Born Nathan Thompson in the early 1980s, raised by a single mum and the eldest of his siblings, he grew up in a less well off family in Peckham. Originally nicknamed 'Giggler' because of his tendency to laugh even in the most inappropriate situations, this was cut down to 'Giggs'. He became a father at the age of 21, but soon after spent two years in jail for gun possession.
He is known for rapping slowly in a low voice, which he described as "something different, enough to separate me from all the competing others".
Soon after being released from prison in 2005, Giggs started pursuing rapping as a career, instead of a hobby. Giggs and his SN1 crew started off releasing numerous mixtapes, including Hollowman Meets Blade, Welcome to Boomzville, Best of Giggs 1 and 2 and 3 and the hugely successful Ard Bodied, which featured the street anthem of 2008, "Talking the Hardest". His mixtapes have supposedly sold more than 100,000 units. This success helped his buzz expand outside London, however when Giggs first signed to XL Recordings, the record label was allegedly warned by members of Operation Trident to not back the London Rapper as Operation Trident is the Metropolitan Police's specialist team investigating gun crime within the black community in Peckham.
Giggs released the street anthem 'Talkin the Hardest' in 2008, which helped his growing buzz. The track features Giggs rapping over the beat from American hip-hop artist Stat Quo's track "Here We Go", originally produced by Dr. Dre. He then released his debut independent album Walk in da Park on 4 August 2008. The album had two official videos, for the tracks 'Uummm!!' and 'You Raised Me/Open Up'. Walk In Da Park received mainly positive reviews, and was very successful, selling out in most HMVs in the first two days of release.
Let Em Ave It is Giggs' second album and the first on a major label, under the XL Recordings label. "Look What the Cat Dragged In" was released on 7 June 2010 on XL Recordings, and is included on the album, which WAS released on 21 June 2010.
Singles released from the album include 'Slow Songs' featuring Mike Skinner and 'Don't Go There' featuring B.o.B.. In March 2010, "Don't Go There" entered the UK Singles Chart at #60. Giggs has been working with Atlantas JBizzy and produced around four tracks, "Whippin all day" (which can be downloaded for free from www.sn1giggs.com), "Background Ting" which can be heard on the official Giggs myspace www.myspace.com/trapstargiggs and two other which are going to be available on his album.
Giggs also has his own clothing brand, SN1 wear, including T-shirts, jackets and caps quoting previous lines from his songs such as "Talking the Hardest". These can be purchased from these SN1 store or the SN1wear website 'http://www.sn1wearltd.com/'.Giggs and the SN1 crew have opened a SN1 shop which can be found in Peckham Market. The shop sells clothing lines from the SN1 camp, as well as clothing from other designers. They also sell mixtapes and albums from SN1, Giggs and many UK artists.
Giggs has founded his own record label called SN1 Entertainment, it has not yet been confirmed whether or not it will be distributed through XL recordings. So far the only major releases on this label are Giggs debut album Walk in Da Park and Joe Grind Not Your Average Joe
Now Or Never
Giggs Lyrics
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(And 24k)
(Ring ding ding da ding ding da ding ding)
(Let's go)
Smoking on, like green celery
Trap shit, ice cream memories
Boxes, guys been selling me
Anyway, guys been telling me
That Donny said he might put a shell in me
Incredible, now he's belling me
Just begging it, lies incredibly
Yeah, got me picking the stick up
Ain't no slipping up, nigga, ain't no time for no hiccup
I remember when Poppi hit me up for the pick up
You should shut you mouth, nigga, you should button your lip up
Trousers buttoned up, now I think it's time for the zip up
Got the bottle there, now I think it's time for the liquor
Sticky out, so I think it's time for the stick up
Keep your shoes tied, nigga, you could die from the trip up
Yeah, got that savage kabam
Little magic trick, mixing up the alakazam
Savages, niggas really jealous of man
But the maddest ting, niggas should be mad at ya man
Quick Malaga, Hollowman just ran in the van
Black Adam Giggs, watch how I'ma have up Shazam
On my palace shit, tryna get that palace to land
Yeah, I'm trying, cause, I'ma do as much as I can
.40 caliber, had that .40 cal in my hand
.40 caliber, I'm the .40 caliber man
Challengers, get your peanut butter and jam
Niggas eating here, watch how I'ma cut up the lamb
Yeah, niggas giving me trouble
No one's ever remembered seeing me struggle
No one's ever checking out or seeing the puzzle
No one's helping Hollow when his feet's in the rubble
Yeah, loner, no one's picking up this phoner
No one listens, it gets colder
Jumper on me and it's polar
Studio session and Giggs sober
Trample lions and kick cobras
Amplify and God knows her
Ample trier, I got closer
Yeah, what you telling me, cuz?
Heroin, niggas might be selling the dubs
Had the ice cream, but you couldn't sell it in tubs
Fast forward, now I'm out here shelling at clubs
Buzzing now, now a nigga dwell in the buzz
Man was hating, now a nigga tell me it's love
Little tell tale, now a nigga telling his cuz
Now I'm Hollowman telling nigga, tell all the plugs
Fuck an acapella
I got bitches shaking up their Macarena
I'ma get that visa then I'm mashin' chella
Hollow never fruity but the pack Fruitella
I'm a living legend, 'cause I'm back forever
Never back your brother but you back that bredda
I might back the debit card or pack the cheddar
Hollow keep on telling them, it's now or never
In Giggs's song Now Or Never, the lyrics talk about personal struggles and hardships that he had to go through in life. The opening lines "Melodies, life brings enemies, smoking on like green celery" suggest that he had a lot of enemies and obstacles trying to stop him from achieving his goals, but smoking on helped him cope with the stress. He talks about his past experiences and memories, saying "trap shit, ice cream memories" and "boxes, guys been selling me". The mention of Donny saying he might "put a shell in me" shows his fear and concern for his own safety, which is a common theme in rap music. However, he's confident now that he's been able to overcome all these obstacles, hence the lines "no one's ever remembering seeing me struggle, no one's ever checking out or seeing the puzzle".
Giggs also talks about staying prepared at all times in order to succeed, saying "ain't no slipping up, nigga, ain't no time for no hiccup". He reflects on his past collaborations, like when "Poppi hit me up for the pick up" and the time when he had to "keep your shoes tied, nigga, you could die from the trip up". He's proud of his accomplishments and refers to himself as the "40 caliber man", and boasts about his skills in cutting up lamb and mixing drinks. Towards the end of the song, he talks about how he's finally getting the recognition he deserves, the love he's receiving from fans and how he's back forever, emphasizing the importance of not giving up on one's dreams.
Overall, Now Or Never is an introspective and motivational song that showcases Giggs's ability to craft lyrics that are both introspective and gritty.
Line by Line Meaning
Melodies, life brings enemies
Life is accompanied by adversaries
Smoking on, like green celery
Smoking marijuana, feeling high
Trap shit, ice cream memories
Drug deals, reminiscence of particular event
Boxes, guys been selling me
Packages containing drugs that have been sold to him
Anyway, guys been telling me
Regardless, people still gossip about me
That Donny said he might put a shell in me
A person named Donny threatened to shoot him
Incredible, now he's belling me
Surprisingly, Donny is now calling him
Just begging it, lies incredibly
Donny is making up falsehoods while trying to persuade him
Got me picking the stick up
He has to arm himself with a firearm
Ain't no slipping up, nigga, ain't no time for no hiccup
He can't make any mistakes or delays
I remember when Poppi hit me up for the pick up
He recalls getting a call from Poppi for a drug delivery
You should shut your mouth, nigga, you should button your lip up
He tells someone to stop talking
Trousers buttoned up, now I think it's time for the zip up
He is getting ready to go out
Got the bottle there, now I think it's time for the liquor
He is about to drink alcohol
Sticky out, so I think it's time for the stick up
He has his gun as his penis is erect
Keep your shoes tied, nigga, you could die from the trip up
He warns someone to be careful or risk death
Yeah, got that savage kabam
He has violent tendencies
Little magic trick, mixing up the alakazam
He has a secret method to surprise people
Savages, niggas really jealous of man
There are people envious of him
But the maddest ting, niggas should be mad at ya man
Surprisingly, people should be angry with another man
Quick Malaga, Hollowman just ran in the van
He quickly made a getaway in a van
Black Adam Giggs, watch how I'ma have up Shazam
He will overpower someone like the superhero Black Adam defeating Shazam
On my palace shit, tryna get that palace to land
He has grand ambitions and wants to accomplish them
Yeah, I'm trying, cause, I'ma do as much as I can
He is putting in much effort
.40 caliber, had that .40 cal in my hand
He has a powerful .40 caliber gun
.40 caliber, I'm the .40 caliber man
He is known as the man who uses a .40 caliber gun
Challengers, get your peanut butter and jam
He challenges other rappers to prepare for a battle
Niggas eating here, watch how I'ma cut up the lamb
He warns other rappers that he will outdo them
Yeah, niggas giving me trouble
He is encountering difficulties
No one's ever remembered seeing me struggle
Nobody has witnessed him struggling
No one's ever checking out or seeing the puzzle
Nobody has noticed the mystery surrounding him
No one's helping Hollow when his feet's in the rubble
Nobody is helping him when he is in danger or difficulty
Yeah, loner, no one's picking up this phoner
He is isolated and nobody is answering his phone call
No one listens, it gets colder
He feels unheard and alone
Jumper on me and it's polar
He is wearing a thick, warm jumper
Studio session and Giggs sober
He is attending a recording session and is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Trample lions and kick cobras
He is fearless and can overcome any obstacle
Amplify and God knows her
He is promoting himself and hopes to achieve success with the help of God
Ample trier, I got closer
He has made progress using his effort and determination
Yeah, what you telling me, cuz?
He is asking someone what they are saying
Heroin, niggas might be selling the dubs
Other drug dealers may be selling heroin
Had the ice cream, but you couldn't sell it in tubs
He tried selling drugs but was unsuccessful
Fast forward, now I'm out here shelling at clubs
Now he is successful and performing at clubs
Buzzing now, now a nigga dwell in the buzz
He is currently popular and enjoying the attention
Man was hating, now a nigga tell me it's love
His haters are now admiring him
Little tell-tale, now a nigga telling his cuz
A person who was not trustworthy is now disclosing information to his cousin
Now I'm Hollowman telling nigga, tell all the plugs
He is instructing someone to share information with all their drug dealing contacts
Fuck an acapella
He does not need vocal accompaniment
I got bitches shaking up their Macarena
He has women dancing to his songs
I'ma get that visa then I'm mashin' chella
He will obtain a visa and perform at Coachella
Hollow never fruity but the pack Fruitella
He is not weak, despite the candy inspired name
I'm a living legend, 'cause I'm back forever
He is confident in his abilities and knows he will be remembered
Never back your brother but you back that bredda
He is loyal to his friends and family
I might back the debit card or pack the cheddar
He might invest his money or save it
Hollow keep on telling them, it's now or never
He is urging people to take action and seize the opportunity now
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Jason Neville Thompson, Remmel Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind