The two first showed off their skills with the 1993 release of "Send Them". In 1996, their track, fittingly named "Latyrx", debuted via Solesides. The song featured both MCs rapping with their own unique styles over the same beat with both raps being layered on top of each other and played simultaneously to create a cacophony of rhythm and style unlike anything before it.
In 1997, The Album debuted. It was a mixture of solo tracks from each, with a few tracks featuring both. Chief Xcel, part of the Quannum Projects and Blackalicious, was featured on two of the tracks. The album got great reviews for being adventurous and creative. The Album was followed by "The Muzrapper's Mix" in 1998, which had tracks including the legendary Latyrx song, "Lady Don't Tek No". Shortly after, Solesides Collective was transformed into the current "Quannum Projects".
Lyrics Born and Lateef have since gone on to do their own projects. Lyrics Born has released several solo albums while Lateef has worked with many artists including Mos Def and Fatboy Slim. The two have joined forces a few times such as for the song "The Last Trumpet" on Lyrics Born's debut album, "Later That Day" and the song "8 Point Agenda" found on Lyrics Born's mix tape, The Lyrics Born Variety Show: Season One.
While the promise of a Latyrx reunion is inevitable, the actual realization of a new album by these two MCs remains up in the air as both continue to expand their horizons respectively with their own solo careers.
Cloud 9
Latyrx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And then he quoted you with poems
All the things you pursue, anything to see you front too
Who's zooming who
It's a privilege that's known as lyricism
I must admit this is a bit embarrassing
But can I be characteristically caffeinated
Apple-cinnamon and licorice thoughts of gibberish
Live a little
Let your whims control your limbs
Let the wind uphold your wings
Let your friends stay home again
Just give into your sins and unfold your linens and unroll your ribbons
Don't give your body time to react, just relax
Just lean back, your seat back
There ain't no need to freak out, just peep out
There ain't no one way to do nothing baby
Sailing through the crab-shoot of life not knowing where we're going
But don't evade me
When I self-emerge myself into a microphone, hey
When I shoot the wind I drift away with oxygen and out of sight I'm gone
There is no stopping time
I'm on cloud number nine
The Cloud of Dreams
See it like this baby
Like you got sunlight and then you got the shade
You got the grass bright green and then you got the pavement
Got your whole life for sights you've seen and things you did
And the gravy
The only place you're staying is the changes that you making
Grow, hold on, try and take it on yourself
But when you do it, when you get it you become, thrown away
But hold on
Know you're strong so keep your grip
Cause they'll be trying there best to trip you
Still, we 'gon carry it home
We've come so far we've got infinite future
Keep the soul, the bloodline flowing on
It's like your mom says, baby-bubba
Don't you worry, pray
You'll discover
A brand new place
Somewhere or another
Where you'll get your things straight
Then in order
Better have your issues covered like the world reporter
Concepts over-flow over air and water
How many people missing this times importance
Every moment that passses seems that time is shorter
Then you reach your ultimate height will all the colors
Represent your life, yourself, just know your culture
Then you'll keep it rooted in your mind of polluted love
Non-convoluted with the righteous result
When I self-emerge myself into a microphone, hey
When I shoot the wind I drift away with oxygen and out of sight I'm gone
There is no stopping time
I'm on cloud number nine
The Cloud of Dreams
When I self-emerge myself into a microphone, hey
When I shoot the wind I drift away with oxygen and out of sight I'm gone
There is no stopping time
I'm on cloud number nine
The Cloud of Dreams
The lyrics to Latyrx's "Cloud #9" paint a picture of being lost in the moment and letting go of all worries and stresses. The singer begins with a reference to the past, which is personified as someone who approached them and asked to write a note, but instead recited poetry. This can be interpreted as the nostalgia and memories that come flooding back during moments of reflection. The singer then asks for a characteristically caffeinated state of mind, as they allow their thoughts to run wild and free, without the constraints of reality.
The chorus, "When I self-emerge myself into a microphone, hey / When I shoot the wind I drift away with oxygen and out of sight I'm gone / There is no stopping time / I'm on cloud number nine / The Cloud of Dreams," can be seen as an ode to the power of music and the way it can transport us to another world. The singer is in their element when they are rapping into a microphone, and that allows them to disappear into their own world of dreams and imagination. The Cloud of Dreams is a metaphor for this state of mind, where anything is possible and time doesn't exist.
The rest of the song focuses on the importance of staying strong and not letting anyone or anything bring you down. The singer encourages the listener to keep pushing forward and making changes, even if it means leaving some things behind. The final lines, "Then you'll keep it rooted in your mind of polluted love / Non-convoluted with the righteous result," suggest that while life can be messy and complicated, it's important to stay true to oneself and keep love at the center of everything.
Line by Line Meaning
The past is a thing who approached you and asked if he wrote you a note
Reflections of one's past may seem like distant entities that don't define someone's present state, but sometimes can still affect them in unexpected ways.
And then he quoted you with poems
The ideas and memories of one's past can be expressed in poetic ways, inspiring both positive and negative emotions in the present.
All the things you pursue, anything to see you front too
People chase after various things in life to gain recognition from others and to feel proud of their achievements.
Who's zooming who
It can be hard to determine whose actions are genuine and who is using others for their own benefit.
It's a privilege that's known as lyricism
Being able to express oneself through words and music is an art form that not everyone is able to do or appreciate.
I must admit this is a bit embarrassing
Talking about oneself can feel uncomfortable or awkward at times, even if it's necessary to convey a message or idea.
But can I be characteristically caffeinated
Asking for permission to be potentially hyper or energetic, perhaps due to the consumption of caffeine.
Apple-cinnamon and licorice thoughts of gibberish
Describing one's own thought process as nonsensical, yet still indulging in the unique flavors and sensations of different foods and spices.
And we can reminisce about the history we're making right now
Taking a moment to appreciate the present and how it can become a part of one's personal history and legacy.
Live a little
Encouraging someone to enjoy life or take risks, even if it means stepping outside their comfort zone.
Let your whims control your limbs
Giving oneself permission to follow their impulses or sudden desires, even if it may seem irrational or spontaneous.
Let the wind uphold your wings
Allowing oneself to be carried or guided by the natural flow of life, represented by the wind and wings metaphor.
Let your friends stay home again
A reminder to not always rely on others for companionship or validation, and to be content with one's own company.
Just give into your sins and unfold your linens and unroll your ribbons
Embracing one's flaws and letting go of self-judgment or criticism, as well as physically relaxing or expressing oneself freely.
Don't give your body time to react, just relax
Trying to quiet the mind and let go of stress or tension, while also avoiding overthinking or second-guessing oneself in the process.
Just lean back, your seat back
A literal instruction to physically relax and recline in a seated position, but also implies a mental attitude of surrender or acceptance.
There ain't no need to freak out, just peep out
Encouraging someone to stay calm and observe their surroundings, rather than panicking or worrying excessively.
There ain't no one way to do nothing baby
Rejecting the idea that there is only one correct way to live life, and that each individual should find their own path and follow it.
Sailing through the crab-shoot of life not knowing where we're going
Navigating the unpredictable twists and turns of life without a clear destination or goal in mind, but still moving forward with optimism and determination.
But don't evade me
A plea to not be ignored or forgotten, whether directed towards someone specific or a broader existential concept.
When I self-emerge myself into a microphone, hey
Using music and poetry as a way to express oneself and connect with others, while also acknowledging the performative aspect of such an act.
When I shoot the wind I drift away with oxygen and out of sight I'm gone
Describing the freedom and escape that comes with creating music or writing poetry, as well as a sense of anonymity or detachment from reality.
There is no stopping time
Reflecting on the unrelenting nature of time and how it affects one's life and experiences.
I'm on cloud number nine
Feeling elated or overjoyed, as if floating on a cloud and removed from the mundane aspects of life.
The Cloud of Dreams
A metaphorical realm of imagination and possibility, where dreams can take flight and creativity can flourish.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TIMOTHY JEROME PARKER, LATEEF KENNETH DAUMONT, TOM SHIMURA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind