Conceived as a call to arms, Mark B and Blade's collaboration deserve plaudits outside US comparison. Alongside, Big Dada's Gamma they have mounted a rap attack on hip-hop's dumbed-down status quo with an album that is lyrically and sonically superb. Although the subject matter may be monotonous for most (the under-appreciation of UK hip-hop), the delivery certainly is not.
Though elderly (in UK hip-hop terms), Blade's baritone breath control is timeless. He rhymes with a furrowed brow straight across battle-scarred lines, assaulting conformists on "From The Wordlab" or criticising the music industry's predilection for fads on "Ya Don't See The Signs".
The ever-prolific Mark B profits from eccentricity; for him all music from Polish folk music to Elmer Bernstein-style brass is relevant. His desire to search and utilise the ultimate but strangest breaks marks him out as an innovative talent who can produce world-class state of the art hip-hop.
Listening to their signature tunes, The Unknown is an affirmation of this: Blade is the everyman tripped up by life's ups and downs, chasing his demons and flitting in and out of reveries. Instead of providing a melody that stinks of dank basement isolation in the manner of such arch-miserabilists as Company Flow, Mark B provides a tidal wave of sublime funk and choppy beats and he does it over and over again. The Unknown is a great album that proves (again) that quality UK hip-hop is not a contradiction in terms.
originally by Maxine Kabuubi, taken from: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-B/dp/B00005JI7N
Right Here Right Now
Mark B & Blade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a recognized foe, to the industry a rebel
And Mark is a planet on his own in a corner of the
Galaxy, where amateurs ain't allowed to approach
Systematical destruction of your ships have been authorized
Targets are neutralized, eyes
Focused on the enemy to see how they act
Who'll be the first to attack?
We think about it deep for hours on end
We plan, we don't sleep 'cause nobody's a friend
We defend to protect the young, the next generation
On the wings of the likes of us
Flying without direction as they learn the ropes
But for now they're surviving on dreams and hopes
We direct them to the best of our knowledge in the direction
Of a route that's safe to take so they can break
The monotony, for those who wanna be
Emcees and producers it's never gonna be easy
There's a war going on right here
Right now and you know it but you're lacking the power
Back in the tower, soldiers are waiting for orders
With mics and batteries and tapes and tape recorders
We'll be breaking the doors if they ain't letting us in
Let the slaughter begin, we came to win
Take that to your leader, sealed with a diss
Tell him we're better prepared his name's on a list
Of those we had to capture and bring to trial
For keeping us underground, suffocating our styles
It's been a while since we initiated this
Whole scenario, activate mechanism
Make them listen, demoralize yes men
With brain cells missing, demolish opposition
There's a war going on right here, right now
And you know it but you're lacking the power
Back in the tower, soldiers are waiting for orders
With mics and batteries and tapes and tape recorders
So you thought you had us beaten, in the palm of your hand
Wrapped around your little finger thinking you were the man
Big mistake, we're teaching the kids to stand on their feet to achieve
The future is bright, what a relief
I thought the hardships would never end
Then, I thought of a plan, first to gather the innocent
Then to educate them and give them a hand
Lead them out of this place, the land of the damned
Like Moses 'cause life was never a bed of roses
It was hell to begin for entertainers and composers
This is where the buck stops, the act drops
And all hell breaks loose, I'll make them realise
We can do this for self if the intention is right
We can battle the foe with lollipops and survive
You arrive in a chauffer driven limousine
We arrive on a bus to defeat you
It's over, your chauffer acts like a baby
With his baby bottle taken while he's drinking
We could've done this in '86
But the money was tight and it was all politics
It's been a long while, since they left you
With nothing quite real to step to
I'm sorry that they kept you in a vacuum
Drained your mind clean but I'm back to
Reinstate a little bit of faith in the equation
So I'm sticking to the plan 'cause I have to
It's all about to blow out of proportion, the ocean
Seems like a puddle after the rain is gone
The world is my chicken breast, I'm like Everest
Higher than the rest, one of the world's best
Expert entertainers climbing the ladder quick
Trapped by politics to the point that I'm sick
It's been a while since we initiated this
Whole scenario, activate mechanism
Make them listen, demoralize yes men
With brain cells missing, demolish opposition
There's a war going on right here, right now
And you know it but you're lacking the power
Back in the tower, soldiers are waiting for orders
With mics and batteries and tapes and tape recorders
The lyrics of Mark B & Blade's song Right Here Right Now describe a war that is happening in the music industry, where the artists are like soldiers fighting for recognition and success in the industry. The lyrics also portray the struggles that artists face in the industry, including being suffocated and kept underground. The song highlights the need for artists to stand up for themselves and fight against the industry's politics. The song also talks about educating and supporting the next generation of artists and taking them out of the "land of the damned."
The lyrics use metaphors from war and outer space to describe the artists' struggles and efforts to achieve their goals. Mark B is described as a planet in a corner of the galaxy, signifying him as a distinct and unique artist. They plan, don't sleep, and defend to protect the young, representing the efforts to guide and nurture the younger artists. The lyrics also have a message for those who want to be emcees and producers that it's never going to be easy.
Overall, the lyrics provide a powerful commentary on the music industry's inner workings and struggles that artists face, encouraging them to stand up for themselves and fight against the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
And all of this without making a pact with the devil
We have achieved success and recognition without selling our souls to the corrupt music industry.
I'm a recognized foe, to the industry a rebel
We are known for opposing the industry's unfair treatment of artists, and we refuse to conform to their demands.
Mark is a planet on his own in a corner of the Galaxy, where amateurs ain't allowed to approach
Mark is a unique and talented artist who is not easily accessible to those who lack skill and dedication.
Systematical destruction of your ships have been authorized
We are ready to attack and defeat our enemies with precision and strategy.
Targets are neutralized, eyes focused on the enemy to see how they act
Our attention is solely on our enemies as we wait for their next move.
Who'll be the first to attack? If it's them should we react?
We are cautious and strategic in our approach to warfare, considering all possibilities and outcomes before taking action.
We think about it deep for hours on end, we plan, we don't sleep 'cause nobody's a friend
We dedicate extensive time and effort to planning our next move, never trusting anyone due to the cutthroat nature of the industry.
We defend to protect the young, the next generation on the wings of the likes of us
We strive to protect and guide the next generation of artists to success and inspire them with our own achievements.
Flying without direction as they learn the ropes, but for now they're surviving on dreams and hopes
Young artists are still finding their way in the industry, relying on hope and ambition to guide them as they seek to learn and grow.
We direct them to the best of our knowledge in the direction of a route that's safe to take so they can break
We offer guidance and support to young artists, helping them navigate the industry with caution and expertise.
The monotony, for those who wanna be Emcees and producers it's never gonna be easy
We acknowledge that success in the industry is challenging and requires hard work and dedication, but we encourage aspiring artists to pursue their dreams regardless.
There's a war going on right here Right now and you know it but you're lacking the power Back in the tower, soldiers are waiting for orders With mics and batteries and tapes and tape recorders
We are in the midst of an ongoing battle with the industry, and although we lack significant power, we are prepared to fight with the weapons we have at our disposal.
We'll be breaking the doors if they ain't letting us in, let the slaughter begin, we came to win
We are willing to break barriers to achieve success, even if it means engaging in conflict with those who seek to hold us back.
Take that to your leader, sealed with a diss, tell him we're better prepared his name's on a list of those we had to capture and bring to trial
We are confident in our abilities and prepared to hold those responsible for our oppression accountable for their actions.
For keeping us underground, suffocating our styles, it's been a while since we initiated this whole scenario, activate mechanism
We have been oppressed and forced into obscurity by the industry, but we have been fighting back for some time and are now ready to take action.
Make them listen, demoralize yes men with brain cells missing, demolish opposition
We aim to make our voices heard and shatter the illusion of those who blindly follow the industry without critical thought, ultimately defeating our opposition in the process.
So you thought you had us beaten, in the palm of your hand Wrapped around your little finger thinking you were the man
The industry believed they had defeated us and controlled our actions, but they were mistaken.
Big mistake, we're teaching the kids to stand on their feet to achieve The future is bright, what a relief
We are educating and inspiring the younger generation to achieve their dreams regardless of the industry's oppression, leading to a brighter future for all.
I thought the hardships would never end Then, I thought of a plan, first to gather the innocent Then to educate them and give them a hand Lead them out of this place, the land of the damned
We have overcome significant challenges in our personal and professional lives, but have devised a plan to guide and support young, innocent artists out of the oppressive world of the music industry.
Like Moses 'cause life was never a bed of roses, it was hell to begin for entertainers and composers
Our journey has been challenging, but like Moses guiding his people to freedom, we are working to lead young artists to a brighter future.
This is where the buck stops, the act drops and all hell breaks loose, I'll make them realize
We have reached a point where we will no longer tolerate the industry's oppression and will take action to end it, making them realize the severity of their actions.
We can do this for self if the intention is right, we can battle the foe with lollipops and survive
With proper intention and determination, we can achieve success and defeat those who seek to hold us back even with limited resources and power.
You arrive in a chauffer driven limousine, we arrive on a bus to defeat you
We may appear less powerful and prestigious than our mainstream counterparts, but we are determined and prepared to defeat them regardless of their status.
It's over, your chauffer acts like a baby with his baby bottle taken while he's drinking
Our willingness to confront and overcome their oppressive tactics has left our adversaries feeling helpless and childish.
We could've done this in '86 but the money was tight and it was all politics
We have long been capable of achieving success and combating the industry's oppression, but financial constraints and political power dynamics prevented us from doing so until now.
It's been a long while since they left you with nothing quite real to step to, I'm sorry that they kept you in a vacuum
The industry has left many aspiring artists without genuine opportunities to succeed, trapping them in a stagnant, inauthentic environment.
Drained your mind clean but I'm back to reinstate a little bit of faith in the equation So I'm sticking to the plan 'cause I have to
The industry has sucked the creative potential out of many young artists, but we are working to restore their confidence and faith in their abilities, as we continue to pursue our own goals with determination.
It's all about to blow out of proportion, the ocean Seems like a puddle after the rain is gone
Our efforts to combat the industry's oppression are about to reach a critical point, and their power will seem insignificant in comparison to ours.
The world is my chicken breast, I'm like Everest Higher than the rest, one of the world's best Expert entertainers climbing the ladder quick Trapped by politics to the point that I'm sick
We are highly skilled and talented artists, determined to achieve success despite the industry's oppressive tactics and political power dynamics.
We have been fighting back for some time and are now ready to take action.
Make them listen, demoralize yes men with brain cells missing, demolish opposition
We are determined to overcome the industry's oppression by making our voices heard and keeping our eyes on the prize, ultimately defeating our opposition through determination and skill.
There's a war going on right here, right now And you know it but you're lacking the power Back in the tower, soldiers are waiting for orders With mics and batteries and tapes and tape recorders
We are in the midst of an ongoing battle with the industry, fighting with determination and resourcefulness against those with more power and resources.
Contributed by Jacob O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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