Growing up in Fayetteville, NC and getting in trouble, Morray turned to music as his escape. He was raised on R&B and gospel music at the age of four. He then moved to Lebanon, Pennsylvania at the age of 12 and lived there for six years before moving back to North Carolina. While staying in Pennsylvania, he met a rap collective called SGS which inspired him to start making music.
While raising a child, he worked construction and recorded music on the side. In 2014, he released his first song, which he recorded for his wife’s birthday, and started to take music seriously. In 2020, he lost his job at a call center and chose to pursue his music career to support his three children. His passion for music would soon become reality, as in the same year, he released his debut single, “Quicksand” in March 2020. The song would then be discovered by media manager Moe Shalizi, who soon became Morray’s official manager and launched a record label called Pick Six Records. The two would then re-release the single on October 30, which led the song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and would gain attention worldwide from rappers such as J. Cole and DaBaby.
2021 would be an important year for Morray, as on April 16, Morray announced that he had signed to Interscope Records in a join venture with his current label. Shortly after, he would release his debut mixtape, Street Sermons on April 28, 2021. The mixtape would then go to debut and peak at #41 on the Billboard 200. On May 14, Morray went on to collaborate with J. Cole and 21 Savage on the track “m y . l i f e,” as a part of J. Cole’s album, The Off Season. Thanks to the success to both the song and his debut mixtape, Morray landed himself on a spot in the 2021 XXL Freshman Class.
Dreamland
MorRay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
Oh
It was hard growin' up like I did
Seein' everybody had this and I ain't never have shit
Like, fuck Christmas and a birthday, I ain't never have gifts
Livin' a broken life, like a nigga actin' in a Spike script
This just how motha fuckin' life is
Nigga, this is my life
Said that I would do it for a price
B and E's each and every single night, just to get the pockets right
Split it up even amongst the guys
Hard as fuck 'cause it made the money tight
Couldn't even catch a break from the state, caught a case
I was only thirteen, had a mask on the face
I was five foot five, had a .9 on the waist
I was smart as a bitch and let my mind go to waste
I was always on my own
Makin' sure my moves were never known
Young as fuck but I was movin' grown
Heart made of stone
Always thought that I would be alone
Even with the love that I was shown
Nobody ever gave a real fuck about me, so why would I give a fuck about ye
I was skinny, I was hungry, I ain't have food to eat
Makin' trouble on the double dutch that's how I released
It was hard growin' up like I did
Seein' everybody had this and I ain't never have shit
Like, fuck Christmas and a birthday, I ain't never have gifts
Livin' a broken life, like a nigga actin' in a Spike script
Hold on with the vice grip
This just how motha fuckin' life is
I can't complain if I tried, a nigga only glad that he alive
Dealin' with the pain, gotta keep it bottled up inside
I'm a black man, that's how we survive
Can't remember stable places, we was in n' out of basements
Layin' on some carpet 'cause it's better than the pavement
Livin' in a motel, mama couldn't make it
Daddy had another bitch, guess he couldn't face it
Anythin' we ever gained he would try to come and take it
If she ever spoke about it he would lose his fuckin' patience
Several different ways to beat her, can't believe he's so creative
Sad to say it to this day I still really fuckin' hate him
It was hard growin' up like I did
Seein' everybody had this and I ain't never have shit
Like, fuck Christmas and a birthday, I ain't never have gifts
Livin' a broken life, like a nigga actin' in a Spike script
Hold on with the vice grip
This just how motha fuckin' life is
The lyrics to MorRay's song "Dreamland" paint a vivid picture of a difficult and challenging upbringing. The singer reflects on his experiences growing up without material possessions and the struggles he faced. He expresses the frustration of not having gifts on holidays like Christmas or his birthday, feeling left out while others around him had things. The comparison to acting in a Spike Lee film suggests that his life was like a performance, filled with struggles and hardships.
The song delves into the singer's involvement in illegal activities, such as breaking and entering, in order to make ends meet. He mentions the pressure of having to split the earnings with others and the constant struggle to make enough money to get by. The line about catching a case at the age of thirteen and carrying a weapon indicates a life exposed to danger and instability. Despite his intelligence, he laments wasting his potential and feeling alone, never receiving genuine care or concern from others. The lyrics also express his hunger and physical deprivation, as well as finding solace in causing trouble, which becomes a release for his emotions.
The second verse highlights the resilience and survival instincts of the singer as a black man. He describes a lack of stability, constantly moving in and out of basements and living in motels. The absence of a stable family life is evident as he mentions his father's infidelity and abandonment, with his mother unable to cope. The singer's father is portrayed as a threatening figure, willing to resort to violence to take away any gains made by the family. There is a deep-rooted hatred towards the father, even in the present day, for the pain and suffering he inflicted.
In summary, "Dreamland" is a reflection on a challenging upbringing, marked by poverty, deprivation, and a lack of stability. The singer's resilience and survival instinct shine through, but the scars and pain of the past are still present.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, oh
Expressing agreement and acknowledgment
Yeah
An additional affirmation
Oh
An exclamation of realization or understanding
It was hard growin' up like I did
Facing difficulties during my childhood
Seein' everybody had this and I ain't never have shit
Observing others possessing things I never had
Like, fuck Christmas and a birthday, I ain't never have gifts
Expressing frustration and disappointment for never receiving gifts on special occasions
Livin' a broken life, like a nigga actin' in a Spike script
Experiencing a shattered existence akin to a character in a Spike Lee film
Hold on with the vice grip
Holding on tightly with determination
This just how motha fuckin' life is
Accepting that life can be harsh and unforgiving
Nigga, this is my life
Asserting ownership and personal experience
Said that I would do it for a price
Stating a willingness to engage in certain actions for a monetary reward
B and E's each and every single night, just to get the pockets right
Engaging in breaking and entering to improve financial situation
Split it up even amongst the guys
Sharing the stolen money equitably among friends
Hard as fuck 'cause it made the money tight
Difficult because it resulted in limited financial resources
Couldn't even catch a break from the state, caught a case
Unable to avoid legal trouble and facing a criminal case
I was only thirteen, had a mask on the face
At the young age of thirteen, wearing a disguise
I was five foot five, had a .9 on the waist
Having a small stature but carrying a 9mm handgun
I was smart as a bitch and let my mind go to waste
Having intellectual potential but failing to utilize it
I was always on my own
Being self-reliant and independent
Makin' sure my moves were never known
Ensuring secrecy and avoiding detection
Young as fuck but I was movin' grown
Despite being young, behaving in a mature and adult-like manner
Heart made of stone
Having an emotionally hardened and insensitive nature
Always thought that I would be alone
Believing that solitude would be a constant in my life
Even with the love that I was shown
Despite receiving affection from others
Nobody ever gave a real fuck about me, so why would I give a fuck about ye
Experiencing a lack of genuine care from others, causing indifference towards them
I was skinny, I was hungry, I ain't have food to eat
Suffering from malnourishment and hunger due to lack of food
Makin' trouble on the double dutch that's how I released
Finding an outlet for frustration and stress by engaging in mischief
I can't complain if I tried, a nigga only glad that he alive
Avoiding complaints and expressing gratitude for being alive
Dealin' with the pain, gotta keep it bottled up inside
Enduring emotional pain and suppressing it internally
I'm a black man, that's how we survive
Highlighting the resilience and strength of black men in overcoming adversity
Can't remember stable places, we was in n' out of basements
Experiencing constant instability, frequently moving between basements
Layin' on some carpet 'cause it's better than the pavement
Opting to sleep on carpeted floors as a slightly more comfortable alternative to the pavement
Livin' in a motel, mama couldn't make it
Residing in a motel due to the mother's inability to provide a permanent home
Daddy had another bitch, guess he couldn't face it
Father being unfaithful to the mother, presumably due to an inability to handle the family situation
Anythin' we ever gained he would try to come and take it
Father attempting to take away any progress or possessions achieved by the family
If she ever spoke about it he would lose his fuckin' patience
Reacting angrily whenever the mother dared to discuss such matters
Several different ways to beat her, can't believe he's so creative
Father employing various methods of abuse, showcasing a disturbing level of creativity
Sad to say it to this day I still really fuckin' hate him
Expressing ongoing strong dislike and resentment towards the father
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andrej Marko, Morae Ruffin, Peter Gogola
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tristan grider
Thank you 🙏 I’m n my 20s atm to..same situation sorta bad childhood I’ve let it control everything
And it’s completely ruined my life/hope/motivation..
I’m on the road to figuring it out..had to loose my family tho…..
Wife left sons gone
Left at my lowest all alone…
Really though it’s showed me alot of stuff I’ve been missing
Somewhat feel like I needed this I dont know
They say god gives his toughest battles to his toughest soldiers but man
I’ve been through plenty battles when will it end? I feel like I’m doing better tho hopefully u stay in this mindset
Morray
preciate all you commenting and sharing my music 🙏🏾🙏🏾 @ me on IG/twitter @morrayda1
STREET SERMONS OUT 4/28 PREORDER: https://morray.lnk.to/StreetSermons
Johnny Stewart
@Morray you are hard bro cant wait for the next song brodie💯
Tony flexin
Bruh you can’t miss 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
O n e U p
👀
Antwon Swinson
Showing love all the way from the 252 keep pushing man
Jaybarber29 Sam
That talent is appreciated keep it comin and stay out the way broo. One of the rawest cats out of this generation. 💥💥🇨🇱
G B
This the type of artist with longevity. Morray isn’t falling off anytime soon
Kaleb Cady
This didn’t age did it
Joshua Gumpert
This guy is a storyteller not just a rapper. He is a star in the making.
1Kween Kae
I think this comment sums it all up! 💚