As a member of Company Flow, he honed his production skills alongside DJ Mr. Len and Bigg Jus. His unique style helped Company Flow gain critical, then popular success, culminating in 1997 with Funcrusher Plus. Eventual differences between the group & label Rawkus, lead to El-P & Len leaving the label in 2000.
El-P then started his own record label, Definitive Jux. Of the many albums he has helped produce (most on Definitive Jux), the most influential and successful has been Cannibal Ox's album, The Cold Vein (2001). In 2002 he released his debut album, Fantastic Damage, which received critical acclaim. His follow-up, I'll Sleep When You're Dead, hit stores in March of 2007. It featured a wide range of artists, including The Mars Volta, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, and Cat Power. El-P has also contributed productions and guest raps to albums by DJ Krush, Aesop Rock, Murs, Cage, Mr. Lif, Prefuse 73, Del the Funky Homosapien, Mike Ladd, The High and Mighty, Aceyalone, and Alec Empire on the first Handsome Boy Modeling School album.
Cannibal Ox member Vordul Mega can be heard on "Linda Tripp", El-P's rebuttal to Sole's "Dear Elpee". He was also selected to work on Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach de la Rocha's solo album.
In 2012, El-P released his 3rd solo album, Cancer 4 Cure, on Fat Possum Records. The album was released to general acclaim, aggregating a score of 84 out of 100 on Metacritic.
In 2013, Meline formed rap duo Run the Jewels, with Michael Render (aka Killer Mike).
Sites: Discogs, Wikipedia and SoundCloud.
No Kings
El-P Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the kids say
Watch your man
I think he's faking the band
Y'all will either run the world or destroy it while holding hands
Architect, terrible vet with bent flashback
Me clutchin' a 30 od, burn village laughing
Gas mask latched in
Worm killer bird on the set
I flex early
Got to beat the rush and report it all to the hive mind
Weathermen and such, motherfucks, try to malign mine
Let's digress now
Kings, put your cans up
Paint the city scope with the prettiest type of cancer
Watch 'em laser surg every tumor like a fatal relica
New York is the truancy burg, sate of hysterica
It's a brutalized lab bunny jumpin' the fence
Grab the money and the charger for the microchip embedded in head
Brooklyn is the life
Equal parts joy, strife
I sit up in the cribbo and carve these 'noid kites out of lead
The same weight of the monkey on my neck
Who crawled off my back and tried to make friends
Now I'm walkin' 'round lit like the fun never ends
But someone ran their key on my whip, plus left dents
Welcome to my bastard delight night, gents
Where everything has a meaning but none of it makes sense
Living is so demeaning but rappers still wanna offer
Fake aliens...from lying saucers
I don't have the time, man
I'm searching for bigger answers
The beat is so sick
Made with real bits of panther
The clay of the city streets don't take to these broken cleats
But I hold my johnson and walk it retarded
It's just me
what up, Tame?
(Tame One)
Desperate men do dangerous things
Full alarm system, New York with No Kings
Desperate kids do dangerous shit
Full alarm system, it's on where you live
(El-P)
My name is El-Producto, my friend
I walk rawly
Oddly, bent pood beast
Fiends try to draw me
Another close copy but not the god hardly
Sex shit sloppily
Fuck yourself (Pardon me)
Look, here comes the scientists
Here they come to cure us all
Mind is on your money, sonny
Brain is on the curtain call
Give the kid a sack a D
Pass the child a bag of C
Even in the tenement residence there's a pharmacy
Deadly young people
Deadly new day
Young deadly dumb kick snare pattern play
Dignity for criminals
Science for religion
War stole the future
Peace is for bitches
Eveything's a felony
Relatively hellishly
Cops make guns whistle like "Here, check the melody"
You need to learn to worship the warships
Anything made of steel, of course, can leave corpses
Cops on four horses
Hot to draw quarters
The morbidist thoughts are mad laws and enforced quick
Don't lift your foot off of that land mine switch
Till I make the 20 yard dash and cover my eyelid
We don't need no edumucation
There's no patience
My team is on the food line
Blicker in the waist and
Walkies all connected
Gotta wait for the signal
Weathermen are the lefties that burn to the bone gristle
Insight is disease
Feed the criminal rotary
All over the world it's the same skull fuck locally
Alpha flight airs the are rare we rock openly
Feeling like a kid again, umbilical choking you
Never shit on my faction of bastards
Not openly
Don't you even whisper shit
Not even if jokingly
Straight out of poisenville
Comin' up for air again
Nah, the air is poisonous
Environment choking me
Do it again
(Tame One)
Desperate men do dangerous things
Full alarm system, New York with No Kings
Desperate kids do dangerous shit
Full alarm system, it's on where you live
The song "No Kings" by El-P (feat. Tame One) is a rap track that deals with themes like rebellion, desperation, and dystopia. The lyrics are divided between the two rappers, each one giving their own take on the current state of affairs. El-P starts off with a mix of imagery and wordplay, almost stream of consciousness-like, that sets the tone for what's to come. He talks about fakes, corruption, and the need for rebellion. He also vividly describes a dystopian New York where everything is a felony, there's no education, and people are desperate. Tame One takes on a different angle, focusing on the hard life of kids in such a world, where danger is always around the corner, and the alarm system needs to be fully armed at all times.
The song has a fast and frenetic pace, with the beat matched to El-P's rapid-fire delivery. It creates a sense of urgency and tension that builds up as the lyrics unfold. At times it's also disorienting, with El-P's verses jumping from one thought to another without any apparent connection. It's a style that demands attention and rewards repeated listens, as the lyrics slowly reveal their meaning.
Overall, "No Kings" is a powerful commentary on the state of society and the need for rebellion against corrupt and oppressive systems. It's a call to arms for anyone who feels disenfranchised and frustrated with the world they live in. The lyrics are dense and complex, but the emotion behind them is clear and direct.
Line by Line Meaning
And the kids say
The younger generation is vocalizing their thoughts
Watch your man
Be cautious of those around you, they may not be genuine
I think he's faking the band
Suspicions arise that someone is not as talented as they claim to be
Y'all will either run the world or destroy it while holding hands
Either we unite and bring change for the better, or divide and create chaos
Architect, terrible vet with bent flashback
A person skilled in design and childhood memories that have been distorted or damaged
Me clutchin' a 30 od, burn village laughing
Holding a weapon and expressing joy at destruction
Gas mask latched in
Preparing for danger and potential harm
Signal for the whirly
Calling for transportation by helicopter
Worm killer bird on the set
A bird used for exterminating pests or enemies
I flex early
Acting with confidence and strength from the beginning
Got to beat the rush and report it all to the hive mind
Need to act quickly and inform the collective intelligence of society
Weathermen and such, motherfucks, try to malign mine
Individuals with power and influence try to harm or discredit me
Let's digress now
Changing the subject or moving away from a previous topic
Kings, put your cans up
Artists, raise your spray paint cans to show solidarity
Paint the city scope with the prettiest type of cancer
Covering the urban landscape with beautiful yet harmful graffiti
Watch 'em laser surg every tumor like a fatal relica
Removing harmful elements with precision and finality
New York is the truancy burg, sate of hysterica
The city is a place where people reject conformity and express themselves in erratic ways
It's a brutalized lab bunny jumpin' the fence
Individuals are trapped and abused by society and must escape to survive
Grab the money and the charger for the microchip embedded in head
Taking valuable items and technology to gain an advantage
Brooklyn is the life
The borough is full of energy and vitality
Equal parts joy, strife
The area brings both happiness and difficulty
I sit up in the cribbo and carve these 'noid kites out of lead
Creating paranoid and fearful thoughts from a state of confinement
The same weight of the monkey on my neck
A burden that is difficult to shake
Who crawled off my back and tried to make friends
A problem or issue that has caused trouble is now trying to appear harmless
Now I'm walkin' 'round lit like the fun never ends
Living life with excitement and energy
But someone ran their key on my whip, plus left dents
A person intentionally damaged my vehicle as an act of aggression
Welcome to my bastard delight night, gents
Inviting guests to join in his mischievous and enjoyable evening
Where everything has a meaning but none of it makes sense
Actions and events have a purpose, but the logic behind them is unclear
Living is so demeaning but rappers still wanna offer
Despite the hardships of life, artists still want to share their talents with others
Fake aliens...from lying saucers
False narratives and beliefs spread by those in power to deceive the public
I don't have the time, man
Don’t have the time to waste on false narratives and lies
I'm searching for bigger answers
Looking for solutions and truths to larger issues
The beat is so sick
The music is incredible
Made with real bits of panther
The music was made with high quality and valuable components
The clay of the city streets don't take to these broken cleats
The rough life of the city damages shoes and apparel
But I hold my johnson and walk it retarded
He acts with confidence and struts his stuff despite criticism
It's just me
He is an individual, unique and unapologetic
Desperate men do dangerous things
Those who are in difficult positions may resort to reckless behavior
Full alarm system, New York with No Kings
The city is on high alert with no clear authority or control
Desperate kids do dangerous shit
Children and young people in desperate situations may act recklessly
My name is El-Producto, my friend
Identifying himself to the listener
I walk rawly
He walks with confidence and without fear
Oddly, bent pood beast
Describing himself as strange or peculiar
Fiends try to draw me
People try to pull him into negative aspects of life
Another close copy but not the god hardly
Others try to emulate his style, but they fall short
Sex shit sloppily
Sexual experiences are often messy and without order
Fuck yourself (Pardon me)
A curse followed by an apology
Look, here comes the scientists
Experts and intellectuals are entering the scene
Here they come to cure us all
They seek to provide answers and solutions to existing problems
Mind is on your money, sonny
People are focused on material possessions and wealth
Brain is on the curtain call
Mental health is deteriorating and borderline collapse
Give the kid a sack a D
Handing over illegal drugs
Pass the child a bag of C
Distributing yet more narcotics
Even in the tenement residence there's a pharmacy
Illicit drugs are easily available and accessible in low-income housing areas
Deadly young people
Youthful individuals being dangerous and harmful
Deadly new day
Every day presents new dangers and risks
Young deadly dumb kick snare pattern play
A catchy or repetitive musical rhythm associated with negative or ignorant behavior
Dignity for criminals
The idea of respecting and treating people with honor despite their crimes
Science for religion
Believing in and promoting science over religious beliefs
War stole the future
Conflict and combat have impaired and destroyed our chance at betterment
Peace is for bitches
A disregard and anger towards the notion of living in peace
Eveything's a felony
Actions and behavior are often seen as crimes and punishable offences
Relatively hellishly
Poor and difficult conditions compared to the rest of society
Cops make guns whistle like "Here, check the melody"
Police officers use and exhibit firearms as an act of authority
You need to learn to worship the warships
The idea that people should honor and admire the vessels of combat operations
Anything made of steel, of course, can leave corpses
Weapons and machinery made from steel can be deadly and cause fatalities
Cops on four horses
Mounted police officers on horseback
Hot to draw quarters
Eager to divide and claim territory
The morbidist thoughts are mad laws and enforced quick
Harmful and dark ideas have become rules enforced strictly
Don't lift your foot off of that land mine switch
Stay alert and cautious of potential dangers
Till I make the 20 yard dash and cover my eyelid
Running for safety and preparing for an explosion or imminent danger
We don't need no edumucation
Rejecting traditional education and its methods
There's no patience
People have little tolerance for waiting or delays
My team is on the food line
They are waiting in line for sustenance and resources
Blicker in the waist and
A firearm being carried and concealed
Walkies all connected
Communication devices are being used and maintained
Gotta wait for the signal
Instructions and guidance are needed
Weathermen are the lefties that burn to the bone gristle
Individuals with political beliefs on the left end of the spectrum who are causing harm
Insight is disease
Profound knowledge and understanding can be harmful and depressing
Feed the criminal rotary
Encouraging and promoting criminal behavior
All over the world it's the same skull fuck locally
People are being controlled and oppressed globally and in their own areas
Alpha flight airs the are rare we rock openly
A group of skilled individuals are using their talents and abilities to make a statement
Feeling like a kid again, umbilical choking you
Having a sense of nostalgia and being overwhelmed with emotion
Never shit on my faction of bastards
Don’t disrespect El-P's group or associates
Not openly
Negative opinions and attitudes should be kept quiet
Don't you even whisper shit
No negative talk or rumors should be spread
Not even if jokingly
Not even as a form of humor or entertainment
Straight out of poisenville
Coming from a dangerous or toxic area
Comin' up for air again
Breaking free from suffocating circumstances
Nah, the air is poisonous
The atmosphere and surroundings are harmful and toxic
Environment choking me
The surroundings are threatening and suffocating
Do it again
Continue to endure and fight through struggles
Contributed by Ava Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cue Carbon
Did El-P just make his 1 YT drop in 10 years?? And dropped like 30 at once!!!
nero
Can't believe this finally has an official youtube release after listening to fan uploads for the longest time. This is the shit
uhkingdom
one of the most criminally slept on tracks in hip hop
John Pork Reacts
Awesome! I love it it’s my moms favorite song
Cj Edwards
Patiently waiting on 4 bro, save us all from this boredom! Hope you and Mike are doing well.
nok
This shit goes so hard. Who the fuck let this only get 4,000 views?
jason butler
El, this is one of your dirtiest beats. We miss these hardcore beats.
wealthy black man
Lyrics???