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
Outro
Giggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Talking bout when everyone I knew used to be cool
Running round brainless yeah we used to be fools
Grab a chain, pawn shop had no use for the jewels
I knew what I wanted had no use for schools
I got kicked out of, had no use for the rules
Then all of a sudden I'm shooting at dudes
A nigga couldn't make slips of the stupidest move
I love Pecknam guess I'm used to the place
Talking bout the trap yes I'm used to the race
Early morning bagging up in a room full of base
All for the love of the taste
They used to come and see me and it used to be laced
Remember when a nigga used to drink Hennessy chased
Now I'm so stressed my Courvoisier's usually straight
A lot of devils in the game but I move with the saints
There's nothing for a nigga to get your movement erased
You lose a nigga man you can't get that shooter replaced
Every way that you ever thought it usually ain't
Im looking outside and its cold out
Thinking how much longer can i hold out
I've had enough and I've said it out my own mouth
I guess its in for the new, throw the old out
Skeletons in nigga's closest let the skulls out
I'm out here on my own nigga no doubt
But if its on niggas strap it up and roll out
Christmas niggas wrapping up your whole house
I 'member back when it used to be hard
Old school days back when we used to be dawgs
Back when it used to be laughs
Bag of weed days back when it used to be halves
But a nigga's gotta step up and loosen the past
I'm holding on too tight gotta loosen the grasp
Is he spitting real shit you'll stupid to ask
When fake niggas can't understand and make stupid remarks
Some niggas even think dumber like moving to clark
Like hes ever portrayed that hes a yute to be crossed
Niggas put faces on and get used to the mask
Then its like they get confused and lose where they are
Rolling with my yute in the car
Hes laughing while he holds a balloon in his arms
Thinking back to when I used to wipe poo off his arse
For him not to grow up like me i'll be schooling his arse
On the road to redemption, there's too many tasks
I'd like to tell my whole story but there's too many parts
But anything you need to know all you do is just ask
Show him guidance so he don't ruin his chance
Cos growing up got me thinking more wisely
Done a lot of silly shit to piss of the almighty
So if I got to his heavenly gates
And I was standing outside do you think he'll invite me?
All for a couple of pound
The big spliff in my mouth and a cup of that brown
A .45 and a couple of rounds
To be the niggas well known to make duppies in town
The street life has its ups and its downs
Even the craziest yute ain't as tough as he sounds
It's just that fear factor got him off of the ground
The last thing he heard that brudda scream now he's stuck with the sound
And you'll never forget that it happened
That's the way it goes down right from ghetto to Clapham
I can't lie I'm upset that's the pattern
That's why every track you hear is infected with passion
I accept the importance
Them mad streets where I stepped in them Jordans
Thats why every time I open my eyes in the morning
I thank God just for blessing my organs
In Giggs’s song Outro, he reflects on his past experiences in the streets, and how his life has changed over time due to his choices. He reminisces about the days when he used to hang out with his friends, who were once cool, but now things have changed, and they’re all going different ways. He talks about how they used to run around aimlessly with no direction in life, grab chains and sell them off at pawn shops because they had no use for jewels. Despite his upbringing and his low-key involvement in the trap game, he knew exactly what he wanted in life and had no use for school, rules or education. He soon found himself in conflict with rivals in the trap game, shooting at dudes and making a risky move that cost him a lot. He mentions that there were a lot of devils in the game but he always tried to surround himself with the good people. He reflects on how difficult his outlook on life was, growing up in Peckham, the stresses of the streets and the pressures of the trap game. He laments how he’s had enough and needs to move on to the next phase of his life, before reflecting on some of the fun stuff they did as youtes: drinking Hennessy and smoking weed.
In the second verse, Giggs talks about growing up and trying to leave his wild past behind. He reminisces on the days when things were a little less stressful, and no one took anything too seriously. He talks about the passage of time and the way things change as people grow older. Giggs references the fear that drives many young people to do crazy things in the streets, and how this fear often gets them in trouble. Yet, he also accepts the importance of his experiences, as they have made him who he is today. Through it all, he recognizes that it is God’s grace and the blessings he has received that have helped him survive.
Line by Line Meaning
I 'member back when I used to get schooled
Reflecting on past experiences of being educated
Talking bout when everyone I knew used to be cool
Recalling a time when associates were once considered popular
Running round brainless yeah we used to be fools
Behaving foolishly in the past
Grab a chain, pawn shop had no use for the jewels
Pawning off items with little value
I knew what I wanted had no use for schools
Not valuing formal education
I got kicked out of, had no use for the rules
Not adhering to guidelines and eventually being dismissed
Then all of a sudden I'm shooting at dudes
Suddenly becoming involved in criminal activities
A nigga couldn't make slips of the stupidest move
Making mistakes with severe consequences
Back when it used to be safe
Recalling a time when circumstances were risk-free
I love Pecknam guess I'm used to the place
Having an affinity for a particular location
Talking bout the trap yes I'm used to the race
Being familiar with the drug trade
Early morning bagging up in a room full of base
Preparing drugs in the early hours of the day
All for the love of the taste
Pursuing criminal activities for enjoyment
They used to come and see me and it used to be laced
Drug suppliers intentionally adding substances to their products
Remember when a nigga used to drink Hennessy chased
Recalling a time of drinking accompanied by mixers
Now I'm so stressed my Courvoisier's usually straight
Drinking alcohol without any accompaniments due to stress
A lot of devils in the game but I move with the saints
Associating with good people despite being associated with bad activities
There's nothing for a nigga to get your movement erased
Being easily eliminated
You lose a nigga man you can't get that shooter replaced
Losing a valuable member to one's criminal activities
Every way that you ever thought it usually ain't
Things not going as planned
Im looking outside and its cold out
Observing the current weather conditions
Thinking how much longer can i hold out
Wondering how much longer one can continue the current lifestyle
I've had enough and I've said it out my own mouth
Expressing dissatisfaction with the current situation
I guess its in for the new, throw the old out
Embracing change and letting go of the past
Skeletons in nigga's closest let the skulls out
Revealing hidden secrets and shame
I'm out here on my own nigga no doubt
Walking alone
But if its on niggas strap it up and roll out
Preparing for potential conflict and being ready to act
Christmas niggas wrapping up your whole house
Attempting to rob homes during the holiday season
I 'member back when it used to be hard
Recalling difficult times in the past
Old school days back when we used to be dawgs
Reflecting on previous camaraderie with others
Back when it used to be laughs
Recalling moments of happiness
Bag of weed days back when it used to be halves
Recalling moments of purchasing and consuming marijuana
But a nigga's gotta step up and loosen the past
Moving forward from past experiences
I'm holding on too tight gotta loosen the grasp
Releasing control and letting go
Is he spitting real shit you'll stupid to ask
Questioning the authenticity of lyrics is unnecessary
When fake niggas can't understand and make stupid remarks
Fake people do not comprehend and make foolish comments
Some niggas even think dumber like moving to clark
Making unwise decisions like relocating to Clark
Like hes ever portrayed that hes a yute to be crossed
Acting like one has earned respect despite not having done so
Niggas put faces on and get used to the mask
Putting on a facade and becoming comfortable with it
Then its like they get confused and lose where they are
Becoming lost in one's own lie
Rolling with my yute in the car
Cruising with a young child
Hes laughing while he holds a balloon in his arms
A child being content with a simple pleasure
Thinking back to when I used to wipe poo off his arse
Recalling past parental duties
For him not to grow up like me i'll be schooling his arse
Teaching him what not to do in order to make a better life for himself
On the road to redemption, there's too many tasks
Realizing the effort needed for personal improvement
I'd like to tell my whole story but there's too many parts
Desiring to tell one's full story but fearing it is too long
But anything you need to know all you do is just ask
Being willing to answer any questions one may have
Show him guidance so he don't ruin his chance
Providing guidance to prevent someone from making poor decisions
Cos growing up got me thinking more wisely
Maturity leading to making better decisions
Done a lot of silly shit to piss of the almighty
Regretful actions that may have angered a higher power
So if I got to his heavenly gates
Imagining a possible conversation with a higher power
And I was standing outside do you think he'll invite me?
Questioning if prior actions would disqualify one from entry into heaven
All for a couple of pound
Engaging in illegal activities for minor financial gain
The big spliff in my mouth and a cup of that brown
Smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol
A .45 and a couple of rounds
Having a gun and ammunition
To be the niggas well known to make duppies in town
Having a reputation for causing harm in the community
The street life has its ups and its downs
The lifestyle has its positive and negative aspects
Even the craziest yute ain't as tough as he sounds
People may not be as tough as they portray themselves to be
It's just that fear factor got him off of the ground
Fear being a motivator for those in the lifestyle
The last thing he heard that brudda scream now he's stuck with the sound
Being traumatized by witnessing violence
And you'll never forget that it happened
Remembrance of traumatic events
That's the way it goes down right from ghetto to Clapham
Violence is not limited to one area, it occurs in both low and high-income regions
I can't lie I'm upset that's the pattern
Feeling discontent with the constant occurrence of violence and crime
That's why every track you hear is infected with passion
Pouring emotion into music to express the frustration with life
I accept the importance
Acknowledging the significance of something
Them mad streets where I stepped in them Jordans
The rough streets where one has walked in expensive sneakers
Thats why every time I open my eyes in the morning
Being grateful to wake up to another day alive
I thank God just for blessing my organs
Being thankful for the functioning of one's bodily systems
Writer(s): Jason Neville Thompson, Isaac Hayes Copyright: Universal Music Publishing Ltd., Irving Music Inc.
Contributed by Aiden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.