Serious
Maxwell D Lyrics


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J M E
A simple music lesson, think about it

Everybody thinks to MC tough
Your lyrics must be about negative stuff
Go raving, no-one's skanking
Turn around I bet you some-one's shanking
Jus 'coz we come from the gutter
We know about scraping the bottom of the butter
Don't mean we have to be sinners
Major labels don't want killers
Think
Who's gonna sign a guy with a shank
Or a guy with a nine mil
All you're gonna get is a three figure deal
You'll MC at a rave and get a bill
But that bill ain't gonna last
It will go fast
And it might be the last shubs for a while
So you won't have no dough for a while
Serious

To the beat
Jus bop your head to the beat
If you don't wanna dance to the beat
Just bop your head to the beat
If you don't wanna dance or Lean Back
Then bop your head to the beat
If you dont wanna dance to beat
Just bop your head to the beat

You're not serious
Don't say serious
'Cause I say serious
You wanna get serious
Let's get serious
You can't act serious
So don't say serious
About serious

You're not serious
Don't say serious
'Cause I say serious
You wanna get serious
Let's get serious
You can't act serious
So don't say serious
About serious

Everbody says, that garage should top
'Cause it's cheap like calipso or tip-top
MC's turn UK Hip-Hop
Scared their debut album will flop
I'm floggin food like a chip-shop
So I'll fall back on that If this flops
Plus I go uni so if shit pops off with the cops
Trust me I've got it locked
How comes, Every single MC is vexed
It's like the whole point of MC-ing nowadays is to get a reload on the decks
Man will go to radio on Thursday
Even though it's his birthday
He'll spit lyrics like it's the worst day in his life
It's not serious
Serious

Everybody knows you're some goody-goody
That screw-face and that Roca-Wear hoody
Just ain't workin
Sorry Bredrin
I'm buzz lightyear and you come like Woody

Look at my man biggin up his chest
Looks like he's tryin to grow some breast
Stop that, before you get an arch-back
I don't know who my man's tryin to impress

Everybody know's that I shot Os
And I make P, shot Q's like Kano
Under my toungue is were they go
Shottin' since Wiley had cane-rows

To make dough you need sense
I still dont throw away five pence
One cat thought I was dense
Owed me a lump some and he tried jump some fence

Serious





Hope everybody takes something away with them from this lesson
See you tomorrow

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Serious" by Maxwell D are a social commentary on the negative content of lyrics in the UK garage music scene. The song begins with JME giving a lesson to other MCs about the importance of writing positive lyrics instead of promoting violence and crime. He explains how major labels are not interested in promoting artists who talk about shanking or carrying a nine-mil gun. He also talks about the short-lived fame and money that MCs with negative lyrics can expect to receive. JME encourages MCs to be serious in their approach to music-making and to think about the long-term impact of their lyrics.


The later verses of the song follow the same theme, with Maxwell D criticizing MCs who try to act tough by wearing Roca-Wear hoodies and boasting about their criminal activities. He also makes reference to his own experience as an entrepreneur, selling food from a chip-shop, and emphasizes the importance of making wise business decisions. The chorus repeats the word "serious" to underscore the message that MCs need to take their craft seriously and create positive music that uplifts instead of degrades.


Overall, "Serious" delivers a powerful message to the music industry and encourages MCs to think critically about the content of their lyrics. It challenges the notion that "bad boy" image is the key to success and emphasizes the importance of authenticity and positivity.


Line by Line Meaning

Everybody thinks to MC tough
Many people believe that in order to be a successful MC, one must have tough lyrics.


Your lyrics must be about negative stuff
It is believed that MCs must only rap about negative topics.


Go raving, no-one's skanking
At a rave, it is uncommon to see people dancing in the skanking style.


Turn around I bet you some-one's shanking
Although people may not be dancing in the skanking style, there are likely individuals carrying weapons at the rave.


Jus 'coz we come from the gutter
Just because we come from a certain place or background, that doesn't define us.


We know about scraping the bottom of the butter
We know what it's like to have to scrape the bottom of the butter because we have faced hardship.


Don't mean we have to be sinners
Just because we have faced hardship, it doesn't mean we have to resort to immoral actions.


Major labels don't want killers
Major record labels don't want to work with artists who promote or partake in violence.


Think
Consider the ramifications of your actions.


Who's gonna sign a guy with a shank
No major record labels will sign someone who carries a weapon.


Or a guy with a nine mil
Similarly, no major record labels will sign someone who possesses a gun.


All you're gonna get is a three figure deal
At most, you will receive a deal worth a few hundred dollars, because no major record labels will work with you.


You'll MC at a rave and get a bill
You may perform at a rave, but you will still have to pay a fee for your spot in the lineup.


But that bill ain't gonna last
The money you make from that performance will quickly run out.


It will go fast
The money will be gone in no time.


And it might be the last shubs for a while
This performance may be the last one you are able to book for a while.


So you won't have no dough for a while
You will not have any money for a while.


To the beat
Let's focus on the music and the rhythm.


Jus bop your head to the beat
If you don't want to dance, you can still nod or bop your head to the beat of the song.


If you don't wanna dance or Lean Back
If you're not comfortable dancing, that's okay.


Then bop your head to the beat
Instead, you can still nod or bop your head to the beat of the music.


You're not serious
You're not being genuine or sincere.


Don't say serious
Don't use the word 'serious' if you don't mean it.


'Cause I say serious
I only use the word 'serious' when I truly mean it.


You wanna get serious
You seem to want to take things to a more serious level.


Let's get serious
Let's take things to a more serious level if that's what you want.


You can't act serious
You're not able to genuinely take things to a more serious level.


So don't say serious
Don't use the word 'serious' if you're not prepared to act on it.


About serious
Don't talk about being serious unless you plan to follow through with it.


Everbody says, that garage should top
Many people believe that garage music should be the most popular genre of music.


'Cause it's cheap like calipso or tip-top
Garage music is seen as 'cheap' or low-quality, much like calypso or tip-top.


MC's turn UK Hip-Hop
Mcs are switching from garage music to UK Hip-Hop.


Scared their debut album will flop
Mcs are afraid that their first album will be a failure.


I'm floggin food like a chip-shop
I'm selling music that is easy to digest and accessible.


So I'll fall back on that If this flops
If my current venture fails, I can always go back to selling easily accessible music.


Plus I go uni so if shit pops off with the cops
I am attending university, so if I run into trouble with the police, I have a safety net.


Trust me I've got it locked
I have everything under control.


How comes, Every single MC is vexed
Why are all MCs angry and upset?


It's like the whole point of MC-ing nowadays is to get a reload on the decks
MCing used to be about more than just getting the audience to react by playing a certain part of a song over again.


Man will go to radio on Thursday
Some people will go on the radio even if it happens to be their birthday.


Even though it's his birthday
Despite the fact that it's his birthday, he will still work and perform.


He'll spit lyrics like it's the worst day in his life
He will perform with a lot of emotion and intensity, as if it's the worst day of his life.


Everybody knows you're some goody-goody
Everyone knows that you are too good or moralistic.


That screw-face and that Roca-Wear hoody
Your facial expression and trendy clothing style are not intimidating or convincing.


Just ain't workin
Your image and style isn't effective or convincing.


Sorry Bredrin
I'm sorry, friend.


I'm buzz lightyear and you come like Woody
I am a cool and exciting person, and you are not.


Look at my man biggin up his chest
Look at my friend puffing up his chest, trying to impress everyone around him.


Looks like he's tryin to grow some breast
It appears as if he is attempting to grow breasts through his chest puffing.


Stop that, before you get an arch-back
Stop puffing up your chest because it will lead to an arched back.


I don't know who my man's tryin to impress
I'm not sure who my friend is trying to impress with his chest-puffing antics.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMIE ADENUGA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@loveislove8741

This was absolutely massive in 2001. Takes me back to my teenage years. Big up Maxwell D for the memories

@TakeMeBackPirateRadio

Big boy tune. This went down at treat back in the day. Maxwell you're a don from the Kool Skool days, Rinse FM 97.6 and 91.8. I've got tons of your old sets on Rinse and Kool FM.

@ericbrown8821

I remember use to tape sets from rinse on a Sunday sure it was like 3pm till 6pm

The days

@patrickevans4225

anyone still listening in 2020 🔊🔊🔊

@juanny68

Can't believe this is so long ago. Guess it riped like a great wine.

@jamieomr

I never play this song around my mum because last time she thought someone was actually screaming. Hahahaha.

@iReallyNeedALifexD

I saw this live at UKG Fest on Saturday, it was amazing! 😍

@banburyghosthunters

Back in like 2001 (I think) I had a garage album. It has this song, K2 family - Bouncing flow, Pay As U Go Cartel - Champagne Dance, Dreem team - It aint enough, possibly So solid crew - 21 seconds, I think track 1 on disc 1 was Daniel Bedingfield - Gotta get thru this. Also think it had Tweet - Oops oh my, and on disc 2 MOP - Ante up. Anyone have any idea at all what the album was called? I know its a vague description, but googled all I can, and can not find it anywhere lol.

@AlanBrownSugar

Banbury Ghost Hunters it was Twice as Nice the album

@k3m1k4l9

This might be it

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