Whether rapping over a beat, singing over a piano, or creating a song, live… Read Full Bio ↴Whether rapping over a beat, singing over a piano, or creating a song, live, through a loop-pedal with his audience, Kristoff Krane has branded his live performance as an experience bound to resonate with something deeper than our ego desires.

Krane originally began honing his craft as a vocal portraitist in Abzorbr. Later a more established Krane became a co-contributor in two prominent Minneapolis hip hop groups, Rhymesayer’s Face Candy (Eyedea’s all free-jazz-rap group) and Saturday Morning Soundtrack (Ecid, Impulse,and Capaciti); these unlikely parings gave Krane both the experience and credibility needed to branch off, embarking on his own solo project.

With his solo release, "This Will Work for Now", released on Septemer, 19th, 2008 (Featuring fellow artists, Eyedea, Carnage and Crescent Moon) Krane holds his ground on the stage of underground hip-hop, proving his musicianship and readiness to take his listener to the next level.

Krane has not only had an influence on the local hip-hop scene, he has impacted the community; known for his work with youth in schools, and recently published book, “The Other,” Krane has made it quite clear that he has a vision and that in no way will he fall short of it. Krane toured as a part of Rhymesayers’ Face Candy in Summer 2005 and was asked by Eyedea and Abilities to join them for a national tour during the Winter of 2007. Krane recently was nominated as one of the select acts to play in Soundset 09, a festival thrown by RhymeSayers Ent., which over 13,000 people attended. Krane has Shared the stage with acts such as, Atmosphere, Pharcyde, MF Doom, Safe Francis, Buck 65, Prince Paul, Aceyalone, Myka NIne, El-P, Heiruspecs, Brother Ali, 2-Mex, Cage, Living Legends, Tech N9ne, B-real of cypress hill, Dialated Peoples, Aesop Rock, Blue Print, I Self Divine and POS. In 2010 Kristoff Krane realesed two more solo albums, "Picking Flowers Next To Roadkill" and "Hunting For Father".

Kristoff Krane
Kristoff Krane Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hello.

Hello everybody name's Kristoff Krane,
Walk around the town with a pissed off brain.
Naw, not really, I ain't mean I'm nice.
I feed my machine kale beans and rice.
Used to find release in Jesus Christ,
Then I broke free, don't believe the hype.

The type to take a poop on the devil,
Please, do forgive me for stooping to your level!

If you dig, then scoop here's a shovel,
Either hit china or a dirty mud puddle.
Yeah, and there's only one light,
Stuck at the end of the tunnel, I really don't like.
Trying to put the pieces of the puzzle back together
Just to watch them all fall back all apart on my whole life!
Help, help, there's a knife in my back
Looking forward to the time I died to myself in the past.
To hell with the trash!
You only get to Heaven if you recycle the message!
So I, so I? I fell then I laughed,
Trapped in a well full of gas and antidepressants
My family genetics was left with a shred of evidence

That deadened the senses and affected the perception
It's only a matter of time before we clearly remember it
Slowly climbing a ladder to the sky of where forever lives.
Carborator stained cuz the driver let it idle
Passenger up in the back thinking about survival,
Someone take the reins before they take us to a Ohio
And pretend we're in Atlantis, and brand us with a smile.
The cameras are flashin now, I wanna pack my shit up
Move back to Kansas, now tap three times.

And hey, they say hip hop's changed
Why? cause you're listening the Kristoff Krane!
Someone once asked me if I sniffed cocaine
I took a deep breath and said ick, no way!
It's no worse than getting gold chains

Drivin to the club, trying to get more dames,
I rather get knocked out, backwards,
World flipped upside down yelling it's OK
To the actors and actresses who do just that, act,
You lack the passion it's about time to set it straight,
Cause you've been holding it wrong the whole time
Now it's all bent waiting for the right time to die
And I, I don't need to name no names
You know who you are and I hope you feel ashamed
I can tell that you don't feel happy when you smile
Cause the music that you makes like stealing candy from a child
See, I rather hear somebody talk about guns
If that's the life that they came from and
Something that they've actually done
While you sit and criticize, and talk about love in a
Manipulative manner like "Lifes about having fun."

I refuse to take pride in where I'm from
Cuz even if you're talking about Earth,
You're still forgetting about what's above, beyond,
Like a pawn whose been shoved right infront
Of a king in the ring with no gloves on
You got no guts, so how's your brain 'gon stomach it?
You're so afraid to innovate, you recreate what others did
Now I know why you won't give me props
Cause you think that I'm a threat to your pretty, pretty plot.
But it's all good were in the same pot,
And as the heat rises we'll see who makes it to the top.

Hello nobody name's Kristoff Krane
Walk around town with a pissed off brain
Not really I aint I mean I'm nice.
Feed your machine kale beans and rice!
If you try once and fail then try it twice
Eat a piece of ginger, ninja tonight

Walk across city scape, run into the woods,
Everything you though you did, but you never could.
Ay, hip hop's changed!
Play the guitar, Kristoff Krane!
Even if you can only play C, to F, to G, okay.

Hey, say this will work for now
Go pick flowers, by a dead cow

Overall Meaning

In this song, Kristoff Krane introduces himself to his audience with a mix of honest self-reflection and social commentary. He begins by distancing himself from the common perception of a rapper as someone with a tough exterior, instead revealing that he is actually a nice person. He then goes on to explain how he used to find solace in his faith but eventually broke free from it. He takes a moment to call out the devil and those who stoop to his level.

He then talks about the struggle to find meaning in life – trying to put the pieces of the puzzle back together just to watch them all fall apart. He also touches on the impact of family genetics and societal perceptions on shaping one's sense of self. Kristoff Krane contrasts the futile pursuit of fame and material success in hip hop culture with the idea of recycling a message of hope for a better world. He urges his listeners to speak their truth and innovate, rather than replicating what others have already done.

One of the recurring themes in the song is the idea of trying, failing, and trying again. Kristoff Krane emphasizes the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. He also encourages his listeners to find their own creative outlets, even if it means playing just a few basic guitar chords or picking flowers by a dead cow.

Line by Line Meaning

Hello everybody name's Kristoff Krane,
Introducing himself to the listeners.

Walk around the town with a pissed off brain.
Feeling frustrated and upset with the world around him.

Naw, not really, I ain't mean I'm nice.
Clarifying that he is not actually mean, despite feeling upset.

I feed my machine kale beans and rice.
Making healthy food choices to fuel his body and mind.

Used to find release in Jesus Christ,
Previously found comfort and solace in religious beliefs.

Then I broke free, don't believe the hype.
Broke away from religious beliefs and warning against the dangers of blindly following propaganda.

The type to take a poop on the devil,
Asserting dominance and not being afraid to challenge evil forces.

Please, do forgive me for stooping to your level!
Apologizing for meeting negativity with negativity.

If you dig, then scoop here's a shovel,
Encouraging others to take action if they want to make progress or find something.

Either hit china or a dirty mud puddle.
There are two extremes, either achieving something great or falling short.

Yeah, and there's only one light,
Feeling like there is only one source of hope or direction in life.

Stuck at the end of the tunnel, I really don't like.
Feeling trapped and unhappy with the current situation.

Trying to put the pieces of the puzzle back together
Striving to make sense of one's experiences and find a sense of clarity.

Just to watch them all fall back all apart on my whole life!
Feeling defeated when attempts to find clarity or meaning fail.

Help, help, there's a knife in my back
Feeling betrayed and hurt by others.

Looking forward to the time I died to myself in the past.
Longing for a time when one was more carefree and less burdened by past experiences.

To hell with the trash!
Not wanting to waste any energy or attention on negativity or deceitful people.

You only get to Heaven if you recycle the message!
Believing in the importance of spreading positive messages and lifting each other up.

So I, so I? I fell then I laughed,
Finding humor in one's failures or hardships.

Trapped in a well full of gas and antidepressants
Feeling stuck and overwhelmed by mental health challenges.

My family genetics was left with a shred of evidence
Believing that one's upbringing and family history can have lasting impacts on one's life.

That deadened the senses and affected the perception
Acknowledging the negative effects of past experiences on one's current state of mind.

It's only a matter of time before we clearly remember it
Believing that eventually, one will make sense of past experiences and find clarity.

Slowly climbing a ladder to the sky of where forever lives.
Working towards long-term goals and aspirations.

Carborator stained cuz the driver let it idle
Metaphor for feeling unmotivated and stuck in one's current situation.

Passenger up in the back thinking about survival,
Feeling worried and preoccupied with one's own well-being.

Someone take the reins before they take us to a Ohio
Asking for help to prevent being led astray or towards negative outcomes.

And pretend we're in Atlantis, and brand us with a smile.
Being deceived or misled with false promises of happiness.

The cameras are flashin now, I wanna pack my shit up
Feeling uncomfortable with the spotlight or attention.

Move back to Kansas, now tap three times.
Longing for a simpler life away from the stresses and pressures of the music industry.

And hey, they say hip hop's changed
Acknowledging that hip hop music has evolved and shifted over time.

Why? cause you're listening the Kristoff Krane!
Suggesting that his music is unique and different from other hip hop artists.

Someone once asked me if I sniffed cocaine
Sharing a humorous anecdote about being asked about drug use.

I took a deep breath and said ick, no way!
Asserting that he does not use drugs.

It's no worse than getting gold chains
Making a statement about societal values and priorities.

Drivin to the club, trying to get more dames,
Poking fun at typical hip hop themes and cliches.

I rather get knocked out, backwards,
Preferring to be true to oneself instead of conforming to societal norms.

World flipped upside down yelling it's OK
Embracing one's unconventional lifestyle or identity.

To the actors and actresses who do just that, act,
Calling out those who are not authentic or genuine in their actions or behavior.

You lack the passion it's about time to set it straight,
Encouraging people to find and pursue their true passions in life.

Cause you've been holding it wrong the whole time
Suggesting that some people have been going about their pursuits in the wrong way.

Now it's all bent waiting for the right time to die
Feeling discouraged and hopeless about the future or prospects.

And I, I don't need to name no names
Preferring not to call out specific individuals or groups.

You know who you are and I hope you feel ashamed
Suggesting that some people may feel guilty or uncomfortable with their actions or behavior.

I can tell that you don't feel happy when you smile
Noting that some people may be hiding their true feelings or emotions.

Cause the music that you makes like stealing candy from a child
Believing that some music or art may be too simplistic or lacking substance.

See, I rather hear somebody talk about guns
Preferring honesty and authenticity in music, even if it is uncomfortable or difficult to hear.

If that's the life that they came from and
Acknowledging that some people's experiences may be vastly different from one's own.

Something that they've actually done
Valuing firsthand experience and authenticity in art or music.

While you sit and criticize, and talk about love in a
Calling out those who criticize others' work or behavior without offering solutions or constructive feedback.

Manipulative manner like "Lifes about having fun."
Suggesting that some people may be disingenuous or manipulative in their messaging or behavior.

I refuse to take pride in where I'm from
Choosing not to identify too strongly with one's place of origin.

Cuz even if you're talking about Earth,
Not seeing the point in feeling too attached to one's physical location or surroundings.

You're still forgetting about what's above, beyond,
Believing that there is more to life than just one's immediate surroundings or circumstances.

Like a pawn whose been shoved right infront
Feeling powerless and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

Of a king in the ring with no gloves on
Feeling vulnerable and exposed in a difficult or challenging situation.

You got no guts, so how's your brain 'gon stomach it?
Questioning the ability of those who lack courage or conviction to handle difficult situations.

You're so afraid to innovate, you recreate what others did
Critiquing those who lack creativity and prefer to follow trends or copy others' work.

Now I know why you won't give me props
Suggesting that lack of recognition or validation may be due to jealousy or insecurity in others.

Cause you think that I'm a threat to your pretty, pretty plot.
Implying that some people may feel threatened by others' successes or unique perspectives.

But it's all good were in the same pot,
Acknowledging that everyone is in this life together.

And as the heat rises we'll see who makes it to the top.
Believing that hard work and perseverance will determine one's success in life.

Hello nobody name's Kristoff Krane
Playing with the idea of notoriety and the importance of one's name or status.

Walk around town with a pissed off brain
Continuing to feel frustrated and upset with the world around him.

Not really I aint I mean I'm nice.
Again clarifying that he is not actually mean, despite feeling upset earlier.

Feed your machine kale beans and rice!
Suggesting that others take care of their bodies and minds by making healthy choices.

If you try once and fail then try it twice
Encouraging perseverance and persistence in the face of failure or setbacks.

Eat a piece of ginger, ninja tonight
Making a playful suggestion or recommendation for an activity or snack.

Walk across city scape, run into the woods,
Encouraging exploration and adventure, even in urban environments.

Everything you though you did, but you never could.
Suggesting that one may find new experiences or accomplishments outside of their usual expectations or assumptions.

Ay, hip hop's changed!
Repeating the earlier sentiment about how hip hop music has evolved over time.

Play the guitar, Kristoff Krane!
Encouraging musical experimentation or artistic expression.

Even if you can only play C, to F, to G, okay.
Suggesting that any attempt to create or play music is worthwhile, regardless of skill or expertise.

Hey, say this will work for now
Acknowledging that some solutions or decisions may be temporary or provisional.

Go pick flowers, by a dead cow
Offering a playful suggestion or recommendation for an activity or adventure.

Contributed by Tristan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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