The band originally started in 1997. They first specialized in remixes, and became known after the release of their mix of "Tequila", by Terrorvision. They were championed by British dance guru Norman Cook, whose DJ sets regularly included their work. Their sound was similar to his, to the extent that some people mistakenly believed Mint Royale to be a pseudonym for Cook himself. Their first album, On the Ropes was released in late 1999, and though it was not a big sales hit, some songs from it have achieved recognition. The single "Don't Falter", featuring Lauren Laverne from Kenickie, was a minor hit in the British charts. The song "From Rusholme with Love" has been made recognisable through its extensive use in film and television series soundtracks. Notable examples include the theme tune for the film Kung Pow! Enter The Fist, as well as being present on the soundtrack of the films Vanilla Sky, Get Carter, Serendipity and the television series ALIAS and Spaced. The song "Because I'm Worth It" has also been used as the theme tune for the Jamie Theakston and Zoë Ball chat show The Priory.
The band released their second album, Dancehall Places, in 2002, and afterwards embarked on a series of live shows and a UK tour in 2003
Mint Royale returned to the studio to start writing and recording their third album in the April of 2004. The next few months were a turbulent time for Mint Royale with founding member Chris Baker parting company with the band. However, Neil and the resident vocalists returned to the studio to complete the recording of the third album (January 2005) and the result was ‘See You In The Morning’. In 2005 the group released "Waiting in the Rain" on the "Wait for You" EP - a remix of Singin' in the Rain, which was featured in the January 2005 Volkswagen Golf GTI commercial. It reached initially #20 on the UK Singles Chart after it was released as a single (remixed and renamed as "Singing In the Rain"). This version also features on the album "See You in the Morning".
Neil Claxton ended Mint Royale on March 16, 2016, releasing the single "Time" along with some goodbye messages. until 2016. In 2020, Claxton returned to releasing music under the Mint Royale name.
Something New
Mint Royale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where do I start, where do I begin
There's only one closet: I am Him
An Entrepreneur, doing my thing
What I call life, you're calling a sin
Into this session, confessions I bring
I'm one of the livest, minus the bling
Catch me, you can't call me stupid
Some don't get it
Want to talk back but they ain't got credit
Forget it, I found not to care what you think
As long as I tear it down;
I can be younger, older,
A whole lot colder
Hung as a horse,
Trust I'm a soldier
It's not what I say, it's how I put it
It's not what I press, it's how I push it
I'm old school, dull boy mentality
If I can't get it, my friend can't actually
Crashing me better, gradually stacking
Bad habits to give up, we're making it, pack it.
This outfit, Imma keep it clean
I'm not offensive but I get obscene
They should've known not to fuck with me
That's tough shit, now they're stuck with me
Refrain:
You don't know me, no
So don't judge me how can I ever win
If you don't listen
To the words I say
You're just scared cause
I'm something new
You don't know me
I've been with the grind
Kings and coats and killer design
Pirate laws, I'll lift up your hind
It's time consuming, things to find
Find a studio, find a block
Find the keys that get to the top
Secure the rig, tripwire the lock
Get London locked, try not to drop.
Man I've been there, man I've got the rep
Won a few battles but I've lost my breath
Went on MTV and got played to death,
Still I never got a deal, never got a cheque
I took from the rags to the show delivered
Sold on ebay to the highest bidder
Got all the cash back and it all got worse
That's just my day laid out in a verse.
The song "Something New" by Mint Royale is a rap song that speaks about the artist's life of being an entrepreneur and doing what he needs to do to make it in the world, regardless of how people perceive him. The lyrics open with the line "Where do I start, where do I begin?" which shows that the artist is unsure of how he is going to convey his story, but he is going to try his best. He then goes on to say that he is a bit of a rebel, which is evident in his line, "What I call life, you're calling a sin." This line shows that people may not understand why he is doing what he is doing and may view it as being immoral, but he sees it as a necessity in his life.
In the chorus, the artist speaks to the fact that people do not know him and should not judge him without knowing his story. He states that people are just scared of something new, which means that he is doing something outside of the norm, which can make people uncomfortable.
The song's theme is essentially an artist's reflection on struggling to make ends meet while still trying to maintain his vision and identity as the artist. He speaks on his experiences of selling products on eBay to make his ends meet, winning battles but still losing out on offers, and celebrity exposure that may not necessarily mean getting a deal.
Line by Line Meaning
What what?
I am asking what is happening or what is going on.
Where do I start, where do I begin
I am unsure of how to begin.
There's only one closet: I am Him
I am being true to myself and not hiding who I am.
An Entrepreneur, doing my thing
I am an entrepreneur and pursuing my own path.
What I call life, you're calling a sin
What I consider living, you might consider wrong.
Into this session, confessions I bring
I am here to confess and talk openly about my feelings.
I'm one of the livest, minus the bling
I am a lively person, but I do not need material things to prove it.
Catch me, you can't call me stupid
Even if you try to call me names, you cannot bring me down.
My car won't start but I flow exclusive, elusive
Although I may face challenges, I continue to create unique work and stand out.
Some don't get it
Some people do not understand me or my work.
Want to talk back but they ain't got credit
Some people try to engage with me, but they have no credibility.
Forget it, I found not to care what you think
I have learned not to care about others' opinions.
As long as I tear it down;
As long as I keep working hard and improving,
I can be younger, older, A whole lot colder
I can keep creating and evolving no matter how old I get.
Hung as a horse, Trust I'm a soldier
I am strong and resilient, and I trust in myself.
It's not what I say, it's how I put it
It is not about the words I use, but how I deliver them.
It's not what I press, it's how I push it
It is not about what buttons I push, but how I use them to make my work meaningful.
I'm old school, dull boy mentality
I have a traditional way of thinking and approaching my work.
If I can't get it, my friend can't actually
If I am unable to create or succeed, I will not let it bring others around me down.
Crashing me better, gradually stacking
Even when I am struggling, I continue to work hard and improve slowly over time.
Bad habits to give up, we're making it, pack it.
I am breaking bad habits and improving, and we are making progress.
This outfit, Imma keep it clean
I am keeping my appearance and work professional.
I'm not offensive but I get obscene
I may not intend to be offensive, but my creativity can be unconventional or shocking.
They should've known not to fuck with me
They should have known better than to try to challenge my work or my abilities.
That's tough shit, now they're stuck with me
They will have to deal with the results of underestimating me and my work.
You don't know me, no
You do not truly know me or my experiences.
So don't judge me how can I ever win
Do not judge me, as it can harm my chances of success.
If you don't listen To the words I say
If you do not pay attention to what I am saying,
You're just scared cause I'm something new
You are hesitant or afraid because I am doing something different or unconventional.
I've been with the grind Kings and coats and killer design
I have put in hard work and effort, and have created impressive design work.
Pirate laws, I'll lift up your hind
I will challenge the traditional laws and norms of the creative industry.
It's time-consuming, things to find
Creating this type of work requires time and effort to find inspiration and create meaningful content.
Find a studio, find a block
I need to find the right tools and environment to create and design.
Find the keys that get to the top
I need to find the strategies and techniques that will help me achieve success.
Secure the rig, tripwire the lock
I need to work hard to not only reach the top, but ensure my success.
Get London locked, try not to drop.
I must make sure that I stay focused and do not falter on my path to success.
Man I've been there, man I've got the rep
I have faced challenges and struggled, but I have earned a strong reputation.
Won a few battles but I've lost my breath
I have won some challenges, but the struggle has taken a toll on me.
Went on MTV and got played to death,
Even when I had success, it became overplayed and lost its impact.
Still I never got a deal, never got a cheque
Despite the success I have had, I have not received a major opportunity or financial gain.
I took from the rags to the show delivered
I have worked hard and come from difficult circumstances to create successful work.
Sold on eBay to the highest bidder
I have sold my work to those who appreciate its value.
Got all the cash back and it all got worse
Even with financial success, my struggles and challenges continued.
That's just my day laid out in a verse.
This song tells the story of my struggles and success in the creative industry.
Contributed by Caroline C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.