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.
Smithereens
El-P Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
PTS stress, we do drugs
City air strange, sticky lungs
Mayor Doomburg gives no funds
And I'm crying
Call out with a fiendish ring
Broken into smithereens
Everything's exactly how it seems
In a world super duper whores the kids just want a little more
Little tycos do the bloody mind sex with a veteran's decor
And I'm crying
So when I step in the stop frame I became pure BK
'Cause I grew up on the krazy kings and inhaled second hand spray
And I'm crying
Where the walls talk your defiances and alliances were made
With a fugitive dash after class to harass the gods of fame
And I'm crying
And the goons that I collude with on this rude shit same way
And will break a crab down in public just to manipulate their pain
And I'm crying
Lyrics
Why should I be sober when god is so clearly dusted out his mind?
With cherubs puffing a bundle tryna remember why he even tried
Down here it's 30% every year to fund the world's end
But I'm broke on atlantic ave tryna cop the bootleg instead
Pure savage established hard rock talk circa '93 proof
Walked the high road to infinity with simily truant moves
When the wandering ration line derails, I steal food
Maybe tread where the sidewalk hawks look alive and hide tools
On a bed that someone else made
Tryna wait for the next boot
And it drops when you took prime-time hellemundo off mute
Old folks say "time to build"
But demolition pays more loot
Rip patch from your hazmat suit
Slip past with an odd bop (woop!)
El-Producto, sorta strange
They say he stares at you, long range
Perhaps he's looking past us all with his thousand yard gaze
And I'm crying
And he sees how MC's became contorted with their own lives
And went from battle rap to gun talk
Like we ain't notice the change (yeah, right)
It's the city I broke down in
The velour couture township
Where they lost the rock box batteries and forgot how shit was founded
And I'm crying
Critics all see me twisted
They don't get my whole existence
An actual b-boy brainiac who'll slap you out your mittens
And I'm crying
Now, I feel that motherfuckers owe me dap for contributing actual raps
That's not a construct for the radio on that plasticince path
I'll be your homie
Bust through the dolby lonely
All cast aside and homely
Wildly pour chrome eat of vigilante words
Insert hurt in a dome-piece
And the last of all I have is yours, now surrendered nice and calmly
As a tot played on a block of bricks and double dutched with the zombies
I'll rip your squad in nothing but a cock ring a pair of puerto-rock dunks
I built the bag that cats will drown in when the water's colored rust
And the last thought that I had in the back of the little bus
Was of a Oklahoma city flair through kiddy flesh, fade to dust
Move me with, little soldier bitty
We'll cloak and dagger the city
We'll hope to stagger magnificence till the pattern of blasphemy's quitting
And I keep my meaning tucked deep so y'all creepers give me some privacy
Don't ask for something literal from a child of secrety society
There's a position to be filled, you fucking assholes
Keep your eye on me
But save your precious advice
'Cause all my life everyone's lied to me
And I'm crying
Fell asleep late, neon buzz
PTS stress, we do drugs
City air strange, sticky lungs
Mayor Doomburg gives no funds
And I'm crying
Call out with a fiendish ring
Broken into smithereens
Everything's exactly how it seems
And it would seem that I am crying
El-P's song Smithereens features a dark, thought-provoking commentary on modern society, focusing on themes such as drug use, poverty, and despair. The song opens with El-P detailing his late-night experiences in the city, highlighting how the air is "strange" and his lungs feel "sticky" before diving into a scathing critique of Mayor Doomburg, who "gives no funds" to those struggling in the city. El-P's lyrics throughout the song touch on topics such as mental health, poverty, consumerism, and greed, making pointed observations through his highly descriptive and often poetic language.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Smithereens is its contrast between a gritty, intense sound and El-P's introspective, insightful lyrics. The song features production that is both chaotic and hypnotic, with dissonant synths and distorted drums combining to create a tense, urgent atmosphere. Meanwhile, El-P's verses are delivered with an impressive level of emotional intensity, as he raps about his struggles and frustrations with a powerful, urgent delivery.
Interestingly, the lyrics of Smithereens are also notable for their use of allusion and metaphor. El-P references a number of historical and cultural touchstones throughout the song, from the biblical story of the fall of Adam and Eve to the Oklahoma City bombing, while also drawing on his own personal experiences growing up in Brooklyn. The resulting tapestry of imagery and symbolism creates a vivid, surreal portrait of modern society, highlighting the ways in which greed, desperation, and disillusionment have led many to the brink of destruction.
Overall, Smithereens is a deeply moving and thought-provoking piece of music, one that balances its intense, chaotic sound with a powerful message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Fell asleep late, neon buzz
I went to bed late and the loud lights are making me restless
PTS stress, we do drugs
I have post-traumatic stress and cope with drugs
City air strange, sticky lungs
The polluted air in the city is making it hard to breathe
Mayor Doomburg gives no funds
The Mayor is not providing any financial support to the community
And I'm crying
This world is overwhelming, and I can't help but express my emotions
Call out with a fiendish ring
I'm crying out for help, but it's desperate and frenzied
Broken into smithereens
I'm completely shattered and broken inside
Everything's exactly how it seems
The world is just as messed up as I feel it is
And it would seem that I am crying
I can't hide my pain, and it's obvious that I'm crying
In a world super duper whores the kids just want a little more
In this depraved world, children are craving more than what's given to them
Little tycos do the bloody mind sex with a veteran's decor
Young people engage in damaging behavior with a seemingly violent attitude
And I'm crying
This world is so corrupt, it's impossible not to be upset
So when I step in the stop frame I became pure BK
Growing up in Brooklyn exposed me to certain things that shaped who I am today
Cause I grew up on the krazy kings and inhaled second hand spray
I was raised in a graffiti culture where I was constantly surrounded by spray paint fumes
Where the walls talk your defiances and alliances were made
In this environment, your actions and social circle are a reflection of your character
And the goons that I collude with on this rude shit same way
The people I associate with are involved in the same type of delinquent behavior
And will break a crab down in public just to manipulate their pain
They have no qualms about hurting others to advance themselves
Why should I be sober when god is so clearly dusted out his mind?
If even a higher power is losing their sanity, why should I try to remain sober?
Down here it's 30% every year to fund the world's end
The world is in such dire straits that a significant portion of our resources go towards its eventual destruction
Critics all see me twisted
People view me as erratic and abnormal
They don't get my whole existence
No one truly understands all aspects of my identity and experiences
An actual b-boy brainiac who'll slap you out your mittens
I have both the intelligence of a nerd and the street smarts of a b-boy, and I'm not afraid to defend myself
I'll be your homie
I'll be there for you when others won't
Rip patch from your hazmat suit
I'll tear through any defenses or lies you try to hide behind
El-Producto, sorta strange
I'm a unique and unconventional rapper
They say he stares at you, long range
People feel intimidated or unsettled by me
Perhaps he's looking past us all with his thousand yard gaze
I see something beyond the present moment that others may not
And he sees how MC's became contorted with their own lives
I see how rappers become consumed by their image and lifestyle
And went from battle rap to gun talk
Many rappers have shifted their focus from lyrical rap battles to glorifying gun violence
Like we ain't notice the change (yeah, right)
It's obvious the rap industry has changed, but many act like it hasn't
It's the city I broke down in
This is the city where everything fell apart for me
The velour couture township
A neighborhood that used to be stylish and fashionable
Where they lost the rock box batteries and forgot how shit was founded
The community forgot its roots and the culture that once defined it
Keep your eye on me
Watch me closely if you want to understand what's really going on
But save your precious advice
I don't need anyone's advice because no one truly understands my situation
Cause all my life everyone's lied to me
I've been let down and deceived by so many people that it's hard to trust anyone
Pure savage established hard rock talk circa '93 proof
I embody the aggressive and raw spirit of early '90s hip hop
On a bed that someone else made
I'm dealing with the consequences of actions that weren't my own
Tryna wait for the next boot
I'm biding my time and waiting for the next opportunity
And it drops when you took prime-time hellemundo off mute
When the world is quiet, that's when something big is going to happen
Old folks say 'time to build'
Elders encourage the younger generation to build and create
But demolition pays more loot
Destroying things often yields more profit than building them
Slip past with an odd bop (woop!)
I sneak past people with a nonchalant swagger and confidence
Wildly pour chrome eat of vigilante words
I use my sharp and controversial rhymes to fight against injustice
Insert hurt in a dome-piece
I inflict emotional pain on others through my music
And the last of all I have is yours, now surrendered nice and calmly
I'm letting go of everything I have for the sake of peace and calm
As a tot played on a block of bricks and double dutched with the zombies
As a child, I played on the rough streets of Brooklyn and saw the harsh realities of life
I'll rip your squad in nothing but a cock ring a pair of puerto-rock dunks
I can dismantle any group of people with just my words and a flashy outfit
I built the bag that cats will drown in when the water's colored rust
I created something that will lead to the downfall of those involved in it
And the last thought that I had in the back of the little bus
On the verge of leaving somewhere, I had one last thought
Was of a Oklahoma city flair through kiddy flesh, fade to dust
I remember the tragedy of the Oklahoma City bombing and the loss of innocent lives
Move me with, little soldier bitty
Follow my lead, young one
We'll cloak and dagger the city
We'll move through the city stealthily and with intention
We'll hope to stagger magnificence till the pattern of blasphemy's quitting
We'll work to disrupt harmful systems and create a better world
And I keep my meaning tucked deep so y'all creepers give me some privacy
I keep my true intentions and thoughts hidden from those who may try to exploit them
Don't ask for something literal from a child of secretive society
You can't expect straightforward answers or actions from someone who grew up in a culture of secrecy and manipulation
And will break a crab down in public just to manipulate their pain
They have no qualms about hurting others to advance themselves
And I'm crying
This world is so corrupt, it's impossible not to be upset
Contributed by Liliana N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JasonRoggasch
LYRICS
Fell asleep late, Neon Buzz
P.T.S. stress, we do drugs
City air strange, sticky lungs
Mayor Doomberg gives no funds
And I'm cryin', cryin'
Call out with a fiendish ring
Broken into smithereens
Every thing's exactly how it seems
And it would seem
That I am cryin', cryin'
In a world of super duper whores
The kids just want a little more
Little tycos do the bloody mind sex
With a veteran's decor
And I'm cryin', cryin'
So, when I step in the stop frame
I became pure BK
'Cause I grew up around the Krazy Kings
And inhaled second hand spray
I'm cryin', cryin'
Where the walls talk your defiances
And alliances were made
With a fugitive dash after class
To harass the gods of fame
Cryin', cryin'
And the goons that I collude with
On this rude shit same way
And will break a crab down in public
Just to manipulate their pain
Cryin', cryin'
Why should I be sober
When God is so clearly dusted out his mind
With cherubs puffin' a bundle
Trying to remember why he even tried
Down here it's 30 percent every year
To fund the world's end
But I'm broke on Atlantic Ave
Trying to cop the bootleg instead
Pure savage established hard rock talk
Circa 93 proof
Walked the high road to infinity
With simile truant moves
When the wandering ration line derails
I steal food
Maybe, tread where the sidewalk hawks
Look alive and hide tools
On a bed that someone else made
Trying to wait for the next boot
When it dropped you took
Prime-time Hellemundo off mute
Old folks say, "Time to build"
But demolition pays more loot
Rip patch from your Hazmat suit
Slip past with an odd bop
El Producto sort of strange
They say he stares at you, long range
Perhaps he's lookin' past us all
With his thousand yard gaze
Cryin', cryin'
And he sees how MCs
Became contorted with their own lies
And went from battle rap to gun talk
Like we ain't notice the change, yeah right
It's the city I broke down in
The velor couture township
Where they lost the rock box batteries
And forgot how shit was founded
Cryin', cryin'
And critics all see me twisted
They don't get my whole existence
An actual B boy brainiac
Who'll smack you out your mittens
Cryin', cryin'
Now, I feel that motherfuckers owe me dap
For contributing actual raps
That's not a construct for the radio
On that plasticine path
I'll be your homie, bust through the Dolby
Lonely, all cast aside and homely
Wildly pour chrome heat of vigilante words
Insert hurt in a dome-piece
And the last of all I have is yours, now
Surrendered nice and calmly
As a tot played on a block of bricks
And double dutched with the zombies
I'll rip your squad in nothing
But a cock ring and pair of PuertoRoc dunks
I built the bag that cats will drown in
When the water's colored rust
And the last thought that I had
In the back of the little bus
Was of a Oklahoma city flair
Through kiddy flesh fade to dust
Move with me little soldier bitty
We'll cloak and dagger the city
We'll hope to stagger magnificence
Till the pattern of blasphemy's quitting
And I keep my meaning tucked deep
So, y'all creepers give me some privacy
Don't ask for something literal
From a child of secret society
There's a position to be filled
You fuckin' assholes, keep your eye on me
But save your precious advice
'Cause all my life everyones lied to me
And I'm cryin'
Fell asleep late, Neon Buzz
P.T.S. stress, we do drugs
City air strange, sticky lungs
Mayor Doomberg gives no funds
And I'm cryin', cryin'
Call out with a fiendish ring
Broken into smithereens
Every thing's exactly how it seems
And it would seem
That I am cryin', cryin'
Songwriters
Jaime Meline
Read more: El-P - Smithereens (Stop Cryin') Lyrics | MetroLyrics
@JimArdal
Lyrics:
[Intro]
Bring me the dramatic intro, machine
Fell asleep late, neon buzz
PTS stress, we do drugs
City air strange, sticky lungs
Mayor Doomburg gives no funds
And I'm crying (crying)
Crying (crying)
Call out with a fiendish ring
Broken into smithereens
Everything's exactly how it seems
And I'm crying (crying)
Crying (crying)
[Verse 1:]
In a world of super duper whores, the kids just want a little more
Little tyke goes through the bloody mind sex with a veteran's decor
And I'm crying
Crying
So when I step in the stop frame, I became pure BK
'Cause I grew up on the krazy kings and inhaled second hand spray
And I'm crying
Crying
Where the walls talk your defiances and alliances were made
With a fugitive dash after class, to harass the gods of fame
And I'm crying (crying)
Crying (crying)
And the goons that I collude with on this rude shit same way
And will break a crab down in public, just to manipulate their pain
And I'm crying (crying)
Crying (crying)
Why should I be sober, when god is so clearly dusted out his mind?
With cherubs puffing a bundle, tryna remember why he even tried
Down here it's 30% every year to fund the world's end
But I'm broke on Atlantic Ave tryna cop the bootleg instead
Pure savage established hard rock talk circa '93 proof
Walked the high road to infinity with similarly truant moves
When a wandering ration line derails, I steal food
Maybe tread where the sidewalk hawks look alive and hide tools
On a bed that someone else made
Tryna wait for the next boot
And it drops when you took prime-time hellemundo off mute
Old folks say "time to build"
But demolition pays more loot
Rip patch from your hazmat suit
Slip past with an odd bop (woop!)
El-Producto, sorta strange
They say he stares at you, long range
Perhaps he's looking past us all with his thousand yard gaze
[Bridge:]
And I'm crying
Crying
[Verse 2:]
And he sees how MC's became contorted with their own lies
And went from battle rap to gun talk
Like we ain't notice the change (yeah, right)
(Please)
It's the city I broke down in
The velour couture township
Where they lost the rock box batteries and forgot how shit was founded
And I'm crying (crying)
Crying (crying)
Critics all see me twisted
They don't get my whole existence
An actual b-boy brainiac who'll slap you out your mittens
And I'm crying (crying)
Now, I feel that motherfuckers owe me dap for contributing actual raps
That's not a construct from the radio, on that plasticince path
I'll be your homie, bust through the door, we're lonely
All cast aside and homely
Probably why people call me the vigilante words
It cert' hurt and it don't be
And the last of all I have is yours, surrender nice and calmly
As a tot, played on a block of bricks and double-dutched with the zombies
I'll rip your squad to nothing but a cock ring a pair of puerto-rock dunks
I built the bag that cats will drown in when the water's colored rust
And the last thought that I had in the back of the little bus
Was of a Oklahoma city flair through kiddy flesh fade to dust
Move me with, little soldier bitty
We'll cloak and dagger the city
We'll hope to stagger magnificence to the pattern of blasphemy's quitting
And I keep my meaning tucked deep, so y'all creepers give me some privacy
Don't ask for something literal from a child of secret society
There's a position to be filled, you fuckin' assholes
Keep your eye on me
But save your precious advice
'Cause in my life everyone's lied to me
And I'm crying
[Outro]
Fell asleep late, neon buzz
PTS stress, we do drugs
City air strange, sticky lungs
Mayor Doomburg gives no funds
And I'm crying
Call out with a fiendish ring
Broken into smithereens
Everything's exactly how it seems
And it would seem that I am crying
@NoPrefect
Every couple or so months I come back and check to see if this vid still makes sense. 5+ years later, it rings truer than ever. Never stop being real, El.
@asapGooby
How bout now?
@BenevolentGodzilla
@@asapGooby it all went to smithereens
@bigsmiles768
@@BenevolentGodzilla lmao
@Mae-vc9jv
It’s a national tragedy that this only has 100,000 views
@thejusticechannel13
But Tyga's "Taste" has 1 Billion views. Lmao
@rasmusskou6909
Try global
@amorrash9685
@@thejusticechannel13it just shows that popularity is not accurate metric
@ishkabibbz
Why should I be sober when god is so clearly dusted out his mind?
@thedarksideoftheforce6658
Marry me!