As a child, Percy Carey grew up on Manhattan's Upper West Side in a stable family. His neighbor, the famous black actor, Morgan Freeman helped arrange for him to be cast as a child actor on Sesame Street, which he did for four years.
"One episode, I lost my tooth, and me and Big Bird had to go through Sesame Street and try to find it," Carey remembers.[1]
While a high school student, Carey became a drug dealer with a reputation for being ruthless.[2] He followed this career path afterwards along with his passion for rap.
In the early nineties Grimm was known as The Grimm Reaper and was part of a group called The Gravediggaz, not to be confused with the Wu-Tang Clan affiliated Gravediggaz and its member Grym Reaper. During this time, he worked alongside his DJ, Roc Raida of X-Ecutioners. He also collaborated with hip-hop legends like Kool G Rap and KMD.[3]
In 1993, Grimm placed at the World Supremacy Battle, already known as an experienced battle rapper. That year, he released his first 12" single, So Whatcha Want Nigga? and performed at the Jack The Rapper convention on Execution Night, sharing the stage with Lady of Rage, Tupac, and Dogg Pound, in Atlanta. Grimm was soon approached by several major labels.
Murder attempt
In 1994, Grimm survived a murder attempt which killed his stepbrother. He was shot seven times in that incident[4] and three times in an earlier murder attempt in 1986. As a result of the 1994 attack, he was deafened, blinded, and paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors predicted that he would suffer nulled senses and be paralyzed for the rest of his life. Grimm recovered full vision, hearing, and speech ability, but is still permanently confined to a wheelchair.[5]
[edit] Post-hospitalisation
Grimm went on to release several 12" singles on the Fondle 'Em label and also collaborated with MF DOOM on an EP released by Brick Records entitled MF EP. Since then, DOOM and Grimm's relationship has grown into a rivalry.
Grimm founded label Day By Day Entertainment in the late-1990s, releasing the work of independent artists, including MF DOOM’s Operation: Doomsday. At around the same time, he put together his Godzilla-inspired MC collective, the Monsta Island Czars.
[edit] Life in jail
Facing narcotics and conspiracy charges, Grimm was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2000. He paid a one-day bail of $100,000, recording The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera in those twenty-four hours.[6] During his stay in jail, Grimm studied law. Filing many counter-suits, his sentence was eventually reduced to three years and he was released in 2003.
[edit] Post-incarceration
He has since completed his second album Digital Tears: E-mail from Purgatory under his Monsta Island Czars moniker Superstar Jet Jaguar. He is currently working on expanding Day By Day Entertainment to carry both rock and hip hop artists.
MF Grimm has the alias GM Grimm, for Grand Master Grimm. He stated in an interview that "GM is me and Roc Raida," so it reads, "Grand Master Roc Raida and Grand Master Grimm."[7]
On 25 July 2006, MF Grimm released the first three-disc album in hip hop history, entitled American Hunger. The album was originally supposed to be released on 3 July 2006, but was pushed back in order to address contemporary social and political issues that were not previously on the album. The album came out to critical praise and is being hailed as an instant classic. It includes the anticipated seven minute dis track to MF DOOM, "The Book Of Daniel."[8]
There are persistent rumors that MF Grimm penned much of lyrics for Dr. Dre's The Chronic album and was originally meant to be featured on Main Source's "Live at the Barbecue" track, which holds the distinction as being Nas's first major appearance on record. He mentioned in "Sentences: The Life Of MF Grimm" that he penned lyrics for various artists in his early career, but did not mention any names.
In a November 2007 interview on "Fresh Air," Grimm said he had ghost written "way before prison" during his teens when he "was 14, 15, 16, 17." He admitted the reason he doesn't mention names is that the artists would get angry because they would seem less authentic if they hadn't written the raps themselves. Grimm said ghost writing doesn't bother him because it was something he chose to do and knew the outcome of it.[9]
In the Fall of 2006, Grimm appeared on Ill Bill's "Ill Bill is the Future Vol. 2" album. Grimm added his verse to the track 'Karma' also featuring Block McCloud alongside Ill Bill.
Grimm's life story was retold in a comic book autobiography, Sentences: The Life Of MF Grimm, which was released by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint in September 2007. He is also to release a new album called The Hunt For The Gingerbread Man which is to be set in mid-summer 2007.
MF Grimm has recently appeared on National Public Radio to relate his life story and future plans. [10]
Voices
GM Grimm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It changes there's night I'm on a killin spree
All done, cold blood, wakin up in cold sweats
This is such a cold world my conscience getting death threats
Shadows chokin me, my last breath, lets out my body, it's a conspiracy
My mind and my body's not really down with me
Me against the whole world, it's a little deeper
Me against myself, I fight the grim reaper
Schizophrenic, I know this sounds off to you
I do not lie, when I doze off spirits hope I die, whatever
Angels waste they time, they work together
Scheme, they plot on me, 'cause I'm son of man
I hear voices from a dog like Son of Sam
Don't give a damn if the bullets fill me
I don't wanna live, I hope they kill me
Put me out my misery, I live in misery
I kill all my enemies, 'cause I live comfortably
Those who seek me are called wise men
Or either wise guys I pray you comprehend
And realize I'm condemned
No rest, homicidal dreams
My cell mate, all he do is scream
Out loud how he wants to go home
That's funny, I'm here all alone
Locked, in a single cell
His back's bleedin, he's cold as hell
And I'm hopin, they turn on some heat
I call the C.O. to bring some extra sheets
Where he go he walk through walls one halls I pray he teach me
They don't see him at the health try to reach me
I say "please see how he feels"
They said "he's alright, but he's not real"
Evaluation say I suffer from depression
Hallucination, self-? What they guessin
I'm here doin years I'm stressin
Medicate me state me want me to rested
Don't take it cause he said that wont be bested
He said I need his help and he needs me
Nigga you walk through walls, go home you're free
Home, that was far and he was turned off
'Cause his wings were burned off
A lesson was learned, communicated with one
I was chosen 'cause I've got sun
[And I'm the retarded one!]
The lyrics of GM Grimm's song "Voices" describe the internal struggles and mental turmoil that the singer is experiencing. He is plagued by homicidal dreams and experiences his own mind and body turning against him. He feels as though he is in a conspiracy and hears voices of angels and spirits that want him to die. He is condemned and lives in misery, killing his enemies to maintain a sense of comfort. He is trapped in a single cell and is haunted by his cell mate who walks through walls, which nobody else sees. Despite being diagnosed with depression and hallucinations, he is not being properly aided or medicated. The lyrics offer a glimpse into the mind of someone suffering from mental illness and the lack of proper treatment that they often receive.
Line by Line Meaning
Tossin turnin, dreams of murder someone's killin me
I'm having nightmares of being killed, and every time they are different.
It changes there's night I'm on a killin spree
Sometimes I dream of being a murderer myself.
All done, cold blood, wakin up in cold sweats
When I wake from these dreams, I'm sweating and full of anxiety.
This is such a cold world my conscience getting death threats
The world is harsh and unforgiving, and it's starting to affect my mental health.
Shadows chokin me, my last breath, lets out my body, it's a conspiracy
I feel like there's some outside force trying to harm or control me.
My mind and my body's not really down with me
I feel like I'm fighting against myself.
Me against the whole world, it's a little deeper
I feel like the whole world is against me, and there's more going on than what's on the surface.
Me against myself, I fight the grim reaper
I'm struggling with my own mortality and constantly battling my own demons.
Swing sickle I got my glock bust rounds off demented
I'm so mixed up and confused that my actions are violent and unpredictable.
Schizophrenic, I know this sounds off to you
I know I may sound crazy, but this is my reality.
I do not lie, when I doze off spirits hope I die, whatever
When I sleep, I feel like I'm being tormented by demons or spirits.
Angels waste they time, they work together
I don't believe in angels or divine interventions to help me.
Scheme, they plot on me, 'cause I'm son of man
There are people who are actively trying to harm me because of my human nature.
I hear voices from a dog like Son of Sam
I'm hearing voices that are telling me to do violent things.
Don't give a damn if the bullets fill me
I don't care if I die violently.
I don't wanna live, I hope they kill me
I don't see any reason to keep living.
Put me out my misery, I live in misery
My life is so miserable that I'd rather die than keep living like this.
I kill all my enemies, 'cause I live comfortably
I don't have any enemies, but I feel like I would kill them if I did- and I'd feel comfortable doing so.
Those who seek me are called wise men
People who try to understand me are smart.
Or either wise guys I pray you comprehend
I hope you don't think I'm joking, because this is serious.
And realize I'm condemned
I feel like I'm doomed to suffer for the rest of my life.
No rest, homicidal dreams
I can't sleep because I'm having violent and bloody nightmares.
My cell mate, all he do is scream
The person in the cell next to me is constantly screaming.
Out loud how he wants to go home
He's yelling about how he wants to leave this place.
That's funny, I'm here all alone
I'm here too, but I feel so alone and isolated.
Locked, in a single cell
I'm trapped here with nowhere to go.
His back's bleedin, he's cold as hell
He's injured and freezing, but nobody seems to care.
And I'm hopin, they turn on some heat
I'm hoping they'll take care of basic needs like heat and warm blankets.
I call the C.O. to bring some extra sheets
I ask the guards for help, but they seem indifferent.
Where he go he walk through walls one halls I pray he teach me
I'm starting to believe in ghosts, and I wish I could walk through walls like he did.
They don't see him at the health try to reach me
Nobody seems to believe me when I tell them about the ghost I see.
I say "please see how he feels"
I ask the guards to take care of the ghost like they would take care of any other prisoner.
They said "he's alright, but he's not real"
They dismiss my concerns and say that the ghost isn't real.
Evaluation say I suffer from depression
I've been diagnosed with depression by the doctors here.
Hallucination, self-? What they guessin
They don't believe me when I tell them about the things I see or hear because they think it's just in my head.
I'm here doin years I'm stressin
I'm trapped in this place for years and it's causing me a lot of stress and anxiety.
Medicate me state me want me to rested
They want to medicate me to make me more docile and easier to control.
Don't take it cause he said that wont be bested
I'm hesitant to take the medication because I'm not sure if it will really help me.
He said I need his help and he needs me
The ghost has been talking to me, saying that he needs my help as much as I need his.
Nigga you walk through walls, go home you're free
I try to help the ghost, telling him that he's already free because he can walk through walls.
Home, that was far and he was turned off
The ghost tells me that he's not really interested in going home anymore - he's resigned himself to being a ghost.
'Cause his wings were burned off
He can't fly anymore because something burned off his wings.
A lesson was learned, communicated with one
The ghost and I have learned something from each other through our conversations.
I was chosen 'cause I've got sun
The ghost chose to communicate with me because I have a certain brightness or power that he can sense.
[And I'm the retarded one!]
This final line is likely sarcastic, implying the opposite - that the artist is actually quite intelligent but those around him don't understand.
Contributed by Adeline D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
cowboy burning a house
Best song on the album 🔥
Bernd Huber
masterpiece
Chris Reed
The beat is killa