He began his career DJing at MJQ, a small night club in Atlanta, and then began working in commercial studios but soon branched out into his own music. Herren's first major release was under the "Delarosa and Asora" moniker in 1997 with "Sleep Method Suite", with his latest work currently being the Prefuse 73 full-length album, "The Only She Chapters".
In 2000, Herren released a CD/LP on Hefty/Warp titled "Folk Songs For Trains, Trees, And Honey". This was followed by a 2001 exclusive limited pressing (700 copies) of "Immediate Action #1 LP" on Hefty.
Herren first released music under the "Prefuse 73" moniker with 2001's commercially and critically successful "Vocal Studies & Uprock Narratives". In 2002 the 4-track EP "The 92 Vs. 02 Collection" was released, but this merely bridged the gap between his debut and the 2003 release - another full-length album, "One Word Extinguisher". A collection of outtakes, "Extinguished" was released after "One Word Extinguisher" showing off some of the production that was omitted from the initial full-length. Some argue that it is an improvement on the original release. 2005 saw the release of "Surrounded By Silence", Herren's third album as "Prefuse 73". The album features more collaborations with a variety of musicians, including many rappers, both underground and mainstream. An out-takes album based upon "Surrounded By Silence" is expected to be released in the future. 2007 has brought 2 more releases under "Prefuse 73", one being a full length album, and the other a 4 track EP. "Preparations" and "The Class Of 73 Bells" are the titles respectively, and both were released under Warp Records.
Herren is particularly known for his unique take on the glitch style, which has attracted both a rock and hip-hop audience. He is frequently criticised by MC's for over-editing or abbreviating their additions, often to the point of incoherence.
Along with partners Peter Rentz, Carolina Chaves, Ben Loiz, Carlos Niño, and Paz Ochs, Herren has started the Eastern Development Music label. Which is descibed by Herren as,"less concerned with being on some next shit, blowing the fuck up, or changing the face of anything. We're more concerned with bringing you music we think you'll feel and understand in the same way we do."
Smoking Red
Prefuse 73 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I?m not so sexual as yourself
Every day is just an extension of yesterday, a hassle
And getting out of bed in the morning is like slow suicide
Doesn?t even know, it?s just what?s going down
Agonizingly I watch and breathe
It seems there?s nothing I can do
The song "Smoking Red" by Prefuse 73 featuring John Stanier is a complex and introspective portrayal of the internal struggles that the singer faces on a daily basis. The opening line, "Well you, good for you," is a reference to someone who seems to have their life together and has things figured out. However, the singer of the song admits that they are not as sexually active as this other person and that every day feels like a tedious extension of the one before it. The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and resignation, as the singer feels trapped by their own mundane existence.
The line "getting out of bed in the morning is like slow suicide" is particularly poignant as it describes the difficulty the singer has in facing each new day. Despite their struggles, they seem to be unable to take any meaningful action to improve their situation. The line "agonizingly I watch and breathe" further emphasizes the singer's feelings of helplessness and despair.
The chorus of the song, "callers, girls, money too, it seems there's nothing I can do," furthers the sense of powerlessness that the singer feels. They are unable to take control of their own life and instead find themselves at the mercy of external forces.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you, good for you
I acknowledge your success or happiness, but it's not something that applies to me or makes me feel any better.
I'm not so sexual as yourself
I am not as interested or engaged in sexual activities as you are.
Every day is just an extension of yesterday, a hassle
I feel like every day is just a repetitive, tedious experience that brings me no joy or excitement.
And getting out of bed in the morning is like slow suicide
Getting out of bed each morning feels like an arduous and painful task that drains me of any motivation or happiness.
Doesn't even know, it's just what's going down
I am not even sure of the cause of my apathy and lack of enjoyment in life, it just seems to be a constant state of being for me.
Agonizingly I watch and breathe
I am trapped in a state of despair and emptiness, watching others live their lives with envy and feeling like I am suffocating in my own existence.
Callers, girls, money too
Despite my lack of interest in life, I still have to deal with various responsibilities and pressures, such as calls, relationships, and financial struggles.
It seems there's nothing I can do
Despite any efforts or desire to change my situation, it feels like a hopeless and impossible task.
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.