When a pair of quick-witted emcees joins forces with a battle-hardened, groove-fusing rhythm section, a classically trained violist and trumpet player, the result is a sound that explores and expands the frontiers of live hip-hop. Progressive in both style and message, the band's ability to drop from symphonic rock-infused crescendos into stripped-down string-laden breakbeats has earned Flobots a reputation for both originality and authenticity.
After originally forming as a side project in 2005, Flobots brought together Emcee’s Jonny 5 and Brer Rabbit with violist Mackenzie Roberts, guitarist Andy Guerrero, bassist Jesse Walker, trumpet player Joe Ferrone, and drummer Kenny Ortiz. By the end of the year, it was clear that the band's refreshingly positive message and nontraditional instrumentation gave it both a universal appeal and a marketable buzz factor. Whether sharing the stage with jam bands, indie rock acts, or hip-hop groups, Flobots won the crowds and quickly reached a tippping point to became one of Denver's most influential bands.
The band's first EP, Platypus, was recorded quickly in response to the clamor of eager fans. Platypus' CD sales in the first week put Flobots at #1 on Twist & Shout's bestseller list. In just a year and half, Platypus has sold over 3000 copies in Colorado and the surrounding region. The strength of this small record and a relentless performing schedule has enabled the band to open for acts like The Coup, Lyrics Born, Immortal Technique, and 2mex. Even Multi-platinum recording artist The Fray took notice, inviting the band to open the last night of their North American Tour at Red Rocks amphitheatre.
Now, just two and a half years from the birth of their first song, the band regularly sells out Denver venues and is developing sizeable followings in California, Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming.
The upward trajectory continues as the band prepares to release its first full-length record, Fight With Tools (October 2007). Representing a year's worth of writing and recording, the record is a fire-breathing rallying cry for all free-thinking individuals fed-up with the violence and apathy that have thus far defined the new millenium.
In February and March 2009 Flobots are going to join Rise Against, Anti-Flag, and Propaghandi for their United Kingdom tour.
Armed with musicianship, intelligence, and a passionate loyalty to the power of creation, Flobots are looking to engage a new musical culture, one mind at a time.
Acclaimed Universal Republic alternative/hip hop collective Flobots released their sophomore album Survival Story on March 16th. The first single from their new offering is a call-to-unarm, “White Flag Warrior,” featuring a guest appearance by Tim McIIrath, founder of influential Chicago band Rise Against. Survival Story is the follow-up to their 2008 game-changing, 300,000-plus selling Universal Republic debut album, ‘Fight With Tools’. The new album was helmed by noted producer Mario Caldato Jr. (Beastie Boys, Beck, Jack Johnson, Moby), and finds the group at yet another turning point of inspiring transformation.
Flobots garnered across-the-board critical, cultural and commercial acclaim in 2008 with their grassroots-waged kickoff single, the rousing Top 5, platinum-plus smash “Handlebars.” The song became the mind-bending clarion call of both the rap and rock worlds, with the spirited anthem soaring to #1 on the alternative radio chart as the format’s most requested song of the year. “Handlebars” became a digital, video, and MySpace phenomenon, (along with ‘Fight With Tools’ follow-up hit “Rise”) soaring to #10 on the iTunes hip hop chart, with the digital version of the band’s CD climbing to #2 on the iTunes hip hop countdown.
The six-member band was also recognized as innovative agents of massive cultural change during their mainstream rise, with media outlets such as USA Today praising their “stinging social commentary,” and the Boston Herald calling them “rap’s most singular breakthrough act in years.” Flobots became a symbol of a new generation shifting priorities at the decade’s close, thanks to the hands-on and highly charged social-activism embedded in their music and their vigorous community networking. Their uplifting calls to action mirrored the communal reawakening taking place throughout the entire country. The band’s galvanizing live presence rocked late night TV (The Tonight Show
, Conan O’Brien, and others,) and saw them ‘own’ the stage at the Democratic National Convention in their hometown of Denver, as well as on election night. The group also logged several sold-out tours across the U.S. and inspired audiences throughout the world with their incredible live show.
Survival Story finds the band invigorated by the range of life-experiences that flowed through the Flobots’ global collective the past two years (their extremely effective non-profit organization, flobots.org, has mobilized fans to become change-agents in their own communities throughout the world). But, the sophomore album also arrives in 2010 as a vision of hope for a world pondering its limits: Flobots’ unique birds-eye view of a world changed and rearranged – both inside and out.
The new effort features songs such as the counter-intuitive “White Flag Warrior,” the signature “Whips And Chains,” and the funk-infested “Infatuation,” among others. “We understand change can be complicated,” says co-founder Jonny 5. “We’re six different people ourselves trying to make a difference. We’ve always been about valuing everyone’s voice, whether in or outside of the band. We believe Survival Story is a true record of our growth as we all process this great new world that’s emerging.”
Created in Blasting Room studios in Ft. Collins CO, Survival Story was produced by Mario Caldato Jr. (Beastie Boys).
In the summer of 2011, Andy Guerro left Flobots in order to concentrate in his older band, Bop Skizzum.
If I
Flobots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I hadn't been a nerd wouldn't have met with him
If we hadn't observed we be the best of friends
That preferred the spoken word to the toke and binge
If momma hadn't died when I was young
Would me and sis have been so tight from jump
If dad had not lost his mind to a disease
Would I be up here askin ya'll to notice me
In the dark times didn't know where the path went
I was close to the edge like Grand Master Flash said
It was the hands of my friends who held me back
Yes
Without them I'd MJ keep slide'n backwards
Or be a hypocrite like some others have been
If that and the other hadn't happened
I don't know that I'd be Brer Rabbit
Askin how many ifs between hero and has-been?
If I had only known that I would be a lamb to the slaughter
now I know
If I hadn't grown up in the 80's
Experiencing the various things that made me
Would I still be standing center stage
Trying to innovate new ways to demonstrate
If mommy daddy hadn't turned off Mork and Mindy
To inform us divorce was pending
Would him and me have spent these 23 years in a frenzy
Moving back and forth with such forceful energy
I remember when I was a little baby
Lying there alone on my pillow casing
Upset already I could feel the aging
The urge to return was debilitating
And maybe I'm still afraid and need to
Cry a little harder for the world of play things
Stop looking back on these silly day dreams
Sing along with me if you feel the same way
If I had known what awaited was unplanned
If I had known the blade was in a loved one's hand
If I had known of the possible injury
If I had known the altar was meant for me
Now I know nobody can predict events
Now I know there's cracks in the picket fence
Now I know that something else can exist
Now I know a life can be built from this
If I had known emotions would still remain
If I had known that time wouldn't heal the pain
If I had known the intent of the injury
If I had known the altar wasn't meant for me
Now I know there's treasure hidden in these scars
Now I know there's presence in an empty yard
Now I know what it took for me to survive
Now I know where to go to become alive
The lyrics to Flobots' "If I" explore the idea of how our past experiences and circumstances shape who we are and where we end up in life. The song poses a series of "what if" questions, pondering how different choices and events could have led to a completely different outcome. It touches on themes of loss, both of loved ones and of innocence, as well as the importance of friendship and support in times of darkness.
The first verse reflects on how the singer's introverted nature and love of words led to a close friendship with someone who shared those interests. It also highlights the role that tragedy played in their life, with the loss of their mom and dad's subsequent mental health struggles affecting the family dynamic. The second verse continues in this vein, asking how different life might have been had the parents not divorced, and reflecting on the pains of growing up and feeling the weight of the world around them.
The chorus shifts the tone, acknowledging that while we can't predict what life will throw at us, we can accept the scars and find new ways to live. The final verse expands on this idea, recognizing that while some wounds may never completely heal, we can choose to find beauty in the brokenness and embrace the journey of self-discovery and growth.
Overall, "If I" is a poignant and introspective exploration of the human experience, with relatable themes that resonate with listeners of all walks of life.
Line by Line Meaning
If I hadn't been a quiet introspective kid
Reflecting back, my shyness and introversion helped me be more reflective and thoughtful
If I hadn't been a nerd wouldn't have met with him
Being a nerd brought me closer to my friend, who shared my love for poetry and the spoken word
If we hadn't observed we be the best of friends
Sharing a love for the spoken word and observation helped us become the closest of friends
That preferred the spoken word to the toke and binge
We were more interested in poetry and conversation than in drugs and partying
If momma hadn't died when I was young
Losing my mother at a young age changed the course of my life and relationships
Would me and sis have been so tight from jump
If my mother hadn't died, my relationship with my sister might have been different
If dad had not lost his mind to a disease
My father's mental illness had a profound impact on my childhood and life
Would I be up here askin ya'll to notice me
My experiences with loss and hardship have motivated me to seek recognition through my art
In the dark times didn't know where the path went
During difficult times, it was hard to see a clear way forward
I was close to the edge like Grand Master Flash said
My struggles felt overwhelming, and I was close to giving up
It was the hands of my friends who held me back
My friends supported me and prevented me from falling even further
Without them I'd MJ keep slide'n backwards
Without my friends, I might have continued to struggle and not made progress
Or be a hypocrite like some others have been
I could have acted like others who pretended to be successful or happy despite their struggles
If that and the other hadn't happened
Thinking about how different my life might have been if various things hadn't happened
I don't know that I'd be Brer Rabbit
Without the trials I've faced, I might not be who I am today
Askin how many ifs between hero and has-been?
Wondering how our past experiences and choices shape our ultimate success or failure
If I had only known that I would be a lamb to the slaughter
If I had known how difficult my life would be, I might have been more fearful or hesitant
now I know
Reflecting on how the past shapes our present and future
If I hadn't grown up in the 80's
Thinking about how different my life would be if I had been born in a different era
Experiencing the various things that made me
The events and cultural experiences of my upbringing helped define who I am
Would I still be standing center stage
My life experiences have led me to my current place in life
Trying to innovate new ways to demonstrate
I am motivated to use my creativity to share my stories and experiences
If mommy daddy hadn't turned off Mork and Mindy
A specific event in my childhood had a ripple effect on my life
To inform us divorce was pending
My parents' divorce had a significant impact on me and my family
Would him and me have spent these 23 years in a frenzy
My life might have been significantly different if my parents had not divorced
Moving back and forth with such forceful energy
The constant changes and instability of my childhood were difficult to navigate
I remember when I was a little baby
Reflecting on my earliest experiences and memories
Lying there alone on my pillow casing
Feeling isolated and alone from a young age
Upset already I could feel the aging
Feeling anxious and worried about the future even as a child
The urge to return was debilitating
Craving the safety and comfort of childhood even as an adult
And maybe I'm still afraid and need to
Acknowledging my own fears and insecurities
Cry a little harder for the world of play things
Longing for a simpler, more carefree time
Stop looking back on these silly day dreams
Recognizing the need to focus on the present rather than longing for the past
Sing along with me if you feel the same way
Inviting others to join in this shared experience of nostalgia and longing
If I had known what awaited was unplanned
Considering how different my life might have been if I had known about the challenges and hardships ahead
If I had known the blade was in a loved one's hand
Realizing how unforeseen events and choices can have devastating consequences
If I had known of the possible injury
Reflecting on how knowing the potential consequences of our actions might change our choices
If I had known the altar was meant for me
Contemplating the role of fate and destiny in our lives
Now I know nobody can predict events
Recognizing the unpredictability and uncertainty of life
Now I know there's cracks in the picket fence
Acknowledging the flaws and imperfections in our lives
Now I know that something else can exist
Realizing that there is always potential for growth and change
Now I know a life can be built from this
Finding meaning and purpose in our struggles and hardships
If I had known emotions would still remain
Reflecting on how the emotions surrounding difficult events can stay with us for a lifetime
If I had known that time wouldn't heal the pain
Realizing that the passage of time does not always make things easier or less painful
If I had known the intent of the injury
Considering how understanding the motives of others might change how we cope with their actions
If I had known the altar wasn't meant for me
Contemplating the possibility that our struggles might not have a greater purpose or meaning
Now I know there's treasure hidden in these scars
Discovering strength and resilience within ourselves through our experiences and hardships
Now I know there's presence in an empty yard
Finding beauty and meaning in simplicity and emptiness
Now I know what it took for me to survive
Recognizing the strength and perseverance it took to overcome challenges and hardships
Now I know where to go to become alive
Finding direction and hope for the future in our past struggles and experiences
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDREW MICHAEL GUERRERO, JAMES ALEXANDER LAURIE, JESSE TAYLOR WALKER, KENNETH FREDRICK ORTIZ, MACKENZIE ALLYN ROBERTS, STEPHEN MALLOY BRACKETT
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