“The album is a collection of street stories,” explains Skatterman. “That’s also how we came up with Urban Legendz. Everything is being told from an urban aspect. When we’re done putting the album out, we will be legends coming from Kansas City.”
Skatterman & Snug Brim take the first step toward that goal with lead single “Block Party,” a sure-fire party-starting cut that is as infectious as it is memorable. “We picked that song because it has a good feeling,” Snug says. “It’s universal, a party song. We have block parties down in Kansas City.” “Like we say on the song, ‘More whiskey, more weed,’” Skatterman adds. “That’s how you’re doing it in the hood, suburbs, street corners or in college. That’s how young people party. We ain’t buying no Cristal drinks, going to the club hopping out of Bentleys. It ain’t about that. We’re keeping it real urban grounded, down to the normal, to where the average, everyday person is doing what we’re doing. We’re not talking outside of our means. It ain’t no Bentley’s on the streets where we from.”
The celebratory, feel-good vibes of “Block Party” notwithstanding, the rest of the album sustains a largely serious tone. On “Car Wash,” Skatterman & Snug Brim detail the sometimes shocking events that transpire at Missouri car washes, while on “Murder By #’s” they swear by the code of the streets. Elsewhere, the rhymers give multiple meanings to street slang on “Pakman” and blast fake rappers on “U Not Mafioso.”
“Crazy,” one of the album’s standout tracks, features Skatterman & Snug Brim rapping about the monumental struggle in their own lives. The captivating, compelling cut gives each rapper’s story a personal, vulnerable perspective rarely heard on rap songs.
“We’re just not telling a story from the criminal aspect,” Skatterman says. “We’re telling the more emotional side. Everybody talks about people getting shot, hustling, and going to jail, but I don’t hear people talking about the emotions, and who is hurting from that. There’s a momma at home somewhere hurting about her son being locked up.”
Both Skatterman & Snug Brim know about pain. Skatterman’s mother was a teenager when she had him. His father left when he was five and his mother and his grandmother raised him. Their love made Skatterman oblivious to his volatile surroundings. “I didn’t have what I wanted, but we always had what we needed,” he says. “I felt like I had it good until I was old enough to be able to see what was going on.”
Around the same time in Kansas City, Snug Brim, the oldest of four children, was having an equally rough childhood. Also abandoned by his father, Snug never thought about pursuing a musical career until he started spending time with his uncle, who was a rapper.
Skatterman & Snug Brim became friends in school and started making separate moves in Kansas City’s rap scene. Skatterman was a member of the Southside Rollers, a rap group that released an album in 1998, the same year that Snug Brim dropped his debut album, Center Piece of the Puzzle. Impressed with his friend’s work, Skatterman approached Snug Brim about a potential collaboration. They united for Worth A Million, an album that earned a fan in Tech N9ne, the innovative rapper who co-owns Strange Music.
Tech N9ne brought Skatterman & Snug Brim to the Strange Music fold, leading to their appearance on the critically acclaimed Beef soundtrack, an MSC Music/ Strange release that also features Ice Cube, KRS-One, Eazy-E, Jayo Felony and Tech N9ne, among others.
As people whose struggle has given them perspective, Skatterman & Snug Brim inject a sobering realism into Urban Legendz. “You’re not going to hear the same song, the same style, the same mood from us from song to song,” Skatterman says. “We’re going to bounce around like you do in real life. You have your good days and you have your bad days. That’s our album.”
It’s an album that Skatterman says will establish the Midwest as a hip-hop power player. “We’re coming from Kansas City, Missouri and we don’t really have a voice out there at all right now, or the Midwest at all,” he says. “It seems like it’s just West Coast, Down South and East Coast. It’s like the Midwest don’t have a voice right now. We feel like when we’re done, we’ll be the voice of the Midwest.”
Not to mention “Urban Legendz.”
Ups and Downs
Skatterman & Snug Brim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another thirty nine inch thick classic (yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah)
Girl, as I sit here thinking to myself
There is no one for you but me, and I mean that
And I think about all the things we've been through
Like arguing and fighting for example
You know the love we have for each other
It tends to out weigh what do to another
Ya know he used to say it like this
There will be, ups and downs, smiles and frowns
Share with me, fairy tales or make believe
There will be, ups and downs, smiles and frowns
Share with me, fairy tales or make believe
There will be, ups and downs, smiles and frowns
Share with me, fairy tales or make believe
What up motherfuckers? This is snoop dogg
I'm trying to figure out how the fuck I'm gonna do y'all
Hanging with my homie from the turf, that's young q-ball
Giving me the word from the street, here's the scoop y'all
The niggas from the eastsidaz split up (split up)
And one of 'em tried to fuck yo' shit up (what?)
No cause, don't believe that, that's my nigga for life
I'm out with the bullshit, I'm in with the real shit
I'm at the church doing work, spitting game from the pulpit
Now that's the bidness, and god is my witness
L-B-C-2-1-3 hell yeah, we in this
Its so relentless, and all my dogs up against the life sentence
I love y'all, like I love no bitch, and that's real shit
Or some crip shit, homie dig this
There will be, ups and downs, smiles and frowns
Share with me, fairy tales or make believe
There will be, ups and downs, smiles and frowns
Share with me, fairy tales or make believe
There will be, ups and downs, smiles and frowns
Share with me, fairy tales or make believe
I used to have a lot broads that I don't fool with
I used to have a lot of homeboys I ain't cool with
A lot people that a nigga used to go to school with
Happy as hell to see the big dog doing it
But what none of them would believe though (what?)
That I would be bigger the Kurtis blow
I guess he was right, these are the breaks
Despite my mistakes and aches, I'm gettin' cake
To realize your fate through faith, (through faith)
Cause we all gonna get that day (for what)
To see if our lives was straight
And to see if we gonna walk through those pearly gates (yeah?)
To see the man upstairs, on some real talk homie
I'm tires of being stuck here
If I could I would fly to the moon (zoom)
Y'all probably think I'm tripping off these mushrooms (i know)
There will be, ups and downs, smiles and frowns
Share with me, fairy tales or make believe
There will be, ups and downs, smiles and frowns
Share with me, fairy tales or make believe
There will be, ups and downs,
Smiles and frowns
Share with me, fairy tales or make believe
Now as I think back to the words my granddaddy used to say
I never seen him in church, but he always had the word
He would always tell me! sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad
You gotta do bad in order to do good
In Skatterman & Snug Brim's song Ups and Downs, the lyrics revolve around the nature of relationships and life in general. The opening line, "Every dog has his day," implies that everyone has their fair share of good and bad times. The lines that follow talk about how the singer believes that he and his partner are meant to be together, regardless of the arguments and fights they've had. The chorus continually repeats the phrase "there will be ups and downs, smiles and frowns, share with me fairy tales or make believe," which reinforces the idea that life is full of both positive and negative experiences, and it's up to us to make the most of them.
One of the most interesting parts of the song is when Snoop Dogg makes an appearance and delivers a few lines about his own experiences. He talks about how one of his former rap group members tried to ruin his career, but Snoop doesn't believe the rumors. He also speaks about his love for his friends and his faith in God. The rest of Skatterman & Snug Brim's verses detail their experiences growing up, their rise to fame, and their struggles and triumphs along the way.
Overall, Ups and Downs is a song about embracing the highs and lows of life and relationships, and using those experiences to shape us into stronger individuals. The chorus is a reminder that while life can be difficult at times, it's important to stay optimistic and have faith that things will ultimately work out.
Line by Line Meaning
Every dog has his day
Everyone has a moment of glory or success in their life
Another thirty nine inch thick classic (yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah)
Celebrating another successful and impressive music track
Girl, as I sit here thinking to myself
Reflecting on thoughts about a special person
There is no one for you but me, and I mean that
Expressing a deep connection with someone and a strong commitment to them
And I think about all the things we've been through
Recalling the shared experiences and events with someone
Like arguing and fighting for example
Acknowledging that there have been tough times and conflicts in the relationship
You know the love we have for each other
Reminding that there is deep affection and care between two individuals
It tends to out weigh what do to another
Stating that the love shared is stronger than any negativity that may arise
Ya know my granddaddy use to always say
Referencing the wise words of a respected elder in their family
Ya know he used to say it like this
Preparing to recite a memorable phrase from their granddaddy
There will be, ups and downs, smiles and frowns
Life is unpredictable and will have moments of happiness and sadness
Share with me, fairy tales or make believe
Offering to listen to stories or dreams that can bring joy and hope during tough times
What up motherfuckers? This is snoop dogg
Introducing a new voice and perspective in the song
I'm trying to figure out how the fuck I'm gonna do y'all
Expressing a desire to create something great for his audience
Hanging with my homie from the turf, that's young q-ball
Spending time with a close friend who comes from the same neighborhood as him
Giving me the word from the street, here's the scoop y'all
Receiving insider information from someone who knows what's happening in their community
The niggas from the eastsidaz split up (split up)
Referring to a real-life event where a rap group disbanded
And one of 'em tried to fuck yo' shit up (what?)
One of the former group members caused problems or harm
No cause, don't believe that, that's my nigga for life
Dismissing rumors and stating that the artist still has a close relationship with his former bandmate
I'm out with the bullshit, I'm in with the real shit
Rejecting negativity and focusing on authenticity and meaningful content
I'm at the church doing work, spitting game from the pulpit
Using his platform to speak on real issues and encourage positive change from a religious context
Now that's the bidness, and god is my witness
Affirming that this is what he is committed to and that he stands by it
L-B-C-2-1-3 hell yeah, we in this
Shouting out his hometown and showing pride for where he comes from
Its so relentless, and all my dogs up against the life sentence
Describing the struggle and determination of those in similar situations facing tough times
I love y'all, like I love no bitch, and that's real shit
Expressing love and loyalty for his friends and supporters
Or some crip shit, homie dig this
Referencing his gang affiliation and asking his listeners to relate
I used to have a lot broads that I don't fool with
Admitting to past relationships with women that have ended poorly
I used to have a lot of homeboys I ain't cool with
Admitting to past friendships that ended in conflict or betrayal
A lot people that a nigga used to go to school with
Referring to old classmates who he may have lost touch with
Happy as hell to see the big dog doing it
Acknowledging the success he has achieved and how others may perceive him
But what none of them would believe though (what?)
Suggesting that they would be surprised by how far he has come
That I would be bigger the Kurtis blow
Believing that he has surpassed even the level of success achieved by the legendary rap artist Kurtis Blow
I guess he was right, these are the breaks
Referencing one of Kurtis Blow's most famous songs as a sign that he was correct about the ups and downs of life
Despite my mistakes and aches, I'm gettin' cake
Despite past difficulties and pain, he is making money and thriving
To realize your fate through faith, (through faith)
Affirming the importance of faith in determining one's destiny
Cause we all gonna get that day (for what)
All of us will one day face judgement
To see if our lives was straight
To see if we lived our lives with integrity and purpose
And to see if we gonna walk through those pearly gates (yeah?)
To see if we are worthy of entering heaven
To see the man upstairs, on some real talk homie
To meet God and have a real conversation with him
I'm tires of being stuck here
Expressing a desire to move on from this life and go to heaven
If I could I would fly to the moon (zoom)
Using a hypothetical scenario to express a longing for a way to escape this life and its limitations
Y'all probably think I'm tripping off these mushrooms (i know)
Admitting that his thoughts may sound strange or unrealistic to others
Now as I think back to the words my granddaddy used to say
Reflecting again on the wisdom of his grandfather
I never seen him in church, but he always had the word
Noting that his grandfather had a lot of knowledge and insight, despite not being religious
He would always tell me! sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad
Recalling his grandfather's advice to accept the positive and negative aspects of life
You gotta do bad in order to do good
Suggesting that we may face obstacles or make mistakes, but those experiences can lead to positive outcomes in the future
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: MAURICE ERNEST GIBB, ROBIN HUGH GIBB, BARRY ALAN GIBB, CORDOZAR BROADUS, WARRYN S. CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Space_Bound
this song is SICK. reppin KC and damn proud of it
Igotprobums
I remember seeing these guys open up for Tech N9ne and their set was dope as fuck so I bought a cd and It made an impression for sure
T. The Manager
This shit right here! I can't even listen to a second of mainstream rap so I listen to this instead! Dope shit.
MrBubonicChronic
this some real shit man. i've had this shit happen to me before.
kevin mitchner
love this damn song---real real real shit
Alvin Simmons
Skatterman and Snug Brim slept on
Nick Steck
been listnin to skatterman and snug brim since i was 12
James Larson
I fucking love this song man. esp when he says because I don't fuck with you simple and plain. Its not just a song it's fucking reality,,and some people don't see it untill it hits em right between the fucking eyes...........
rednecksoldier503
these are the homies right there
Nick Steck
wish they would get back after it