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.
drive
El-P Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My generation is carpooling with doom and disease
Buckle up, skipper
The new american Asterix
You're riding shotty with Jesus of Nascar-eth
At the end of the day, we all sittin' on 24s
365 horses, no horseshit
with nothing but a learning permit
I'm not depressed, man
I'm just a fucking New Yorker
Who knows that sittin' in traffic with these bastards is torture
I'll be in a jalopy with a mami getting head rest
And howl at the glowing moon roof as proof that I'm not dead yet
And y'all can all give me the hummer (suck it)
'Cause in the meantime, I'ma pimp this ride like fly formula one-er
This is the El-Product summer
With a gleam of factory gun metal sheen grey and no vin number
[Chorus]
Drive, Drive, Drive
Hopped in the hooptie screaming "freedom is mine!"
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Bumpin' the tune I so conveniently provide
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Don't have to be flashy, I'll use any old ride
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Hop in the whip and peel away, stay alive
Cars slide by with the bomming system
Like New York is Fallujah with metal gear using christians
Posted up for the gods of oil mining
In a military humvee with no bullet proof siding (sorry, guys)
Brooklyn, baby
I'm waterlocked walkin' nervous
When the curfew was imposed closing transportational service
This gonzomatic fear turns me Hunter S. Thompson
With my lawyer leaning over the side view mirror vomiting
You call 'em windows, I call 'em asbestos lesseners
For this wheezing in my chest I'll need more than fucking air fresheners
There ain't no easy pass
Hands on the dash
You'll get rocked in casba if the movement's too fast
Here come the cannon balls, run
Get in your gremlin
The days of thunder's creepin' up sooner than you expected
Paranoid brethren disable their onstar knowing they'll trace us
Pull us over and shout "get out le car!"
[Chorus]
These TV thugs got the heart of Herbie the Luv Bug
It don't take a speed racing mind to see that they're just stuck
I'll wrap your promo truck with a nambla stencil to prove that you're fucking babies
Frontin' up in a rental
I knew a kid who navigated it slippery
And fuel injected a speed ball on hs way to Atlantic City
Out the race before even making his mark
And now he'll never pick his shit up out of long term parking
My triple A card has one too many initials
And autobot on the fringe of liquid addiction spinning fish-tails
About to careen on some toonces shit off the cliff
But love of the sport of racing is keeping me out of coffins
Camu was like "Fuck it, just keep the beats dirty dusty"
I grabbed the CB radio like "10/4 good buddy"
I'll keep running the track
Even when muddy
'Cause my insurance don't cover leaving behind the pit crew that love me
So I drive
[Chorus]
In "Drive," El-P raps about the struggles and dangers of driving in the modern world. He starts off by asking his mother for the keys, as his generation faces a bleak future filled with disease and danger. He compares driving to an adventure in which the passengers are riding shotgun with Jesus of Nascar-eth. The song takes on a dark tone as he describes the reckless driving of delinquents on the autobahn and the fear and paranoia that come with being a driver in a potentially fatal situation. El-P also touches on the cruelty of the car culture in America, highlighting the desire for flashy cars that are often out of reach for those who can't afford them. Despite it all, he finds solace in driving, even if it's just in a beat-up jalopy with a girl at his side, howling at the glowing moon roof as proof that he's still alive.
Line by Line Meaning
C'mon, ma, can I borrow the keys?
Asking for permission to use something to escape a difficult situation
My generation is carpooling with doom and disease
The current generation is facing a bleak future
Buckle up, skipper
Be prepared for a wild and dangerous ride
The new american Asterix
The underdog facing difficult odds in modern society
You're riding shotty with Jesus of Nascar-eth
Taking risks for the thrill of it all
At the end of the day, we all sittin' on 24s
No matter what we do, we're all in the same place
365 horses, no horseshit
Real power without any BS
with nothing but a learning permit
Taking risks without much experience
Delinquents on the autobahn poppin' our airbags off, worthless
Irresponsible behavior leading to dangerous situations
I'm not depressed, man
Just frustrated with the current situation
I'm just a fucking New Yorker
A tough and determined attitude
Who knows that sittin' in traffic with these bastards is torture
The frustration of being stuck in an unproductive situation
I'll be in a jalopy with a mami getting head rest
Finding pleasure in simple things
And howl at the glowing moon roof as proof that I'm not dead yet
Celebrating life and taking risks while we can
And y'all can all give me the hummer (suck it)
Ignoring the opinions of others
Cause in the meantime, I'ma pimp this ride like fly formula one-er
Making the most out of what we have
Drive, Drive, Drive
Emphasizing the importance of taking action
Hopped in the hooptie screaming "freedom is mine!"
The thrill of escaping a difficult situation
Bumpin' the tune I so conveniently provide
Finding joy in the little things
Don't have to be flashy, I'll use any old ride
Not needing material possessions to be happy
Hop in the whip and peel away, stay alive
Take risks, but be cautious
Cars slide by with the bomming system
The noise and chaos of modern life
Like New York is Fallujah with metal gear using christians
The harshness and brutality of daily life
Posted up for the gods of oil mining
The powerful forces controlling society
In a military humvee with no bullet proof siding (sorry, guys)
Being vulnerable and exposed to danger
Brooklyn, baby
Pride in one's roots and origins
I'm waterlocked walkin' nervous
Feeling trapped and anxious
When the curfew was imposed closing transportational service
The restrictions and limitations of authority
This gonzomatic fear turns me Hunter S. Thompson
The fear and paranoia of modern life
With my lawyer leaning over the side view mirror vomiting
The absurdity and surrealism of everyday situations
You call 'em windows, I call 'em asbestos lesseners
The dangers and risks of modern technology
For this wheezing in my chest I'll need more than fucking air fresheners
The physical and emotional toll of modern life
There ain't no easy pass
Hard work and determination are required to succeed
Hands on the dash
Be prepared for anything
You'll get rocked in casba if the movement's too fast
Taking risks, but being aware of the potential consequences
Here come the cannon balls, run
The chaos and danger of modern life
Get in your gremlin
Finding a way to survive and escape danger
The days of thunder's creepin' up sooner than you expected
The inevitability of aging and mortality
Paranoid brethren disable their onstar knowing they'll trace us
The fear of being watched and controlled by authority
Pull us over and shout "get out le car!"
Being subject to the power of authority
These TV thugs got the heart of Herbie the Luv Bug
The false image and bravado of modern society
It don't take a speed racing mind to see that they're just stuck
The limitations and shallowness of modern culture
I'll wrap your promo truck with a nambla stencil to prove that you're fucking babies
The disgust and anger towards exploitative companies and media
Frontin' up in a rental
Living a false and unsustainable lifestyle
I knew a kid who navigated it slippery
The danger and risks of modern life
And fuel injected a speed ball on hs way to Atlantic City
The reckless behavior and addiction of modern society
Out the race before even making his mark
The inability to succeed and make a mark in society
And now he'll never pick his shit up out of long term parking
Being stuck and unable to move forward in life
My triple A card has one too many initials
The complexity and bureaucracy of modern society
And autobot on the fringe of liquid addiction spinning fish-tails
The danger and risks of addiction and reckless behavior
About to careen on some toonces shit off the cliff
The potential for disaster and failure in life
But love of the sport of racing is keeping me out of coffins
The passion and joy found in pursuing one's dreams
Camu was like "Fuck it, just keep the beats dirty dusty"
The importance of staying true to oneself and one's roots
I grabbed the CB radio like "10/4 good buddy"
Taking control and asserting one's independence
I'll keep running the track
Never giving up and always persevering
Even when muddy
Even when things get tough and difficult to navigate
'Cause my insurance don't cover leaving behind the pit crew that love me
The importance of having a support system and loved ones
So I drive
Taking control of one's own destiny and future
Contributed by Kayla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ehill1536
[Verse 1]
C'mon, ma, can I borrow the keys? (please?)
My generation is carpooling with doom and disease
Buckle up, skipper
The new american Asterix
You're riding shotty with Jesus of Nascar-eth
At the end of the day, we all sittin' on 24s
365 horses, no horseshit
With nothing but a learning permit
Delinquents on the autobahn poppin' our airbags off the worthless
I'm not depressed, man
I'm just a fucking New Yorker
Who knows that sittin' in traffic with these bastards is torture
I'll be in a jalopy with a mami getting head rest
And howl at the glowing moon roof as proof that I'm not dead yet
And y'all can all give me the hummer (suck it)
'Cause in the meantime, I'mma pimp this ride like fly formula one-er
This is the El-Product summer
With a gleam of factory gun metal sheen grey and no vin number
[Chorus]
Drive, Drive, Drive
Hopped in the hooptie screaming "freedom is mine!"
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Bumpin' the tune I so conveniently provide
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Don't have to be flashy, I'll use any old ride
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Hop in the whip and peel away, stay alive
[Verse 2]
Cars slide by with the booming system
Like New York is Fallujah with metal gear using christians
Posted up for the gods of oil mining
In a military humvee with no bullet proof siding (sorry, guys)
Brooklyn, baby
I'm waterlocked walkin' nervous
When the curfew was imposed closing transportational service
This gonzomatic fear turns me Hunter S. Thompson
With my lawyer leaning over the side view mirror vomiting
You call 'em windows, I call 'em asbestos lesseners
For this wheezing in my chest I'll need more than fucking air fresheners
There ain't no easy pass
Hands on the dash
You'll get rocked in casba if the movement's too fast
Here come the cannon balls, run
Get in your gremlin
The days of thunder's creepin' up sooner than you expected
Paranoid brethren disable their onstar knowing they'll trace us
Pull us over and shout "get out le car!"
[Chorus]
Drive, Drive, Drive
Hopped in the hooptie screaming "freedom is mine!"
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Bumpin' the tune I so conveniently provide
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Don't have to be flashy, I'll use any old ride
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Hop in the whip and peel away, stay alive
[Verse 3]
These TV thugs got the heart of Herbie the Luv Bug
It don't take a speed racing mind to see that they're just stuck
I'll wrap your promo truck with a nambla stencil to prove that you're fucking babies
Frontin' up in a rental
I knew a kid who navigated it slippery
And fuel injected a speed ball on his way to Atlantic City
Out the race before even making his mark
And now he'll never pick his shit up out of long term parking
My triple A card has one too many initials
And autobot on the fringe of liquid addiction spinning fish-tails
About to careen on some toonces shit off the cliff
But love of the sport of racing is keeping me out of coffins
Camu was like "fuck it, just keep the beats dirty dusty"
I grabbed the CB radio like "10/4 good buddy"
I'll keep running the track
Even when muddy
'Cause my insurance don't cover leaving behind the pit crew that love me
So I drive
[Chorus]
Drive, Drive, Drive
Hopped in the hooptie screaming "freedom is mine!"
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Bumpin' the tune I so conveniently provide
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Don't have to be flashy, I'll use any old ride
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Hop in the whip and peel away, stay alive.
DocM
One of the greatest Hip Hop albums created!!! This is one of my fav El tracks!!! Entertaining, witty, humorous and conscious!! Pure genius!!!!
qwqwqwqw99
Love this whole album
jason butler
i love all EL-P. best producer/artist ever.
ehill1536
[Verse 1]
C'mon, ma, can I borrow the keys? (please?)
My generation is carpooling with doom and disease
Buckle up, skipper
The new american Asterix
You're riding shotty with Jesus of Nascar-eth
At the end of the day, we all sittin' on 24s
365 horses, no horseshit
With nothing but a learning permit
Delinquents on the autobahn poppin' our airbags off the worthless
I'm not depressed, man
I'm just a fucking New Yorker
Who knows that sittin' in traffic with these bastards is torture
I'll be in a jalopy with a mami getting head rest
And howl at the glowing moon roof as proof that I'm not dead yet
And y'all can all give me the hummer (suck it)
'Cause in the meantime, I'mma pimp this ride like fly formula one-er
This is the El-Product summer
With a gleam of factory gun metal sheen grey and no vin number
[Chorus]
Drive, Drive, Drive
Hopped in the hooptie screaming "freedom is mine!"
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Bumpin' the tune I so conveniently provide
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Don't have to be flashy, I'll use any old ride
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Hop in the whip and peel away, stay alive
[Verse 2]
Cars slide by with the booming system
Like New York is Fallujah with metal gear using christians
Posted up for the gods of oil mining
In a military humvee with no bullet proof siding (sorry, guys)
Brooklyn, baby
I'm waterlocked walkin' nervous
When the curfew was imposed closing transportational service
This gonzomatic fear turns me Hunter S. Thompson
With my lawyer leaning over the side view mirror vomiting
You call 'em windows, I call 'em asbestos lesseners
For this wheezing in my chest I'll need more than fucking air fresheners
There ain't no easy pass
Hands on the dash
You'll get rocked in casba if the movement's too fast
Here come the cannon balls, run
Get in your gremlin
The days of thunder's creepin' up sooner than you expected
Paranoid brethren disable their onstar knowing they'll trace us
Pull us over and shout "get out le car!"
[Chorus]
Drive, Drive, Drive
Hopped in the hooptie screaming "freedom is mine!"
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Bumpin' the tune I so conveniently provide
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Don't have to be flashy, I'll use any old ride
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Hop in the whip and peel away, stay alive
[Verse 3]
These TV thugs got the heart of Herbie the Luv Bug
It don't take a speed racing mind to see that they're just stuck
I'll wrap your promo truck with a nambla stencil to prove that you're fucking babies
Frontin' up in a rental
I knew a kid who navigated it slippery
And fuel injected a speed ball on his way to Atlantic City
Out the race before even making his mark
And now he'll never pick his shit up out of long term parking
My triple A card has one too many initials
And autobot on the fringe of liquid addiction spinning fish-tails
About to careen on some toonces shit off the cliff
But love of the sport of racing is keeping me out of coffins
Camu was like "fuck it, just keep the beats dirty dusty"
I grabbed the CB radio like "10/4 good buddy"
I'll keep running the track
Even when muddy
'Cause my insurance don't cover leaving behind the pit crew that love me
So I drive
[Chorus]
Drive, Drive, Drive
Hopped in the hooptie screaming "freedom is mine!"
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Bumpin' the tune I so conveniently provide
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Don't have to be flashy, I'll use any old ride
Drive, Drive, Drive, Drive
Hop in the whip and peel away, stay alive.
AJ Boglioli
This is ahead of its time. Or maybe not from this timeline? Extra dimensional? El-p makes me think of these things in a way no other artist does except maybe Dali.
Julz Skec
Love you, your music has got me through some really dark times
Chris Markle
Love blasting it in my small ass town Ashdown Arkansas with NYC attitude
Kenneth Johnson
basically I'm like a home legion levels #rn
Round infinite summer!
D-Lithic
so fucking dope!!!
white mamba008
Weird how his single work doest really get views or recognized