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)
Haunted
Lowkey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can feel you here, watchin me
Whispers that I hear are haunting me
I can feel you here, watchin me
Whispers that I hear are haunting me
Feel it in the air
My brother died when I was 18
Now Im 24 and I keep having the same dream
My days seems to past fast, but now I hate sleep
So when they say stay free I really know what they mean
Just remember I was destined to fail
At every level they tell you the rebels will never prevail
Heaven or hell, whatever the weather, you never can tell
You know you've lost a loved one when you remember their smell
I was born to fight opression, but Im traumatised and stressin
With this borderline depression I swear Im haunted by your presence
You get all of my confessions, pray the lord provides his blessing
And I soar as high as heaven but It's sort of like Im guessing
'cus Im older than you were when you died, Im nervous inside
In the afterlife, are you the age you were when you died?
It's puzzling me, that would be something to see
Face-to-face with an older brother that is younger than me
Im still haunted..
[CHORUS Mai Khalil]
I can feel you here, watchin me
Whispers that I hear are haunting me
I can feel you here, watchin me
Whispers that I hear are haunting me
Feel it in the air
[VERSE 2 Lowkey]
When I was 18 my older brother killed himself
Now Im 24 and Im sittin in this flipping cell
No comment why they raid my home, Im waitin to be given bail
Whish me well, dont know where Im headed I hope It isn't jail
It's a strange feelin when your face is on the news
And they try to twist your lyrics claim It's hatred for the jews
Everybody's waitin to assume, debatin all your views
When they would do the same if they were in your shoes
It's like barristers, court cases, solicitors and law suits
Prayin' for my freedom while Im sittin' in the court room
I am just a simple man spittin' these ideas
But the CPS fantasise about givin me 5 years
Til the day they release my spirit and It's peaceful
Digest the words in every lyric that I leave you
A true leader knows, It's the citizens that leads you
When I go, just know, that I did t for the People
[CHORUS Mai Khalil]
I can feel you here, watchin me
Whispers that I hear are haunting me
I can feel you here, watchin me
Whispers that I hear are haunting me
Feel it in the air
[OUTRO]
What's the meaning of it all?
The song "Haunted" by Lowkey ft. Mai Khalil reflects on the complex emotions that come with losing a loved one, specifically a brother. The song describes how the memory of his brother haunts Lowkey, taking a toll on his mental health and his ability to move forward. He refers to himself as "traumatized and stressing" and as "borderline depressed," struggling to come to terms with the loss of his sibling.
Lowkey's lyrics touch on the difficulty of coping with a loss of this magnitude, how it can feel like their presence is still lingering, and how it can weigh heavily on one's mind. The rapper also talks about his own situation, as he faces legal trouble while also grappling with his emotions. Even while facing these challenges, his commitment to his music shines through, with words that speak of hope, leadership, and changing the world.
Overall, the song provides a poignant and personal perspective on the impact that loss can have on an individual. It speaks to the importance of mourning and processing one's emotions, even in the face of daunting obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
I can feel you here, watchin me
The presence of a departed loved one is felt deeply and constantly
Whispers that I hear are haunting me
The memories and conversations with the departed loved one are painful reminders of the loss
Feel it in the air
The sense of loss and longing is pervasive and cannot be ignored
My brother died when I was 18
The deep sense of loss and grief that comes from losing a sibling at a young age
Now Im 24 and I keep having the same dream
The trauma of the loss continues to haunt the artist, interfering with their ability to sleep
Just remember I was destined to fail
The systemic oppression and discrimination that the singer faces, making success difficult
Heaven or hell, whatever the weather, you never can tell
The unknown nature of the afterlife and the lasting impact of death on those left behind
With this borderline depression I swear Im haunted by your presence
The artist's grief and trauma manifests in their mental health, making it feel like the departed loved one is always present
It's puzzling me, that would be something to see
The idea of meeting a departed loved one after death and the mystery that surrounds it
When I was 18 my older brother killed himself
The added layer of grief and trauma that comes from suicide
It's a strange feelin when your face is on the news
The overwhelming attention and scrutiny that comes with being in the public eye due to controversial or political views
A true leader knows, It's the citizens that leads you
The idea that leadership comes from the community and the people, rather than a single individual
Contributed by Violet J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nischal KC
It's a strange feelin' when your face is on the news
And they try to twist your lyrics, claim it's hatred for the Jews
Everybody's waitin' to assume, debatin' all your views
When they would do the same if they were in your shoes
It's like barristers, court cases, solicitors and law suits
Prayin' for my freedom while I'm sittin' in the court room
I am just a simple man spittin' these ideas
But the CPS fantasize about givin' me 5 years
Lowkey has had a great impact in my life. he's a true leader. thanks Lowkey for doing it for us. blessed to have him in my life (even with just his music). much love brother, may you all the happiness.
Yeezy-souls
After 4 years this song still gives me the chills
Kass bazzi
Bad azz song tho
Hugo Brown
same after 11
Lowkey Kid
In 2009, my older brother died. listening to this song and "Bars for my brother" really makes me grieve because I can 100% relate to both of these songs. I was 12 when he died and he was 15. RIP D.M
emvy84
sorry for your loss. keep your head up bro 👊
Siegmeyer
I'm so sorry, much love man... <3 Lowkey saves my life every day!
DAMAK
Honestly the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard. Truly remarkable
J to the R O C hard as fuck
"face to face with an older brother thats younger than me"
Thought that every day since I reached 18,lost my brother when he was 17 and I was 15, now I'm 24 almost 25 yet still feel like I'm 15 waiting for him to come home
Rip beefcakes ❤️
Don Pedro
So sorry for your loss. Stay strong man...
butty249er
this guy was dangerous to the system his words had meaning so the system got rid of him....he was the king of rap/grime fuk all these fakes today afraid to spit the truth