Travis Miller (born May 13, 1984) is an American rapper, singer and record … Read Full Bio ↴Travis Miller (born May 13, 1984) is an American rapper, singer and record producer from Richmond, Virginia. He has recorded under multiple aliases in various genres since his first known released project in 2005, including Lil Ugly Mane, Shawn Kemp, Vudmurk and Bedwetter.

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.

discard
Lil Ugly Mane Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I had a memory and lost it
And pretend that that's cathartic
Have a tendency to promise shit
That I can not accomplish
Like the energy to take the garbage
Out of my apartment
I'm the enemy of progress
I just wanna be discarded

The rain that's burying Manhattan
Is crystal clear
The punishments that I imagine
Are all severe

We're never having fun
The work is never done
We're never having fun
The work is never done

I had a memory and lost it
And pretend that that's cathartic
Have a tendency to promise shit
That I can not accomplish
Like the energy to take the garbage
Out of my apartment
I'm the enemy of progress
I just wanna be discarded

We're never having fun
The work is never done
We're never having fun
The work is never done
We're never having fun
The work is never done

We're never having fun
The work is never done

Overall Meaning

In Lil Ugly Mane's song "discard," the lyrics delve into themes of memory loss, unfulfilled promises, and a desire to be released from the burden of progress and responsibility. The singer expresses a sense of frustration and dissatisfaction with their own tendencies. They admit to losing a significant memory and finding solace in pretending that it is a form of emotional release. However, they also acknowledge their habit of making promises that they cannot fulfill, like having the energy to take care of their own living space.

The reference to "the rain that's burying Manhattan" suggests a somber and overwhelming atmosphere. The crystal-clear rain symbolizes the clarity in which the singer perceives the consequences or punishments they envision for themselves when they fail to live up to their promises. This highlights the self-imposed pressures and guilt they experience.

The repetition of the line "we're never having fun, the work is never done" emphasizes a sense of perpetual dissatisfaction and the never-ending cycle of responsibilities and expectations. The singer feels trapped in a state of constant effort and lack of enjoyment.

The overall tone of the song conveys a sense of longing for release and a desire to be discarded, which can be interpreted as a desire to escape from the pressures and demands of life.

Line by Line Meaning

I had a memory and lost it
I experienced a memory but then forgot it

And pretend that that's cathartic
And pretend that it provides some emotional release

Have a tendency to promise shit
I often have a habit of making unrealistic promises

That I can not accomplish
That I am unable to fulfill

Like the energy to take the garbage
Similar to the motivation to remove the trash

Out of my apartment
From my living space

I'm the enemy of progress
I hinder the forward movement or improvement

I just wanna be discarded
I simply desire to be thrown away or disregarded

The rain that's burying Manhattan
The rain that is overwhelming Manhattan

Is crystal clear
Is evident or obvious

The punishments that I imagine
The consequences that I envision