After amassing a large amount of attention throughout 2018 through his "Styles of Rap" series and aforementioned KSI diss track, Quadeca began teasing a project by the title of "Voice Memos". It was after the release of the first single from said project, "Unusual" (featuring B. Lou), that many would notice the serious uptick in the professionalism of Quadeca's music. The final single from Voice Memos was released on January 25, 2019, titled "War!" and featuring Dax, another rapper who's popularity emerged through YouTube. "Voice Memos" was released on March 8, 2019, to lukewarm critical reception.
On September 27, 2019, Quadeca released a highly-awaited single titled "Schoenberg", which samples Verklärte Nacht. This video's ending featured a snippet which seemed to contain slightly cryptic info about something dropping "early 2020", which he called FMTY. On Twitter he confirmed this was called From Me To You, and that the project was in the works.
Quadeca also released another three singles in late 2019, "I DON'T CARE", "Fish Outta Bacardi" (featuring EGOVERT) and "BEAMIN'", which has since become his most popular song, amassing 31 million plays on Spotify.
He released three singles during 2020 (namely "WHERE'D YOU GO?", "ALONE TOGETHER" and "LIVE LIKE THIS", the latter of which was mentioned to be a scrapped track from "From Me To You", whereas the others would be included on the album) and delayed the album multiple times. Notably, these singles were the first to be released from Quadeca under AWAL Recordings America - all previously released music had been done so independently. The 'final single' from the album, "Sisyphus", was released on March 18 and received critical appraisal from the likes of Anthony Fantano. "From Me To You" (FMTY) eventually released on streaming services and digital stores on March 31, 2021, and was an instant success amongst Quadeca’s fans, drawing attention to Ben’s huge upward trajectory since the release of ‘Voice Memos’. FMTY had features from PlayThatBoiZay, Guapdad4000, and, more notably, IDK on the tracks "Work!", "People Pleaser" and "Burnin Bridges / Long Day", respectively. Just one day after release, Quadeca achieved 1 million Spotify streams in a day for the first time in his career. One of the more notable aspects of FMTY was that Quadeca has production credits on 100% of "From Me To You", with 83.3% of songs being produced alone and no co-producers. He is listed as: Composer, Arranger, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Executive Producer, Multi-Instrumentalist. He even played the Ukelele and stated that 8 real instruments were played in the single "Sisyphus".
He began teasing a new album in late 2021, annnouncing the title as "I Didn't Mean To Haunt You" via youtube on the 23rd of april 2022. He would also tease the albums concept on twitter, stating that he was "currently sitting on the greatest ever posthumous album". The 1st single, "Born Yesterday" was released along with a music video on the 19th of september, with the second single "Tell Me A Joke" released on the 25th of october. Shortly after the full tracklist for I Didn't Mean to Haunt You was revealed, with features from Danny Brown, The Sunday Service Choir, and drummer Thor Harris, of Swans fame. the album was released on the 11th of november, 2022, to high critical and public acclaim, with many calling it his best work to date.
The Scrapyard series was first announced on October 3, 2023, with SCRAPYARD I. The series was set to contain five separate packs, each containing two songs. A few weeks after the release of SCRAPYARD III, however, the fourth and fifth packs were canceled, with Quadeca citing “new developments.”
The Finale, aptly titled SCRAPYARD contains 15 tracks and features from artists brakence and Kevin Abstract, the former of whom made an appearance in SCRAPYARD I, the series' debut.
Formula
Quadeca Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now everybody telling me I don't perform enough (Nah)
My math teacher told me that I never be shit (What aye what?)
And now I'm searched more then the quadratic formula (Aye, Aye)
Aye, I got the formula, (Aye) I got the formula (Yeah)
You got the sauce but goddamn I got the formula (Got the formula)
People always asking Ben "Why you record so much (Why?)"
I got to fry up all these rappers quick like order up
I change and transform it up, you stuck in the past
I wear supreme goggles to my science lab
Yeah, it hurts to write this song because I don't like to brag
And now I tied myself up like a Nike Mag
People love to criticize me for the life I've had
They make it about white and black like I'm Michael Jack
I make these haters look confused
Like it's Dora asking where Swipper at
Aye, aye, aye!
Yeah I'm supreme because I got it on
Me, now they copy that like a walkie-talkie
And I'm feeling like they really want to stop
Me, trying to fold my paper like it's origami
Want to justify the hate they call me cocky, and I am
Cause your girl call me papi trying to take their shot like
It's the paparazzi, I'm a fax machine up in a lot of copies
Aye
Still saying "Who would of thought like who would of guessed it?"
Haven't lifted weights in two years but some how I'm always flexing
If you really want to find the answer to
Your question here is where you should look
Want the secret to the sauce
Motherfucker better go and find a cook book
Aye, when I walk up to the scene I hear an orchestra
Now everybody telling me I don't
Perform enough (I don't perform enough)
My math teacher told me that I never be shit (Nah)
And now I'm searched more then the quadratic formula (Ayee)
Aye, I got the formula, (Yeah) I got the formula (Aye)
You got the sauce but goddamn I got the formula (I got the formula)
People always asking Ben "Why you
Record so much? (Why you record so much?)"
I got to fry up all these rappers quick like order up
In "Formula", Quadeca is bragging about his skills and success in the rap game. The opening lines describe the attention he commands, feeling like he is walking into an orchestra. Despite this, Quadeca complains that people criticize him for not performing enough. The song then delves into the insult that his math teacher gave him, telling him he'd never amount to anything. Instead, Quadeca has found his success in rap, having more searches than the quadratic formula.
Line by Line Meaning
Aye, when I walk up in the scene I hear an orchestra
People notice and pay attention to me when I walk into a room
Now everybody telling me I don't perform enough (Nah)
People are doubting my work ethic and talent
My math teacher told me that I never be shit (What aye what?)
Someone who was supposed to encourage me insulted me instead
And now I'm searched more then the quadratic formula (Aye, Aye)
I am highly searched and sought after, like a widely known mathematical formula
Aye, I got the formula, (Aye) I got the formula (Yeah)
I have the talent and skills to succeed in my craft
You got the sauce but goddamn I got the formula (Got the formula)
Others may have talent, but I have the secret to success
People always asking Ben 'Why you record so much (Why?)'
Others question my determination and work ethic
I got to fry up all these rappers quick like order up
I am highly skilled and can easily defeat my competition
Formula like I'm Mr. Krabs
Like the famous TV character, I have the knowledge and ability to succeed
I change and transform it up, you stuck in the past
I adapt and progress, while others stay stagnant
I wear supreme goggles to my science lab
I bring my own unique style and flair to everything I do
Yeah, it hurts to write this song because I don't like to brag
I am conflicted between wanting to express my talent and not wanting to come across as conceited
And now I tied myself up like a Nike Mag
I am committed and tied to my craft, like tying up one's shoes
People love to criticize me for the life I've had
Others judge and criticize me based on my past experiences
They make it about white and black like I'm Michael Jack
Others try to create controversy and make issues about race like they did with Michael Jackson
I make these haters look confused
I am so talented and successful that my competitors become confused and intimidated
Like it's Dora asking where Swipper at
My competition becomes like a confused and lost cartoon character
Yeah I'm supreme because I got it on
I am confident and successful because of my unique style and hard work
Me, now they copy that like a walkie-talkie
Others try to imitate my style and success
And I'm feeling like they really want to stop
My competitors are jealous and want me to fail
Me, trying to fold my paper like it's origami
I am constantly trying to improve and perfect my craft
Want to justify the hate they call me cocky, and I am
Others try to label me as arrogant to justify their own hatred and jealousy
Cause your girl call me papi trying to take their shot like
Even my competitors' girlfriends are attracted to my talent and success
It's the paparazzi, I'm a fax machine up in a lot of copies
I am constantly in the public eye, and my work is widely distributed and copied
Still saying 'Who would of thought like who would of guessed it?'
Others are surprised by my success and talent
Haven't lifted weights in two years but some how I'm always flexing
I don't need to literally flex my muscles to show my strength and talent
If you really want to find the answer to
Those who are curious and seeking the secret to success
Your question here is where you should look
The answer is within me and my hard work and talent
Want the secret to the sauce
Those who want to know the secret to success
Motherfucker better go and find a cook book
The answer is within me and my talent, not in some book or guide
Writer(s): quadeca
Contributed by Jason G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
CER10
on Migraine
[Part I]
[Intro 1: Quadeca]
(Bye guys, thank you, have a great day)
Yeah
[Hook: Quadeca]
I remember when I first met you
Yeah, I never thought that I would forget you
Never thought that I would ever upset you
And I never thought that I would ever regret you
Yeah, times change and my mind changed
Can't get you out of my brain, like a migraine
I really risked it all when the time came
All this shit had to hit me like a migraine
[Verse 1: Quadeca]
I don't know if I can call it my pain
All these problems just compressing, like a side chain
Find fame, that's the only way that I can hide shame
So in this feeling, can't remember when the tides change
Used to be THC, like the greenest weed
Anyone could ever fuckin' breathe, I can feel the breeze
See the wind, see it through the trees, see it through the leaves
Need to leave, can somebody please just throw me the keys?
(I love you) And now you're really just my withdrawal
Man, I really only hits you when this shit falls
I know your phone number more than your name
Music's the one thing that covers me, like a porch in the rain
To me, you really are just a force I contain
Source of my pain, that's the only thing that can corner the flame
So why did I do this shit for you? Man, it's holdin' me sane
Can't get you out of my brain, like a horrible stain
[Hook: Quadeca]
I remember when I first met you
Yeah, I never thought that I would forget you
Never thought that I would ever upset you
And I never thought that I would ever regret you
Yeah, times change and my mind changed
Can't get you out of my brain, like a migraine
I really risked it all when the time came
All this shit had to hit me like a migraine
[Verse 2: Rob Curly & Quadeca]
Should have never let a girl
Representin' everything I hate about the world
Come up in my life and flip it straight into reverse
You was tryin' to make it hard, I was tryin' to make it work
(Work) That's a first (Yeah)
And a last
Homie told me, "Focus, leave the drama in the past"
(Hurt) Let it pass, hurt
People hurt, people true (True)
Funny how the lies lead to truth (Truth)
When it's over, I ain't over you
And I ain't sober, know you rollin' too (Yeah)
Love don't just get up and go
Feelin's always here to taunt, I've been tryin' to let it go
Waitin' for a text that I don't even want
I can't even front
I would probably say, "I'm down" (Down, down, down)
If shorty hit me with the, "We should chill"
If shorty hit me with the, "Are you down?"
[Interlude: Rob Curly]
(Think of it like the Holocaust) Nah
(Never again, alright?) Nah
(That is what got us here in the first place)
[Part II]
[Intro 2: Quadeca]
Yeah
[Verse 3: Quadeca]
There's a reason these cliches exist
I keep tryna to forget, my mind replays this kiss
Uh, fuck, I don't mean to delay my bliss
I been all over the mix, and now she takes a sip
Then we take it in, see my seat change and shift
It's a weekday, and I got so much sleep, caving in
And now I really can't tell if this a dream-state I'm in
If it is, I wake up depressed that my dream days are myth
I'm telling myself, "Please don't let this be fake, I'll trip"
I told her, "Pinch me if it's real", and then she came to pinch
And as she made her way close to me, aye, I flinch
Switch! It all just disappears to the remains, I drifted a-
[Outro: Quadeca]
-Way