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.”
Lie To Me
Heiruspecs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swing a haymaker left and not rest 'til I beat it to death
Breathe in the best breath ever once I clean up the mess
Yet whenever I step, it retreats deeper into its nest
Just once, I wish to bridge the gap between me and that dude
The man I could've been after I realized that I had to
The type of cat to have past loves asking, "Is that you?"
But that's cool, you still don't recognize when I pass, boo
Together, yet broken, closely at arm's length from me
I sometimes wonder if these epiphanies will kill me
Creeping out of the deep, dark, corners of the real me
Lost moments of speech, snatched away by the wind
I guess it's time to look inside and find a line again
I revive my grin as I begin to spend the five or ten minutes it takes
To dive within and realign my Zen
Ask a poet where a song comes from, he'll tell you the soul
But the detail they fail to unveil is that the tale has been told
It's the air when it's cold, it's the parents that carried you home
It's what's scary in those areas where you won't dare me to go
In my hand I hold the soul of a poet
Hoping to throw it over the moat of Moet, and boats full of heads with no necks
Who protest against my inappropriate openness
Standing at the edge of this precipice, staring at nothingness, just
Abyss
The song "Lie to Me" by Heiruspecs expresses the desire to confront and overcome one's negative feelings and past failures. The first verse speaks of the frustration of not being able to fully conquer these emotions, despite wanting to face them head on. The singer longs to be the best version of himself and bridge the gap between who he is and who he could have been. However, these negative feelings seem to constantly elude him and remain just out of reach. The second verse turns inward, as the singer reflects on lost moments and the struggle to find inspiration. Yet he finds solace in diving within himself to seek out his true self, even if it may not always be pleasant.
The lyrics contain vivid metaphors and poetic language to convey the struggle of confronting one's inner demons. The use of boxing terminology in the first verse ("Swing a haymaker left") creates a sense of violent confrontation towards negative feelings. The line "Ask a poet where a song comes from, he'll tell you the soul" acknowledges the depth of human emotion and introspection that goes into creating art. The final line, "standing at the edge of this precipice, staring at nothingness, just abyss," paints a bleak picture of the inner turmoil and emptiness that can come with confronting oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Just once, I want to poke my negative stress in the chest
I desire to confront my negative stress and overpower it, once and for all.
Swing a haymaker left and not rest 'til I beat it to death
I want to fight with all my might until I defeat my negative stress.
Breathe in the best breath ever once I clean up the mess
After winning the fight against my negative stress, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief and take in the freshest air.
Yet whenever I step, it retreats deeper into its nest
Despite my best efforts, my negative stress keeps coming back and retreating further within me.
Just once, I wish to bridge the gap between me and that dude
I long to connect with the person I could have been, after realizing what I should have strived for.
The man I could've been after I realized that I had to
The version of me that could have materialized, if I had recognized my true potential and acted on it.
The type of cat to have past loves asking, "Is that you?"
Someone so transformed that their past lovers would do a double-take and need to ask if they're the same person they once knew.
But that's cool, you still don't recognize when I pass, boo
Even if you don't recognize me as the person I've become, that's okay.
I wish that I could hold feelings, 'cause feelings hold me
I wish I could bottle up emotions because they help me stay intact and make sense of things.
Together, yet broken, closely at arm's length from me
Emotions are a part of me, but I'm still struggling to reconcile them with my sense of self.
I sometimes wonder if these epiphanies will kill me
I often ponder whether these realizations will end up hurting me in the long run.
Creeping out of the deep, dark, corners of the real me
These revelations are slowly and cautiously emerging from the innermost recesses of my being.
Lost moments of speech, snatched away by the wind
Opportunities to articulate my thoughts are fleeting and sometimes taken away by fate.
I guess it's time to look inside and find a line again
It's about time I check within and discover the right words to express myself.
I revive my grin as I begin to spend the five or ten minutes it takes
I am content as I embark on spending the time to craft the perfect message.
To dive within and realign my Zen
To take a plunge within and restore my inner peace.
Ask a poet where a song comes from, he'll tell you the soul
If you ask a poet about where a piece of music originates, they will say it comes from within the artist's soul.
But the detail they fail to unveil is that the tale has been told
What the poet doesn't explain is that the story or message they're conveying has already been told before in some way.
It's the air when it's cold, it's the parents that carried you home
The source of inspiration for a creative piece can come from simple moments, like the chill in the air or being carried home by your parents.
It's what's scary in those areas where you won't dare me to go
The muse for art can also originate from unexplored and intimidating places that you wouldn't think to venture into.
In my hand I hold the soul of a poet
I possess the spirit and expressive passion of a true artist.
Hoping to throw it over the moat of Moet, and boats full of heads with no necks
I want to share my creative spirit with those who are receptive or thirsty for it, and steer clear from the unappreciative or insensitive.
Who protest against my inappropriate openness
Certain individuals might object to or criticize my artistic frankness.
Standing at the edge of this precipice, staring at nothingness, just Abyss
I stand at the brink of emptiness, gazing into the depths of obscurity.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DeVon Gray, John Harrison II, Peter Leggett, Sean McPherson, Chris Wilbourn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind