“We started out playing in high school in St. Paul to a crowd of hip-hop ki… Read Full Bio ↴“We started out playing in high school in St. Paul to a crowd of hip-hop kids, thug kids, nerd kids and honor students,” Heiruspecs bassist Twinkie Jiggles says. “Eventually, the school paper wrote about us and said we were the best band out of Central High since Mint Condition. Then we played our first gig in Minneapolis when I was 15 and my dad showed up and smelled weed.”

Not many bands lock into their sound in high school or manage to hang together for seven years, but Heiruspecs has and now the young 20-somethings are seasoned vets. With more than 100,000 revolutions on the band’s odometer from a touring schedule that keeps them on the road 150 days a year, Heiruspecs has steadily broken down preconceived notions of live hip-hop by refusing to regurgitate the same old sounds you’ve heard before, and knock you upside the head with their impressive array of funk, soul and hard-hitting beats. And the band doesn’t cop samples to get to where they want to take you, instead opting to deliver it all live, all original.

All this has culminated in the band’s latest, A Tiger Dancing (Razor & Tie) released September 28, 2004. With lead MC Felix’s fast-lane but steady and assured handle on the mic and the powerful rhythmic backing of the band, Heiruspecs has brought live hip-hop into a new arena. From the countdown of a daily routine that makes up “5ves” to the mid-song break between old-school and new school in the title track, the soul strains of “Heartsprings,” and the frantic anthem of “Fist,” Heiruspecs cast a net that encompasses everything from the Roots and DJ Shadow to Run D.M.C. and Digable Planets.

“We’re influenced by sampler-based production, old-school rhyming and real life,” says lead MC Felix. “But we do everything live, nothing is sampled and we like to keep it song-oriented, to give equal space to the lyrics and the music.”

“When we started touring, a lot of people seemed surprised there are bands who play this kind of music live,” Felix adds. “They’re even more puzzled when we tell them we’re from St. Paul, because no one has ever heard of St. Paul. Ever. That’s why we tell most people we’re from Minneapolis.”

As part of the burgeoning Midwestern hip-hop scene, Heiruspecs first made inroads with their self-released 2002 album, Small Steps, which earned them critical praise in national and regional outlets (“Exceptional ... the rhythm that rocks the spot” - URB), and set them off on their never-ending touring schedule. In their down time, Heiruspecs has been tapped to perform as the backing band for such acts as Atmosphere, Oddjobs, Aesop Rock, Sage Francis and others, allowing the band to cement themselves as one of the premiere live hip-hop bands in the nation.

“The Twin Cities is a very nurturing scene,” Twinkie says. “There’s a lot of clubs, a lot of musicians, and a lot of open minds here. It’s allowed us to be ourselves while also being able to develop our live act and take it out of town to the rest of the country.”

06 A Tiger Dancing
Heiruspecs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Felix]
Rock your body to the bass drum, take some high hat
Stack the energy like a Lego set, read the liner
Peter's got my back, we can give you some of that
Guaranteed to blow the spot like a strip miner
You can find us in the basement
Workin' on that stomp your feet sound, stomp the beat down
Often we clown and "get around" like Tupac

But still find time to rip the shit wide open
Like one of Hulk Hogan's tank tops
You can't knock the hustle and hustle we will
No cheap trick, no frills and no thrills
Just straight forward head noddin' we provide y'all
Make other similar crews break apart like A Tribe Called
My Quest to find peace with streets through beats that won't cease
Is at the very least a beast
I feast on a break then I take my aim
They just look sort of good, they got Kournikova game
(call me)

[Muad'Dib]
Purpose to make kids nervous
Absurd curvature known to come free with any purchase
And it seems to work
I didn't mean to hurt your ego
Webelos scout, keep the kerchief
Wipe your peepers, it's Ebenezer Bleezer's freezer pleasers
Sukiyaki succotash smash your speakers
Hummingbird tongue spun gutter stun gun words, yum
Sunburst Buttersworth, verse one
I've been fortunate for these past quarter of orbits
More of the time bouncin' between joyous and morbid
I'm sore from tug of wars with words and phrases
But sick of abstainin' from stainin' pages with brain drips
Don't strain or else sprain your lips
Feelin' brave, bitch?
Bring beef and leave with braised tips
Smothered in gravy, train wreck the set daily
Your behavior ain't been favorable lately
A veritable barrel of terrible fates awaits how people
relate to you And equate your parables
Mics and lady friends, poke 'em both like they're darin' you
Tongue undulations elate the maritals

[Felix] (7X)
Move tiger, pick up your paws and let's dance
Entrance, mesmerize, and move hands

[Felix]

Seemingly fiendin' like a demon for the DJ makin' me scream it
I mean it, just plug me in ultravenous

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Heiruspecs's song A Tiger Dancing in 2-3 are complex and layered, with each verse packing a punch of clever wordplay and thought-provoking lines. The song is a celebration of the art of hip-hop, and the ways in which it allows musicians to express themselves and connect with others. In the first verse, Felix raps about the energy and power of hip-hop, likening it to building with Lego bricks and mining for gold. He notes that he and his bandmates, including Peter, are dedicated to making music that gets people moving, and that they take pride in their ability to create head-nodding beats that other groups can't match. He also references the late rapper Tupac Shakur, and how he and his cohorts can "get around" like he did, while still pushing the envelope and breaking new ground.

In the second verse, Muad'Dib delves deeper into the creative process, remarking on the highs and lows of being a rapper and wordsmith. He notes that he is always pushing himself to be better, and that he is constantly experimenting with different styles and techniques. He also mentions the challenges of dealing with criticism and negativity, and how he tries to stay positive and focused in the face of adversity. Throughout the song, there is a sense of joy and passion for hip-hop, as both rappers revel in the power and freedom that it gives them.

Line by Line Meaning

Rock your body to the bass drum, take some high hat
Move your body to the beat of the bass drum and high hat cymbals

Stack the energy like a Lego set, read the liner
Build up the momentum and vibe like assembling a Lego set and read the album cover

Peter's got my back, we can give you some of that
My friend Peter supports me and together we can bring the fire

Guaranteed to blow the spot like a strip miner
We will definitely rock the place just like a mining explosion

You can find us in the basement
We often work on our music in the basement

Workin' on that stomp your feet sound, stomp the beat down
Trying to perfect a sound that will make your feet tap along and stomp to the beat

Often we clown and "get around" like Tupac
We sometimes joke around and move from place to place like Tupac did

But still find time to rip the shit wide open
But we always find the time to give our all and perform at our best

Like one of Hulk Hogan's tank tops
We go strong and fierce like the tank tops Hulk Hogan wears

You can't knock the hustle and hustle we will
We won't let anyone bring us down or stop us from pursuing our passion

No cheap trick, no frills and no thrills
We don't rely on cheap gimmicks or tricks to make our music enjoyable

Just straight forward head noddin' we provide y'all
We simply deliver straight-up good music that will make you nod your head

Make other similar crews break apart like A Tribe Called
Our music is so good that other groups like A Tribe Called Quest fall apart in comparison

My Quest to find peace with streets through beats that won't cease
I aim to make music that brings peace to the streets and never stops

Is at the very least a beast
This task is a great challenge that requires intense effort and creativity

I feast on a break then I take my aim
I take inspiration from a musical break and use it to create my own sounds

They just look sort of good, they got Kournikova game
Others may look like they are skilled, but their talent is shallow like Anna Kournikova's tennis playing ability

Purpose to make kids nervous
Our intention is to make the audience feel energized and excited

Absurd curvature known to come free with any purchase
Our unusual and unique style comes naturally and is not forced

And it seems to work
Our music is successful at getting people moving and feeling good

I didn't mean to hurt your ego
I didn't want to offend or put down your sense of self-importance

Webelos scout, keep the kerchief
Reference to the Boy Scouts' Webelos rank and their uniform kerchief

Wipe your peepers, it's Ebenezer Bleezer's freezer pleasers
Clean your eyes, these rhymes are cool and refreshing like the treats in the poem Ebenezer Bleezer's Christmas present freezer

Sukiyaki succotash smash your speakers
Our music is like a burst of flavorful Japanese and Southern American cuisine that hits your ears hard

Hummingbird tongue spun gutter stun gun words, yum
Our clever and rapid lyrics hit hard like a stun gun and sound delicious like hummingbird food

Sunburst Buttersworth, verse one
Reference to a brand of pancake syrup and starting the first verse

I've been fortunate for these past quarter of orbits
I'm grateful for my life and the time I've spent making music so far

More of the time bouncin' between joyous and morbid
Often I feel both happy and sad emotions, bouncing between the two as I make music

I'm sore from tug of wars with words and phrases
Making music is physically and mentally exhausting as I carefully choose my words and lyrics

But sick of abstainin' from stainin' pages with brain drips
I'm tired of holding back my creativity and ideas from being put down on paper

Don't strain or else sprain your lips
Don't push too hard or you'll hurt your mouth trying to rap or sing like us

Feelin' brave, bitch?
Are you feeling daring and fearless enough to challenge us?

Bring beef and leave with braised tips
If you try to start trouble with us, you'll leave with a beat-down

Smothered in gravy, train wreck the set daily
Our performances are so good they'll ruin others by comparison and we'll end up victorious

Your behavior ain't been favorable lately
You haven't been acting nicely or appropriately as of late

A veritable barrel of terrible fates awaits how people relate to you
People will not like you if you continue to act poorly, and bad things will follow

And equate your parables
People will judge you based on your stories and teachings

Mics and lady friends, poke 'em both like they're darin' you
We're daring you to prove your worth against us, and we'll take on anything, including girls and microphones

Tongue undulations elate the maritals
Our smooth tongues and playful language excite and please our lovers

Move tiger, pick up your paws and let's dance
Let's keep the music and party going, tiger

Entrance, mesmerize, and move hands
Let the music take over and make everyone dance along

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TRACKS