An Encyclopedia
Milo Lyrics

What is that? What is this? What is this? Huh?
The singer is asking about something unfamiliar to them.

This is an encyclopedia containing the Latin names of the ugliest parts of my insides
The singer has catalogued their internal pain and suffering in this book.

I'm choosing to use it like a compass in times of peril
The singer turns to their pain to guide them through difficult times.

No one taught me the language of rap song, I was born speaking it
The artist has always felt a natural inclination towards rap music.

My last name means "blacksmith," and yours?
The artist is curious about the meaning behind other people's last names.

Born from the racial tensions between nigger rigs and MacGyvers
The singer's identity is shaped by the conflict and oppression between their culture and mainstream society.

The difference between quantum leap and sliders
The singer is knowledgeable about Mid-90s Sci-fi shows.

That is if you have an eye for the mid-nineties Sci-Fi sitcom
The artist is referencing a lesser-known show that only true fans would know about.

Used to listen to Myka 9 rip songs
The artist has a history of listening to underground rap music.

And think "Gee mom, this seems strong, good."
The artist was impressed by the lyrical content of these songs and thought their mother would be as well.

Rap song writing, qua black art aspiring
The singer sees rap music as an art form that is culturally specific.

Now I only write in green ink like Matrix code
The artist's writing has developed a futuristic and stylized quality.

Peace to the Wahoo Monastery
The singer is expressing respect towards a religious group or location.

My destiny is to write four bars
The singer feels called to write and create music.

In black licorice
The singer is being metaphorical and describing their music as dark and intense.

Convert that to one stack
The artist is confident in their ability to turn their music into wealth.

Then set out to redefine the term "nigger rich"
The artist wants to reclaim a derogatory phrase and transform it into a sign of success.

I'm very hungry
The singer is eager to succeed and make a name for themselves in the rap industry.

Done asking for table scrapplings
The singer no longer wants to rely on the help of others to achieve their goals.

From neighbors who live just above me
The artist is likely referring to literal neighbors who are better off than they are.

Trapping seems in the vein of hunting
The artist sees the act of making music as a way to survive in a competitive industry.

I abstain from only the one thing
The artist is choosing to avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms and instead focus on their music.

I'm so sorry, how could I be so clumsy
The singer is acknowledging their own shortcomings and mistakes.

To thrust you inside a language game
The artist is admitting that they might be overwhelming others with their intellectual and creative pursuits.

Without affording the proper trumpeting?
The singer feels that they haven't received the recognition they deserve for their work.

Might make a beat from machete metal clang
The singer is describing a potential source of inspiration for their music.

I mastered the yeti ghetto slang
The singer has developed their own unique style of rap music through hard work and practice.

Like nicknames of nimble and tip of nipple metal fangs
The artist is referencing specific and obscure words and phrases that add to their style and imagery.

Milo last seen with a poor sport with more ass
The artist is likely referring to themselves in the third person and describing their own recent experiences or encounters with others.

Got a passport to import more for the war stash
The singer is describing their drive to obtain new and exotic instruments or sounds for their music.

Short leash, long lash
The singer is describing their sense of control and power in their music-making process.

Long Beach with bombast
The artist is referencing a specific location and its cultural significance to them.

I palm palm trees in my thought path
The artist uses their imagination and creativity to create new musical ideas.

This is a mason jar containing a last laugh
The artist is carrying an inside joke or personal victory with them through their music.

It isn't at all clear to me why I should be alive
The singer is feeling disconnected or lost in their life and questioning their purpose.

Kenny Segal's drums are not quantized
The artist appreciates the raw and organic sound of unprocessed music.

And presently that gives me purpose
The singer finds motivation and direction through their love of music and sound.

I know it's worthless and worthwhile
The singer is aware that their passion for music may not lead to monetary success, but still finds value in it.

And how to build a fortress
The singer has learned how to protect themselves and their art from outside forces.

And I've always known
The artist feels that their destiny was always tied to their love of music and creativity.

And then he opened his mouth so wide all his teeth were showing:
The artist is transitioning into the next part of their song, possibly with a spoken word segment.

Rows, pews, banquet halls of teeth, and he goes
The singer is using religious imagery to create an intense and foreboding atmosphere in their lyrics.

"I've got this one song, it sounds like;
The singer is introducing their next song or idea within their song.

People of color coloring
The artist is referencing a historical and ongoing struggle for representation and equality among marginalized communities.

(Hey! You can't do that!)
The artist is likely referencing the appropriation of their culture or language by others.

Today they shook me down to my core
The artist is feeling deeply affected by recent events or experiences.

It's nigger killer galore out there
The singer is referencing the frequency of violence and discrimination towards black people.

The truth is a golden rectangle I tried to swallow
The artist is struggling to come to terms with the harsh realities of the world around them.

Look at the mouth tears, my nigga
The singer is expressing emotional pain and sadness through tears.

I'm really out there
The singer is acknowledging that they are involved in the struggle for justice and equality in their community.

All five fifths of my personage
The singer identifies fully with every aspect of their being, including their race and culture.

What kind of burden could be worse than this?
The artist is expressing the weight and pain of systemic oppression and racism.

How can I carry all these dead people of color?
The artist is feeling the weight of history and struggles of black people that came before them.

All these black and brown and yellow bodies
The singer is referencing the diversity among marginalized communities and acknowledging the struggles they face.

Darrien Hunt cosplaying was killed for his hobbies
The singer is referencing a specific incident of police brutality towards a black man who was wearing a cosplay costume.

And I love Mugen too
The artist is referencing a character from an anime show and connecting their love of the show to their identity as a black person.

And that's the thing
The artist is emphasizing their connection to their cultural identity and how it shapes their thoughts and actions.

They gave us Mavis Beacon and slavish deacons
The artist is referencing both an educational computer program and religious figures, and highlighting how these things contribute to systemic oppression.

Who predicate upon
The singer is criticizing those in power who base their actions on a faulty or biased foundation.

Who pontificate upon
The artist is criticizing those in power who speak in grandiose or pretentious ways without actually taking meaningful action.

Who conversate upon
The singer is criticizing those in power who engage in meaningless dialogue without actually creating change or progress.

But never hand-grenade a palm
The singer is criticizing those in power who refuse to take risks or make bold decisions.

They find refuge muttering
The singer is criticizing those in power who hide behind words and lack the courage to take meaningful action.

"The patriarchy is on auto-pilot"
The artist is referencing a commonly used phrase in social justice circles and criticizing those who use it as an excuse not to take action against oppressive systems.

With prayer beads and solemnity
The artist is referencing religious rituals and criticizing those who rely on religion without actually engaging in social justice work.

We, Urban Outfitters, would like to make a t-shirt
The singer is criticizing corporations like Urban Outfitters who exploit social justice issues and use them for profit.

Out of your just-born soliloquy
The singer is suggesting that their words are being appropriated without their consent or compensation.

And the raw amount of psychic data that I fail to process
The artist is describing how difficult it is to process and come to terms with the pain and suffering of marginalized communities.

Staring at Cinnamon Toast Crunch boxes
The artist is referencing a mundane task that contrasts with the gravity of the emotions and experiences they are processing.

People of color coloring
The artist is restating their previous criticism of cultural appropriation and the erasure of marginalized communities.

(Hey! You can't do that!)
The singer is once again calling out those who appropriate and exploit the culture of others.