1) Kojo Kankam, known prof… Read Full Bio ↴Novelist is the name of a number of acts:
1) Kojo Kankam, known professionally as Novelist, is a grime solo artist. He is a member of The Square and is signed to XL Recordings.
2) Novelist was formed in 2005 by Chase Middaugh and Ryan McMullen - both looking to explore new options to writing and performing music. The initial sounds were heavy, slow paced, constructed pieces with improvised performances such as those heard on Drosera- their debut recording. From there, Novelist evolved into a rhythmic, repetitvive sound heavily influenced by krautrock performers such as Can and Faust. The sound continued to change through many performances on the east coast- eventually arriving at a completely improvised free-formed chaos.
Related acts include: Teeth So Sharp, The Fucking Hotlights, The Dead Wrongs, mutus liber, Lucubrae, London Vs New York & Golden Dawn Trio.
1 Sec
Novelist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It started in a small club
And now it's in a big club
So obviously, the movement is working
Let me kill it with flows
At the same time let me chat about road
Bare man are broke and wanna get dough
But I don't know why we like the postcode
Bigger man zoots are what the mandem toke
Private call when them enter that's joke
From bits where most of the man have been poke
More time when the mandem never at home
Cuh Mum said she can't cope
That's why I got bigger man bars on road
Blacked out crep, blacked out coat
Trust, that's what all the mandem own
IPhone swap it with a brick phone
Hit road, get dough, then we hit home
Ain't got much so man'll by clothes
Trust me I don't wanna be broke
One sec, let me chat about flows
One sec, let me chat about road
One sec, let me chat about girls
One sec, let me chat about dough (that's right)
One sec, let me chat about flows (yeah)
One sec, let me chat about road (okay)
One sec, let me chat about girls (yeah)
One sec, let me chat about dough (that's right)
I've got a new flow and I'm gonna bust it
He's got a new strap and he's going to bust it
The ends got a bit peak last year
So this year I don't really trust it
Girl's in the hood man still can't suss it
Single mums don't ever try and cuss it
Beef on the road ain't worth it stop it
When I ring man on the hype I'll lock it
Two two Lewisham man gone country
Two two Lewisham man not farming
M25 back round to the ends
JD Sports man are gonna be laughing
Two two Lewisham man gone country
Two two Lewisham man not farming
M25 back round to the ends
JD Sports man are gonna be laughing
One sec, let me chat about flows
One sec, let me chat about road
One sec, let me chat about girls
One sec, let me chat about dough (that's right)
One sec, let me chat about flows (yeah)
One sec, let me chat about road (okay)
One sec, let me chat about girls (yeah)
One sec, let me chat about dough (that's right)
I'm a top-shop man, I'm a dan
A.K.A the boss man, man
N O V E yeah man
Been talking a lot but I can't hear man
Mandem know that I don't fear man, man
Man that chat that's air man
He's got a crew and he's got bare man
And he's talking but he can't get near man
Cause I rolled in a bits with my Nike Air man
Black tracksuit that's what I wear man
Keep saying that he won't spare man
And he's chatting like say chats gonna scare man
Talk of I can't hear man
I don't care man, I'll make skin tear man
Everyone keep talking air man
I'm an O.G so I don't need bare man
One sec, let me chat about flows
One sec, let me chat about road
One sec, let me chat about girls
One sec, let me chat about dough (that's right)
One sec, let me chat about flows (yeah)
One sec, let me chat about road (okay)
One sec, let me chat about girls (yeah)
One sec, let me chat about dough (that's right)
Wagwan cuz, eh what, who's dat yute dawg?
Who's he fam, what, you seen him before fam?
Man not even dare, styll
What, swear down cuz?
Eh what, mannaman thinks he's top dawg, mannaman slipping rudeboy
What, who's dat fam? Eh come here blood!
Man think's he's brave, bold
Blacked out on the baitest road
Wanna be a bad man wanna be known
Couple of a YG's wanna take his phone
Brave, bold
Acting for what, a name on road
It's like man wanna see fame on road
But don't really want to get blazed on road
Brave, bold
Blacked out on the baitest road
Wanna be a bad man wanna be known
Couple of a YG's wanna take his phone
Brave, bold
Acting for what, a name on road
It's like man wanna see fame on road
But don't really want to get blazed on road
Brave, bold
Blacked out on the baitest road
Wanna be a bad man wanna be known
Couple of a YG's wanna take his phone
Brave, bold
Acting for what, a name on road
It's like man wanna see fame on road
But don't really want to get blazed on road
Brave, bold
Blacked out on the baitest road
Wanna be a bad man wanna be known
Couple of a YG's wanna take his phone
Novelist's song "1 Sec" is a reflection on life in London and his experiences dealing with the struggles that come with it. He talks about the start of his career in small clubs and how it has now grown into a much larger movement. Novelist also discusses the mindset of those who come from his area and how their pride in their postcode can sometimes be a hindrance. He touches on the issue of poverty and how it motivates some individuals to seek money by any means necessary, leading to dangerous situations. However, he also cautions against this lifestyle, pointing out that it just leads to more trouble in the end.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the tough realities of life in London and the struggle some face in seeking success and a better life. Novelist acknowledges the difficulties but remains optimistic, determined to succeed and build a better future for himself and those around him.
Line by Line Meaning
Thing is yeah
To start with
It started in a small club
The journey began in a small club
And now it's in a big club
And now, it has grown to a bigger club
So obviously, the movement is working
Therefore, it's clear that the movement is working
Let me kill it with flows
Allow me to impress you with my rap style
At the same time let me chat about road
Simultaneously, let me talk about the life on the street
Bare man are broke and wanna get dough
A lot of people are financially unstable and want to earn money
Most of the mandem rep the postcode
Most of my crew represent their area code
But I don't know why we like the postcode
Although, I don't have an answer to why we like representing our area code
Bigger man zoots are what the mandem toke
The older guys smoke large marijuana rolls, which is popular among my crew
Private call when them enter that's joke
The secretive calls when they enter the place are ridiculous
From bits where most of the man have been poke
From the area where most of the guys have been stabbed or assaulted
More time when the mandem never at home
Most of the time, my crew is never home
Cuh Mum said she can't cope
Because their moms claim that they cannot handle the situation
That's why I got bigger man bars on road
That’s why I am writing lyrics with mature content
Blacked out crep, blacked out coat
I'm dressed all in black
Ain't got much so man'll by clothes
I don't have much, so I buy clothes to compensate
Trust, that's what all the mandem own
Confidence is what everyone in my crew has
IPhone swap it with a brick phone
Trading a new smartphone for an old one to sell
Hit road, get dough, then we hit home
Go out to sell drugs, make money, and return home
One sec, let me chat about flows
Hold on; give me a moment to rap about my style
One sec, let me chat about road
Just a second; allow me to talk about the streets
One sec, let me chat about girls
Hold on; let me talk about women
One sec, let me chat about dough (that's right)
Just a second; allow me to talk about money
He's got a new strap and he's going to bust it
He has a new gun and intends to use it
The ends got a bit peak last year
The area was dangerous last year
So this year I don't really trust it
I'm not confident about the safety of the area this year
Girl's in the hood man still can't suss it
I can't comprehend the girl's actions in this area
Single mums don't ever try and cuss it
Single mothers shouldn't interfere or have an attitude
Beef on the road ain't worth it stop it
Street fights aren't worth it, let's stop it
When I ring man on the hype I'll lock it
When I contact the overexcited person, I'll end the conversation
JD Sports man are gonna be laughing
People buying expensive clothes from JD Sports will have to pay for it
I'm a top-shop man, I'm a dan
I like to shop at Topshop, where I dominate as a fashionable person
A.K.A the boss man, man
Also called the leader of the pack
N O V E yeah man
My name is Novelist
Been talking a lot but I can't hear man
I've been making noise, but I can't hear anybody else
Mandem know that I don't fear man, man
My crew members know that I'm not afraid
Man that chat that's air man
People who talk nonsense
He's got a crew and he's got bare man
He has a lot of people in his crew
And he's talking but he can't get near man
Although he's talking, he can't get close to us
Cause I rolled in a bits with my Nike Air man
Because I go to the neighborhood with my Nike Air shoes
Black tracksuit that's what I wear man
I wear a black tracksuit
Keep saying that he won't spare man
He keeps saying he won't hold back when it comes to violence
And he's chatting like say chats gonna scare man
And he's speaking as if his talk can intimidate
Talk of I can't hear man
I can't hear anyone talk like that
I don't care man, I'll make skin tear man
I don't care, I'll cause harm
Everyone keep talking air man
Everyone keeps talking nonsense
I'm an O.G so I don't need bare man
I'm an original gangster, so I don't need a lot of people in my crew
Man not even dare, styll
No one would even dare to try
What, swear down cuz?
Really, are you serious?
Eh what, mannaman thinks he's top dawg, mannaman slipping rudeboy
This guy thinks he's the best, but he's about to lose his credibility
What, who's dat fam? Eh come here blood!
Who is he, and where is he? Come here and explain yourself
Man think's he's brave, bold
He thinks he's courageous and daring
Blacked out on the baitest road
Acting tough on the easiest road
Wanna be a bad man wanna be known
Wants to be known as a tough guy
Couple of a YG's wanna take his phone
A few young guys want to steal his phone
Acting for what, a name on road
Acting tough for what, reputation on the street?
It's like man wanna see fame on road
It seems like people want fame on the street
But don't really want to get blazed on road
But they don't want to get in trouble on the street
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jack William Adams, Kwadwo Quentin Kankam
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind