They have recieved several Gospel Music Association Dove Awards throughout their career. Their first first was "Rap/Hip Hop Song" for "Alcoholic Plagiarism", from Factors of the Seven. The next year they took the same award for "They All Fall Down", from Grammatical Revolution. In 2003 The Art Of Translation won the award for "Rap/Hip Hop Album", and the following year their song "Believe" from the same album took "Rap/Hip Hop Song". They also shared in the "Special Event Album" that year, for their contribution to !Hero The Rock Opera.
Album list:
1. Mental Releases
2. Factors of the Seven
3. Grammatical Revolution in the Spirit
4. Art of Translation
5. Dichotomy A
6. Dichotomy B
7. Art of Transformation (remix album of Translation)
8. 7 (best of album)
9. Redemption
10. The Greatest Hits
11. Reiterate
12. Quarantine
Labels
Grits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now the reason why they reject such labels is because they are refugees from the rat race which is bedeviled by labels. They are running away from labels, and they don't want labels attached to them. They have disaffiliated themselves from the reigning values of the society so completely that, between the square and the cat, the spilt is so great that the two can hardly understand one another.
The song "Labels" by Grits takes on the issue of labelling individuals, particularly those who reject societal norms and values. The opening lines of the song set the tone, as the singer calls for clarity: "Gentlemen, get the thing straight once and for all." The reason why these individuals reject labels, according to the lyrics, is that they are refugees from a society that is bedeviled by labels. They are running away from the expectations and constraints that labels impose, and they do not want any additional labels attached to them.
The song goes on to explore the disaffiliation that these individuals have from the rest of society. The divide between the "square" and the "cat" is so great that they can hardly understand each other. The "square" represents conformity to societal norms, while the "cat" represents those who reject such norms. However, both labels are problematic in their own way. The song calls for a truce between these two groups, a recognition that individuals can't be reduced to simplistic labels, and that we all have the potential to be more than what society expects of us.
Overall, "Labels" is a powerful commentary on the way that labels can limit and constrain individuals, particularly those who reject societal norms. The song challenges us to see beyond the labels that others may attach to us, and to recognize the complexity and individuality of every person.
Line by Line Meaning
Gentlemen, get the thing straight once and for all.
Listen up, it's time to clarify something important.
Now the reason why they reject such labels is because they are refugees from the rat race which is bedeviled by labels.
The individuals in question reject labels because they've left behind the competitive societal norms that rely heavily on labels to succeed.
They are running away from labels, and they don't want labels attached to them.
These people actively avoid being labeled because they don't want to be constrained or defined by those labels.
They have disaffiliated themselves from the reigning values of the society so completely that, between the square and the cat, the spilt is so great that the two can hardly understand one another.
Their rejection of labels reflects a broader disaffiliation from mainstream values, to the extent that they often have difficulty communicating with those who adhere to such values.
Contributed by Liam T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.