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.”
Swearsong
Heiruspecs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trap-jaw tap (snap)
Raw rap track, leave your cracked maw jacked on the floor, take a nap
Black, white, red, said all over, got slapped with the newspaper-type
Flavor (whap!)
To the back of the headline, needle teeters on the redline
No thread binds me to keeping decent bedtime
Double ended candle burner, grab a bit of fluid, turn it into a museum
Breathe and relax
I'll drop it on the page, let me see if it'll freeze in its tracks
I need this, in fact if I quit, I'm a be dead
Sick of being neck-deep n scrubs like an aggravated pre-med
(Felix)
From jump been dedicated,
Talking that rhyme junk
Born out of records, boxes in car trunks
Bred to rap, born to rock like Bruce Springsteen
Louder than Friday the 13th when the blonde screams
Breathing harder, growing stronger
Your girl oughta know, that we can last longer
It's like a condom when it gets broken
You either test yourself
Or for the best shit you keep hopin'
Keep holding heat
And as a matter of speech
This heat could make this to a scene from Normandy beach
That ain't to say that dope girls stay tannin'
Its last man standin'
Reckless abandon
Battle cats spitting battle raps to shatter saps
Ladder game playing
Saying rhymes as laughable acts
Unravel the raps and find some insight or a fuck you
Wordplay so thick that a mack couldn't truck through
Back, back, back, we go
Quarterback style backpedaling
Champion like, always meddling
We always moving forward seeking out the dope shit
You act like a pilgrim for the weak shit your settling
Novice or a veteran it's how you represent YOU
Any way you do it, single or a crew
We always hit hard, got rhyme and reason
Breaking new ground while you pray to break even.
What brain, heads full of trivial pursuit cards.
But alphabetizing and color-coding them is too hard
So just load'em up and throw'em as they come
'Til they blowing back the sun, never holding back the tongue
Like the perfect romantic moment during a slow dance
Or a bisexual oral festival with no hands
Oh man, programmed for jams
Grown too big for these britches, but she can keep it in those pants
Damn, I'm a be in trouble with that double bubble popping like a pair
Of twins split a pack of Hubba-Bubba
Slither, wiggle, shimmy, glide, ride to the fly vibe
It's all right, giggle and jiggle them thighs
Kids with the gift have arrived to provide the soul stirring, no
Slurring, closed current electric flow serving delectable technical
Blows to nose, throat, and sternum
Encourage over the coal burning of slow vermin
In Heiruspecs's song Swearsong, Muad'Dib starts the song with the lyrics, "Trap-jaw tap (snap)/Raw rap track, leave your cracked maw jacked on the floor, take a nap." These lyrics communicate aggressive, hard-hitting lyrics that leave listeners reeling. The next line, "Black, white, red, said all over, got slapped with the newspaper-type/Flavor (whap!)" is a play on words comparing the impact of the lyrics to the impact of a newspaper hitting someone. The lyrics are meant to be thought-provoking and eye-opening, encouraging the listener to think critically about the world they inhabit.
Felix's verses offer a more subdued tone, but still, the lyrics are incredibly interpretive. One of the lines, "Its last man standing/Reckless abandon," speaks to the idea of fighting until the bitter end, even in the face of insurmountable odds. The imagery of "ladder game playing" and "saying rhymes as laughable acts" also speaks to the idea of continually growing and taking risks, even when other people might not understand or support it.
Overall, the song is about speaking truth to power, taking big risks, and standing up for what you believe in. The lyrics offer interpretive insight into the human condition, showcasing the importance of perseverance, taking risks, and being brave, even when the world is against you.
Line by Line Meaning
Trap-jaw tap (snap)
Starting with a bang, this is a raw rap track that hits like a trap-jaw snapping shut, leaving you stunned and wanting more.
Raw rap track, leave your cracked maw jacked on the floor, take a nap
The intensity of this rap track is such that it'll leave your mouth agape, your whole body jacked up, and you'll need a nap to recover.
Black, white, red, said all over, got slapped with the newspaper-type
This rap is so hot that the news spreads like wildfire, in black, white, and red, and hits you like a newspaper slap to the face.
Flavor (whap!)
With a burst of flavor, this rap hits you hard like a whap to the senses.
To the back of the headline, needle teeters on the redline
The intensity of this rap track is so high that it feels like the needle on a record player, teetering right on the redline of its capabilities.
No thread binds me to keeping decent bedtime
I'm not bound by any thread that keeps me from staying up all night making music and writing rhymes, regardless of how decent or practical it may be to maintain a regular sleep schedule.
Double ended candle burner, grab a bit of fluid, turn it into a museum
I'm like a candle burner with a double-ended flame, able to harness my creative energy and turn it into something magnificent like a museum exhibit, with ease and grace.
Wanna see me make a being out of wax?
Want to witness my incredible artistic skills? I can make a lifelike human figure out of wax in no time!
Breathe and relax
Take a deep breath, relax, and let the music take you on a journey.
I'll drop it on the page, let me see if it'll freeze in its tracks
I'll write these rhymes down, and let's see if they have the power to freeze you in your tracks and make you think and feel deeply.
I need this, in fact if I quit, I'm a be dead
This is more than just a hobby or passion for me; it's something I need to continue doing to feel truly alive. If I ever quit, it would be like dying.
Sick of being neck-deep n scrubs like an aggravated pre-med
I'm tired of feeling stuck and bogged down in meaningless tasks and responsibilities, like a pre-med student who's constantly stressed and aggravated.
From jump been dedicated, talking that rhyme junk
Since the beginning, I've been dedicated to this craft, and I won't stop talking about it and spitting rhymes until I've achieved my goal.
Born out of records, boxes in car trunks
My love for music was born out of old record collections stored in car trunks, and it's been a driving force in my life ever since.
Bred to rap, born to rock like Bruce Springsteen
I was genetically designed to rap and rock the mic like the legendary Bruce Springsteen, with style and swagger that can't be matched.
Louder than Friday the 13th when the blonde screams
My rhymes hit harder than a classic horror movie scene, like Friday the 13th, where a blonde woman screams out in terror.
Breathing harder, growing stronger, your girl oughta know, that we can last longer
I'm getting better and stronger every day, and your girl's going to find out that I can go the distance and keep on going longer than any other rapper out there.
It's like a condom when it gets broken, you either test yourself
When a condom breaks, you're forced to test yourself and your limits, and it's the same with rap. You have to push yourself to the max and see what you're really capable of.
Or for the best shit you keep hopin'
You can only hope that you'll come up with the best rhymes and beats possible, and keep striving to reach that level of greatness.
Keep holding heat, and as a matter of speech
Continue to carry the fire and passion for music with you, always, and make it clear in your speech and lyrics.
This heat could make this to a scene from Normandy beach
The intensity and ferocity of the rhymes and beats could be compared to the chaos and violence of a scene from the Normandy beach invasion during World War II.
That ain't to say that dope girls stay tannin'
Just because you're making great music doesn't mean that you're always partying and basking in the sun with attractive women.
Its last man standin', reckless abandon
In the world of rap, it's all about survival of the fittest and the strongest, with no holds barred and reckless abandon ruling the day.
Battle cats spitting battle raps to shatter saps
The top rappers are like fierce cats, spitting out battle raps that can shatter the competition and leave them stunned and defeated.
Ladder game playing, saying rhymes as laughable acts
The rap game is like a ladder game, with each rung requiring you to perform better and better. The rhymes themselves can seem like laughable acts, but they're not to be taken lightly.
Unravel the raps and find some insight or a fuck you
If you take the time to really listen to the rhymes and analyze them, you'll find deeper meaning and insight, or sometimes just a big middle finger in your face.
Wordplay so thick that a mack couldn't truck through
The sheer amount of wordplay and clever rhyming is so thick that even a Mack truck couldn't power through it; it's that impressive.
Back, back, back, we go, quarterback style backpedaling
Sometimes you need to take a step back, like backpedaling as a quarterback does, to get a clearer view of your situation, and then charge forward once again with renewed determination.
Champion like, always meddling
Champions are always meddling, always tinkering and trying to perfect their craft, and that's the same approach I take to music and rhyming.
We always moving forward seeking out the dope shit
We never rest on our laurels, always striving to find the best and most amazing music out there and pushing ourselves to create something even better.
You act like a pilgrim for the weak shit your settling
Don't be content with weak, low-quality music. Act like a pilgrim seeking out new lands in search of something amazing, and never settle for less than the best.
Novice or a veteran it's how you represent YOU
Whether you're a new artist just starting out or a seasoned veteran, what matters most is how you represent yourself and your music to the world.
Any way you do it, single or a crew
No matter how you choose to create and perform, whether as a solo artist or part of a group, the most important thing is to stay true to yourself and your artistic vision.
We always hit hard, got rhyme and reason
Our music always packs a punch, with each rhyme and beat carefully crafted and full of meaning and intention.
Breaking new ground while you pray to break even.
While others are content to simply coast along and try to break even, we're constantly pushing the boundaries and breaking new ground with our music.
What brain, heads full of trivial pursuit cards.
Some people are so consumed by meaningless trivia and pursuits that they don't have any real substance or depth to their thoughts and actions.
But alphabetizing and color-coding them is too hard
These same people can't even manage to alphabetize or color-code their trivial pursuits because it requires too much effort and focus.
So just load'em up and throw'em as they come
Instead of taking the time to sort and organize their thoughts and ideas, these people just throw them out there haphazardly as they come.
'Til they blowing back the sun, never holding back the tongue
These people's words and actions are so powerful and intense that they could literally blow back the sun, and they never shy away from speaking their minds and expressing themselves fully.
Like the perfect romantic moment during a slow dance
There are few things more perfect and beautiful than a romantic moment shared between two people during a slow dance, and some rhymes can capture that same feeling.
Or a bisexual oral festival with no hands
On the other end of the spectrum, some rhymes can be crude and explicit, like a wild oral sex party involving people of all genders and orientations.
Oh man, programmed for jams
This music is so ingrained in my DNA that I feel like I was programmed specifically to create and perform these jams.
Grown too big for these britches, but she can keep it in those pants
I've outgrown my current situation and mediocrity, but I'm still humble and aware enough to know that I'm not invincible, unlike some others who are too big for their britches.
Damn, I'm a be in trouble with that double bubble popping like a pair of twins split a pack of Hubba-Bubba
I'm in trouble because my rhymes and beats are so infectious that they'll spread like a double bubble gum explosion, just like when twins split a pack of Hubba-Bubba gum.
Slither, wiggle, shimmy, glide, ride to the fly vibe
Let the music take over your body and let yourself slither, wiggle, shimmy, glide, and ride to the fly vibe of the music.
It's all right, giggle and jiggle them thighs
Don't be afraid to let loose and have some fun, even if that means giggling and jiggling your thighs to the music.
Kids with the gift have arrived to provide the soul stirring, no
We're the kids with the true gift for music, and we're here to provide a truly soul-stirring experience for all who hear us.
Slurring, closed current electric flow serving delectable technical
Our rhymes and beats flow like a slurring, electric current, but also serve up a delectable technical complexity and skill that is unparalleled.
Blows to nose, throat, and sternum
Our rhymes and beats hit hard and fast, like blows to the nose, throat, and sternum, leaving you amazed and wanting more.
Encourage over the coal burning of slow vermin
We don't have time for slow-moving, lazy people who are content to just sit around and waste their lives. We encourage others to burn like hot coals and move fast towards their goals.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind