Voted "Best Group" and winners of "Best single" at the Lyric Pad Hip hop aw… Read Full Bio ↴Voted "Best Group" and winners of "Best single" at the Lyric Pad Hip hop awards 2005, Foreign Beggars for London are a 4 man crew comprising of rappers Orifice Vulgatron and Metropolis, Dj NoNames and Producer Dag Nabbit.

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

Flashback
Foreign Beggars Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

I was just a young buck, growing up quick
Catch a flashback,we were livin that shit

I grew up on a council plot
Aint have a lot but my jam was cotch
Me and my older bro
Cuz, madre and my pops
We had that dialler box,

Watched top of the pops
These polaroid flicks of ya boy -
'll make you double clock
A troubled flock
The old folk they used fuss lot
More time I felt the belt or the knuckle drop
Poppa was an old school head,
He had a temper on him
Grandma told her, go call feds,
She went December on him
1985 that was the big freeze
Ice skating on road at minus 6 degrees
Frozen to my toe in the snow
On my way to Gospel Oak where I was hoping to go
Shit was a blizzard G
Grinning as the spring time peaked
She brought the summer back
Running home, hoping to catch the end of Thundercats
My cuzzy done his grit in the streets
I seen him push a fresh banger every night of the week
That shit was peak

I was just a young buck, growing up quick
Catch a flashback, we were livin that shit

Used to rock a black bandana bangin Testament, Sepultura
Napalm Death cassette tearin’ the school up
Gorefest, Death, Suffocation and Biohazard
Pantera new Nirvana i was alive and at it
94 caught stealin’ a cd that was at Park n’ Shop
20 kids up in the GM drinkin’ at concord
Murder was the case tape playin up in the U-haul
Hidin’ off the street from police hittin that Newport
Wrote Drop then Sore, 94 baggin that Graphotism
Sparvar or MTN, Chromies was smashing Britain
Big up DDS, ATG Fume or Kilo
Elk, Steaz, Mace bus case with Pete n Vizo, Pera
Classics on my feet hard steppin to Brooockie
Bless Telepalepa, The End, Swerve & Rumba

Ice, Kool, Origin Mak or Rude FM
Big up Det, Skibba, Shabba, GQ, Hyper & Funsta

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Foreign Beggars' song "Flashback" reflect the artist's reminiscence of their past experiences and upbringing. The opening lines, "I was just a young buck, growing up quick. Catch a flashback, we were livin that shit," encapsulate the nostalgic journey that the artist takes the listener on.

The first paragraph of the lyrics paints a picture of the artist's childhood, growing up in a council housing estate. Despite not having much, the artist finds solace in their family and the simple joys of watching television shows like "Top of the Pops" and capturing memories on Polaroid photographs. However, there is also a sense of struggle and pain within the household, as the artist mentions experiencing physical punishment from their stern father. The lyrics also allude to a particularly harsh winter in 1985, where the artist finds happiness in the midst of a blizzard by immersing themselves in the music and rush to catch the end of their favorite show, "Thundercats."

The second paragraph delves into the artist's adolescence, where they explore their love for music and rebellion. They mention bands like Testament, Sepultura, Napalm Death, and more, showcasing their diverse taste in heavy metal and alternative music. The lyrics also touch upon engaging in teenage mischief, such as stealing CDs and drinking with friends. The artist references specific moments and places that were significant to their youth, from hiding from the police while smoking cigarettes to writing graffiti and paying homage to influential figures in the underground scene.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEPAUW ALIX, EBOW GRAHAM, JAMES MILLER, PAVAN MUKHI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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