Before starting the band Mindless Self Indulgence, James Euringer launched a solo album in 1995, called Mindless Self-Indulgence, which he had produced by himself and was limited to 500 copies. Contrary to popular belief, this was not an album by the band Mindless Self Indulgence, however, Steve Righ? played guitar for the track "Bed of Roses".
Another large influence in the band's music comes from early 1980s culture. Frequently the music contains samples of early 80's hip-hop or rock, as well as Atari-style beeps and tones. Their second album as a band, 1999's Tight, was even allegedly mixed on Atari equipment. Many of Urine's dress styles consist of the juxtaposition of popular 1980s clothing or bastardized versions thereof.
Later in February 2000, MSI launched the album Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy, featuring 30 tracks that were sorted alphabetically. Kitty (Drummer) designed and ran the official site of MSI when the album came out.
After Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy , Vanessa YT (Bass player) decided to leave MSI to start a family. Her replacement in the band was Lyn-Z (Bass player).
Mindless Self Indulgence is distinguished from mainstream punk, however, by their incorporating lyrics about being gay and related topics into nearly all of their songs - even titling one of their songs Faggot. Also, Euringer and Steve, Righ? (Guitarist) possess wide vocal ranges, stretching from tenor to high falsetto. The band also has no qualms about using words deemed offensive by some, such as nigga (Jimmy Urine argues that he doesn't say the word out of anger, and often it is more or less used in the sense that it is used in the hip-hop world), and faggot heavily in many of their songs. Many critics have used their word choice to dismiss the band as juvenile.
And although this may be the case, with some songs being of a 'juvenile' subject and tone, they also use clever lyrics and stance to give meaning to songs, such as You'll rebel to anything, which is a song that talks about how punk culture is being exploited by misdirected youths as a way to be unique or get noticed.
In keeping with their confrontational posture, Euringer has been arrested for pulling his penis out of his pants and attempting to set his pubic hair on fire, allegedly succeeding on one such occasion. Other notable stage antics include him drinking his own urine, inviting audience members to punch him in the face and/or throw objects at him, making out with both genders during the show, and roaming through the audience after the set blaring hip-hop music from a boom box perched on his shoulder.
The band's energetic live shows have gained them much recognition. The band is known to stay after the show has finished, signing whatever fans want until not one person is left wanting an autograph. They also take photographs with all desiring fans. They have opened for a number of popular bands, including System of a Down, KoRn, Staind, Sum 41, Mushroomhead, Insane Clown Posse, My Chemical Romance, and Rammstein. They have also played many large musical festivals including Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans in October of 2003 (and in Memphis, TN after Hurricane Katrina in 2006), as well as headlining the Mojave tent at the 2004 Coachella Festival, and the main stage of 2007's Give It A Name. They also headlined the second stage of the Projekt Revolution tour in Summer 2007.
Their DVD, called Our Pain, Your Gain, was released on September 11, 2007, featuring one of their concerts in New York.
On 29th April 2008, their 4th studio album, If, was released. The standard edition contains 15 tracks, the deluxe edition has the same tracklist and a bonus DVD. The Clean version has 16 tracks, Uncle being the additional track. The International edition (UK version) has 21 tracks; 3S as bonus track and four Never Wanted To Dance remixes.
On 25th October 2012, they began a Kickstarter to crowdfund their next studio album, which reached its goal by December 24th of that year. Digital downloads for their fifth studio album, How I Learned To Stop Giving A Shit And Love Mindless Self Indulgence, were released on 13 March 2013. There are three different versions of the album, with each including the standard 13-song tracklist as well as bonus tracks. The Kickstarter exclusive downloads include the bonus tracks Angel, I Am Not Here to Make Any Friends, and Last Gay Song. The Kickstarter exclusive digipak CD includes the bonus track Sex for Homework. The tour edition CD includes the bonus track Seven Minutes in Heaven. The Metropolis Records released CD includes the bonus cover, The Logical Song (originally by Supertramp).
After the 2014 tour concluded, Mindless Self Indulgence began a hiatus from touring to spend time with their families. On 18 September 2015, the band released the supposed "lost" album Pink, a 19-song album of remastered versions of the "Pink Demos" from 1990-1997, including covers Personal Jesus (originally by Depeche Mode and Girls On Film (originally by Duran Duran). The album includes redone versions of tracks from the self-titled EP from 1995. It’s also known that there are 31 “lost” tracks from 1990-1997 (“Pink Demos” era), and that 15 of those tracks were added onto Pink, then also implying that there are another 16 “lost” tracks that could be released in future, however chances are slim due to recent events.
Big Poppa
Mindless Self Indulgence Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Allow me to lace lyrical douches in your bushes
Who rock grooves and make moves with all the mommies?
The back of the club, sipping Moet is where you'll find me
The back of the club, macking hoes, my crew's behind me
Mad question asking, blunt passing, music blasting
But I just can't quit because one of these honies
Why blow up my spot 'cause we both got hot?
I got more Mack than Craig and in the bed
Believe me, sweetie, I got enough to feed the needy
No need to be greedy, I got mad friends with Benz's
C-notes by the layers, true fucking players
Jump in the Rover and come over
I got chronic, I got chronic
I got, I got, I got, I got, I got
I got my chronic
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
Throw your hands in the air, if you are a true player
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
To all the honies getting money playing niggers like dummies
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
If you got a gun up in your waist, please don't shoot up the place
'Cause I see some ladies tonight, 'cause I see some ladies tonight
'Cause I see some ladies tonight who should be having my baby, baby
Straight up honey, really I'm asking
Most of these niggers think they be macking
But they're just motherfucking acting
Who they attracting with that line, "What's your name, what's your sign?"
Soon as he buy that wine, I just creep up from behind
And ask what your interests are, and "Who you be with?"
Things to make you smile, what numbers to dial
You gonna be here for a while
I'm gonna go call my crew, You go call your crew
We can rendezvous at the bar around two
Plans to leave, throw the keys to Lil' Cease
Pull the truck up front, and roll up the next blunt
Conversate for a few, 'cause in a few, we gonna do
What we came to do, ain't that right, boo
Forget the telly we just go to my crib
And watch a movie in the jacuzzi smoking big L's while you do me
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
Throw your hands in the air, if you are a true player
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
To all the honies getting money playing niggers like dummies
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
If you got a gun up in your waist, please don't shoot up the place
'Cause I see some ladies tonight, 'Cause I see some ladies tonight
'Cause I see some ladies tonight who should be having my baby, baby
How ya living Biggie Smallz? In mansion and Benz's
Giving ends to my friends and it feels stupendous
Tremendous cream, fuck a dollar and a dream
Still tote gatts strapped with infrared beams
Chopping O's, smoking lye and Optimo's
Money, hoes, and clothes is all a nigger knows
A foolish pleasure, whatever
I had to find the buried treasure, so grams I had to measure
Living better now, Gucci sweater now
Drop top BM's, I'm the man, girlfriend
Living better now, Gucci sweater now
Drop top BM's, drop top BM's
Honey check it
Tell your friends, to get with my friends
And we can be friends
Shit, we can do this every goddamn weekend
Keep bangin'
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
Throw your hands in the air, if you are a true player
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
To all the honies getting money playing niggers like dummies
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
If you got a gun up in your waist, please don't shoot up the place
'Cause I see some ladies tonight, 'Cause I see some ladies tonight
'Cause I see some ladies tonight who should be having my baby, baby
The lyrics of Mindless Self Indulgence's song "Big Poppa" are a parody of the rap scene of the 1990s. The song makes a mockery of the bravado and machismo prevalent in hip-hop culture at the time, especially in Biggie Smalls' music. The lyrics are intentionally over-the-top, with lines like "Allow me to lace lyrical douches in your bushes" and "No need to be greedy, I got mad friends with Benz's" poking fun at the excessive wealth and materialism often celebrated in rap music. The song also includes references to drug use and casual sex, further highlighting the shallow and self-indulgent nature of the persona being portrayed.
Despite its satirical nature, "Big Poppa" was a popular song, and remains a classic of both the hip-hop and rock genres. Its catchy chorus and upbeat rhythms made it a club favorite, and its ear-catching lyrics helped to establish Mindless Self Indulgence as a boundary-breaking force in the world of music.
Line by Line Meaning
To all the ladies in the place with style and grace
Attention all the elegant and classy women who are present in this gathering
Allow me to lace lyrical douches in your bushes
Allow me to spit some nice rhymes to you and impress you
Who rock grooves and make moves with all the mommies?
Who among the guys here has the charisma and musical talent to charm all the ladies?
The back of the club, sipping Moet is where you'll find me
I'll be chilling at the back of the nightclub, sipping a fine champagne called Moet
The back of the club, macking hoes, my crew's behind me
At the rear area of the club, I'll be hitting on women, while my buddies are supporting me from behind
Mad question asking, blunt passing, music blasting
I'll continuously ask questions and interject while passing around some marijuana, while loud music is playing in the background
But I just can't quit because one of these honies
I can't seem to stop my behavior because I'm interested in one of the girls here
Biggie's got to creep with, sleep with, keep the E.P. a secret
I want to have some sexual intimacy with this girl, and I need to keep it discreet as to not ruin my reputation
Why blow up my spot 'cause we both got hot?
Why would we ruin our chances by spreading rumors when we both have a mutual attraction?
I got more Mack than Craig and in the bed
I am a more attractive and desirable guy than Craig, especially in bed
Believe me, sweetie, I got enough to feed the needy
Trust me, darling, I have enough sexual prowess to satisfy women's cravings
No need to be greedy, I got mad friends with Benz's
You don't have to be selfish because I have a lot of awesome friends who have luxury cars
C-notes by the layers, true fucking players
I have large stacks of hundred dollar bills, and my crew is a group of real ladies' men
Jump in the Rover and come over
Get into my fancy car, a Range Rover, and come over to my place
I got chronic, I got chronic
I have a lot of marijuana, and I am excited to share it with you
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
I feel great when you use my nickname Big Poppa, as it makes me feel famous and respected
Throw your hands in the air, if you are a true player
Raise your hands in the air if you are a real ladies' man
To all the honies getting money playing niggers like dummies
This is a shoutout to all the women who are taking advantage of stupid guys to make some money
If you got a gun up in your waist, please don't shoot up the place
If you are carrying a gun in your waistband, please do not start shooting randomly
'Cause I see some ladies tonight, 'cause I see some ladies tonight
I'm keen on a few women who are here tonight
Who should be having my baby, baby
I think some of these women have the potential to start a family with me
Straight up honey, really I'm asking
Honestly, babe, I'm just asking a simple question
Most of these niggers think they be macking
Most guys in here think they're good at charming ladies
But they're just motherfucking acting
But they're just pretending, and they're not the real deal
Who they attracting with that line, 'What's your name, what's your sign?'
Who falls for that cheesy pick-up line, 'What's your name, what's your sign?'
Soon as he buy that wine, I just creep up from behind
As soon as he buys her a drink, I come up behind her and try to swoop in
And ask what your interests are, and 'Who you be with?'
I ask about your hobbies and interests, and find out who your friends are
Things to make you smile, what numbers to dial
I try to make you smile, and ask for your phone number
You gonna be here for a while
Are you planning to stay here for a while?
I'm gonna go call my crew, You go call your crew
I'm going to call my friends, and you can call your friends too
We can rendezvous at the bar around two
Let's meet up at the bar around 2 am
Plans to leave, throw the keys to Lil' Cease
We plan to leave, so I'll give the car keys to my buddy Lil' Cease
Pull the truck up front, and roll up the next blunt
We'll bring the car to the front and start rolling another joint
Conversate for a few, 'cause in a few, we gonna do
Let's chat for a bit, but soon we're going to do what we came here to do
What we came to do, ain't that right, boo
We both know what we're here for, don't we, honey?
Forget the telly we just go to my crib
Let's skip the hotel and just go to my place
And watch a movie in the jacuzzi smoking big L's while you do me
We can watch a film while sitting in the hot tub and smoke some marijuana while we have sex
How ya living Biggie Smallz? In mansion and Benz's
Biggie Smalls, how's your lifestyle? Do you own mansions and luxury cars?
Giving ends to my friends and it feels stupendous
I'm generously sharing my wealth with my buddies, and it feels fantastic
Tremendous cream, fuck a dollar and a dream
I have so much wealth that I don't care about money or wishing for success anymore
Still tote gatts strapped with infrared beams
Despite my riches, I still carry guns that have infrared scopes attached to them
Chopping O's, smoking lye and Optimo's
I cut up large quantities of drugs and smoke marijuana or Optimo cigars
Money, hoes, and clothes is all a nigger knows
All mediocre individuals know is chasing money, women, and dressing well
A foolish pleasure, whatever
Even though it's reckless and foolish, seeking money and women brings me happiness
I had to find the buried treasure, so grams I had to measure
I had to seek out illicit drugs, hence why I had to weigh them out
Living better now, Gucci sweater now
I am currently living my life much better than before, and I can now afford Gucci sweaters
Drop top BM's, I'm the man, girlfriend
I own convertible BMW cars and I'm the man you want to date, girlfriend
Honey check it
Listen up, baby
Tell your friends, to get with my friends
Tell your lady friends to connect with my male friends
And we can be friends
We can then become friends too
Shit, we can do this every goddamn weekend
We can keep doing this every weekend, without fail
Keep bangin'
Keep dancing and enjoying the music
Contributed by Jasmine T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.