Miller rose to popularity in the early 2010s with an experimental approach to Southern hip hop. His debut album Mista Thug Isolation gained him notoriety in the underground hip hop scene. Since then, he has experimented with a number of styles within and outside the hip hop genre, most recently releasing the indie rock album Volcanic Bird Enemy and the Voiced Concern. His other work spans genres including instrumental and abstract hip hop, black metal, free jazz and noise music.
Career
Miller began recording music in the 2000s under a number of aliases. Much of his early music cannot be found today on the internet, however some of it has been re-released, such as on his Register compilation album. Some of his early work included the black metal projects Vudmurk and Seidhr, the industrial and noise projects Across, Public Garden and Rats, and the underground hip hop group The Legacy, during which time he rapped under the name Young Gus.
Miller began releasing hip hop under the name Lil Ugly Mane on Bandcamp and producing beats for himself and other artists under the name Shawn Kemp in 2010, releasing his debut mixtape Playaz Circle in 2011. His early work under the Lil Ugly Mane name drew on various styles of underground Southern hip hop from the 1990s such as Memphis rap and chopped and screwed. His style was similar to that of the contemporaneous Raider Klan collective, with whom he collaborated. His 2012 debut album Mista Thug Isolation earned positive reviews from Mishka NYC, among others and support from members of the popular hip hop collective Odd Future. The album has since been hailed as a classic of the 2010s underground hip hop scene, earning later praise from Pitchfork and The Needle Drop. The album was followed by a number of smaller releases, including the Uneven Compromise EP, which is ranked in the top 10 greatest EPs of all time by user-generated music review site RateYourMusic, and the single "On Doing an Evil Deed Blues", in which he outlined his grievances with the music industry and his intention to retire the Lil Ugly Mane project.
Miller announced he would release one final album under the Lil Ugly Mane name, and began sporadically releasing compilations of beats and older material on Bandcamp, including the Three Sided Tape series, the final installment of which, Third Side of Tape, received positive coverage from Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop among others. In 2015, Miller released what was intended to be the final Lil Ugly Mane album – Oblivion Access and the final Shawn Kemp project – Trick Dice, a collaboration with rapper Nickelus F. Oblivion Access saw Lil Ugly Mane taking a more experimental approach divorced from his earlier '90s Southern rap influences.
In 2017, Miller announced he would continue rapping under the name Bedwetter and released his debut project under the name – Vol. 1: Flick Your Tongue Against Your Teeth and Describe the Present. The album continued with the more introspective and experimental style of Oblivion Access. Around the same time however, Miller began rapping under the Lil Ugly Mane name again as part of the group Secret Circle with Antwon and Wiki. After releasing a few singles, the group disbanded and scrapped their debut album due to a personal falling out. Miller began working with the remaining members of GothBoiClique, however then appeared to go on hiatus, only releasing small collections of older material sporadically.
In 2021, Miller began releasing new music under the Lil Ugly Mane name. He released the single "Headboard", followed by "Porcelain Slightly" and then his third major release under the Lil Ugly Mane name – Volcanic Bird Enemy and the Voiced Concern, which was covered positively by Sputnik Music and Stereogum. Around the same time, Miller released a new black metal demo under the Vudmurk name.
Headboard
Lil Ugly Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Staring at nothing
Off in a dream, dream, dream
Dream not worth discussing
Cannibalize all versions of myself
Where I wait for the eruption to collapse me into hell
Caught in the fire (caught in the fire)
Off in a dream, dream, dream
All I know is right now
I′m trough
Head underwater
The baffled king composing hallelujah
Permanent drain
Dirt kicked into a foxhole
Cover the door, trapped you in
Then they scoff and wait for apologies
Will you kiss their hands and lay back down
And die in a city you've never been?
Caught in the fire (caught in the fire)
Embedded in you
Off in a dream, dream, dream
All I know is right now
I′m trough
Ah-ah-ahh, ah-ah-ahh
Ah-ah-ahh, ah-ah-ahh
Ah-ah-ahh, ah-ah-ahh
Ah-ah-ahh, ah-ah-ahh
Ah-ah-ahh, ah-ah-ahh
Ah-ah-ahh, ah-ah-ahh
Ah-ah-ahh, ah-ah-ahh
Ah-ah-ahh, ah-ah-ahh
The opening lines of Lil Ugly Mane's "Headboard" depict a sense of disorientation and confusion. The lyricist appears to be lost in thought, caught in the wires of his own mind, feeling trapped and unable to escape the thoughts and emotions that have consumed him. The dream that he refers to is one that holds no value or meaning, one that is not worth discussing or sharing with anyone. The imagery is that of helplessness, being cannibalized by versions of himself that are difficult to reconcile with, leading to an inevitable collapse into hell.
The second stanza introduces a metaphor of being caught in a fire, embedded into a dangerous, all-consuming force. This force takes over the lyricist's being, leading his thoughts and actions, leaving nothing but a sense of emptiness and exhaustion. The reference to being "trough" is one of being empty and depleted, with nothing left to give or offer. The subsequent lyrics ask existential questions, such as being drowned underwater, being trapped in a city one has never been to, and being asked to apologize for something that was not one's making. The lyricist is contemplative about the meaning of life, and the futility of it all.
Overall, "Headboard" is a bleak and introspective song that reflects the mental and emotional struggles of the lyricist. It is a song that explores themes of helplessness, disillusionment, and existential questions.
Line by Line Meaning
Caught in the wires
Feeling trapped in a difficult situation
Staring at nothing
Feeling lost and uncertain about the future
Off in a dream, dream, dream
Distracting oneself from reality with unrealistic fantasies
Dream not worth discussing
Realizing that one's dreams are unrealistic and unattainable
Cannibalize all versions of myself
Taking apart and analyzing one's own identity
Where I wait for the eruption to collapse me into hell
Waiting for a catastrophic event to end one's suffering
Embedded in you
Feeling trapped by a toxic relationship or environment
All I know is right now I'm trough
Feeling overwhelmed and defeated in the present moment
Head underwater
Feeling suffocated or overwhelmed by life
The baffled king composing hallelujah
Feeling unsure and lost, despite trying to find meaning in life
Permanent drain
Feeling constantly drained and worn out
Dirt kicked into a foxhole
Feeling attacked, isolated, and vulnerable
Cover the door, trapped you in
Feeling trapped and isolated, with no escape
Then they scoff and wait for apologies
Encountering people who take pleasure in others' suffering and expect apologies for nonexistent transgressions
Will you kiss their hands and lay back down
Choosing to submit to those who mistreat and take advantage of you
And die in a city you've never been?
Ending up unhappy and unfulfilled, despite never having had the chance to truly live
Writer(s): Travis Miller
Contributed by Mateo H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.