Over the course of his career, e-dubble released four albums; Straight Outta St. Mary's (2006), Hip-Hop is Good (2009), Reset EP (2012) and Two Tone Rebel (2016).
[h2]Early life[/h2]
Wallace grew up outside of Philadelphia, the youngest child of a principal and a schoolteacher. In the 1990s, Wallace and his friends fell under the spell of hip-hop cast by Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre; his music would later be known for its common celebrations of this love of hip-hop. He played center on the Wissahickon High basketball team, but dreamed of being a rapper. In an interview with the Baltimore magazine, Wallace cited Eminem's breakout success in the late 90's as a major inspiration to him, saying "Eminem showed that a white rapper could have a career. It was about skills, whether or not you could do it."
[h2]Background[/h2]
After graduating from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a degree in political science, e-dubble moved to Baltimore to live with his friends and collaborators. Together they formed the hip-hop band Young English, and played their first show in July 2008. The group went on to purchase a renovated warehouse, dubbed “The Hampden Mansion,” where e-dubble would later go on to write, record, and produce his debut album Hip-Hop is Good. He went on to produce his Freestyle Friday series, a weekly series of free songs.
[h2]Career[/h2]
In 2009, e-dubble released his debut album, "Hip Hop is Good". The next year, in August 2010, e-dubble created his YouTube channel. He quickly began releasing freestyles on every Friday creating the series "Freestyle Fridays", in which he sampled other songs (such as Tighten Up and MMMBop) and rapped over the instrumentals. He also occasionally collaborated with his band, Young English, to make the tracks. The series ran throughout 2010 and a final track was released in 2012. The series was noted for its effective use of samples, lyrics and e-dubble's spoken word outros, in which he communicated with fans. He followed this up in 2012 with his next album, "Reset EP". He released his final album in 2016 with "Two Tone Rebel". His most popular songs include "Be a King", "Let Me Oh" and "What it Do".
[h2]Death[/h2]
On 21 January 2017, 23 days before his death, e-dubble posted a photo on his Instagram of a swollen hand, with the caption "I don't recommend throwing up half of your body's blood. Or having your hand swell up like Martin Short in 'Pure Luck' or needing 10 blood transfusions. But I'm gonna be aight. Thanks for the love". One of his business partners, Danny, later tweeted on 27 January: "Keep our friend e-dubble in your thoughts! He is at the Hahnemann Hospital fighting a serious infection", suggesting the infection was not getting better. As e-dubble became unusually inactive on the internet, rumors began to circulate that he had died, and were eventually confirmed on Twitter by many of his close associates as well as eventually the Black Paisley Records website. E-Dubble passed away on February 13, 2017.
Cycle of Nightmares
E-dubble Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'll be right here, hands up high, with my parry arm up
Til' I carry on up these dreams out the box up the right stairs
And I've been fighting for a minute, a long list of givens
That we chisel even if they cause schisms
Or a crack or a break in the mold we make
Pay tribute to the motherfucking tolls we paid
I'm gone til' November, a long list of members
The long winter fell on this game of thrones
But I be living out the box til' I'm HBO
We all fall, we all rise, we alright
With the bumps and bruises proving to em' we all tried
To do something with the gift, something to uplift
Eating chicken noodle soup until my soul gets fit
The biggest loser in the world or the duke of fucking earl
Both poles represented while we looking for our plurals
The we, the us, and all beings
Who're sick of being cynical and trying to find a meaning
To this life that we cooked up, then we shook up
Recipe we scratched cuz' the past got looked up
The scars we took that we keep, cuz' the tat doesn't cover the fact that we bleed
The things we saw when we were young
The time we did things just for fun
I'd hate to lose even just one
But I'll let it go
We learn the practice what we preach
And practice, we still seem to cheat
Practice preaching and practically
But I'll let it go
Life stories that take shape and then get dented
Veneers for the fake smile from that dentist
The cheers from the crowd for the introspection
Airholes in the pain til' we all feel vented
But, we can't slow down the timeline
The mirrors got ears and the ears are allies
We listen real close through the years and outline
The parts that we love then repress those hard times
Time we keep and time we lose
We all hit delete when defeat stops snooze
Or are the real dreams the day-mares
Waking up longing for the ways of the day care
The innocence gone, the renaissance song
The cinema we live to pop-corn
Amazed by the maze that we took for granted
Put the dreams in the mail but forgot to stamp it
And now they want junk, the postage went up
And your rent check probably got stuck
The lord of your land probably quite concerned
Both sides of the aisle got to fight the urge
To just fight for first, and then fight the curse
That was made on the day that they felt the worst
Cuz' that ain't the truth that ain't what's you
March to a different drummer til' you break the loop
And Like
The things we saw when we were young
The time we did things just for fun
I'd hate to lose even just one
But I'll let it go
We learn the practice what we preach
And practice, we still seem to cheat
Practice preaching and practically
But I'll let it go
The lyrics of e-dubble's "Cycle of Nightmares" speaks of the struggles of life and the journey to find meaning in it. The cycle of nightmares, as the lyrics suggest, pertains to the recurring difficulties that we encounter in our lives. However, the singer chooses to face these challenges head-on, with his "parry arm up," and carry on until he reaches his dreams. He acknowledges the long list of obstacles he has faced and the scars that he has taken but chooses to keep going.
The second verse of the song suggests that our experiences in life shape us into who we are. The lyrics suggest that we should strive to live authentically and not just put up a fake veneer for others to see. The singer also acknowledges that we may not always practice what we preach, but it is essential to keep trying. He speaks of the importance of letting go of the past and moving forward.
In conclusion, e-dubble's "Cycle of Nightmares" speaks of the challenges that we face in life and the journey to find meaning and purpose in it. It encourages us to face our struggles head-on and live authentically.
Line by Line Meaning
Living through a cycle of nightmares, and they don't fight fair
Enduring recurrent, distressing dreams that are unfair and difficult to handle
But I'll be right here, hands up high, with my parry arm up
Being resilient and ready to defend oneself against these nightmares
Til' I carry on up these dreams out the box up the right stairs
Persisting until you overcome these nightmares and move past them
And I've been fighting for a minute, a long list of givens
Struggling for a long time with various challenges and obstacles
That we chisel even if they cause schisms
Enduring struggles and disagreements that can cause division
Or a crack or a break in the mold we make
Overcoming difficulties that threaten to break us or the plans we've made
Pay tribute to the motherfucking tolls we paid
Acknowledging and honoring the sacrifices and hardships that have been faced
I'm gone til' November, a long list of members
Heading into a period of change and transformation, with people being left behind
That we missed on the list apologize for December
Feeling regretful for not having included certain people or things in previous plans
The long winter fell on this game of thrones
Difficult times have come for this particular struggle
But I be living out the box til' I'm HBO
Persisting and thriving outside of conventions, living my best life
We all fall, we all rise, we alright
Experiencing ups and downs, but ultimately being okay
With the bumps and bruises proving to em' we all tried
Showing visible evidence of our efforts and struggles
To do something with the gift, something to uplift
Using our talents and abilities to bring positivity to the world
Eating chicken noodle soup until my soul gets fit
Taking care of oneself and finding solace in small things during difficult times
The biggest loser in the world or the duke of fucking earl
Going from a low point to a high point, from a nobody to a somebody
Both poles represented while we looking for our plurals
Navigating and embracing different sides of oneself while seeking the bigger picture
The we, the us, and all beings
Including and considering everyone in the pursuit of meaning and fulfillment
Who're sick of being cynical and trying to find a meaning
Being tired of negativity and striving to find purpose and positivity
To this life that we cooked up, then we shook up
Creating a life for ourselves, but then experiencing unexpected changes and disruptions
Recipe we scratched cuz' the past got looked up
Starting over and re-creating ourselves because of past events and experiences
The scars we took that we keep, cuz' the tat doesn't cover the fact that we bleed
Reflecting on and remembering the wounds we've suffered, because scars don't reveal everything we've felt
The things we saw when we were young
Recalling experiences and memories from childhood
The time we did things just for fun
Thinking about past times of enjoyment and escapism
I'd hate to lose even just one
Not wanting to forget or lose any cherished memories or experiences
But I'll let it go
Accepting the fact that things will inevitably change and that some things will be lost
We learn the practice what we preach
Living by and embodying the values and ideas we support
And practice, we still seem to cheat
Struggling to consistently uphold our values and principles
Practice preaching and practically
Making an effort to put our beliefs into practice in everyday life
Life stories that take shape and then get dented
Experiences that shape us and then are impacted by unexpected changes or failures
Veneers for the fake smile from that dentist
Putting on a façade of happiness or confidence, despite inner struggles
The cheers from the crowd for the introspection
Receiving praise and admiration for genuine self-reflection and introspection
Airholes in the pain til' we all feel vented
Finding ways to cope with and manage emotional pain and stress, until we feel relieved
But, we can't slow down the timeline
We can't stop or control the pace of time and change
The mirrors got ears and the ears are allies
Being honest and reflective with oneself, and finding support and help from others
We listen real close through the years and outline
Listening and paying attention to our experiences and growth, and using them to shape our future
The parts that we love then repress those hard times
Acknowledging and cherishing the positive aspects of our lives, while coping with and pushing through difficult times
Time we keep and time we lose
Keeping some memories and losing others as time goes on
We all hit delete when defeat stops snooze
Pressing delete and moving on from negative experiences and setbacks
Or are the real dreams the day-mares
Wondering if some of our goals and aspirations are actually causing more stress and suffering than happiness
Waking up longing for the ways of the day care
Hoping for a return to a simpler, more carefree time in life
The innocence gone, the renaissance song
Feeling a loss of innocence and a desire to rediscover oneself and one's passions
The cinema we live to pop-corn
Enjoying the excitement and uncertainty of life, similar to the experience of watching a movie
Amazed by the maze that we took for granted
Feeling grateful and surprised by all the twists and turns that have led us to where we are now
Put the dreams in the mail but forgot to stamp it
Pursuing goals and ambitions, but not following through or fully committing
And now they want junk, the postage went up
Feeling like our goals and aspirations are no longer valuable or worthwhile, and that they require more effort than anticipated
And your rent check probably got stuck
Experiencing financial or material difficulties on top of emotional or psychological struggles
The lord of your land probably quite concerned
Feeling like external pressures or expectations are compounding existing problems
Both sides of the aisle got to fight the urge
Everyone involved is resisting the temptation to give up or give in
To just fight for first, and then fight the curse
Focusing on winning or succeeding, but also dealing with unforeseen consequences or negative effects
That was made on the day that they felt the worst
Dealing with negative experiences or turning points that have lasting effects
Cuz' that ain't the truth that ain't what's you
Rejecting false or harmful beliefs that may have been internalized or imposed upon oneself
March to a different drummer til' you break the loop
Breaking from the status quo and pursuing a unique path or perspective
Contributed by Arianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Doctor Dot
This man right here. This genius. I still remember walking to school listening to Sidelines singing along.
When I heard my friends say "R.I.P. E-dubble" , I thought it was a dark joke about his recent inactivity. I was stunned when I found out it was literal.
Edubble had such an uplifting sound, no matter what 14-year-old problems I was going through, he made me feel optimistic.
It was only a month or so ago that I finally got to talk to him, via Twitter. I thanked him for all of the sounds I've associated with memories of my life. I thanked him for the Freestyle Fridays religiously. Now he's gone.
Now is the time to listen through all of his work. From old hits like "Be A King" to "Klitschko" and "Janky"
R.I.P. The O.G Wookie
Eddy
It's weird, I usually never cry, no matter how hurt or sad I am.
I can't even remember the last time I did. Must have been years ago..
But listening to this and his other songs, that impacted me the most just makes me tear up like crazy.
I never even knew e-dub personally but it still feels like I lost a close friend.
He was always there for me with his music, it helped me through my darkest times. Since school times and even until this day.. seems crazy considering I'm in my 20s now
RIP Evan
We'll never stop listening to all of these great songs you made
Alfonso Cabrera
Living through a cycle of nightmares, and they don't fight fair
But I'll be right here, hands up high, with my parry arm up
Til' I carry on up these dreams out the box up the right stairs
And I've been fighting for a minute, a long list of givens
That we chisel even if they cause schisms
Or a crack or a break in the mold we make
Pay tribute to the motherf*cking tolls we paid
I'm gone til' November, a long list of members
That we missed on the list apologize for December
The long winter fell on this game of thrones
But I be living out the box til' I'm HBO
We all fall, we all rise, we alright
With the bumps and bruises proving to em' we all tried
To do something with the gift, something to uplift
Eating chicken noodle soup until my soul gets fit
The biggest loser in the world or the duke of f*cking earl
Both poles represented while we looking for our plurals
The we, the us, and all beings
Who're sick of being cynical and trying to find a meaning
To this life that we cooked up, then we shook up
Recipe we scratched cuz' the past got looked up
The scars we took that we keep, cuz' the tat doesn't cover the fact that we bleed
[Hook:]
The things we saw when we were young
The time we did things just for fun
I'd hate to lose even just one
But I’ll let it go
We learn the practice what we preach
And practice, we still seem to cheat
Practice preaching and practically
But I’ll let it go
[Verse 2:]
Life stories that take shape and then get dented
Veneers for the fake smile from that dentist
The cheers from the crowd for the introspection
Airholes in the pain til' we all feel vented
But, we can't slow down the timeline
The mirrors got ears and the ears are allies
We listen real close through the years and outline
The parts that we love then repress those hard times
Time we keep and time we lose
We all hit delete when defeat stops snooze
Or are the real dreams the day-mares
Waking up longing for the ways of the day care
The innocence gone, the renaissance song
The cinema we live to pop-corn
Amazed by the maze that we took for granted
Put the dreams in the mail but forgot to stamp it
And now they want junk, the postage went up
And your rent check probably got stuck
The lord of your land probably quite concerned
Both sides of the aisle got to fight the urge
To just fight for first, and then fight the curse
That was made on the day that they felt the worst
Cuz' that ain't the truth that ain't what's you
March to a different drummer til' you break the loop
And Like
[Hook:]
The things we saw when we were young
The time we did things just for fun
I'd hate to lose even just one
But I’ll let it go
We learn the practice what we preach
And practice, we still seem to cheat
Practice preaching and practically
But I’ll let it go
TorstenTVHD
Lyrics:
[Verse 1:]
Living through a cycle of nightmares, and they don't fight fair
But I'll be right here, hands up high, with my parry arm up
Til' I carry on up these dreams out the box up the right stairs
And I've been fighting for a minute, a long list of givens
That we chisel even if they cause schisms
Or a crack or a break in the mold we make
Pay tribute to the motherfucking tolls we paid
I'm gone til' November, a long list of members
That we missed on the list apologize for December
The long winter fell on this game of thrones
But I be living out the box til' I'm HBO
We all fall, we all rise, we alright
With the bumps and bruises proving to em' we all tried
To do something with the gift, something to uplift
Eating chicken noodle soup until my soul gets fit
The biggest loser in the world or the duke of fucking earl
Both poles represented while we looking for our plurals
The we, the us, and all beings
Who're sick of being cynical and trying to find a meaning
To this life that we cooked up, then we shook up
Recipe we scratched cuz' the past got looked up
The scars we took that we keep, cuz' the tat doesn't cover the fact that we bleed
[Hook:]
The things we saw when we were young
The time we did things just for fun
I'd hate to lose even just one
But I’ll let it go
We learn the practice what we preach
And practice, we still seem to cheat
Practice preaching and practically
But I’ll let it go
[Verse 2:]
Life stories that take shape and then get dented
Veneers for the fake smile from that dentist
The cheers from the crowd for the introspection
Airholes in the pain til' we all feel vented
But, we can't slow down the timeline
The mirrors got ears and the ears are allies
We listen real close through the years and outline
The parts that we love then repress those hard times
Time we keep and time we lose
We all hit delete when defeat stops snooze
Or are the real dreams the day-mares
Waking up longing for the ways of the day care
The innocence gone, the renaissance song
The cinema we live to pop-corn
Amazed by the maze that we took for granted
Put the dreams in the mail but forgot to stamp it
And now they want junk, the postage went up
And your rent check probably got stuck
The lord of your land probably quite concerned
Both sides of the aisle got to fight the urge
To just fight for first, and then fight the curse
That was made on the day that they felt the worst
Cuz' that ain't the truth that ain't what's you
March to a different drummer til' you break the loop
And Like
[Hook:]
The things we saw when we were young
The time we did things just for fun
I'd hate to lose even just one
But I’ll let it go
We learn the practice what we preach
And practice, we still seem to cheat
Practice preaching and practically
But I’ll let it go
Queen Bee
Another year in the books. Still hate that you’re gone. Still feel weird commenting as if you’ll see these. 10 years ago I thought I was gonna kill myself. Yet here I am. And to this day your music still gets me through the worst. No other artist makes me feel as strong as your music does. I appreciate you. RIP King ❤️
lucas nieves
This and changed my mind still to this day makes me cry every listen. I’ve had so many good memories with his music ❤. 🙏🏼
Brady Chalmers
Logic - Fade Away is what YouTube chose to queue :(
Deez Nuts
Stay strong my friend ❤️
Bro Fist
Ditto. :*(
Sharpsrain
Stay strong Bee 💪🙏
Doctor Dot
This man right here. This genius. I still remember walking to school listening to Sidelines singing along.
When I heard my friends say "R.I.P. E-dubble" , I thought it was a dark joke about his recent inactivity. I was stunned when I found out it was literal.
Edubble had such an uplifting sound, no matter what 14-year-old problems I was going through, he made me feel optimistic.
It was only a month or so ago that I finally got to talk to him, via Twitter. I thanked him for all of the sounds I've associated with memories of my life. I thanked him for the Freestyle Fridays religiously. Now he's gone.
Now is the time to listen through all of his work. From old hits like "Be A King" to "Klitschko" and "Janky"
R.I.P. The O.G Wookie
Ryatt
Damn, it's been 5 years already...
Speedrhythmics
Today would have been his 39th birthday. R.I.P. E-Dubble
Bogdan Dumitrescu
I used to listen to this man during MW2 oldschool days before he used to be "famous". It's sad that he never experienced the fame he's getting now after he's gone.. I'm just glad I found him, a man that put everything in his music.