He took on the name Peanut Butter Wolf in the late-80s when he realized that, in an odd turn of events, a girlfriend’s youngest brother feared the “peanut butter wolf monster” more than death itself. Wolf and his more conventionally-named counterpart, Charizma, began recording in 1989 when the two were still teenagers. Within three years, the duo signed a contract with Hollywood Basic (Disney) alongside label mates Organized Konfusion and DJ Shadow. Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf were riding high, touring Europe, receiving press in magazines such as Billboard and (a then newspaper format) Urb , hanging with radio legends Sway & King Tech on Wake Up Show and performing live shows with groups like House of Pain, Nas and The Pharcyde. Then, in December of 1993, Charizma tragically lost his life. Stunned, Wolf temporarily gave up on music.
After releasing the song "Just Like A Test" with Charizma for David Paul's Bomb Hip Hop Compilation early in 1994, Upstairs Records, a label known primarily for house music, approached Wolf to record an instrumental LP. Thus, the Peanut Butter Breaks was born; the record became the Wolf’s calling card, leading to meetings and collaborations with like-minded DJs like Q-bert, Cut Chemist and Rob Swift.
After the release of Peanut Butter Breaks, PB Wolf found himself in demand as a producer. His track for the all-scratching compilation Return of the DJ was labeled “incredible” by The Source magazine. He released a 6 song compilation for South Paw Records in 1995, featuring collaborations with up and coming San Jose MCs. He also produced Kool Keith's first single as a solo artist "Wanna Be A Star." These releases, amongst others, led to a picture disc EP for British label 2 Kool Records.
In 1996, Peanut Butter Wolf founded Stones Throw Records. Charizma’s posthumous "My World Premiere" was the single to launch the label. A few highlights in the beginning were the songs "Unassisted" by Rasco, Super Duck Breaks LP by DJ Babu, and hip hop 7” series.
Lately, PB Wolf has moved away from producing (save the odd remix or compilation track) to build the Stones Throw label and to travel as a DJ to Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, and across the US. Through his willingness to experiment and provide Stones Throw’s artists with musical carte blanche, he has overseen the releases of Lootpack’s Soundpieces, Quasimoto’s The Unseen, Breakestra’s Live Mix, Yesterdays New Quintet’s Angles Without Edges, Madlib's Shades of Blue, and Jaylib's Champion Sound.
Umbrellas
Peanut Butter Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm walking down the street in the rain, my umbrella high above my head
High above my head
I'm walking down the street in the rain, my umbrella high above my head
High above my head
I'm walking down the street in the rain, my umbrella high above my head
I'm walking down the street in the rain, my umbrella high above my head
High above my head
I'm walking down the street in the rain, my umbrella high above my head
High above my head
I'm walking down the street in the rain, my umbrella high above my head
High above my head
I like it
Girl you got a lot of style
And I know honey we can do
Girl you got it solid
Sweet dream on you, everything you do, I like it
Feed the babies who can't get enough to eat
Shoe the children
New shoes on their feet
House the people
Living in the street
Oh, there's a solution
I want to fly
Will we really ever love again
Or will we just sit and rot away with the brighter tomorrows and the scag fear
Rat-grubbing catch this halls of our minds
What y'all gonna do?
What y'all gonna do?
Into the future
Y'all and all better get it right and this time, while the time is good, 'cause there might not be no next time
We're falling back in the sea of our brothers, are calling at the bottomless ocean
Gusting down alleys and through streets of parked cars, walk by one spectacle motion
The future
In Peanut Butter Wolf's song "Umbrellas," the singer describes walking down the street on a rainy day, holding their umbrella high above their head. They observe puddles along the sidewalk and gutters as rain falls lightly from the sky. The lyrics also mention the colorful umbrellas that bloom and thrive in the rain. The song then takes a turn when the singer sees lightning strike and the rain begins to fall harder on a sea of umbrellas. The wind picks up and causes commotion, bending and creaking the umbrellas as they gust down alleys and streets. However, the lyrics end on a hopeful note as the singer spies a patch of blue sky peeking through the clouds and hopefully, the umbrellas hide and shrink away from the sun.
The song can be interpreted as a metaphor for the ups and downs of life. Just like the rain, life can be unpredictable and cause chaos and commotion. However, just like the patch of blue sky at the end of the song, there is always the hope of better days ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm walking down the street in the rain, my umbrella high above my head,
High above my head.
I'm walking down the rain-drenched street with my umbrella held high up to prevent my head from getting wet.
Puddles along the wet sidewalks and gutters, (pitter patter)
Rain lightly falling from the sky (pitter patter)
Rain lightly falling from the sky.
The sound of raindrops falling on the sidewalks and gutters creates a rhythmic pattern of pitter-patter. The rain appears light and gentle.
Red and green and free design,
Umbrellas are in bloom, nourished by the rain.
Umbrellas of different colors and designs are blooming on the streets, symbolizing growth and nourishment from the rain.
Though the clouds, the blackness and rain
I see the lightning strike as though it were pain.
Despite the gloomy clouds and heavy rain, I can still see the lightning striking like a painful reminder of the storm's power.
Rain falling hard on a sea of umbrellas,
A colorful bottomless ocean.
The rain is heavily pouring on an ocean of colorful umbrellas that stretch as far as the eye can see.
Then the wind it blows and it blows,
I see the umbrellas bend, they creak and they groan.
Gusting down alleys and through streets of cars
Causing unbottled unspent commotion.
Suddenly, strong wind starts to blow and the umbrellas start to bend, make creaking and groaning sounds. The wind blows them down alleys and streets causing chaos and commotion among the people struggling to hold onto their umbrellas.
I spy a patch of blue through a cloud,
A patch of blue through a shroud.
Hopefully umbrellas hide and shrink and close
As the noonday sun peeks through the clouds.
I see a patch of blue sky through the dark clouds, raising hopes of an end to the rain. Hopefully, people will close their umbrellas and rejoice under the sunlight as it peeks through the clouds.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRUCE DEDRICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Doctor Garbonzo
One of musics best kept secrets! Always coming back for this one!
Jane Doe
Rhythm Of Life... one of my all time favourite albums... this track does James Mason no justice
Nassem
I randomly found the sample material, from James Mason, in a Youtube mix...the sound struck a familiar chord, hearing this so long ago, I remembered this track! But in search of this, I found the Free Design's 1960s version (which I'd say either a alternate take idk forgive my ignorance), then fell right back into this groove mannnn too trip for this trip
Andy Moulton
The huuuge sample in this is James Mason - Sweet Power Your Embrace ;)
Fábel
@VendettaPtown: Yeah man,rest in peace....
Fábel
@akmoulton Thanks a lot for the info.....
Fábel
@1957thack Totally.......You are welcome.It´s my pleasure!