unique blend of rhythm based music and direct lyrics – as well as his commitment to his fans – has made him one of Denver’s most popular rappers and has helped him gain a devout local following.
First and foremost, Input is a music fan. His appreciation and passion for rap and hip-hop serve
as the motivation behind his music. Input’s goal is simple: to create music that people, as a whole,
can appreciate and relate to; straightforward music that makes sense. He is known for his ability
to pair unique beats with uncomplicated, personal lyrics – creating music that resonates with
listeners.
Since his first album, Input has demonstrated the work ethic and artistic drive that has made him
such a highly regarded artist. His release, “Elusive Candor,” dropped in 2006 and marked an
evolutionary shift into a new wave of hip-hop. In 2007, Input released "A Radio With Guts,” which
he followed up in 2008 with the fan favorite, "Pictureface.” After a 30-city tour, he thanked his fans by releasing "Unreleased & Unrelenting" and “Lessons Learned” as free downloads.
Input has just released his new full-length album, "Left For Dead." The new album, which
features several popular artists, is Input’s first collaboration with producer Broken. Speaking
to the new album, Input said, “I have explored my deepest emotions and demons to create
something that I am more than proud of. This album will speak volumes of my personal growth
and accomplishments over the past 5 years of music.” With this highly anticipated album, Input is
poised to become an internationally recognized artist – something that won't come as a surprise to his current fans.
A Radio With Guts
Input Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The only channel that can gain a clear reception / Focuses on issues closely linked to my depression
There are reasonable markets for this way of life / Anchoring today and making sure that what we say is right
The corporation's at a place to top the pinnacle / Drain the very essence of the messages, they're cynical
The reciprocal respect that we have shown to them / Is underestimated by the rages and executives
So we fight with our words as our weapons / Stating our beliefs inside the minutes and of seconds
This is my product the shrink wrapped confession / Experimenting with the God's our personal expression
Doesn't meet the credentials and expectations / I didn't think so, farewell to the degradation
The signal used to be clear and informative / Now it wears designer cloths to cover up the porcelain
Let me see you dance and smile for the audience / Isn't this what you've been asking for from the start of this
If it's not, then why on earth are you still around / Living as a poster child, trend setting mindless crowds
Im a vulnerable witness / Living everyday attempting to escape this mistress
As she follows me, she wants me to respond / To her accusations that I've been doing this all wrong
But I just keep walking with direction / Never giving her a chance to see me unprotected
Take a picture 'cause you're bound to forget this / Fame, now see you later, mark me off your check list
Radio lost its individuality / Now it's just a skeleton in need of a battery
No more flattery, just insults and theme songs / Artists only want to be the feature of a ring tone
This here radio is different from the ones you know / The only obligation that'll hold is to express its soul
Raise the volume and digest the music / This radio is inspiring the movement
I remember the radio was my best friend / Blues from the AM came alive through the FM
All the problems of the normalized environment / Disappeared as soon as I, ajusted the entire thing
There were days that I appeared to be unsatisfied / Listening for that one song to bring me back to life
But as the years kept moving, I was still there / Hoping for the moment that an artist showed they still cared
I don't know exactly how it turned itself to this / Seemingly constructed for a teenage driven populace
Every aspect was discussed with the crement / To cut off the lives and dreams of those underneath the cement
So here we are with our stereo equipment / Pushing better frequencies that all of us can live with
The antenna points directly at the north star / Looking to establish itself inside of your car
Radio lost its individuality / Now it's just a skeleton in need of a battery
No more flattery, just insults and theme songs / Artists only want to be the feature of a ring tone
This here radio is different from the ones you know / The only obligation that'll hold is to express its soul
Raise the volume and digest the music / This radio is inspiring the movement
In Input's song "A Radio With Guts," the lyrics express the artist's frustration with the state of the radio industry. The singer turns the dial to find a station that caters to their depression and personal struggles, but even that station has been co-opted by corporations who drain the messages of their essence and make them cynical. The lyrics reference the singer's personal expression through music and their fight to make the industry more authentic. The radio is depicted as a "skeleton in need of a battery," with artists only seeking to be the feature of a ringtone. Despite this, the singer still finds solace in certain songs and moments, hoping for a revival of true individuality in the industry.
The lyrics also touch on the themes of fame and the pressure to conform to trends. The singer describes the "poster child, trend setting mindless crowds" that turn to the radio for validation and entertainment. The artist and their music become commodities, with the radio industry and its executives failing to recognize the reciprocal respect between artists and listeners.
Overall, "A Radio With Guts" is a poignant critique of the state of commercial radio and the struggling artists and listeners who rely on it.
Line by Line Meaning
I turn the dial, this is a radio with guts
I am searching for a radio station that isn't afraid to speak up and address issues that I care about.
Surrounded by empty bottles and cigarette butts
The environment in which I have found this station is not one of cleanliness or order, but rather, one of rebellion and resistance.
The only channel that can gain a clear reception
This station is the only one that can transmit a message that I can connect with on a deep level.
Focuses on issues closely linked to my depression
This station addresses topics that are closely tied to my own feelings of despair and hopelessness.
There are reasonable markets for this way of life
There is a group of people who share my values and opinions and who are looking for a medium through which to express themselves.
Anchoring today and making sure that what we say is right
We are committed to staying grounded in the present and making sure that the messages we send are truthful and just.
The corporation's at a place to top the pinnacle
Big business has taken over, and the messages that once rang true have been diluted and twisted to meet the interests of the powerful.
Drain the very essence of the messages, they're cynical
The messages that were once life-affirming and inspiring have been stripped of their power and turned into empty slogans with no real meaning.
The reciprocal respect that we have shown to them
Despite the fact that we have been attacked and belittled by those in power, we have remained respectful and steadfast in our mission.
Is underestimated by the rages and executives
Those in power have failed to recognize the strength and resilience of our movement.
So we fight with our words as our weapons
Our only weapon is our ability to speak truth to power and to inspire others to join us in our fight.
Stating our beliefs inside the minutes and of seconds
We are constantly striving to communicate our beliefs in the most concise and effective way possible.
This is my product the shrink wrapped confession
The messages that we send out into the world are a product of our own personal experiences and struggles.
Experimenting with the God's our personal expression
We see our work as a creative expression that allows us to explore our own innermost thoughts and feelings.
Destined to become another falling icon
We know that in our struggle against power and corruption, we are likely to face setbacks and defeats.
Stuck in rehabilitation, trying to make the right song
Even when we stumble, we are committed to staying on message and continuing to fight for what we believe in.
Doesn't meet the credentials and expectations
Our message is often dismissed or ignored because it does not conform to the narrow expectations of those in power.
I didn't think so, farewell to the degradation
We refuse to be cowed by those who would demean or belittle us, and we will continue to fight for our beliefs no matter what the cost.
The signal used to be clear and informative
There was a time when radio was a powerful tool for communication and inspiration, but those days are gone.
Now it wears designer cloths to cover up the porcelain
Now, the mainstream media is more concerned with superficial and meaningless traits like style and fashion than with substance and truth.
Let me see you dance and smile for the audience
The mainstream media caters to an audience that is more interested in mindless entertainment and empty spectacle than in serious issues and ideas.
Isn't this what you've been asking for from the start of this
The mainstream media believes that it is simply giving the people what they want, but in fact it is manipulating and controlling them with empty promises and illusions.
If it's not, then why on earth are you still around
We urge people to reject the mainstream media and to seek out alternative sources of information and inspiration.
Living as a poster child, trend setting mindless crowds
Those who follow the mainstream media blindly are simply perpetuating a cycle of empty trend-following and superficiality.
Im a vulnerable witness
I am just one individual in a larger struggle, but my voice and my experiences are important and worth fighting for.
Living everyday attempting to escape this mistress
Every day, we are confronted with the seductive pull of conformity and complacency, and we must fight to resist it.
As she follows me, she wants me to respond
The forces of power and corruption are constantly trying to draw us in and make us complicit in their schemes, but we must remain strong and resist their pull.
To her accusations that I've been doing this all wrong
The forces of power and corruption will try to convince us that our message is misguided or wrong, but we must stay true to our convictions and keep fighting.
But I just keep walking with direction
No matter what obstacles we face, we will keep moving forward with purpose and intention.
Never giving her a chance to see me unprotected
We will not allow ourselves to be vulnerable to the forces of power and corruption, but will instead stay strong and fight back against their domination.
Take a picture 'cause you're bound to forget this
Our message is so powerful and important that even those who oppose us will eventually be forced to recognize its truth and relevance.
Fame, now see you later, mark me off your check list
We are not interested in fame or glory, but in the power of our message to inspire and motivate others to fight for their beliefs and for a better world.
No more flattery, just insults and theme songs
The mainstream media is devoid of substance and relies only on shallow praise and empty catch-phrases to attract attention.
Artists only want to be the feature of a ring tone
Even the artists who create the music that is played on the mainstream media are more interested in fame and money than in meaningful communication or artistic expression.
This here radio is different from the ones you know
We are committed to creating an alternative to the superficial and meaningless mainstream media that actually speaks to people's real needs and concerns.
The only obligation that'll hold is to express its soul
The only thing that truly matters to us is expressing our own innermost beliefs and values, and inspiring others to do the same.
Raise the volume and digest the music
We invite everyone to turn up the volume on our message and to allow it to inspire and transform them.
This radio is inspiring the movement
We believe that our message has the power to inspire a powerful movement for change and to transform the world for the better.
Contributed by Landon R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JEsterCW
6:02 - holy so amazing start... its beggining and im already in love with this album! cant wait to finish listening to it to see how many gems is over there and how great this album is!
@traceyrhoades1219
This album brings life to my soul. Thank you ❣️
@brandanlewis4192
Lil brother sample right off the jump 😱
@user-gk6zj6fy6r
🔥🔥🔥
@GraffingMcEsco619
Tight.👌🏽 I love the use of the melody/sample on the welcome back track.〽️🙌🏽
@brucepiercy6754
What can I say
WOW! Love this
@jasonweber5464
yea yea
@iviko9924
Pls dude add the timetags for the songs
@thebookhiphop
I Will try