Lowkey (born Kareem Dennis 23 May 1986) is a Poet, Playwright, Political Ac… Read Full Bio ↴Lowkey (born Kareem Dennis 23 May 1986) is a Poet, Playwright, Political Activist and award winning Hip Hop Artist of mixed British and Arab descent who has received airplay on numerous major radio stations including BBC Radio 1, 95.8 Capital FM, Kiss 100, Choice FM, BBC 1Xtra and BBC Asian Network and toured internationally, performing to crowds everywhere from Glastonbury and Trafalgar Square to Germany and Amsterdam.

Background

Lowkey was born to mixed heritage, his father being British from Dover, while his mother is an Iraqi born in Baghdad. He began attending the open mic sessions which took place at the Deal Real record shop on Carnaby Street, Central London. The first time he went he introduced himself as Lowkey and was told there was already a regular there by that name; the two had a battle rap over the use of the name which Lowkey won. It was at Deal Real that he met Doc Brown, who invited him to feature on his first notable single 'Donnie's Lament', a song which was based on the film Donnie Darko.

Career

The success of 'Donnie's Lament (Mad World Remix)', which was played on Capital FM and Radio One led to a mixtape entitled Key To The Game Vol 1, released independently in 2003. Within a year and a half he had released a second and third volume, all of which gained critical acclaim from UK hip hop circles. Despite releasing the third mixtape in 2005, it would be another three years until he released his album proper preferring instead to explore other aspects of his career until then.

In July 2008 the Theatre Royal, Bath put on a production of 'Max and Beth', a contemporary adaptation of Macbeth by William Shakespeare written entirely in rhyme.

Collaborations

He joined a hip-hop group called Poisonous Poets that released one mixtape (Poisonous Poetry). Poisonous Poets a.k.a Double P was founded by Doc Brown, Reveal, Tony D and Therapist. He is part of another group called Catch 22 created by Kool G Rap. Lowkey also records duets with Logic as part of their non-profit organisation The People's Army, aimed at raising awareness of infant fighting in Israel and Palestine. His work with Logic saw the pair record a song exclusively for the NSPCC, in support of their "Don't Hide It" campaign.

In 2008 news broke of a supergroup that had been created with Jon McClure of the band Reverend and The Makers. Also in the band is Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders and ex-bassist Andy Nicholson alongside bassist of Babyshambles Drew McConnell and a revolving set of other musicians. They have had trouble coordinating their busy careers to perform live dates and their debut album has already been pushed back from October to some time in early 2009 along with a February tour.

Lowkey's highly anticipated (100% independent) album: Soundtrack To The Struggle is estimated to hit the streets in January 2011.
(from the wiki-page biog of Lowkey)

Dreamers
Lowkey Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[INTRO]
This one is dedicated to the dreamers
Most people see things that are there and ask why
Dreamers, see things that arent there and ask why not
Im dreamin with you

[VERSE 1]

I once knew a girl who on the surface was as solid as a rock
Future full of promise and mind seemed stronger than a ox
Face of beauty and a tounge was as honest as it got
That wasnt what is was, problem rock bottom she was lost
I couldnt see this sweet genius was full of secrets
Full of deamons that pulled deeper in this pool of leeches
Confused by the news, I was bruised when they told me it
Clues to the truth, was she consumed by the loneliness?
She was a true queen, nothing like Elizabeth
Often caught her starin to the space with a distant look
Considerate but detached from others even when intimate
Now Im searchin for answers I'd never find in a book
Last time I saw her, before the day she took her life
I wish I fixed her pain, I should’a, could’a, would’a tried,
but I took it personally and turned to leave,
and to this day I’m still haunted by the words she screamed..

[CHOURS]

Sometimes I really really hate myself
Sometimes I wish that I could change myself
Sometimes I dont wanna give no more
And sometimes I just dont wanna live no more
Sometimes I dont know where to go for help
Sometimes I dont really know myself
Sometimes I wish that I could fly away
And find away to a brighter day

[VERSE 2]

They say that life is a question and death is the answer
But Niko lost his brother and Rewds lost his father
Godbless your souls please know that I love you both
They say time heals but the pain still doesnt go
I've seen my brother die and seen my mother cry
Seen the wind change in the flutter of a butterfly
Seen people get sectioned for life, I think and wonder
A small twist of fate, that could've been my brother
25 years a life could say thus far
I always have wondered who the sane ones are
Though I live by the words fear not Im afraid
When I wrote this so many tears dropped on the page
It's mad how death always manifests in the weirdest ways
Wont go near the grave but in my dreams he appears the same
Then I get closer and see his face, It's clear as day
He looks deep in the eyes and I hear him say...

[CHOURS]

Sometimes I really really hate myself
Sometimes I wish that I could change myself
Sometimes I dont wanna give no more
And sometimes I just dont wanna live no more
Sometimes I dont know where to go for help
Sometimes I dont really know myself

Sometimes I wish that I could fly away
And find away to a brighter day

Overall Meaning

The song "Dreamers" by Lowkey featuring Mai Khalil is an emotionally charged and introspective track that deals with the struggles and pain of life, as well as the themes of hope, dreams, and loss. The song opens with the dedication to the dreamers, who see things that aren't there and ask why not, setting up the message of the song. The first verse tells the story of a girl who seemed to have everything going for her, but was struggling with inner demons and loneliness. She eventually took her own life, leaving the singer haunted by her words.

The chorus then speaks to the feelings of despair and hopelessness that many people experience, wishing for a brighter day and sometimes not knowing where to turn for help. The second verse brings in more personal experiences of loss, with the singer reflecting on the deaths of his brother and the father of his friend.

Overall, the song is a powerful tribute to those who struggle with pain and loss, while also offering a message of hope and solidarity. The lyrics are poignant and heartfelt, drawing the listener in with their raw emotion and honesty.

Line by Line Meaning

This one is dedicated to the dreamers
The song is meant to honor the people who dare to dream and pursue what is not yet attainable.

Most people see things that are there and ask why
Many can only see things from the surface and choose not to ask what's beyond presented facts.

Dreamers, see things that arent there and ask why not
Unlike most people, dreamers can defy boundaries and imagine things that aren't presented and ask for ways to fulfill them.

Im dreamin with you
The artist is expressing solidarity with the dreamers; they share the same ideals and aspirations.

I once knew a girl who on the surface was as solid as a rock
The artist knew a girl who seemed to be mentally and emotionally sound and strong.

Future full of promise and mind seemed stronger than a ox
The girl's future appeared to be bright and successful, and her mind appeared to be unwavering and resilient.

Face of beauty and a tounge was as honest as it got
The girl was physically attractive and truthful in her words and actions.

That wasnt what is was, problem rock bottom she was lost
Despite what she seemed, she was struggling with her own demons and her issues drove her to hit rock bottom.

I couldnt see this sweet genius was full of secrets
The girl, who had a talent seen by the artist, had many undisclosed personal difficulties that weren't easily visible.

Full of deamons that pulled deeper in this pool of leeches
The girl was burdened by her personal demons that dragged her deeper into negative situations and relationships.

Confused by the news, I was bruised when they told me it
The singer was taken aback and hurt upon hearing the news of the girl's situation.

Clues to the truth, was she consumed by the loneliness?
The artist wonders if the girl's loneliness led down her path of self-destruction.

She was a true queen, nothing like Elizabeth
The girl had her own qualities that made her a unique and special individual.

Often caught her starin to the space with a distant look
The girl would frequently zone out, having an absent-minded gaze while looking toward empty space.

Considerate but detached from others even when intimate
Despite having good intentions, the girl kept herself emotionally distant from people even when close to them.

Now Im searchin for answers I'd never find in a book
The artist is still trying to understand the girl's situation, but the answers can't be found in a book.

Last time I saw her, before the day she took her life
The artist's last memory of the girl was before the day she committed suicide.

I wish I fixed her pain, I should’a, could’a, would’a tried
The singer regrets that they didn't do more to help the girl, wishing they could have done something to ease her suffering.

but I took it personally and turned to leave,
The singer's personal feelings got in the way, ultimately not being able to help the girl due to the personal pain that they felt.

and to this day I’m still haunted by the words she screamed..
The artist carries the weight of the girl's actions and her final screams continually haunt them.

Sometimes I really really hate myself
The artist expresses their deep self-loathing and frustration.

Sometimes I wish that I could change myself
The artist desires to change themselves and become a better person.

Sometimes I dont wanna give no more
There are times when the singer feels overwhelmed and wants to stop trying.

And sometimes I just dont wanna live no more
At its worst, the artist considers suicide as a solution to their problems.

Sometimes I dont know where to go for help
The singer feels lost and helpless, unsure of where to turn for support.

Sometimes I dont really know myself
There are times when the singer struggles to understand their own thoughts and emotions.

Sometimes I wish that I could fly away
The singer longs to escape from their everyday troubles and seek refuge somewhere else.

And find away to a brighter day
The artists want to look forward to a better future, free from their current pain and struggles.

They say that life is a question and death is the answer
Some people believe that death brings solutions to life's problems and uncertainties.

But Niko lost his brother and Rewds lost his father
The singer acknowledges the tragic and irreversible nature of death for those two people in his life.

Godbless your souls please know that I love you both
The singer bids farewell to Niko's brother and Rewds' father, wishing a peaceful afterlife and expressing their love.

They say time heals but the pain still doesnt go
Even though people believe time heals all wounds, the artist claims that the pain of loss continues to linger.

I've seen my brother die and seen my mother cry
The artist has firsthand experience of a loved one's death and their family's grief.

Seen the wind change in the flutter of a butterfly
The artist is aware of sudden and consequential changes in the world that can occur from the most seemingly insignificant event.

Seen people get sectioned for life, I think and wonder
The singer has witnessed people become institutionalized in psychiatric facilities, leading them to contemplate the impact of mental health on society.

A small twist of fate, that could've been my brother
The artist thinks about how their life could have been different if they were the ones to suffer a tragedy themselves.

25 years a life could say thus far
The singer is 25 years old and calls it thus far.

I always have wondered who the sane ones are
The singer questions what it means to be 'sane' and contemplates the fact that it is subjective.

Though I live by the words fear not Im afraid
Despite the singer's motto of 'fear not', they get scared just like everyone else.

When I wrote this so many tears dropped on the page
The artist was emotionally moved and shed tears while writing these lyrics.

It's mad how death always manifests in the weirdest ways
The artist comments on how death can occur in unexpected, strange ways.

Wont go near the grave but in my dreams he appears the same
The singer avoids visiting the person's grave but still has dreams of them appearing unchanged.

Then I get closer and see his face, It's clear as day
As the dream becomes more vivid, the singer sees the person's face very clearly.

He looks deep in the eyes and I hear him say...
The person in the dream makes eye contact and communicates with the artist.

Contributed by Maya M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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