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.
Skin
Gonjasufi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who would have known
That I could be so famous
Don't kill me without love
I'm filthy!
Forgive me cause I'm...
I'm filthy in this life...
In my skin, in my skin
Kill me, kill me, kill me!
The lyrics to "Skin" by Gonjasufi are quite introspective and honest. The singer talks about how two years ago he would have never thought he would become so famous. He then goes on to say that he doesn't want to be killed without love and admits that he is "filthy" and asks for forgiveness because of it. He knows that he is not perfect, and he's aware of his imperfections, which is why he feels filthy. He even goes so far as to ask to be killed because he cannot bear the shame of his flaws.
The chorus, "In my skin, in my skin, forget me," shows the singer's self-loathing, as if he wishes he could forget himself because of how imperfect he feels in his own skin. He wants to be forgiven because he knows he's not perfect, but he cannot forgive himself. The last line of the song is a plea to be killed, showing just how dark and tortured the singer's thoughts are.
Overall, the song is a powerful reflection on the singer's self-doubt and self-loathing. It's a reflection on the difficulties of being imperfect in a world where perfection is often portrayed as the norm.
Line by Line Meaning
Two years ago
It was only two years ago when none of this fame and attention seemed possible for me.
Who would have known
No one could have predicted that I would become famous under these circumstances.
That I could be so famous
I never thought that I would be in the public eye to this extent.
Don't kill me without love
If anyone is going to put an end to my existence, at least let there be a compassionate motive behind it.
I'm filthy!
I am contaminated with impurities, both in my physical and emotional state.
Forgive me cause I'm...
I hope to be forgiven for my mistakes and imperfections because I am only human.
I'm filthy in this life...
The sin and dirt that I have accumulated throughout my experiences on this earth defines me and my reputation.
In my skin, in my skin
The flaws and qualities that define me reside within the physical vessel that I carry through life.
Forget me!
I request to be freed from this attention and pressure that come with fame.
Kill me, kill me, kill me!
I would rather be taken out of existence than have to continue living in this tormenting state of mind.
Contributed by London F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.