Sumach Ecks was born in San Diego to a Hispanic mother and an Ethiopian father. He has been musically active since the 1990s, when he rapped with Masters of the Universe and self-released some solo albums under the name Sumach. In 2008 he made his first two notable appearances on record: rapping a verse on "Anything Is Possible" (on the album Johnson&Jonson by Blu and Mainframe) and singing on "Testament" (on the album Los Angeles by Flying Lotus). The latter garnered Ecks a great deal of attention, and led to him being signed to Warp Records and releasing A Sufi and a Killer under the moniker "Gonjasufi" in 2010.
Since signing to Warp, Ecks has also released three more records: The Caliph's Tea Party in 2010, The 9th Inning EP in 2011 and MU.ZZ.LE in 2012.
Kobwebz
Gonjasufi Lyrics
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I gave your heart and lungs a new wedding
I came with Hearts while you came with weapons
I came with God whom you are forgetting
Don't aim your problems in this direction
Don't blame Allah for your misconception
I'll play my odds
While you stay caught up in those thoughts you're webbing
Bendless is this animal
The lyrics of Gonjasufi's song Kobwebz seem to speak about an intense and transformative relationship where the singer provides the other person with light and hope amidst their darkness. The first two lines paint a picture of the singer's generosity towards the other person, with the metaphor of giving them some of his Heaven and a new wedding for their heart and lungs. However, the relationship seems to have been imbalanced with the other person bringing weapons instead of hearts. The singer introduces the notion of God, who the other person seems to have forgotten, suggesting that there is a spiritual or religious element to the theme of the song.
The lyrics shift as the singer advises the other person not to direct their problems at him, and not to blame Allah for their misconceptions. This seems to imply that there may have been misunderstanding or miscommunication between the two individuals. Finally, in the last two lines, the singer adopts a somewhat defiant tone, saying that he will play his odds and take number seven, while warning the other person not to get stuck in their own web of negative thoughts. The ending metaphor of the animal being bendless could be interpreted in a variety of ways, such as referring to resilience, strength, or even stubbornness.
Line by Line Meaning
I gave your darkness some of my Heaven
I gave you the hope and positivity that comes with my beliefs
I gave your heart and lungs a new wedding
I rejuvenated and revitalized your emotions and breath
I came with Hearts while you came with weapons
I showed love and compassion, while you brought hate and violence
I came with God whom you are forgetting
I brought the message of God, which you have lost sight of
Don't aim your problems in this direction
Don't project your issues onto me
Don't blame Allah for your misconception
Don't point fingers at God for your misunderstandings
I'll play my odds
I'll take risks based on my own intuition
I'll take number seven
I'll trust in my own luck and chance
While you stay caught up in those thoughts you're webbing
While you remain trapped in your own negative thoughts and patterns
Bendless is this animal
I am strong and unwavering in my beliefs and convictions
Contributed by Liliana B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.