Their first release was an EP named Dive!, published in 1996 through independent label Wall of Sound. They gained fame the next year by providing a remix for Bond composer David Arnold's Bond tribute album Shaken & Stirred covering John Barry's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the theme song to the sixth James Bond film, re-orchestrated by Arnold. The single "History Repeating" followed, a collaboration with jazz diva Shirley Bassey, fusing big beat with jazz.
Their only album to date is Decksandrumsandrockandroll, released in 1998 by Wall of Sound in the UK and Europe and DreamWorks in the US and Japan. The Dreamworks versions include collaborations with hip hop veterans De La Soul and Jungle Brothers, and the Japanese version is a sought-after 2 Disc Special Edition including some of their earlier singles. A track from the album, "Spybreak!", became widely known after its use in the famous lobby scene in The Matrix.
After touring for their hit album, Will White fell ill. They released Extended Play E.P. in 1998, and in the song "Props' Vote Of Gratitude", Alex Gifford raps for the first time, explaining to the attentive listener that the band would "be back after this short break". Things subsequently went quiet in the Propellerheads camp. Alex moved to New York and produced the Jungle Brothers' 1999 Album V.I.P. in which he raps alongside The Black Eyed Peas among others and Will White provides the drums for the eponymous track. He has also produced a track for Rufus Wainwright ("Shadows") on his 2001 album Poses. White has since released a mix compilation for the Beatz and Bobz series, and he has also appeared as a member of the De-Fex music project.
In October 2003 Wall of Sound commemorated its 10th birthday, and to celebrate, released a two disc album charting 10 years of its pioneering British music. The first CD featured alumni such as Röyksopp, The Wiseguys and Mekon, while Gifford provided a mix CD for the second disc. Surprisingly the first track on that disc was a new song by Propellerheads featuring British rapper Livingroom Johnston, entitled "10 Years". Sadly, shortly after this release they disbanded.
Their song "Take California" was the first song ever to be used in an Apple iPod television ad.
White was part of the live incarnation of Long Range, the now defunct project of Phil Hartnoll of Orbital.
360
Propellerheads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Figgida microphone and mobile
Holding mic's is so while I be just day dreaming
Drop for like, nine months, and rock from backyards to fronts
Who wants to live the gutter life, we got sidewalks to walk, baby
I need a chick with big potatoes to mash, baby
Hang like parachutes, I've been floating for years
Went from rapping in cars to rapping careers
One beer, two beers, I got the gift like Santa
I go from NY to DC, and down to Atlanta
Make you fly like propellor, we be down in the cellar
What I guess you call the basement
'Cause that's where all he bass went
When we turn it up a notch, old school like Ed Kotch
Toss my foot up in the air and grab my crotch
Who am I? Michael, keep the music on a cycle
So we can finish up the flow within your fro, word out
This is called frozen style
Shatter your teeth style
Freeze like Artic style y'all
Come on, check it out, I'm the P to the O to the S
Known to pinpoint the flow to the chest
So wear your vest, nibble the thighs and breast on Vanessa
Had to sneak it 'cause her moms kept me under pressure
Now as the sun appears to rise and set
Some cats live for the hood 'cause it's as good as it gets
But my plot is much thicker, I move it much quicker
Three hundred and sixty mile to the P H
So I'm balanced, not a fella to fall
Connecting the dots, I got two propellors in awe
Went from ghetto to the meadow
Seen all degrees of hot, and froze when I was not
Like lot, my lady threw salt in the game
Invested cheese in the mouse who sent pork into fame
Now you hear my name being screamed on the ride of life
It's too late to get off, to get off
We in the house y'all, we in the house y'all
We about to get evicted, there ain't no lights or liquid
The bills ain't paid and last week we had a raid
'Cause we partied too much but that's my family's trade
Invited all of my folks, and yo, all my folks stayed
They tried to silence our shit, but we just pushed up the fade
Sat back to charge a dollar, hadn't got paid
And called on the band and got stupid when the keyboard played
Keeping funky with the propeller heads y'all
N-Now listen, you see, I'm here to usher the pain with no relief
But still get the "Great Scotts, are you a thief?
Seems like you got a mouth full of gold" records
Sorry for that, platinum plaque soon to come
Till then propellor got me working the drum
For a fee, so notify the foe looking for the fumble
I hear you want to rumble on the mic, so check it out
How you want it, I got it
Oh yeah
The lyrics to Propellerheads' song "360" showcase the rapper's experience and journey in the music industry. He begins by introducing himself as being from L.I. and having a vision that allowed him to connect with listeners. He mentions his microphone and mobile and how holding a mic for so long has led him to daydream. He reflects on his rise from backyards to front stages, emphasizing that he no longer has to live a "gutter life" because he has made it as a rapper.
The rapper then moves on to talk about his skill level and the breadth of his reach. He boasts of being able to go from NY to DC and down to Atlanta and make listeners "fly like propeller." The production of the song has an old-school flair, with a lot of baselines and beats, and the artist takes pride in his ability to deliver "frozen style" rhymes that shatter teeth and freeze like Arctic style.
The song highlights the rapper's ability to tell a story and build a connection with his audience. Although the lyrics can be hard to follow, they paint a picture of an artist who has worked hard to get where he is, and who is not afraid to show off his skills.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo I'm from L I fella, vision had you tune into my figgida
I'm from Long Island and have a vivid imagination that I want to share with you through my music
Figgida microphone and mobile
I use my microphone and mobile to record and produce my music
Holding mic's is so while I be just day dreaming
I often daydream about performing and holding a microphone while doing so
Drop for like, nine months, and rock from backyards to fronts
I took a break from making music for about nine months and came back stronger, performing at both small and large venues
Who wants to live the gutter life, we got sidewalks to walk, baby
There's no need to live a rough life when there are many opportunities and options available to us
I need a chick with big potatoes to mash, baby
I'm looking for a woman who can cook and satisfy my cravings
Hang like parachutes, I've been floating for years
I've been around for a while and have perfected my craft, so I feel like I'm floating effortlessly
Went from rapping in cars to rapping careers
I started from humble beginnings of rapping in cars and have worked my way up to making music for a living
One beer, two beers, I got the gift like Santa
I have a talent for creating music that is appreciated, even when I've had a few drinks
I go from NY to DC, and down to Atlanta
I travel a lot for my music career, performing in various cities across the US
Make you fly like propellor, we be down in the cellar
My music is so good, it can lift you up like a propeller and we often work on it in the basement, or 'cellar'
What I guess you call the basement
I'm acknowledging that 'cellar' is another word for 'basement'
'Cause that's where all he bass went
The basement is where we can best hear and perfect the bass in our music
When we turn it up a notch, old school like Ed Kotch
When we take our music to the next level, it has an old school sound similar to that of Ed Kotch
Toss my foot up in the air and grab my crotch
I like to perform with energy and enthusiasm, even doing bold moves like grabbing my crotch
Who am I? Michael, keep the music on a cycle
My name is Michael and I'm committed to keeping the music flowing
So we can finish up the flow within your fro, word out
I want to work on songs until they are just right, even if it means perfecting them until I'm sweating and my afro (hairstyle) is damp
This is called frozen style
I refer to my unique style of music as 'frozen style'
Shatter your teeth style
My music is so good, it can break your teeth (figuratively) with its intensity
Freeze like Arctic style y'all
Similar to how it feels in the Arctic, my music can make you feel cold and intense
Come on, check it out, I'm the P to the O to the S
I go by the name 'POS'
Known to pinpoint the flow to the chest
I have a gift for creating music that resonates with people's emotions
So wear your vest, nibble the thighs and breast on Vanessa
I'm advising you to protect yourself and indulge in pleasurable things like enjoying a meal with someone you care about
Had to sneak it 'cause her moms kept me under pressure
I had to be secretive about my relationship with Vanessa because her mother didn't approve
Now as the sun appears to rise and set
As time passes and we move through life, we experience both highs and lows
Some cats live for the hood 'cause it's as good as it gets
Some people are content with staying in one place, while others are motivated to see what else is out there
But my plot is much thicker, I move it much quicker
I have a bigger plan and am moving towards it at a faster pace than those who are content staying in one place
Three hundred and sixty mile to the P H
I'm willing to travel great distances to make my dreams a reality, even if it means going 360 miles to Philadelphia
So I'm balanced, not a fella to fall
I am well-balanced and focused on succeeding, not letting setbacks bring me down
Connecting the dots, I got two propellors in awe
I'm skilled at making connections and have impressed even seasoned musicians with my talent
Went from ghetto to the meadow
I grew up in a rough, poor area but have succeeded in moving to a nicer, more positive environment
Seen all degrees of hot, and froze when I was not
I've experienced both the good and the bad in life, and have struggled at times but have maintained my resilience
Like lot, my lady threw salt in the game
Like the biblical character Lot, I've experienced hardship in my romantic relationships
Invested cheese in the mouse who sent pork into fame
I financially supported someone who ended up making it big in music
Now you hear my name being screamed on the ride of life
Now my name is known and recognized as I continue through the ups and downs of life
It's too late to get off, to get off
There's no turning back now, and I'm committed to continuing on my path
We in the house y'all, we in the house y'all
My music is making an impact and I'm proud to say we are here to stay
We about to get evicted, there ain't no lights or liquid
Despite our success, we are struggling financially and at risk of being kicked out of our living space
The bills ain't paid and last week we had a raid
We're behind on our payments and recently faced a law enforcement raid
'Cause we partied too much but that's my family's trade
We enjoy having fun and socializing, even if it means going overboard at times
Invited all of my folks, and yo, all my folks stayed
We have a strong sense of community and connection, and our loved ones are always welcome to stay with us
They tried to silence our shit, but we just pushed up the fade
There have been attempts to silence or censor our music, but we refuse to back down and are instead gaining more attention
Sat back to charge a dollar, hadn't got paid
We've been creating music and performing, but haven't made a lot of money yet
And called on the band and got stupid when the keyboard played
We recently had a fun and wild jam session with the band, particularly when the keyboard player stepped up
Keeping funky with the propeller heads y'all
We're continuing to make funky and exciting music with the Propellerheads
N-Now listen, you see, I'm here to usher the pain with no relief
I offer music that acknowledges and expresses pain, with no easy solution or relief in sight
But still get the 'Great Scotts, are you a thief?
Despite the raw and sometimes difficult content of my music, I still get recognition and praise for my work
Seems like you got a mouth full of gold' records
To those who listen to my music, it often sounds like I'm rapping with a mouth full of gold, as in it's impressive and impactful
Sorry for that, platinum plaque soon to come
I'm apologizing for the way my music can sound intense, but soon I'll receive recognition in the form of a platinum record
Till then propellor got me working the drum
Until that time comes, I continue to work hard and collaborate with the Propellerheads on making music
For a fee, so notify the foe looking for the fumble
I'm available for a fee to any enemies or rivals who are looking for a challenge, particularly in the form of a rap battle
I hear you want to rumble on the mic, so check it out
I understand that some people want to challenge my skills as a rapper, but I'm unafraid and ready to take them on
How you want it, I got it
I'm confident in my ability to deliver in a rap battle, no matter what style or approach the other person chooses
Oh yeah
A simple exclamation expressing enthusiasm and excitement
Contributed by Tyler G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vininn126
Shit, stereo isn't used enough anymore. Nice aural experience
DeadKoin123
also im sure there must be a torrent for the US version of this album. if you know how to use those
DeadKoin123
eh would rather not get into anymore copyright bullshit. i am 100 percent sure you could find it on the file sharing program soulseek. I find it the best way to share music and you can download directly from me or thousands of others. its not anything sketchy like kazaa or limewire, it is a very reliable program. ive used it for over 10 years. If you have a mac, there is a client for it, but I dont know much about it.
ddmone
Oh yeah!
David de L.
there isn't any torrent I can find, have tried everyone from thepiratebay as far as i know
D
lol this is from the hundreds video?