Sadistik is not just another rapper, he is an artist in the deepest sense o… Read Full Bio ↴Sadistik is not just another rapper, he is an artist in the deepest sense of the word. Hailing all the way from the scenic gloom of Seattle, Washington, Sadistik has quickly gained the hearts and ears of listeners by opting for a more personal and heartfelt brand of music by carefully circumventing the limiting cliches of rap music --- all before the age of 25. By combining caustic honesty, lyrical wit and technical innovation, Sadistik has crafted a sound that he can truly call his own. His lyrical endeavors are not without the help of some of the most talented producers in the underground scene, however, as he has worked predominantly with Portland-based instrumentalist Emancipator. In addition to their work together, Sadistik has meshed his sounds with the likes of the prolific duo Blue Sky Black Death as well as Chicago native Kid Called Computer. From his work with such talented multi-instrumentalist producers, Sadistik has created a signature of unpredictable and complex song structures draped with densely layered combinations of intricate sample work and live instruments. Sadistik's collaborations are not limited only to the powerhouses of the instrumental scene, however, but also some of underground rap's most revered wordsmiths such as Eyedea, Cage, Mac Lethal and Sage Francis, to name a few.

In 2008 Sadistik made his name with the provocatively fearless debut album "The Balancing Act." This record has been heralded by many critics as "hip hop's answer for winter albums" (SputnikMusic.com) for its fearlessly emotional potency because "after you are done listening to [it] you feel as though you have the world's strongest drug in your veins." When this sound was combined with the collaborations with Rhymesayers recording artist Mac Lethal and Vast Aire from Cannibal Ox fame, it becomes clear why so many have considered this to be an underground classic. Following the release of "The Balancing Act" was the release of the music video for the single titled "Searching for Some Beautiful" which was accepted by MTVu and well-received by fans and new listeners alike.

Following the success of "The Balancing Act" was 2010's operatic opus "The Art of Dying" with Chicago-bred producer Kid Called Computer. Again displaying his relentless knack to stray from rap music's norms, Sadistik and Kid Called Computer opted to create a conceptually unique album more akin to progressive rock than what is accepted as hip-hop with "beautifully married gloomy progressions with [...] gorgeous chaos in the music" (RapReviews.com). Whether it be the grandiose live rock crescendo of "Save Yourself" or the nearly 8 minute epic tale of school violence in "Bed of Flowers," Sadistik showed that he was not aiming to meet expectations but to shatter them into as many pieces as possible with a sound that "goes inside of you and eats it's way out from the inside [...] by being beautiful and painful at the same time" (GutsandGrog.com).

Sadistik's efforts are not limited to recordings, however, as he can be found performing his intimate yet intensely energetic shows around his home of Seattle and around various cities in the United States as well as internationally. In 2011 alone, Sadistik has independently toured in nearly every region of The United States as well as nine countries in Europe including: Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, France, and Austria. Sadistik has also shared the stage with hip hop icons such as: Tech N9ne, Slaughterhouse, Bone Thugs N Harmony, D12, Cage, Eyedea & Abilities, The Grouch, Zion I, etc.

Currently, Sadistik is preparing his official follow up to "The Balancing Act" titled "Flowers for My Father" that will be released on Fake Four Records, as well as finishing a collaborative album with Emancipator and penning his first poetry book.

For all booking and press inquiries please contact: Sadistikpro@gmail.com.

Memento Mori
Sadistik Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Verse 1 - Sadistik)
Tip your cups, to the late night writing binge
Of stagefright, another playwrite dies again
I reach for great heights and play my violin
On my vocal chords where the great whites hide within
Im neglectin' broken veins and the ventricles that break
When I'm hiding what I feel in a Texas Hold 'Em face
I better fold that ace, and find a past time

Pride has flat-lined and my pedastol's at stake
Reality's orphan kid, casualty abortion vict'
Journalist of worth, personality contortionist
My claws scrape the granite
Scratchin' pain poems in hallways I'm trapped in
I think of Colepaugh taking his final breath
And the bullets that he lodged in David McDonald's chest
I swear to god that I felt the bullets too
In a homicide, suicide I sing the ocean blues

Hear the sounds, of a thousand broken spirits
A man who wouldn't lie and a crowd who won't endear it
Confessions of a clown thats sounding so sincere when
He always faced the ground, wrote it down in quotes and lyrics
I've got a ghost, but he never stays in touch
Another hole to dig and another grave to love
Another fifth is gone, another day that sucks
Another dream is dead as the summer fades to dusk

I gotta find the time of day when I'm awake and no
I'm not afraid to migrate and hide away alone
And every single song I make is another piece of my
Peace of mind, if I fall in line and swallow pride I'll (choke)
On rum and cokes, I'm runnin' low on beer and weekend booze
Just to ink a song and singalong right here to sing to you
I'm out of love and tired and I'm sounding uninspired
When I'm drinking 'til I puke without a single reason to
With a one one two, when I con-front you
When I do all the things that the fuck ups do
Come to another place, undo lovin' mistakes
When Im summonin' something abundant I'm lovin' instead of just runnin' away
A-way to look past this is gaze through look glasses
Semantics passions practiced actions and thats it when I catch wind in an-tics

(I wrote this for you Phoenix... listen)

Every single night I pray my letters form a kiss
And it blows through the wind until it rests upon her lips
A metamorphosis that the butterflies imagine
In undecided fashion when weather storms emit
She settles scores with this and I just sit enchanted
As fireflies dance until her wish is granted
I listen frantic to melodies of heartbreak
It feels so temporary but she's telling me its always
I'd die in hell so my angel's not alone
And I'd swim inside her blood for a fatal drop of hope
Just to prove our engagements are soluble
and dance to the chorus when the rain hits the solitude
And breaks into molecules, thats her
Another piece of me that feels but can't hurt
I stand firm, in this apocalyptic breeze

Until I finally fall apart and then my confidence is breached
And Im gone... and Im gone...

Overall Meaning

In Sadistik’s song Memento Mori, the first verse is a reflection on the struggles and pain that come with artistic expression. The first lines talk about how the singer tips their cup to the late night writing binge, showing the commitment and sacrifice that it takes to produce meaningful art. The next line speaks to the fear of failure that comes with sharing creative work with the world: “Of stagefright, another playwrite dies again.”

The verse then touches on themes of inner turmoil and conflict. The singer talks about reaching for great heights and playing their violin on their vocal chords, where the “great whites hide within,” a reference to the fears and doubts that lurk beneath the surface. They are “neglectin’ broken veins and the ventricles that break,” highlighting their own struggles with addiction and self-destructive tendencies. The verse also references specific instances of tragedy, such as the suicide of Colepaugh and the homicide-suicide that left David McDonald dead.

The chorus of the song talks about the pain and brokenness that the singer sees around them, embodied in the sounds of “a thousand broken spirits” and confessions of a clown that are “sounding so sincere when/ He always faced the ground, wrote it down in quotes and lyrics.” The second verse continues the exploration of struggle and pain, with the singer talking about a “ghost” that never stays in touch and the constant feeling of digging another hole and burying another dream.

Overall, Memento Mori is a poignant and raw reflection on the ups and downs of artistic expression, as well as the pain and suffering that are often part of the human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Tip your cups, to the late night writing binge
Cheers to those long nights spent writing

Of stagefright, another playwrite dies again
Another playwright loses their nerve when onstage

I reach for great heights and play my violin
I aspire for greatness and express myself through music

On my vocal chords where the great whites hide within
My deepest emotions, like great white sharks, are concealed within my voice

Im neglectin' broken veins and the ventricles that break
Ignoring internal damage afflicted by heartbreak

When I'm hiding what I feel in a Texas Hold 'Em face
Concealing emotions with a poker face like in Texas Hold'Em

I better fold that ace, and find a past time
I should relinquish my pride and find something else to focus on

Pride has flat-lined and my pedastol's at stake
My ego has diminished, and I risk losing my place of authority

Reality's orphan kid, casualty abortion vict'
My harsh realities aren't acknowledged and lead to emotional distress

Journalist of worth, personality contortionist
I provide valuable insights but at the cost of suppressing my true personality

My claws scrape the granite
My intense emotions are etched into my surroundings

Scratchin' pain poems in hallways I'm trapped in
I channel heartbreak into poetry but remain trapped in a cycle of hurt

I think of Colepaugh taking his final breath
I reflect on the tragedy of Colepaugh's death

And the bullets that he lodged in David McDonald's chest
Recalling the violent act that took place between Colepaugh and McDonald

I swear to god that I felt the bullets too
The weight of the situation feels like a bullet through my own chest

In a homicide, suicide I sing the ocean blues
I express my deepest emotions through music, even if it's related to death

Hear the sounds, of a thousand broken spirits
I'm surrounded by people who are emotionally broken

A man who wouldn't lie and a crowd who won't endear it
Despite being truthful, people are often unwilling to listen to me

Confessions of a clown thats sounding so sincere when
I express myself honestly, but it often goes unheard

He always faced the ground, wrote it down in quotes and lyrics
I express my emotions indirectly through my writing

I've got a ghost, but he never stays in touch
I have unresolved emotional issues that continue to haunt me

Another hole to dig and another grave to love
I am weighed down by the emotional baggage of past relationships

Another fifth is gone, another day that sucks
I turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism for my problems

Another dream is dead as the summer fades to dusk
As time passes, I become more and more disillusioned with the future

I gotta find the time of day when I'm awake and no
I must find a time when I'm fully awake and focused

I'm not afraid to migrate and hide away alone
I'm willing to take a break from my current surroundings to re-center myself

And every single song I make is another piece of my
Each song I create reflects my current emotional state

Peace of mind, if I fall in line and swallow pride I'll (choke)
I strive for inner peace but feel suffocated by societal expectations

On rum and cokes, I'm runnin' low on beer and weekend booze
I rely on alcohol to numb my pain, but my supply is dwindling

Just to ink a song and singalong right here to sing to you
I write songs to express my emotions and connect with others

I'm out of love and tired and I'm sounding uninspired
I've lost my inspiration and am emotionally exhausted

When I'm drinking 'til I puke without a single reason to
I continue to drink even when it's no longer enjoyable, purely out of habit

With a one one two, when I con-front you
I use my music as a means of communication with others

When I do all the things that the fuck ups do
Despite my negative behavior, I'm still trying to make positive changes

Come to another place, undo lovin' mistakes
I want to move past my mistakes in past relationships and learn from them

When Im summonin' something abundant I'm lovin' instead of just runnin' away
When I channel my emotions into creative outlets, I'm able to process them instead of ignoring them

A-way to look past this is gaze through look glasses
I am trying to gain perspective to overcome hardships

Semantics passions practiced actions and thats it when I catch wind in an-tics
My emotional turmoil is expressed through my words, actions, and behavior

Every single night I pray my letters form a kiss
I write letters to express my love and hope they reach my intended recipient

And it blows through the wind until it rests upon her lips
I hope that my letters find their way to the right person and are received well

A metamorphosis that the butterflies imagine
A transformative feeling that's hard to describe

In undecided fashion when weather storms emit
I'm unsure how my emotions will portray themselves

She settles scores with this and I just sit enchanted
She's able to find peace through my music, but I'm still struggling

As fireflies dance until her wish is granted
Nature provides comfort and beauty in difficult times

I listen frantic to melodies of heartbreak
Despite the sadness, I find inspiration in the music

It feels so temporary but she's telling me its always
My muse reminds me that sadness is temporary but our emotions are always present

I'd die in hell so my angel's not alone
I'd do anything to support my loved ones, even if it's difficult

And I'd swim inside her blood for a fatal drop of hope
I'd go to any extent for a chance at happiness

Just to prove our engagements are soluble
I need reassurance that our relationship can withstand difficult times

and dance to the chorus when the rain hits the solitude
I find catharsis in the power of music to connect people in difficult times

And breaks into molecules, thats her
She's capable of breaking down and rebuilding herself

Another piece of me that feels but can't hurt
I'm able to express my emotions through music without being hurt by them

I stand firm, in this apocalyptic breeze
Despite the chaos around me, I'm able to keep my composure and stand strong

Until I finally fall apart and then my confidence is breached
Although I try to stay strong, eventually my emotions can cause me to feel vulnerable and insecure

And Im gone... and Im gone...
I feel lost and disoriented as I try to process my emotions

Contributed by Noah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS