He has released two EPs: "Wide Awake" in 2010 and "Waiting" in 2011, as well as his debut LP "The LION Speaks" in 2012.
He celebrated his 21st birthday by being selected as the national support act for hip-hop icon Nas during his first headline tour of Australia in 2009. L-FRESH has also shared the stage with Xzibit, Public Enemy, Chali 2na, DJ Qbert, MC Supernatural, as well as Australian hip-hop artists Urthboy, Pez & 360, Horrorshow, Drapht and Downsyde at the Sounds of Spring Festival, and The Herd, at their anniversary celebration in Sydney last year. He is also an ambassador of The Street University, where he works as a mentor and A&R co-ordinator of Australia’s largest youth drop-in centre.
Survive
L-Fresh the Lion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smile when we greet because we understand the same
Share the same sight through eyes watered with pain
Yet we hold tightly onto our faith and maintain
We speak on each other's life
Share mutual respect and connect because we're one in the fight
Knowing with insight that the battle will test
And we gotta stay ahead of the rest like playing chess
And love can be spread 'cause it's felt universal
Our blood separates us, by faith we're connected
By strength we survive and by courage we're respected
After we spoke we joke about the world's fear
The most peace loving people with unshaven beards
And they wonder why we keep it, it's no secret
Our faith is the food for the soul so we need it, to survive
Where are you going?
Said, where are you going to run to (what's your point of view) (that's right)
To run to? (Where do you come from?)
Where are you going?
Said, where are you going to run to (are you afraid to be here)
To survive? (That's right)
Spiritual genocide and the war is in the mirror
How can life be sweet when you feel so bitter
I grit my teeth and dig deep
With so many questions on my mind, I miss sleep
But never lose sight of my dreams
I keep my faith close to my heart so the light's a high beam
I raise my fist to the sky about as high as can be
And send a prayer out to all of my lions and queens
I bow my head to the Guru that raised me
And pay respect to the saints 'cause your wisdom aids me
We went from fighting with words to fighting with swords
Then surviving the times and now we're fighting with minds
I feel the winds of change and it tends to amaze me
Coming to terms with me means you can never change me
It ain't easy but when you search you will find
That everything tends to pass like time
And so we survive
Where are you going?
Said, where are you going to run to (what's your point of view) (that's right)
To run to? (Where do you come from)
Where are you going?
Said, where are you going to run to (are you afraid to be here)
To survive? (That's right)
Everybody in the place with me
Put your fists in the air where they're meant to be
(Do you have the courage) (yeah)
(Do you have the courage) (yeah)
Everybody in the place with me
Put your fists in the air where they're meant to be
(That's right)
Everybody in the place with me
Put your fists in the air where they're meant to be
Yeah, uh, one more time, yeah
Everybody in the place with me
Put your fists in the air where they're meant to be, yeah
Uh, that's right
So break it down now
Where are you going?
Said, where are you going to run to (what's your point of view) (that's right)
To run to? (Where do you come from)
Where are you going?
Said, where are you going to run to (are you afraid to be here)
To survive? (That's right)
The song "Survive" by L-Fresh the Lion is a tribute to his community as well as a commentary on the struggles they face. The lyrics express the artist's admiration and appreciation for his people and their resilience in the face of adversity. The opening lines convey the idea of familiarity and solidarity among his community, who recognize each other even before they know each other's names. They share a bond of understanding through their shared experiences of pain and faith, and they support each other through the struggles of life.
The chorus of the song reminds the listeners that survival is the ultimate goal, and that one must have the courage to face their problems and find a way to overcome them. The second verse highlights the challenges faced by the community, such as spiritual genocide and bitterness, which can weigh heavily on the mind. However, the artist emphasizes the importance of hope and faith in navigating through difficult times. The final verse speaks to the evolution of the community's struggle, from literal sword fighting to mental agility required to thrive in a modern society.
Overall, "Survive" is a celebration of the strength and resilience of the artist's community, as well as a call to action for listeners to find the courage within themselves to overcome their own struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
I recognize my people by face before I know the name
I identify people from my community by their facial features before knowing their name.
Smile when we greet because we understand the same
We exchange smiles during welcome greetings as we relate to similar experiences.
Share the same sight through eyes watered with pain
We both have witnessed similar sufferings and struggles.
Yet we hold tightly onto our faith and maintain
Inspite of adversities, we hold on strongly to our belief system.
We speak on each other's life
We discuss and share our life experiences with each other.
Share mutual respect and connect because we're one in the fight
We have respect for each other and support each other in our struggles.
Knowing with insight that the battle will test
We are aware that our struggles will test us.
And we gotta stay ahead of the rest like playing chess
We need to stay ahead in tackling our struggles in a strategic manner.
But understand you give what you get, a full circle
We realize that we need to give to receive, hence it's a full circle.
And love can be spread 'cause it's felt universal
We believe that love can be shared and it's a universal feeling.
Our blood separates us, by faith we're connected
Our biological identity may separate us, but our belief system connects us.
By strength we survive and by courage we're respected
Our resilience gives us the strength to survive, and our bravery earns us respect.
After we spoke we joke about the world's fear
After discussing our struggles, we lighten up the mood by joking about worldly fears.
The most peace-loving people with unshaven beards
Our identity reflects peacefulness, and our unshaven beards are a part of that identity.
And they wonder why we keep it, it's no secret
People may wonder why we maintain our identity, but it's not a secret.
Our faith is the food for the soul so we need it, to survive
Our belief system is essential for our emotional and mental well-being, so we need it to survive.
Spiritual genocide and the war is in the mirror
Our spiritual identity is being threatened, and the struggle is within ourselves.
How can life be sweet when you feel so bitter
It's hard to enjoy life when you feel bitterness due to adversities.
I grit my teeth and dig deep
I put in effort and persistence to tackle my struggles.
With so many questions on my mind, I miss sleep
I have constant thoughts and worries that keep me awake at night.
But never lose sight of my dreams
I hold on to my aspirations and ambitions.
I keep my faith close to my heart so the light's a high beam
I hold on to my belief system to guide me through difficult times.
I raise my fist to the sky about as high as can be
I show my determination and hope by raising my fist up high.
And send a prayer out to all of my lions and queens
I pray for my community and acknowledge their strength and power.
I bow my head to the Guru that raised me
I show respect to the mentor who guided me on this path.
And pay respect to the saints 'cause your wisdom aids me
I respect the wise and knowledgeable people who have helped me in my journey.
We went from fighting with words to fighting with swords
Our struggles have evolved from verbal disputes to physical battles.
Then surviving the times and now we're fighting with minds
After surviving physical struggles, we now fight our battles with mental strength and intelligence.
I feel the winds of change and it tends to amaze me
I sense changes happening around me and it astonishes me.
Coming to terms with me means you can never change me
Accepting myself as I am means that no one can change me.
It ain't easy but when you search you will find
It's not easy to find answers, but it's possible when you search for them.
That everything tends to pass like time
Time heals, and everything has a transient nature.
Everybody in the place with me
Everyone present with me in this area.
Put your fists in the air where they're meant to be
Raise your fists in the air with determination.
Do you have the courage
Do you possess bravery and strength?
Yeah
An assertion of agreement.
Uh, that's right
A confirmation of previous statement.
So break it down now
Get ready to break it down, or explain more clearly.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shadowstaine1542
L, just so you know, this song will be playing in my head when I die (hopefully in 100 years). You've created something huge.
@shadowstaine1542
But seriously
@JR-qf9vt
You going to live to 120?
@LFRESHTheLION
Thank you fam! Much love
@dmorrison6371
Ahaha,good on ya,this unoriginal shit made on a laptop,wow
@dmorrison6371
But seriously heeey hoooo,please you ain't naughty by nature lols
@rorymiller2147
THIS SHIT IS REAL. You're the voice for a lot of us L never stop
@BUFFDUCK702
Man how am i only just hearing this now?
This has to be one of the most amazing tracks i have ever heard, hooked from the very first listen.
So much respect!
@BIGHASS
I love the fact that this video is real. You can feel the authenticity ! I salute you L! & thank you for connecting the world through Hip-Hop! I swear your lyrics, your vibe do elevate my mind & I wish I come to Australia one day & rock it out with you guys. Blessings & Salute from Saudi my friend - Proud to know you!
@ieeTube
Your lyrics are off the hook and a great voice. Saddens my heart how we have lost the most lives in the struggle to India's independence but still got betrayed by dirty politicians and lost more than half of Motherland to new country Pakistan, then they took New Delhi also. But to our greatness we still made 80% of the Indian Army while only making 2% of the Indian population after India's Independence from British.