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.
low tide at the dryin' out facility
Lil Ugly Mane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I took one last sip got an ambulance trip
Breathalyzer told me it was .46
Doc on duty wasn't having my shit
Took one little look, I was in and out quick
Went around the lot 'til the tech showed up
Went back to detox, didn't even throw up
Thinking of you
Welcome home, give up your phone
Clonazepam, trazodone
We'll get high, while we get dry
So we don't die, I suppose
Baby, baby, do you love me
Even though I'm in recovery
Deep seas feel like light lightning struck me
But I'm just struck by you
Weakness pulled apart by vultures
Insides ripped apart by ulcers
Every day I'm getting older
But I wanna get older with you
Welcome home, give up your phone
Clonazepam, trazodone
We'll get high, while we get dry
So we don't die, I suppose
Welcome home, give up your phone
Ativan, trazodone
We'll get high, while we get dry
So we don't die, I suppose
The lyrics to Lil Ugly Mane's song "Low Tide at the Dryin' Out Facility" seem to be describing a narrator's experience in a rehabilitation program. The first stanza references a breathalyzer test that reveals the singer's blood alcohol level was .46, which is a dangerously high level of intoxication. The singer is then taken by ambulance to the detox center where they wait for the tech to arrive. The second stanza seems to describe the routine and intimacy of life within the rehab center. The singer is ready to give up their phone and take the prescribed medications, including Clonazepam and Trazodone, which help with withdrawal symptoms and anxiety. The chorus repeats "Welcome home, give up your phone, Clonazepam, Trazodone, We'll get high, while we get dry, So we don't die, I suppose" emphasizing the beginnings of a new chapter of life for the singer.
The third stanza references the singer's love interest, as they ask if they are still loved "even though I'm in recovery." It seems that the singer is recognizing the burdens of addiction and how it affects their relationships, but also expressing their vulnerability and devotion to the person they love. The fourth and final stanza references the physical and emotional tolls of addiction, with "Weakness pulled apart by vultures" and "Insides ripped apart by ulcers." However, the singer ends on an optimistic note, expressing a desire to grow old with their love interest.
Line by Line Meaning
I took one last sip got an ambulance trip
I drank my last bit of alcohol before being rushed to the hospital.
Breathalyzer told me it was .46
The breathalyzer showed that I had a dangerously high blood alcohol level of .46.
Doc on duty wasn't having my shit
The doctor on duty was not tolerating my behavior.
Took one little look, I was in and out quick
The doctor quickly assessed my condition and sent me on my way.
Went around the lot 'til the tech showed up
I waited outside until the technician arrived to take me back to detox.
Went back to detox, didn't even throw up
I returned to detox without vomiting.
Sweating through the sheets, just shaking
I was experiencing withdrawals, sweating and uncontrollable shaking.
Thinking of you
I was thinking about my loved one.
Welcome home, give up your phone
Upon being admitted to the facility, I was asked to surrender my phone.
Clonazepam, trazodone
The medications Clonazepam and Trazodone were given to me to help with my recovery.
We'll get high, while we get dry
Although we are getting clean, we will still be getting high.
So we don't die, I suppose
We are taking these measures so that we don't die from addiction.
Baby, baby, do you love me
I am questioning whether my loved one still loves me despite my struggles.
Even though I'm in recovery
I am currently in the process of recovering from addiction.
Deep seas feel like light lightning struck me
The journey of recovery can feel like a shocking, overwhelming experience.
But I'm just struck by you
Despite the hardships, my love for my significant other remains strong.
Weakness pulled apart by vultures
My addiction has weakened me and left me vulnerable to outside forces.
Insides ripped apart by ulcers
My addiction has also caused physical harm to my body, including the development of painful ulcers.
Every day I'm getting older
Each day presents another opportunity for me to age and grow in my recovery journey.
But I wanna get older with you
I want to experience life's milestones and grow old together with my significant other.
Ativan, trazodone
Similar to before, the medications Ativan and Trazodone were administered to assist in my recovery.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Travis Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cognitivedecline
i took one last sip
and got an ambulance trip
breathalyzer told 'em it was .46
doc on duty wasn't havin my shit
took one little look
i was in n out quick
wait around the lot till the tech showed up
went back to detox and didnt even throw up
sweatin through the sheets just shakin thinkin of you
welcome home
give up your phone
clonazepam, trazadone
we'll get high
while we get dry
so we don't die, i suppose
baby baby do you love me
even though i'm in recovery
DTs feel like lightning struck me
but im just struck by you
weakness pulled apart by vultures
insides ripped apart by ulcers
every day im gettin older
but i wanna get old with you
welcome home
give up your phone
clonazepam, trazadone
we'll get high
while we get dry
so we don't die, i suppose
welcome home
give up your phone
ativan, trazadone
we'll get high
while we get dry
so we don't die, i suppose
ecoterrorism_liker
i saw lil ugly mane and my eyes popped out of its sockets and it made the "boiyoiyoing" noise
matt oshana
I met him in like 2019 in New York I was so drunk and high the people there gave us a methadone slip
boss hog
lil ugly mane turned into everlast so slowly that i didn't even notice
Jack Brown
You really might know what it’s like then
angryheretic
Lmao
Johnathan Cordell
Can't wait for the next new album whenever that is.
Disco John
@Julie calling Bedwetter his hip hop alias is kinda dumb, im not gonna lie, one, Flick Your tongue Against Your Teeth and Describe the Present doesnt have a single hip hop beat/verse. Two, Travis Miller doesn't make trap, if you're describing Mista Thug Isolation, that's Memphis, three, we have no clue what he's gonna do next, absolutely nobody was expecting Volcanic Bird Enemy and the Voiced Concern, so its strange to say you know what he'll drop next.
Julie
@goole probably not becuase that's the name he used for his hip hop (not his trap music)
goole
He's going to release new bedwetter stuff as well isn't he?
cognitivedecline
i took one last sip
and got an ambulance trip
breathalyzer told 'em it was .46
doc on duty wasn't havin my shit
took one little look
i was in n out quick
wait around the lot till the tech showed up
went back to detox and didnt even throw up
sweatin through the sheets just shakin thinkin of you
welcome home
give up your phone
clonazepam, trazadone
we'll get high
while we get dry
so we don't die, i suppose
baby baby do you love me
even though i'm in recovery
DTs feel like lightning struck me
but im just struck by you
weakness pulled apart by vultures
insides ripped apart by ulcers
every day im gettin older
but i wanna get old with you
welcome home
give up your phone
clonazepam, trazadone
we'll get high
while we get dry
so we don't die, i suppose
welcome home
give up your phone
ativan, trazadone
we'll get high
while we get dry
so we don't die, i suppose