Starting his discography in June 2018, he released his debut mixtape, Stage Fright. And with no publicity in hand, kept pushing and released his sophomore mixtape, Blockhead, in September. In 2019, he ventured to his 2 more expressive tapes, Unstoppable and No Face.
2020 marked the first year without a Nerfonator project since Stage Fright as his future plans would come to a halt. Roadblocks such as writer’s block and a global pandemic slowed his creative process down. But just a year later, his highly anticipated mixtape, The Tromonous, was released. With the release of the project, his first 3 projects were pulled from streaming platforms. But with his 2021 effort, his creativity and vulnerability bloomed unlike any project of his that preceded it. Through 16 tracks, Nerfonator built an atmosphere that would pull the listener in and form a running concept throughout the mixtape.
However, the creation of The Tromonous weighed heavy on his mental health, and he highlights that all throughout his 2022 mixtape, Wake Up Call—a 10 track narrative of life’s grey area and one’s lack of motivation to get out of bed, even when you’re pursuing what you love.
Mama Said
Nerfonator Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wondering if I have enough change in my pocket to make some
But only through these melodies and these drums can I overcome the pain
Inject the novocain, now I'm numb
But when the words bleed off the sheets and beam into a reality
That's my mentality
And execute with as little banality as possible
Punchlines with brutality
Now my rhymes blue and black, you see
And I keep flowing like the dam demolished
And won't leave the game satisfied until the man accomplished
And just because I took my time don't mean the plan abolished
I've just been perfecting my rhymes, now the brand is polished
You got it? Now listen
It takes a lot of precision for unlocking your vision
And it feels harder to get it with no pots left to piss in
Glitter gold shines better in the light
So now I'm spittin' these writtens in hopes that I will glisten, uh
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do, we do
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do-do
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do, we do
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do-do
Yeah, because I'm all about my dough
And if you don't got it
Lay you on the floor or out the front door, hoe
Nah that's just all jokes
How else am I supposed to put a smile on your face while still flipping flows?
Rapping for some chains
Making my back crackin'
Now I'm a slave to the game
Break it like a crack addict
I done had it
Need a breath like an asthmatic
Grab the Craftmatic
But let's switch the subject matter
Spitting schemes to get the cream then split it with my team
Cause at the end of the week, I'd rather grow than compete
Building the foundation with a nation up on their feet
Rather than using their heads as area for your cleats
And me? I just go along with passion
But it's so much more than rapping
So big, I can't even fathom it, it's massive
Why hold onto your dreams when you can take action?
Just pour your brain onto the pad and watch the magic
I hope to make a living off of crafting words and gripping mics
Rather than 9 to 5's, stacking burg's and grilling fries
I'm hoping that the future holds the passion burnt and vivid lights
And pray that it don't crash and burn
But rather live for life
Merciless mercenary on the mic so meticulous
It's ridiculous how much heart and soul I put into every word
And I plan to keep it that way forever
And I'll keep that word until my blood spills and I hit the dirt, cuz
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do, we do
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do-do
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do, we do
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do-do
And just when I think I done my very best
I get a sense of regret, re-re-regret
Cause mama always said
Yeah, and just when I think I done my very best
I always seem to repent, re-re-repent
Cause mama always said
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do, we do
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do-do
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do, we do
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
You don't know these streets like we do-do
In Nerfonator's song "Mama Said", the lyrics depict the artist's strong determination and passion to pursue his dreams in rap music. The first verse highlights the artist's struggles and how music has become a way for him to overcome the pain. He emphasizes the importance of precision and originality in executing his craft, as he strives to perfect his rhyming skills. The chorus then becomes a reminder of his mother's words of caution, advising him that he doesn't know the harsh realities of the streets as well as she does. The artist responds by using his music to express himself and his experiences, seeking to glisten and shine through his art.
The second verse focuses on the artist's ambition to make his living from crafting words and gripping microphones. He stresses his desire to be free from a 9-to-5 job, hoping to build his own foundation and create opportunities for himself and his team. He expresses his commitment to his craft, and how he pours his heart and soul into every word he writes. The chorus then repeats, emphasizing once again the artist's mother's words of caution, and how he's determined to overcome those challenges.
Overall, the lyrics of "Mama Said" portray the journey of an aspiring rapper, committed to his craft and determined to succeed, despite the challenges and obstacles he might face. It highlights his passion, ambition, and dedication, all of which drive him forward towards his dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Parked at my desk with my face doused in the sun
Sitting at my desk with sunlight on my face
Wondering if I have enough change in my pocket to make some
Considering how much money I have
But only through these melodies and these drums can I overcome the pain
Music helps me cope with my emotional pain
Inject the novocain, now I'm numb
Metaphorically numbing myself with music
But when the words bleed off the sheets and beam into a reality
When my lyrics come to life
That's my mentality
That's how I approach my craft
And execute with as little banality as possible
Trying to be creative and original
Punchlines with brutality
Delivering aggressive and impactful rhymes
Causing casualties
My words can have a powerful effect on people
Now my rhymes blue and black, you see
My lyrics are intense and can leave a mark
And I keep flowing like the dam demolished
I continue to rap with unstoppable force
And won't leave the game satisfied until the man accomplished
I won't stop until I've achieved my goals
And just because I took my time don't mean the plan abolished
Working slowly doesn't mean I gave up on my dreams
I've just been perfecting my rhymes, now the brand is polished
I've been improving my skills and refining my image
It takes a lot of precision for unlocking your vision
Being successful requires hard work and focus
And it feels harder to get it with no pots left to piss in
It's more difficult to pursue your dreams when you're struggling financially
Glitter gold shines better in the light
Being successful looks better when you have the resources to show it off
So now I'm spittin' these writtens in hopes that I will glisten, uh
Rapping in the hopes of achieving fame and success
Mama said, mama said (Check it)
Referring to advice from his mom
You don't know these streets like we do, we do
His mom is cautioning him about the dangers of the streets
Yeah, because I'm all about my dough
Focused on making money
And if you don't got it
If someone doesn't have money
Lay you on the floor or out the front door, hoe
A playful joke about robbing someone
Rapping for some chains
Rapping to earn jewelry
Making my back crackin'
Working hard
Now I'm a slave to the game
Now he's fully committed to the rap industry
Break it like a crack addict
Trying to make it big at any cost
I done had it
Reaching a breaking point
Need a breath like an asthmatic
Feeling overwhelmed and out of breath
Grab the Craftmatic
A reference to a therapeutic bed
But let's switch the subject matter
Changing the topic
Spitting schemes to get the cream then split it with my team
Making money and sharing it with his crew
Cause at the end of the week, I'd rather grow than compete
Focused on personal growth rather than competing with others
Building the foundation with a nation up on their feet
Trying to inspire and empower others
Rather than using their heads as area for your cleats
Instead of stepping all over people
And me? I just go along with passion
Following his dreams with enthusiasm
But it's so much more than rapping
Being a musician is more than just performing
So big, I can't even fathom it, it's massive
His dreams are so grand that he can barely comprehend them
Why hold onto your dreams when you can take action?
Encouraging others to pursue their goals
Just pour your brain onto the pad and watch the magic
Expressing yourself through writing and music can be transformative
I hope to make a living off of crafting words and gripping mics
Hoping to be a successful rapper
Rather than 9 to 5's, stacking burg's and grilling fries
Preferring to make money through music rather than working a traditional job
I'm hoping that the future holds the passion burnt and vivid lights
Hoping for a successful and fulfilling future
And pray that it don't crash and burn
Hoping that his dreams won't fail
But rather live for life
Hoping to live a fulfilling life
Merciless mercenary on the mic so meticulous
A skilled rapper who takes his craft seriously
It's ridiculous how much heart and soul I put into every word
He puts a lot of effort into every line he writes
And I plan to keep it that way forever
Wants to continue making music with passion
And I'll keep that word until my blood spills and I hit the dirt, cuz
Determined to stay true to his word until the very end
And just when I think I done my very best
Even when he thinks he's done his best
I get a sense of regret, re-re-regret
Feels like he could have done better
Cause mama always said
His mom's influence on his life
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Aidan Scaplen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind