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.
Two Steps from Disaster
E-dubble Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We stay two steps from disaster my words
Stay free, stay true
And we don't look back we packed enough rations
For me, and you...
If they need our help then they can come get it
But we, are cool
And we never get bored surviving this story like
Two tone rebel - peddle through til' armageddon
Arm n' hammer habits cuz' they'll beat you if you let em'
2nd gets the minutes but the 1st amendment's better
Yeah that gun can really talk but he sucks at writing letters
Incommunicado - heart colder than old gazpacho
I'm sippin' on that hard and I'm living for a motto
Looking for a reason to appreciate the breathing
But I'm only coming up with all the women in Ibiza
Not a bad one-
Goddamnit I need a bad one
One that hits me twice a day then hits me with an and one
Futuristic in fluorescent vicky secrets
With a penchant for the purple looking good with that cohiba
Yeah- we blowing pine trees thinking bout' the landscape
While the world is burning cuz' they turning from the handshakes
Diplomatic deflation- no more pageants or facelifts
We be losing our minds- no more homeostasis
No more cities that work - Work
No more leaders to lead - Lead
No more coagulation
They just leave us to bleed
They just leave us to wonder what the fuck we're doing wrong
They just needed to keep us underneath their fucking thumb
So no more thumbelina
And no more stumbling either
Handle emergencies - with or without the FEMA
So adios - syncratic
Idiosyncrasies
They want us all the same, but we think differently
So cut a tree down, and make a life boat
You're gonna need it when they cut the fucking tight rope
They look anemic when they fienin for the white vote
Fuck a voter card I burn it up inside my pipe bro
I let the smoke clear, then watch the sunrise
They vacay hallucinatin' with them fungi's
But fuck that we work
Two tones is first
I'm Black Pais til' my ass gets murked
We keep it moving til' the death
Reach another depth
They take away our rights
Then we hit em' with the left
I ain't speaking on the parties
I ain't really got authority
Independent's how I'm leaning
Cause they scheme with their reporting
Politicking for pennies'
Congress be trippin' plenty
Smoking that campaign
Legalize it already
Fuck reppin that Akin, I separate him like bacon
Got 6 degrees in my corner that turkey's ready for basting
I meet him I grab a broomstick cause told Biggie told me to do it
Legitimizing with justice that puppet's lucky I'm foolish, huh
That two tone's got a ring to it
Grayscales they bail cause' of the chin music
I ain't playing around I've fuckin' been truant
They no shows, no class, they fuckin' live stupid
I broadcast like that little Ted Koppel guy
Fillet chicks but dammit I'm done with waffle fries
In e-dubble's song, Two Steps from Disaster, the lyrics delve into the idea of living on the edge of destruction, two steps away from things falling apart. The line "They see me, They see you, We stay two steps from disaster my words," suggests that the rapper and his audience are both living precariously, but they choose to live life on their own terms, staying "free" and "true" to themselves.
E-dubble juxtaposes the idea of living dangerously with the idea of being prepared, using the metaphor of packing "enough rations" for survival. He suggests that if others need their help, they can come to them, but ultimately, he and his audience are content with their lifestyle, "And we never get bored surviving this story like."
The lyrics also touch on political issues, with lines like "No more leaders to lead - Lead" and "I ain't speaking on the parties, I ain't really got authority, Independent's how I'm leaning Cause they scheme with their reporting." E-dubble seems to reject the traditional political system, noting that all parties are corrupt and that he leans towards being independent. He also seems to suggest that the media and reporting are not trustworthy, and that people should be wary of any news they consume.
Line by Line Meaning
They see me, They see you
We are visible to others, but they do not see the danger we are in.
We stay two steps from disaster my words
We are constantly on the brink of disaster, but my words keep us from falling over the edge.
Stay free, stay true
We must remain free and true to ourselves and our beliefs.
And we don't look back we packed enough rations
We have prepared adequately for our journey and do not need to look back.
For me, and you...
Our preparations are for both of us.
If they need our help then they can come get it
We are willing to help others if they need us, but we will not go out of our way to do so.
But we, are cool
We are calm and collected in the face of adversity.
And we never get bored surviving this story like
We find excitement in the challenge of surviving and overcoming obstacles.
Two tone rebel - peddle through til' armageddon
I am a rebel with two sides to my personality, and I will keep going until the end of the world.
Arm n' hammer habits cuz' they'll beat you if you let em'
I have strong habits and beliefs that I adhere to, otherwise I would be beaten by the world's challenges.
2nd gets the minutes but the 1st amendment's better
The 2nd Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms, but the 1st Amendment is more important as it guarantees the freedom of speech and expression.
Yeah that gun can really talk but he sucks at writing letters
A gun is an effective tool for protection, but it cannot communicate ideas or solve more complex problems.
Incommunicado - heart colder than old gazpacho
I am disconnected from others and emotionally distant.
I'm sippin' on that hard and I'm living for a motto
I drink hard liquor and live by a set of principles or beliefs.
Looking for a reason to appreciate the breathing
I am searching for a reason to appreciate life and the act of breathing.
But I'm only coming up with all the women in Ibiza
I am distracted by superficial pleasures and unable to find meaning.
Not a bad one-
Goddamnit I need a bad one
One that hits me twice a day then hits me with an and one
I am seeking an intense, passionate relationship that challenges me intellectually and physically.
Futuristic in fluorescent vicky secrets
With a penchant for the purple looking good with that cohiba
I am comfortable with unconventional clothing and style choices, and I enjoy smoking quality cigars.
Yeah- we blowing pine trees thinking bout' the landscape
While the world is burning cuz' they turning from the handshakes
We are admiring the beauty of nature while the world is in chaos due to the failure of diplomatic relations.
Diplomatic deflation- no more pageants or facelifts
We be losing our minds- no more homeostasis
Despite attempts at diplomacy, the world is in decline with no improvement on the horizon.
No more cities that work - Work
No more leaders to lead - Lead
No more coagulation
They just leave us to bleed
There is no longer any sense of community, leadership, or cooperation. We are left to suffer alone.
They just leave us to wonder what the fuck we're doing wrong
They just needed to keep us underneath their fucking thumb
We are unsure why we are struggling so much, but those in power want to maintain control over us.
So no more thumbelina
And no more stumbling either
Handle emergencies - with or without the FEMA
We will no longer be weak or helpless. We will handle emergencies with or without outside assistance.
So adios - syncratic
Idiosyncrasies
They want us all the same, but we think differently
We reject conformity and embrace our unique perspectives and quirks.
So cut a tree down, and make a life boat
You're gonna need it when they cut the fucking tight rope
Make preparations for the future before it is too late and you find yourself in danger.
They look anemic when they fienin for the white vote
Fuck a voter card I burn it up inside my pipe bro
Politicians become weak and insincere when they pander to certain groups for votes. I reject the notion of voting altogether.
I let the smoke clear, then watch the sunrise
They vacay hallucinatin' with them fungi's
I take time to reflect and enjoy the beauty of nature. Others distract themselves with drugs and frivolity.
But fuck that we work
Two tones is first
I'm Black Pais til' my ass gets murked
We prioritize working hard and achieving our goals, even in the face of adversity and danger.
We keep it moving til' the death
Reach another depth
They take away our rights
Then we hit em' with the left
We will continue to fight and persevere, even as our rights are taken away. We will resist with all our might.
I ain't speaking on the parties
I ain't really got authority
Independent's how I'm leaning
Cause they scheme with their reporting
I do not have the power or influence to speak on behalf of any political parties, therefore I am independent. I distrust the media's bias and manipulation.
Politicking for pennies'
Congress be trippin' plenty
Smoking that campaign
Legalize it already
Politicians are consumed with fundraising and petty politics. Congress is unproductive and ineffective. We should legalize marijuana to stimulate the economy.
Fuck reppin that Akin, I separate him like bacon
Got 6 degrees in my corner that turkey's ready for basting
I do not support or endorse certain politicians, and I see through their deceit. I am intelligent and have the knowledge to make informed decisions.
I meet him I grab a broomstick cause told Biggie told me to do it
Legitimizing with justice that puppet's lucky I'm foolish, huh
If I encounter a corrupt politician, I will use force if necessary to bring him to justice. I may seem foolish, but I am standing up for what's right.
That two tone's got a ring to it
Grayscales they bail cause' of the chin music
I ain't playing around I've fuckin' been truant
They no shows, no class, they fuckin' live stupid
My dual personality is intriguing. Those who lack courage avoid confrontation. I am not afraid to break the rules and challenge authority. Those who do not make effort to better themselves are foolish.
I broadcast like that little Ted Koppel guy
Fillet chicks but dammit I'm done with waffle fries
I speak publicly and with confidence, like a respected journalist. I enjoy dating attractive women, but I am tired of eating mediocre fast food.
Contributed by Maria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Parth
"Two tone rebel — peddle through til' armageddon" — One that is against the system just getting through until disaster strikes
"2nd gets the minutes but the 1st amendment's better" — The 2nd amendment discusses the right to bear arms (possess firearms); meanwhile, the 1st amendment is about an individual's right to freedom of speech, religion, press, and the right to assemble and petition the government. With e-dubble and his personal and political views, he battles against his enemies with his words rather than weapons. In regards to the lyrics, when using weapons go against what you deem as incorrect, you will be imprisoned and "get the minutes", but if you use your words and use valid points to back them up, not only are your words more powerful, but you won't be persecuted
"Looking for a reason to appreciate the breathing, But I'm only coming up with all the women in Ibiza" — He's trying to find some form of happiness, and the women on the other side of the world is what it takes. It demonstrates the amount of problems there are within the country
"While the world is burning cuz' they turning from the handshakes" — This may discuss the bankers or the individuals making all of these deals which are creating the negative impact upon the world. For example, if you want to discuss Wall Street and all of the credit agencies which were a gigantic influence in the 2008 global collapse, there were a lot of deals that were secretive which resulted in a select few people profiting and the rest severely suffering
"No more coagulation, They just leave us to bleed" — This lyric refers to a driving force to fix an issue. Usually when an individual is bleeding, the blood will coagulate in order to stop bleeding and heal the wound, but in the case of the issue that e-dubble is discussing (the complete global collapse), he's saying that we're left to fight on our own as individuals. The government doesn't care as much now as they use to
"They just leave us to wonder what the fuck we're doing wrong, They just needed to keep us underneath their fucking thumb" — When someone causes a problem and doesn't own up to it, the other person usually thinks that it's their fault. In this case, with the world and the position it's in, we're looking at ourselves wondering what we did to cause all of this; meanwhile, it was the individuals in power such as the government made all of the decisions to put us here. The second part reinforces the target of the government and it's ability to control and manipulate us into believing what they want us to believe as the underlying term
"under your thumb" means that when you are under one's thumb, you are being manipulated and/or controlled, and that is what is being done to us in this society
"Handle emergencies — with or without the FEMA" — FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It deals with disasters within the US that are too big for the local and state authorities. What e-dubble is saying here is that we should be able to handle any emergency without the assistance of the government
"So cut a tree down, and make a life boat, You're gonna need it when they cut the fucking tight rope" — Be prepared for when everything blows up
"Fuck a voter card I burn it up inside my pipe bro" — With so much corruption within the government, it asks the question to what is the importance in voting
"Independent's how I'm leaning, Cause they scheme with their reporting" — With so much censorship within the news, and especially the country, it is best to not just eat up what mainstream media tells you, but take it all with a grain of salt and do all of the research on your own and find out the truths about what is really going on
Those were the biggest parts that stood out to me. Hopefully they are all clear and easy to understand the meaning of the song.
spacEless_oWNz
R.I.P e-dubble
R.I.P e-dubble I remember when i first heard he died i literally cried :'(
R.I.P e-dubble You are a fucking legend
R.I.P e-dubble You are not dead because you will always and forever live in our hearts
R.I.P e-dubble No one deserves to die so young expecially someone as amazing as you!
R.I.P e-dubble...
luckySkillFaker
just awesome ;D
SignedCargo259
AYEOOOOO IKR. LOTS OF CERTIFIED PEOPLE IN THE COMMENTS
aphyTTR
Notice how all across this channel, before his death people were saying he was underrated. He truly was stopped before he could achieve true success
He hasn't been given praise just because he died and people feel bad, evan was a fucking GOD. I miss you dude, a lot.
aphyTTR
@SignedCargo259 RIP brother
SignedCargo259
rip evan LEGEND, KING, REBEL
StraightUpKnives
Yes sir. #edubforpresident
ScottyB.32
Missing him more then ever
SignedCargo259
thats what i said
Rasim Camo
8 years man … time flies man, RIP to the two tone rebel.
Assistance
only 4 likes for my boy chuck?