The Badman Riddim (Jump) Songfacts reports that Orifice Vulgatron and Dag Nabbit met in Dubai and after making drum and bass for a time they switched to hip hop. DJ Nonames met Metropolis at university in 2000 and the duo joined hip hop and funk band Focused Few and began throwing warehouse parties and touring. Vulgatron was introduced to Nonames through Dj Gizroc, then part of the Mixologists Crew, and by late 2002 the quartet had started performing and recording alongside beatboxer Shlomo. The band released their first album, Asylum Speakers on November 27, 2003. Shlomo subsequently moved on and started doing his own thing with the Beatbox Orchestra and by 2011 Dagnabbit had taken a backseat and was concentrating on the crew's business side.
The crew have released a slew of 12"s and Ep's and really made their mark after independently releasing their critically acclaimed, debut LP 'Asylum Speakers'. Foreign Beggars have collaborated and toured with the cream of UK's Hip Hop movement, with Shlomo appearing on Björk's album Medulla and NoNames having done cuts for Damon Albarn's Gorillaz project. With forthcoming projects with Dj Sparo, Dj Vadim, Dudley Perkins, WildChild (Lootpack), OH NO, Dj IQ, Dj Mentat, Scratch Perverts, and Euphrates, the crew see no boundaries with diversifying their sound.
Foreign Beggars are also renowned for their explosive live performances, which recently saw them tear down Glastonbury, Fabric and Hip Hop Kemp in Hradec Kralove. They have supported Public Enemy, Roots Manuva, Beatnuts, Masta Ace, Grand Master Flash, Talib Kweli, Wu-Tang Clan, Asian Dub Foundation, Last Emperor, Mark Ronson, Ja Rule, Blak Twang, and many more.
www.foreignbeggars.com
Apex
Foreign Beggars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Hook x3)
Set it off, set it up
You are the front line peon and you're getting crushed
Ready the bust mind blow when we take it rough
About to turn your bloodline cold when we interrupt
Ye setting your life in the apex
We got the real fine shit for your tape decks
We bring the heat suttin messy like a study chess
Fully automatic how we spray and fam we staying blessed
We straight devil with a straight pact
Living in the game makes you heavy like I'm playing that
I get impatient like I'm playing chess
Eventhough we barely keep it steady like a way of deck
We breaking necks like the world series
I'm a robber sending bullets as I burn millies
I keep a gun like a buddy for my lactose
Every minute awake is a minute I can't unsee it
And I ain't talking about cash flow
I probably swaggin' or flashing for it, it's not roll
It's foreign beggars step it up to the play
While they dissing to be spending oblivion in a black hole
(Bridge x3)
You don't wanna rock with me
No you don't wanna rock with me
Wa-wanna with me
No you don't wanna with me
(Hook)
Set it off, set it up
You are the front line peon and you're getting crushed
Ready the bust mind blow when we take it rough
About to turn your bloodline cold when we interrupt
(Verse)
Raw, the matter how we came as a team
Hold these doors the instagram of the scene
The jager that flow caustic like a serene blaze
Sworn for your embasy doors come on we're crazy cray
We are at the midnight hour causing our evil
Still a waste in the black glock I don't see you
Emerging out of the dead just pull your guns out full speed
Needing a pull back across the town
It's foreign beggars yeah going old team
We rool so deep of the agent old speech
Spitting projectiles flaws the go go seen
My big red buy these toys the whole globe reach
Faster motive, so slick, no glee
King stay out of the sun when he soak sheets
It's that gunny grip live of the motor tick
All you want pieces of us, you wanna fuck with this?
In "Apex," a collaboration between British hip-hop group Foreign Beggars and electronic dance music duo Knife Party, the lyrics describe the intensity and power in trying to succeed in life. The song begins with the hook sung by Knife Party, where they ask to set things up and take control of the situation. The lyrics then mention setting life at the apex, which means the highest point or peak of one's life. The rappers talk about their journey to success, bringing the heat and being fully automatic. They describe their impatience, likening it to playing chess, breaking necks and sending bullets. They also mention having to deal with being heavy and uncertain, stating that each minute awake is a minute they cannot unsee.
The bridge shows the rappers describing their dominance in the field and warning others not to challenge them. They urge others to not rock with them, and challenge others to try to keep up with them. The second verse continues the themes from the first, talking about coming together as a team, causing chaos and being relentless. The rappers talk about their power coming from the midnight hour, and emerging from the dead to pull out their guns. The song concludes with Foreign Beggars boasting about their ability to travel and perform all around the world, being sought after and admired by many.
Line by Line Meaning
Set it off, set it up
Start the action and prepare for it
You are the front line peon and you're getting crushed
You are the lowest ranking member on the front line and you're being overrun by enemies
Ready the bust mind blow when we take it rough
Prepare for the explosion when we attack aggressively
About to turn your bloodline cold when we interrupt
We are about to terrify you and your family when we intervene
Ye setting your life in the apex
You are living your life at the top
We got the real fine shit for your tape decks
We have the best music for your cassette players
We bring the heat suttin messy like a study chess
We create chaos like a chess game in progress
Fully automatic how we spray and fam we staying blessed
We rapidly shoot guns and believe we are lucky
We straight devil with a straight pact
We are like demons with a clear agreement
Living in the game makes you heavy like I'm playing that
Being in this lifestyle wears you down like a game where you carry a lot of weight
I get impatient like I'm playing chess
I become frustrated like I'm playing a game of chess
Eventhough we barely keep it steady like a way of deck
Despite the fact that we are unstable like a deck of cards
We breaking necks like the world series
We are defeating our opponents with ease
I'm a robber sending bullets as I burn millies
I am shooting guns and burning money as if I were a thief
I keep a gun like a buddy for my lactose
I carry a gun like it's my friend and have it with me all the time
Every minute awake is a minute I can't unsee it
Every moment I'm awake is a moment I can't forget
And I ain't talking about cash flow
I'm not discussing money
I probably swaggin' or flashing for it, it's not roll
I might be showing off or acting cool, but it's not just for show
It's foreign beggars step it up to the play
We are the Foreign Beggars and we are taking action
While they dissing to be spending oblivion in a black hole
While others are criticizing us, they are wasting away in a dark place
Raw, the matter how we came as a team
We are a team that is raw and unrefined
Hold these doors the instagram of the scene
We are holding the doors to the most popular spots
The jager that flow caustic like a serene blaze
Our rap flows are like burning fire that is quiet and destructive
Sworn for your embassy doors come on we're crazy cray
We promised to destroy your embassy doors; come on, we're insane
We are at the midnight hour causing our evil
We are doing evil at the darkest hour of the night
Still a waste in the black glock I don't see you
We are still shooting guns and I do not see any of our enemies
Emerging out of the dead just pull your guns out full speed
We are emerging from hiding and our enemies should pull out their guns as quickly as possible
Needing a pull back across the town
We need to retreat across the whole town
It's foreign beggars yeah going old team
We are the Foreign Beggars and we are still together as a team
We rool so deep of the agent old speech
We have so many members who are skilled at old-fashioned speeches
Spitting projectiles flaws the go go seen
We are attacking aggressively with flaws in our shots
My big red buy these toys the whole globe reach
People around the world are buying our merchandise left and right
Faster motive, so slick, no glee
Our motive is to be faster than everyone else without feeling any joy
King stay out of the sun when he soak sheets
A king should stay in the shade when his sheets are wet
It's that gunny grip live of the motor tick
We are living the lifestyle of holding guns like it's our fate
All you want pieces of us, you wanna fuck with this?
You only want a piece of us, do you really want to mess with us?
You don't wanna rock with me
You don't want to hang out with me
No you don't wanna rock with me
No, you really don't want to hang out with me
Wa-wanna with me
Are you sure you want to hang out with me?
Writer(s): Robert Swire Thompson, Ebow Graham, Pavan Mukhi, Gareth Mcgrillen
Contributed by Mateo V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nebojsa Ivanovic
it off, set it up
You are the front line peon and you're getting crushed
Ready the bust mind blow when we take it rough
About to turn your bloodline cold when we interrupt
Yeah, transmitting live from the apex
We got the real fine shit for your tape decks
We bring the heat something messy like a splayed chest
Fully automatic how we sprayin fam we staying blessed
We straight devil with the face set
Levelling the game makes you heavy like a bayonet
I keep it patient like I'm playing chess
Even though we barely keep it steady like a way of deck
We breaking necks like the world series
Other rappers sweating bullets as I burn millies
I keep a gun like a buddy for my life-blood
Every minute waking is a minute I can earn silly
And I ain't talking about cash flow
I probably swaggin' or flashing if I was mad broke
It's foreign beggars step it up to the plate
While they destined to be spending oblivion in a black hole
X 3
You don't wanna with me
No you don't wanna with me
Wa-wanna with me
No you don't wanna with me
Raw, the manor how we came as a team
Hold these doors the grey-end of the scene
The jagged-edge flow cuts deep like a serated blade
Sawing through your industry doors come on we're crazy cray
We are at the midnight hour, causing upheaval
Silhouettes in the black light I still see you
Emerging out of the depths [?]
Full speed Leading the wolf pack across the town
It's foreign beggars yeah, showing no teeth
We roll so deep of the Agent O speech
Spitting projectiles flows the 'go go' seen
My big red button destroys the whole globe reach
That's the motif, so sleek, mo' heat
Ink stains blot out the sun when he soak sheets
It's that gunny grip live off the mothership
Only one question to ask, you wanna fuck with this?
T00n Visi0n
Even after 10 years Apex is still epic! Still mind blowing that Knife Party and Foreign Beggars made a track together!
Jason BigbamQ
Even tarantulas aren't immune from an ambush. The centipede is a predator.
A N D Y
@Jason BigbamQ that was a golden era man
letmebegin
I'm not a huge fan of Knife Party, but the drop at 0:44 is one of the sickest I've ever heard.
Bvnditi
Can we all appreciate how this song is still an absolute tune 6 years on?
kxnnxdy
10 years on… still a hit
Paisles
The sound design of this song was absolute perfection
Ren
FR
Simon Atherton
Still better than most tracks now in 2023!! Absolute tune!!!
waken
Rap + Electronic= Epic music