Jehst is the best kept secret in British rap and one of the most consistent artists to break out of the UK over the last five years. This man has built a following and spawned a thousand soundalikes right across the country. Top-notch flows, unconventional subject matter and tight beats mean that the product is always at the top of tree, while his stage show is without doubt the best of any UK hip-hop artist.
Jehst is acclaimed for the wide variety of moods, subjects and atmospheres captured in his music, ranging from defiant to reflective to mysterious.
Born in Kent in the summer of '79, Jehst spent his early childhood in Crowborough in Sussex before moving to Huddersfield where he experienced the bleak realities of the post-industrial north, which have been such an influence on his lyrical style. After schooling Jehst moved to the Harrow Campus of the University of Westminster to study illustration and English Literature.
His debut release came in 1999 with the Premonitions EP on YNR, which he co-founded with Leeds hip-hop artist, Tommy Evans. His solo career extended further when he appeared on Task Force's EP Voice of the Great Outdoors (2000) with the track 'Cosmic Gypsies', which resulted in a long time association with Low Life Records. The release of four 12" records on the same label soon followed, while at around the same time in 2002 Jehst was also a pivotal member of the seven man group 'Champions of Nature', whose members included AM, Apollo, L. Dolo, Lewis Parker, Profound and Supa T. The group eventually released two EP's before disbanding, but not before the final release of the highly acclaimed full-length The Return of the Drifter. Issued in June 2002, it was a double release with an accompanying 11-track CD of the same name. This was essentially a collection of previously released tracks and a cross-section of Jehst's work up to that point.
Following a steady rise of success in the underground hip hop scene, a handful of guest appearances soon followed. Furthermore, Shield's had begun collaborating with producers such as Evil Ed, Harry Love and Lewis Parker to further enhance his status as an established figure within the British hip hop scene. In 2003 he unveiled his debut album Falling Down, which featured guest appearances from Lewis Parker, The Sundragon, Usmaan and Klashnekoff. Jehst's next solo installment came in the form of the 2005 effort, Nuke Proof Suit. The following year saw Jehst's production project, Jehst Presents: Underworld Epics come to fruition. In 2007 The Mengi Bus Mixtape was released, accompanied by a string of live shows including a detour of Australia.
Sheild's has also released material under the name 'Billy Brimstone' on his own label, YNR; the same label responsible for many up and coming and established British hip hop artists.
Carpe Diem
Jehst Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Calculate the maths, navigate the maps
Travel through the mind's eye, meditate, relax
Find time and create the space to make tracks
Celebrate the fact, that we escape the traps, laid to catch
The subconscious mind, deceive mankind..
And leave the third eye blind
But my, insight cannot be impaired
For the actuality, stifled by the practicalities of creativity
I seek freedom..
I visualise the scene; I can see the grand scheme
Through these eyes of dreams
My stream of consciousness is liquid tranquillity
A turquoise pool of limitless calligraphy
My brain engaged in sub-aquatic activity
The endangered species released from captivity
To reclaim the rainforest..
And roam the outback, in the clouds we compose the soundtrack
And focus on beats and day-dream about that
The fat-cats scheme but we avoid the mousetrap
It's abstract, as a android's aspirations
Seen through computer generated animations
A rainbow of pixels, in-vis-i-ble to the fickle
Your will too weak, your bones brittle
My flow's the lone trickle of liquid, on the sickle of the druid
The essence of this.. the life fluid
Life.. I pursue it with a passion
Lights, camera, action
Another cinematic adaption..
[Jehst]
When I rise.. and open my eyes.. it's like the universe beginning
I wake at daybreak, the sky's blue the birds are singin'
And even though the earth's spinning
Everything in view, is motionless for a minute as the true..
Colours of mother nature are captured in a freeze-frame
It seems strange I sit back and watch the scene change
I see green planes, and picture my self there
The city restricts me, I consider my welfare
Staring at a grey wall, and even when things get heated I stay cool
The astro-vapours break my fall, I take it all my stride
Use my time wisely and move with the tide
Utilise the wisdom of my guide;
Unify light and dark to balance out either side
We provide stability; a tension and care
My sidekick, the drum that comes before the snare
The psychic, how the premonition of creation
I blocked out the noise and watched cloud formations from the path
Played on the grass as the darkness descends
I discard jarred ends and head for shelter
'cos everyday I'm dealt a new hand
And my crew plan to expand, and see our names on your
News stand in two grand
You can't distract me –
I see red when I'm angry, and red when I'm happy
In "Carpe Diem," Jehst talks about the importance of taking control of one's life and making the most out of it by focusing on the things that matter. He encourages the listener to navigate through the mind's eye and create the space and time to do what they love. He also warns against the dangers of society's traps and the subconscious mind that deceives and leaves the third eye blind.
Jehst believes that freedom can only be attained by seeking it out actively. He describes his visualization of the scene, where he can see the grand scheme through his eyes of dreams. He asserts that his consciousness is liquid tranquility, a turquoise pool of limitless calligraphy. He imagines his brain engaged in sub-aquatic activity, where he is an endangered species released from captivity to reclaim the rainforest and roam the outback. In his vision, he composes the soundtrack while focusing on the beats and day-dreaming about that. He avoids the mousetrap and fulfills his aspirations seen through computer-generated animations.
Overall, the song is a call to action for the listener to seize the day and pursue their passion regardless of what society tells them. It is a reminder that life is short and must be lived to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Calculate the maths, navigate the maps
Figure out the details, plan and strategize
Travel through the mind's eye, meditate, relax
Explore the depths of your imagination, meditate for clarity and calmness
Find time and create the space to make tracks
Make time for yourself and your creativity
Celebrate the fact, that we escape the traps, laid to catch
Acknowledge and appreciate the obstacles you've overcome
The subconscious mind, deceive mankind..
How our subconscious can impact and influence us
And leave the third eye blind
How our intuition can be suppressed
But my, insight cannot be impaired
Despite challenges, personal insight remains intact
I'm visually aware, although initially unprepared
Despite unexpected challenges, I remain observant and present
For the actuality, stifled by the practicalities of creativity
The balance between reality and creativity can be difficult
I seek freedom..
Personal liberation and freedom is a driving force
I visualise the scene; I can see the grand scheme
Imagining a greater vision or purpose
Through these eyes of dreams
Viewing possibilities from a dream-like perspective
My stream of consciousness is liquid tranquillity
The flow of thoughts and ideas is peaceful and calm
A turquoise pool of limitless calligraphy
A boundless space for creative expression
My brain engaged in sub-aquatic activity
Mental activity is active and fluid
The endangered species released from captivity
Liberation metaphor for creative expression
To reclaim the rainforest..
Literal or figurative call to protect and preserve nature
And roam the outback, in the clouds we compose the soundtrack
Exploring new territory and finding creative inspiration
And focus on beats and day-dream about that
The importance of getting lost in creative pursuits
The fat-cats scheme but we avoid the mousetrap
The obstacles and challenges of the creative industry
It's abstract, as a android's aspirations
Imagining the intangible in creative expression
Seen through computer generated animations
Visualizing and expressing through digital means
A rainbow of pixels, in-vis-i-ble to the fickle
The complexity and depth of creativity is often misunderstood
Your will too weak, your bones brittle
The need for strength, persistence, and resilience in creative pursuits
My flow's the lone trickle of liquid, on the sickle of the druid
Creative expression as a solitary but powerful force
The essence of this.. the life fluid
Creative expression as an essential element of life
Life.. I pursue it with a passion
The drive and motivation for personal and creative growth
Lights, camera, action
Metaphorically capturing and expressing life through creative mediums
When I rise.. and open my eyes.. it's like the universe beginning
Each day is a new beginning full of potential and possibility
I wake at daybreak, the sky's blue the birds are singin'
Finding joy and peace in the simplicity of natural beauty
And even though the earth's spinning
Despite chaos and change, finding stillness and calmness
Everything in view, is motionless for a minute as the true..
Finding stillness in the midst of movement and chaos
Colours of mother nature are captured in a freeze-frame
Appreciation for the beauty and intricacy of nature
It seems strange I sit back and watch the scene change
Observing and contemplating change and transition
I see green planes, and picture my self there
Imagining and visualizing personal goals and desires
The city restricts me, I consider my welfare
The complexities and limitations of urban living and the need for self-care
Staring at a grey wall, and even when things get heated I stay cool
Finding calmness and composure in challenging situations
The astro-vapours break my fall, I take it all my stride
Finding support and resilience in the unknown and unexpected
Use my time wisely and move with the tide
Making the most of time and opportunity
Utilise the wisdom of my guide;
Learning from and seeking guidance from mentors and elders
Unify light and dark to balance out either side
Finding balance and harmony in contrasting forces
We provide stability; a tension and care
The responsibility and importance of creating stability and balance
My sidekick, the drum that comes before the snare
The value of collaboration and partnership
The psychic, how the premonition of creation
The intuition and insight that fuels creative expression
I blocked out the noise and watched cloud formations from the path
Tuning out distractions to focus on inspiration
Played on the grass as the darkness descends
Embracing playfulness and creativity in all circumstances
I discard jarred ends and head for shelter
Letting go of past failures or mistakes to move forward
'cos everyday I'm dealt a new hand
The unpredictability and challenges of life and creativity
And my crew plan to expand, and see our names on your
The importance of growth and ambition in creativity
News stand in two grand
Reaching larger audiences and recognition
You can't distract me -
Resiliency and commitment to creativity and personal goals
I see red when I'm angry, and red when I'm happy
Using strong emotions as inspiration for creative expression
Contributed by Samantha D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@FizzyWizzy-sn1es
My teenage years incapsulated in jehsts vocal tones
@moodz8577
jehst is a UK legend
@r3fre5h_iwnl
tune of my life!
@SeverFromWithin
This tune is just so mellow.... just love it.
@verylean
He means he liked the song, so he wrote the lyrics on a desk. People saw them, liked them and said they started listening to Jehst after seeing the lyrics. Not surprising. I still listen to this track regularly almost 10 years on! Peace
@paddy_wax
i wrote the lyrics to this on a desk in the library back in the day, kept coming back to little notes bigging it up and saying that theyd got onto jehst haha old skool publicity works
@WaxerUK
This is a great comment mate, hope to rediscover this post in 2023!
@keldeoh7532
@@WaxerUK or 2020?
@WaxerUK
Keldeoh this is nuts... this track has been on my mind last couple of days, I go on YT to find your comment just 3 days ago! Spooky in these Covid times
@keldeoh7532
@@WaxerUK crazy stuff