La Coka Nostra (short LCN) is a hip hop supergroup from the United States c… Read Full Bio ↴La Coka Nostra (short LCN) is a hip hop supergroup from the United States composed of DJ Lethal, Danny Boy, Ill Bill and Slaine.

Founded in late 1994 with no intention to record an album, La Coka Nostra was more a loose collective of artists connected through Danny Boy than a group. Having taken time off from rap after the break-up of House of Pain, Danny Boy took to working in video production and fashion as well as mentoring other artists. He met Slaine in Boston and, impressed with his writing, brought him to L.A. to record some tracks. Eventually it turned into more of a group effort including the former members of House of Pain and Ill Bill, as well as associates from Psycho Realm, Special Teamz and others. It was not until early 2006 that an actual line up solidified. Plans to release an album were first voiced later the same year.

In late 2008, the group signed to Suburban Noize Records and released the long delayed debut album A Brand You Can Trust on July 14, 2009. The album took so long to complete due to Danny Boy's refusal to have the members collaborate via e-mail; instead, he would gather everyone at the studio. This took time due to the recording of Ill Bill and Everlast's solo albums as well as various tours and other commitments. A Brand You Can Trust features fifteen tracks and guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Bun B, Sick Jacken, B-Real, Sen Dog, Immortal Technique, Big Left and Q-Unique. Though similar stylistically to the group's prior online releases, it features songs grounded more in reality. Subjects touched upon include politics, death, drug addiction, raising a child and terrorism.

On March 2, 2012, it was announced that Everlast would be leaving La Coka Nostra due to his daughter's medical issues.

Cousin of Death
La Coka Nostra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Everlast)
Glory fades and glory days ain't always what they seem
Give all I got and make my salaat and dream my broken dreams
I crawl inside, ball up and hide, tuck my pain away
And hope to God I fall into a sleep where I can stay

We all got bills to settle, we all got a price to pay
And if I make it through the night I can fight another day

They say it's better to burn out than it is to fade away
I just hope to God I can fall into a sleep where I can stay

(Slaine)
It was a couple of years ago that I started becoming numb
No one could understand where all my words were coming from
Having visions of a nine-to-five, a wife, a blunt, a son
Of a life of hustle getting by with some of the running gun
Is it best to be a crumb? My ex says he's a bum
Lashing out in violence whenever my destiny it hung
In the balance, rum, I'm drinking gallons, some think that my flows
Are more poetic than the poems of Edgar Allen Poe
But I know that I'm at a challenge though
I can hold an old Calico to my dome and let my talents go
Shit, I spent my whole life around the violence so
I planted seeds of hate oh I let my habits grow
I slept with the homeless, I copped with the fiends
Lost the love inside my heart, I even forgot what it means
Seen the ripest nights turn into the rottenest schemes
But through it all I have never forgotten my dreams

When the gutters fill with blood that's spilled from friends that pass away
And memories of eulogies while standing by their graves
Just trying to survive we wind up living lives like slaves
I hope to God I can fall into a sleep where I can stay

We all got beef to settle, we all got demons to slay
And if I pray all through the night I can fight another day
They say it's better to burn out than it is to fade away
I just hope to God I can fall into a sleep where I can stay

(Ill Bill)
Rest in peace to my homie Sob
I stand before an altar of open sepultures and coffins
I heard Javier got killed, it didn't seem real
With an army of goons drinking straight vodka to deal
We live and die by the gun, wear our hearts on our sleeves
Even though our compassion's destined to die on the streets
What's left over a cold hollow murder machine
With an appetite for malevolence, perversion, and greed
When one of us dies we don't really learn anything
Outside the funeral doing bumps, burning trees
Plotting revenge, crying over fallen angels
Sometimes your friends die the most awkward strangers
I can't lie, sometimes this life makes me a stranger to myself
But I'm pulling myself together, it's bigger than just me
As I spit this bear witness to truth
My unborn seed listens while I spit in the booth

Glory fades and glory days ain't always what they seem
Give all I got and make my salaat and dream my broken dream
I crawl inside, ball up and hide, tuck my pain away
And hope to God I fall into a sleep where I can stay

We all got bills to settle, we all got a price to pay
And if I make it through the night I can fight another day

They say it's better to burn out than it is to fade away
I just hope to God I can fall into a sleep where I can stay

Overall Meaning

The three verses in La Coka Nostra’s song Cousin of Death are reflections on life, death, and what it means to be alive. The first verse raps about the desire to escape from the pain and be able to sleep peacefully. The artist wants to find a way to live without having to struggle and fight every day. The second verse explores the anxiety and despair that can come from living a life that feels meaningless. The artist reflects on the choices they have made and the paths they have followed that have led them to the life they live. The third verse is a tribute to friends who have passed away and a reflection on the fragility of life.

Throughout the song, there is an emphasis on the idea that we all have struggles to face and that nothing is guaranteed. Glory fades, and we all have bills to pay. It is easy to lose sight of our dreams and succumb to the darkness around us. However, even in the midst of pain and despair, the artists find hope in the idea that they can fight another day.

Overall, Cousin of Death explores the idea that life is not easy, and it is up to each of us to find a way to find meaning and purpose amidst the struggle.

Line by Line Meaning

Glory fades and glory days ain't always what they seem
Success can be fleeting and often it is not as fulfilling as it appears

Give all I got and make my salaat and dream my broken dreams
I am trying my best and keeping up with my faith while holding onto hopeful thoughts despite my struggles

I crawl inside, ball up and hide, tuck my pain away
When I am hurting, I retreat within myself and conceal my emotions

And hope to God I fall into a sleep where I can stay
I pray for peaceful slumber that will give me respite from the difficulties of life

We all got bills to settle, we all got a price to pay
Everyone has obligations they must fulfill, even if it comes at a cost

And if I make it through the night I can fight another day
If I survive until morning, I have a chance to keep going and face whatever challenges come my way

They say it's better to burn out than it is to fade away
Some believe it is preferable to achieve greatness quickly but not sustain it for long, rather than have a gradual decline over time

I just hope to God I can fall into a sleep where I can stay
I continue to pray for peaceful rest that will give me a break from the hardships of life

It was a couple of years ago that I started becoming numb
I began to develop emotional disconnection a few years back

No one could understand where all my words were coming from
Others could not comprehend the source of my artistic expression

Having visions of a nine-to-five, a wife, a blunt, a son
I have a mental picture of a conventional lifestyle with a job, spouse, cannabis, and child

Of a life of hustle getting by with some of the running gun
I imagine a life of surviving through illicit means with occasional criminal activity

Is it best to be a crumb? My ex says he's a bum
I question whether it is better to be a loser and my former partner considers himself one

Lashing out in violence whenever my destiny it hung
I tend to react aggressively when everything that I am meant to be is at risk

In the balance, rum, I'm drinking gallons, some think that my flows
I consume abundant amounts of alcohol to find balance and my rhymes are considered artistic

Are more poetic than the poems of Edgar Allen Poe
My rapping is more profound than the work of renowned author Edgar Allen Poe

But I know that I'm at a challenge though
Despite my talent, I am facing a difficult situation

I can hold an old Calico to my dome and let my talents go
I can choose to die by suicide and leave my creativity behind

Shit, I spent my whole life around the violence so
My entire existence has been one where I am exposed to brutality

I planted seeds of hate oh I let my habits grow
I cultivated hateful thoughts that led to repeated negative actions

I slept with the homeless, I copped with the fiends
I frequently stayed with the destitute and interacted with drug addicts

Lost the love inside my heart, I even forgot what it means
I have lost the ability to feel and understand love to the extent of forgetting its definition

Seen the ripest nights turn into the rottenest schemes
I have witnessed the best nights turn into the worst outcomes

But through it all I have never forgotten my dreams
Despite everything, I have managed to hold on to my aspirations

When the gutters fill with blood that's spilled from friends that pass away
After losing friends to violence, the streets are awash with their blood

And memories of eulogies while standing by their graves
I recall funeral speeches that I gave while standing next to their graves

Just trying to survive we wind up living lives like slaves
Merely attempting to stay alive leads to living a life of servitude to violence

We all got beef to settle, we all got demons to slay
Everyone has an issue to resolve and personal troubles to overcome

And if I pray all through the night I can fight another day
With a night of prayer, I can awake with renewed strength and confront another day's problems

They say it's better to burn out than it is to fade away
Some believe it is preferable to achieve greatness quickly but not sustain it for long, rather than have a gradual decline over time

I just hope to God I can fall into a sleep where I can stay
I continue to pray for peaceful rest that will give me a break from the hardships of life

Rest in peace to my homie Sob
I pay my respects to my friend Sob who has died

I stand before an altar of open sepultures and coffins
I am in front of a display of open caskets and tombs

I heard Javier got killed, it didn't seem real
I learned of Javier's death, but it did not feel like a genuine occurrence

With an army of goons drinking straight vodka to deal
I am surrounded by violent associates who resort to alcohol to cope

We live and die by the gun, wear our hearts on our sleeves
Our lifestyle consists of using firearms and being open with our emotions

Even though our compassion's destined to die on the streets
Despite our sensitivity, we know it will not last in our violent surroundings

What's left over a cold hollow murder machine
We are left with an empty, murderous shell of a human being

With an appetite for malevolence, perversion, and greed
We have a craving for evil deeds, twisted behavior, and material wealth

When one of us dies we don't really learn anything
When a member of our circle passes away, we do not gain insight or receive a lesson from it

Outside the funeral doing bumps, burning trees
We are engaging in drug use and turning to narcotics outside the funeral

Plotting revenge, crying over fallen angels
We are contemplating vengeance while mourning those we have lost

Sometimes your friends die the most awkward strangers
Occasionally, our deceased friends become estranged and distant from us

I can't lie, sometimes this life makes me a stranger to myself
I must be honest, at times this lifestyle makes me unfamiliar with myself and my actions

But I'm pulling myself together, it's bigger than just me
However, I am gathering myself and recognizing that there is more at stake than just my own well-being

As I spit this bear witness to truth
As I rap and perform, I am sharing my own experiences and testifying to the reality of my lifestyle

My unborn seed listens while I spit in the booth
My future child hears and will be impacted by the content of my music

Contributed by Micah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS