured on the first single off of Kanye West's fifth studio album, Good Ass Job. The song was entitled "Power" and was leaked on May 28, 2010.
Flashing Lights
Dwele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flashing lights, lights
Flashing lights, lights
She don't believe in shootin' stars
But she believe in shoes and cars
Wood floors in the new apartment
Couture from the store's department
I'm more of the, trips to Florida
Order the h'orderves, views of the Water
Straight from the page of your favorite author
And the weather so breezy
Man why can't life always be this easy
She in the mirror dancing so sleazy
I get a call like where are you Yeezy
Try to hit you with a 'Oeur de Whopee'
Till I get flashed by the paparazzi
Damn, these niggas got me
I hate these niggas more than the Nazi
As I recall, I know you love to show off
But I never thought that you would take it this far
What do I know? Flashing lights, lights
What do I know? Flashing lights, lights
I know it's been a while
Sweetheart, we hardly talk, I was doing my thing
I know I was foul bay-bay
A-bay lately you been all on my brain
And if somebody would've told me a month ago
Fronting though, yo I wouldn't wanna know
If somebody would've told me a year ago
It'd go, get this difficult
Feeling like Katrina with no fema
Like Martin with no Gina
Like a flight with no visa
First class with the seat back I still see ya
In my past, you on the other side of the glass
Of my memory's museum
I'm just saying, Hey Mona Lisa
Come home you know you can't Rome without Caesar
As I recall, I know you love to show off
But I never thought that you would take it this far
What do I know? Flashing lights, lights
What do I know? Flashing lights, lights
As you recall, you know I love to show off
But you never thought that I would take it this far
What do you know? Flashing lights, lights
What do you know? Flashing lights, lights
Flashing lights, lights
Flashing lights, lights
Lights, lights, lights, lights
The song "Flashing Lights" by Dwele is essentially about a failed relationship between two lovers. The song is narrated in the first and second person point of view, which means that Dwele is playing two different characters in the song. In the first verse, he sings about a woman who does not believe in shooting stars, but believes in shoes and cars, which shows the superficiality and materialism of the character. She is into designer clothes and fancy apartments, but Dwele is not into material things, he is into traveling to different places and experiencing new things. He then talks about the paparazzi and how they annoy him, comparing them to Nazis, which shows how he is frustrated with the celebrity lifestyle.
In the second verse, Dwele switches to the second person point of view and addresses his lover directly. He talks about how they have not talked in a while and how he knows he was wrong for his actions, but he cannot stop thinking about her. He compares his feelings to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where FEMA did not provide adequate support, and to the TV show Martin, where the main character's girlfriend Gina disappears. He then talks about first-class flights, but still being able to see her in his memories. He ends the verse by asking her to come back home, claiming that she cannot "Rome" without him.
Overall, the song is about two people who are incompatible and have grown apart. While one is focused on material things and the high life, the other is interested in experiences and memories. Dwele showcases these differences throughout the song, ultimately leading to the failure of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Flashing lights, lights
The repetition of 'flashing lights' sets the tone for the song and highlights the events that come with fame and celebrity life such as paparazzi, showing off and the flash of cameras.
She don't believe in shootin' stars
The subject does not believe in fate or destiny, but instead believes in material possessions such as shoes and cars.
But she believe in shoes and cars
This line reiterates the subject's focus on material wealth and possessions.
Wood floors in the new apartment
The subject has recently upgraded their living situation and is enjoying the luxurious features of their new home, such as wood floors.
Couture from the store's department
The subject enjoys high-end, designer clothing from expensive stores.
You more like L'eau de Stardee shit
The singer suggests that the subject is focused on trendy, superficial things.
I'm more of the, trips to Florida
The singer prefers experiences such as traveling to new places over material possessions.
Order the h'orderves, views of the Water
The artist enjoys the small touches of luxury experiences such as eating fancy appetizers while enjoying beautiful views.
Straight from the page of your favorite author
The artist enjoys intellectual experiences like reading books from their favorite authors.
And the weather so breezy
The weather is pleasant and comfortable, which adds to the overall enjoyable experience.
Man why can't life always be this easy
The singer expresses a desire for life to always be this enjoyable and free from struggles.
She in the mirror dancing so sleazy
The subject is confident and indulging in their own beauty and attractiveness in front of a mirror.
I get a call like where are you Yeezy
The singer's nickname is 'Yeezy' and they receive a phone call asking for their whereabouts, most likely from someone in their entourage or management.
Try to hit you with a 'Oeur de Whopee'
The singer is jokingly responding to the person on the phone asking for their location by using a made-up fragrance name, indicating they don't take the request seriously.
Till I get flashed by the paparazzi
The singer is disrupted by the flashing lights of the paparazzi, who are taking photos of them.
Damn, these niggas got me
The artist is frustrated and annoyed with the paparazzi for capturing their image without their consent.
I hate these niggas more than the Nazi
The artist is expressing extreme dislike towards the paparazzi, comparing their disdain to that commonly held towards the Nazis in World War II.
As I recall, I know you love to show off
The singer is reminding their former partner that they enjoyed flaunting their wealth and success.
But I never thought that you would take it this far
The singer is expressing surprise at how much the subject has indulged in the celebrity lifestyle of showing off their material possessions.
What do I know? Flashing lights, lights
The artist acknowledges their own limitations of knowledge and understanding of the celebrity lifestyle, which is highlighted by the repetition of 'flashing lights'
I know it's been a while
The artist acknowledges that it has been some time since they last spoke to their ex-partner.
Sweetheart, we hardly talk, I was doing my thing
The artist offers an explanation for not keeping in touch, indicating that they have been focused on their own pursuits.
I know I was foul bay-bay
The singer admits and apologizes for bad behavior in the past towards their ex-partner.
A-bay lately you been all on my brain
The artist confesses that their former partner has been on their mind lately.
And if somebody would've told me a month ago
The singer is reflecting on a recent realization or change in circumstances.
Fronting though, yo I wouldn't wanna know
The singer admits to putting on a front or pretending not to care about something they actually did care about.
If somebody would've told me a year ago
The singer is reflecting on how much things have changed in the past year.
It'd go, get this difficult
The artist suggests that they have recently been struggling with something in their life.
Feeling like Katrina with no fema
The artist uses a metaphor to describe feeling helpless and alone, without the support or resources to deal with a difficult situation, similar to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Like Martin with no Gina
The singer uses another metaphor to lament feeling incomplete without a certain someone, in reference to the 1990s sitcom 'Martin', in which the main character's girlfriend was named Gina.
Like a flight with no visa
The singer continues to illustrate the feeling of being stuck and unable to move forward or pursue something they desire, in this case, a flight without the proper documentation.
First class with the seat back I still see ya
The artist recalls a time when they were in first class (referring to a luxurious lifestyle), but they still couldn't escape thoughts of their former partner.
In my past, you on the other side of the glass
The artist is reflecting on memories of their time with their ex-partner, as if viewing them through a window or from the outside looking in.
Of my memory's museum
The artist likens their memories of their former partner to exhibits in a museum, indicating the importance and preservation of these memories.
I'm just saying, Hey Mona Lisa
The singer is calling out to their ex-partner, comparing them to the famous painting that evokes the idea of beauty and enigma.
Come home you know you can't Rome without Caesar
The artist is requesting their former partner to come back to them, using a play on words with the capital city of Rome and the Roman dictator Julius Caesar to emphasize their importance and need for their partner's presence.
As you recall, you know I love to show off
The singer is reminding their former partner that they themselves also enjoyed showing off their wealth and success.
But you never thought that I would take it this far
The singer acknowledges that they have taken their desire to show off to an extreme level that their ex-partner did not anticipate.
What do you know? Flashing lights, lights
The singer is questioning their former partner's understanding and knowledge of the celebrity lifestyle, similar to a previous line in which the singer acknowledged their own lack of understanding.
Lights, lights, lights, lights
The repetition of 'lights' at the end emphasizes the overall theme of the song, the allure and distraction of the celebrity lifestyle and the constant attention and exposure that comes with it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kanye West, Eric Hudson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@josephwoo69
This song probably has the prettiest hip hop beat ever produced
@tonimontana8113
Agree, Sick beat 🔥🔥
@LosSantosCity
Yh it is pretty
@justangryvideos47
Too bad its not a hip hop beat
@allisen9765
💯
@tythomas6975
Facts
@nerkodt9943
This song is the most "Driving in the night" song ever
@mondusx3940
Omg fr tho
@deadlul3
Early morning vibes also
@sawer6440
white walls goes 2nd