Parents got him taking piano lessons in the elementary music school when he was in 2nd grade, but he dropped out 2 years later because he wasn't feeling that whole classical music thing as that was the only genre they were teaching. He later got some private piano lessons, learning the stuff he wanted to learn to play like Beatles and Rhythm & Blues in general. He and a few of his 4th grade classmates formed a band and became the youngest band in the history of his elementary school, playing school events on the regular. When he got to 7th grade he discovered Hip-Hop and felt totally overtaken and compelled by it's elements, especially by the power of the rhythmically accented poetry(RAP). He soon left the band, started writing and became an MC. His friends were amazed by his flow and delivery since there were no hip-hop artists in his home town Piran(Slovenia) at the time, except him and one of his classmates and they were dope on top of it! They formed a duo called Bow Down and threw the first hip-hop party in the history of their home town. In 1998, Gramatik met his first audio sequencing software on the computer of his classmate's older brother and felt like he got struck by lightening, totally overwhelmed by it! His parents were financially struggling at the time, so they couldn't afford a computer, so he was hanging out at his friend's house all the time, messing around with the sequencer when his older brother wasn't home. 2 years later his parents bought him a computer and the first thing he did was install that audio sequencer! He started producing his first beats and day by day felt more and more compelled by the craft & the magic of it. It wasn't long untill he discovered sampling which became his one true love in the music making process, chopping up all those old funk, soul, blues and jazz tracks he used to listen to all the time and making something completely new out of it was the best feeling ever. All of a sudden his life started to make perfect sense.
In 2006, he and 2 of his friends, fellow MC's, released their debut hip-hop album as a group called 5th Element, which was critically acclaimed throughout the country as one of the best hip-hop albums in Slovenia. After the album, Gramatik felt hip-hop just wasn't enough, that he was limiting himself with doing only one genre while he enjoyed listening to so many of them so he started producing House, Techno, Breakbeat, Electro, Drum'n'Bass, basically any genre that he liked which was anything that evolved from Blues, Jazz, Soul and Funk, as those ''father genres'' were all embedded deep in his style, whatever he would do. He realized that to him, music is much bigger than a genre name and their specific categorization, it's all about embracing what moves you and rejecting what doesn't. He released his first ever track on Beatport.com in june 2008, which was an Electro House track, a remix he did for DJ Vitamin D's track entitled Motherfuckers Know Whos The Best. The track ended up 24 on the Electro House Top 100 chart, a nice surprise and an excellent quality validation for this newcomer. Soon after that he ended up on 40 of the House Top 100 chart with his tribal banger Letz Get Ill while his Dreams About Her EP topped the Chil Out top 100 chart for 3 weeks. He kept releasing different stuff on various labels all owned by DJ Vitamin D which he became good friends with. Not long after his first release stroke the chart, Vitamin D suggests to him that he should scrap up those 20 hip-hop beatz he had sitting in a flash player on his myspace for over 2 years and release them as an album on the new Chill Out/Trip-Hop/Instrumental Hip-Hop label he's about to open inspired by those same beatz he was listening to. So Gramatik does that(thinking he won't sell more than 3 tracks off the album since they were just 2:30 minuets long hip-hop beatz, which are not commonly sold on beatport) and the album he entitled Street Bangerz Vol.1 get's released in december 2008 on the fresh new label Cold Busted. little did he know that the album was gonna catapult straight to the 1 spot on the Top 100 Chill Out chart and has been holding hostage the first 20 spots ever since. Street Bangerz Vol.1 has been a total success, completely unexpected, selling over 50.000 tracks world wide in less than 6 months on beatport alone. It made him realize that quite often, the things that you expect to work the least, usually work the most. Gramatik is now working on various projects while determined to keep up the SB series, dropping one a year, perfecting them volume after volume and hopefully tour the world in due time.
Solidified
Gramatik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't stand for your handy fans
I'm like, stance, for the candid cams
I land in the pan of sands
i am the examined man
I bring, What i need is planned
No seeds when i pinned that chance
I Be what they said i cant,
DAMN
This man is a ppsshh??? right now
my futures only really lookin up right now
everybodies sellin lots of stuff right now
Can feel it in my heart and in my C-
RIGHT NOW
I don't feel the need to stop or slow down,
Callin me a theif, I'm robbin your town
Pickin every piece apart from your sound
They got enough of me, enough to go round
Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Flo-Flo-
Gi-Gi-Flo-
The lyrics to Gramatik's song Solidified start with the artist being called a thief because he is robbing the town. This line may be interpreted as Gramatik not caring about being labeled negatively by society. He continues with "I can't stand for your handy fans," meaning he is not interested in pleasing the masses or pandering to popular opinion. He compares himself to a "stance for the candid cams," which could mean he is taking a stance when it comes to being in the public eye and being authentic.
The next few lines talk about him landing in the "pan of sands," which could represent him being at a crossroads in his personal journey. He is the "examined man" - someone who has been scrutinized and analyzed repeatedly. He brings what he needs to plan and doesn't sow any seeds when he's pinned that chance. This line may mean that he takes decisive action when opportunities present themselves instead of waiting and hoping. He's done what they said he couldn't do and is leaving them in awe.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the line "This man is a ppsshh??? right now," which is indecipherable but adds to the song's catchiness. Gramatik then talks about feeling his future looking up and everyone selling a lot of stuff. It's clear that he's confident in himself and his abilities as an artist. He doesn't feel the need to slow down, even though someone is calling him a thief for robbing their town. He's picking apart their sound and knows he's got enough to go around.
Overall, the lyrics to Solidified are empowering and motivational. They inspire individuals to take decisive action and be true to themselves, no matter what others may say or think. The song's catchy beat and unforgettable chorus make it a favorite among fans of electronic music.
Line by Line Meaning
Call me a thief coz I'm robbing your town.
I am taking your city by storm and claiming it as my own, like a thief stealing what belongs to someone else.
I can't stand for your handy fans
I am not interested in pleasing fans who simply follow the crowd and offer nothing original or substantive.
I'm like, stance, for the candid cams
I am confident and unwavering in my presence, even when captured on candid cameras.
I land in the pan of sands
I am a newcomer and untested force, carving out my place in the music industry like a desert traveler seeking an oasis.
i am the examined man
I am constantly under scrutiny and criticism, but I welcome it all as a means of self-improvement and growth.
I bring, What i need is planned
I bring exactly what I intended to bring, with carefully crafted plans and strategies in place to achieve success.
No seeds when i pinned that chance
I didn't need any outside help or favor to secure my place in the industry or earn my success.
I Be what they said i cant,
I have defied doubters and naysayers who claimed I would never make it in the music world.
And I leave, and they just say DAMN
I continue to exceed expectations and impress those who once doubted me, leaving them in awe and admiration.
This man is a ppsshh??? right now
I am a dominant and commanding presence in the music world at present, with no one able to rival my status.
my futures only really lookin up right now
My future prospects are extremely bright and promising, with seemingly limitless potential for further success and growth.
everybodies sellin lots of stuff right now
The music industry is booming and everyone is taking advantage of it, selling their music in high quantities and raking in profit.
Can feel it in my heart and in my C-
I am confident and assured in my abilities, knowing deep down that I am destined for greatness and success.
I don't feel the need to stop or slow down,
I am constantly moving forward and pushing myself to greater heights, with no intention of slowing down or taking a break.
Callin me a theif, I'm robbin your town
I am proudly claiming my place in the music world and taking over, even if it means taking away the spotlight and attention from others.
Pickin every piece apart from your sound
I am analyzing and scrutinizing every aspect of my music, as well as that of my peers, in order to stay ahead and continue growing creatively.
They got enough of me, enough to go round
My music is in high demand, and there is plenty of it to go around for everyone who wants to enjoy it and be inspired by it.
Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Gi-Flo-Flo- Gi-Gi-Flo-
This line does not have a clear meaning or interpretation, and could be seen as a playful, meaningless addition to the song.
Contributed by Olivia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ptesls818
I personally think anything that Gramatik produces has came out to be gold.
0eNHay0
Gramatik is so awesome....he can even bring me to listen Dubstep
heepofsheep72
I stand for the abandon fans Mic stand for the candid cams I land in the planet's hands I am the examinment I bring what I need is planned No seeds in the plant that jams I be what they said I can't Then I leave and they just say DAMN.
GuidaGalattica
i enjoy their dubstep track as much as their downtempo ones...they should produce anything they like producing, it's up to the listeners to discard what doesn't vibrate well to their ears
FastWalkFilms
This is the first non-Hip-Hop song by Gramatikk that I have ever heard, and I love it.
Travis Varga Films
Doesn't get much more legit than Gramatik!!!! Amazing video for an amazing Producer!
Ben Poole
this videos dope as hell, the imagination it must take to think up this kinda shit...props to whoever it was
Joel Rabanales
At first i disregarded the whole ep, but a masterful artist such as Gramatik has gotten me to appreciate any and all types of music. This is now one of my favorite songs to turn up to. The Monolith is still his best song by far but hes a genius none the less. He is Real Music. Period.
Kris Kuhn
How'd they cut Bokeh lenses so small and precise to make puppets? This is fuckin awesome.
Luka Kačičnik
i love everything u do, keep up the good work! and come to do some gigs in your home country, we miss u ;))