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.
broken ladder
Lil Ugly Mane Lyrics
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But they fell on crowded ears
With everybody clamoring from contact
And extinction pollinating all their fears
Wasted entertainment
City boy becomes a city rat
There′s a mothlight in a bottle of ammonia
And we're selling tickets just to see how they react
You can stand above me looking down
But I can see from here it′s just a broken ladder
And I would trade my place with you in hell
'Cause I can say for sure it doesn't even matter
You can stand above me looking down
But I can see from here it′s just a broken ladder
And I would trade my place with you in hell
′Cause I can say for sure it doesn't even matter
You exclaimed your proclamations
Pour another drink
When the cynicism outweighs the pollution
Then it always feels encouraging to sink
Patterns are contagions
Princesses and crooks
First we′re grazing in the sunshine
Then we're hanging by a hook
You can stand above me looking down
But I can see from here it′s just a broken ladder
And I would trade my place with you in hell
'Cause I can say for sure it doesn′t even matter
You can stand above me looking down
But I can see from here it's just a broken ladder
And I would trade my place with you in hell
'Cause I can say for sure it doesn′t even matter
You can stand above me looking down
But I can see from here it′s just a broken ladder
And I would trade my place with you in hell
'Cause I can say for sure it doesn′t even matter
The lyrics of Lil Ugly Mane's song "broken ladder" address themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the superficiality of modern society. The opening lines portray the singer expressing their views and opinions passionately, but they go unnoticed by a crowd that is distracted and overwhelmed by the constant flow of information and fear. The phrase "extinction pollinating all their fears" suggests that people's anxieties and concerns are perpetuated by a society that thrives on entertainment and sensationalism.
The lyrics also touch on themes of social status and hierarchy. The line "You can stand above me looking down" depicts the singer being judged and belittled by someone who believes themselves to be superior. However, the singer sees through this façade, realizing that the ladder of success and power is broken, devoid of true value and meaning. This is emphasized by the repetition of the line "I can see from here it's just a broken ladder."
The second verse continues to explore the disillusionment and cynicism felt by the singer. They turn to escapism, represented by pouring another drink, as a way to cope with the weight of cynicism and pollution in the world. The reference to patterns as contagions suggests that society is influenced by repetitive behaviors and ideologies, both positive and negative. The mention of princesses and crooks alludes to the duality of human nature, where individuals can transition from seemingly idyllic states to ones of deception and danger.
Overall, "broken ladder" conveys a sense of disconnection from society, a realization of the shallow and fickle nature of social hierarchies, and a tinge of hopelessness in trying to convey one's true thoughts and feelings in a world consumed by distractions.
Line by Line Meaning
You exclaimed your proclamations
You confidently expressed your beliefs and opinions
But they fell on crowded ears
But nobody was listening because everyone was preoccupied
With everybody clamoring from contact
With everyone seeking attention and validation
And extinction pollinating all their fears
And the fear of being wiped out influencing their actions
Wasted entertainment
Pointless distractions from reality
City boy becomes a city rat
A person losing their innocence and becoming corrupted by city life
There's a mothlight in a bottle of ammonia
There's something dangerous and toxic hidden within apparent beauty
And we're selling tickets just to see how they react
And people are exploiting this situation for their own gain, observing others' reactions
You can stand above me looking down
You can feel superior to me and judge me
But I can see from here it's just a broken ladder
But I can see that the hierarchy and power dynamics are flawed and ineffective
And I would trade my place with you in hell
And I would willingly exchange positions with you in a terrible situation
'Cause I can say for sure it doesn't even matter
Because I can confidently state that it holds no significance
Writer(s): Travis Miller
Contributed by Aubrey I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.