East Oakland native Tajai began rhyming with future bandmate A-Plus at age 8, while both were in elementary school. Tajai and Phesto met later in junior high school. Tajai recruited his best friend Phesto in middle school and A-Plus brought Opio into the budding act in high school before making its major-label debut on Jive Records with the group's well-received album 93 'til Infinity, in 1993.
The group is part of the hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics, along with emcees Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Jaybiz, and producer Domino. The group participated as full members in all three of Hieroglyphics' studio albums: 1998's 3rd Eye Vision, 2003's Full Circle, and 2013's The Kitchen.
93 ’til Infinity is the group's highest charting album to date (#17 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums; #85 Billboard 200) and, in January, 1998, was named one of the Top 100 Rap albums by The Source magazine.
The group stayed with Jive for one more album, 1995's No Man's Land, before being released from the label during the same year.
The group released two albums on Hiero's self-owned independent label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings: 1999's Focus, and 2000's Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution.
On October 30, 2006, Hierocast (Hieroglyphics' official podcast), Del tha Funkee Homosapien reported that the Souls of Mischief was currently working on its next studio album with Prince Paul (De La Soul, Gravediggaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School). On January 6, 2009, Souls of Mischief released the Tour Stories EP produced by Domino and co-produced by Prince Paul. The song is taken from the group's fifth studio album, Montezuma's Revenge, released on Hieroglyphics Imperium.
In 2013, a documentary about the band was released entitled Til Infinity: The Souls of Mischief. Produced and directed by Shomari Smith, it reflected on the 20 year anniversary of the band's debut album 93 'Til Infinity and includes over 50 interviews with prominent MCs, DJs, and producers of the era.
During the 2017 NBA Playoffs, Gatorade released a television commercial promoting Gatorade Flow, which featured Indiana Pacers star forward Paul George and the instrumental music of Souls of Mischief' 93 'Til Infinity.
Never No More
Souls of Mischief Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never no more, never no more
Never will a sucka score, never no more
Never no more, never no more
Never will a sucka score, never no more
[Tajai]
Message recorded, lessons be stored in
this mental core it's, like lentil porridge
Nas-T, Massey, be the last G
From medical texts to class me
Ask me, if I had to grip my pad
the riffs I grab would rip and stab
the kids that sag the shit they strap
is flavorless, and wreckless
Your bestest behavior gets
I plays the hits, displays the shit
a razor gets parlayed amidst
and later splits a feeling that
I made ya hit, a really phat I gave to kids
when I punched em
I crunch men, at a function
[Phesto]
Ponder on this, I swallowed the spliff with elocution
Encompassing the pompous means when I escalate my tool
shins get split, men get spindled swiveled pivoted
by my riveting centrifuge
I swindling crews, bringing a fist to bruise
Pulverizing skulls annihilating trifling dunces
Pulling rifle pumps to stifle punks when my knife splits
Split your spleen hit you clean in the kisser
When I twist a riddle I'm breakin the brittle
and flimsy with my whimsy
Puns and phrases I stun and phase kids
Terrorize em paralyze em paraplegic, when I leave em
Mindless spineless vertabraetless with menengitis
I earn em swift and minus a life with my nine
Chorus 2X
[A-Plus]
I get the props, you get the buttocks
I know my what nots, stoppin flows like blood claats
Nah, 'cause that's a bad word in Jamaican
And I am that, grams packed 'cause my jam's phat
So get the beaner butter we discovered treasure
You're sweet when I stomp you with my feet just for pleasure
'cause I write the rhymes like a slave'll pick the cotton
The best from the West 'cause I'm fresh and you're rotten
Take out the trash or I'll take it out your ass
With a blast from the past in the future, I'll shoot ya
But for the present beatdowns will suffice
Lose 'cause you choose to be down with some mice
You dumb dunces I come once it's my time to
want to hear a joke? I'm you
Don't you wish I won't dismiss your treachery
I bet you be, leaving upon a stretcher G
[Opio]
I'm coming tighter, your rhymes are Oreida
Little reminiscent of the poetry I write
a-stoundingly, you're sounding like me, might we
Step outside and settle this I cause catastrophes
I laugh at these cause my shit is astonishing
Demolishing, you and your following I'm swallowing
MC's like I was a black hole ramsack those
wack flows who chose to oppose
I don't suppose, dare or where my stubble grows
Reverses the process, god bless you swing and whoa it's you!
Opio, disposes of crews like snotty tissues
I rip through bodies with corkscrews you wish you never tried
Chorus 2X
Never again
The song "Never No More" by Souls of Mischief is a hardcore rap song that exposes the power, dominance, and expertise of the group's members. The chorus is repeated twice, and it is a declaration of the group's skills and talents, stating that they will never let a sucker score. Tajai then takes over and stresses that the messages he records have been stored in his mental core, and he further uses food to describe the wealth of knowledge he has acquired from medical texts to class. He also emphasizes his deadly lyrics that can rip and stab kids, and how he demolishes any tasteless and reckless style. Phesto comes in and gives a vivid description of his ability to bring a fist to cause bruises, shatter a person's skull, annihilate trifling dunces, and paralyze kids with his puns and phrases. Finally, Opio emphasizes that his style is astonishing and that he disposes of crews like snotty tissues. He evokes his scientific acumen by mentioning a black hole and ending with the imagery of ripping through bodies with corkscrews.
Line by Line Meaning
Never no more, never no more
We will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of again
Never will a sucka score, never no more
We will no longer allow those who do not respect our craft to succeed
Message recorded, lessons be stored in
We take mental note of our experiences to learn from them
this mental core it's, like lentil porridge
Our minds are nourished by the lessons we learn like the way lentil porridge nourishes the body
From medical texts to class me
We are highly educated and knowledgeable individuals
Ask me, if I had to grip my pad
If you had to ask, I'm always writing and ready to rap at a moment's notice
the riffs I grab would rip and stab
My rhymes are sharp and cut through the competition
the kids that sag the shit they strap
Those who dress like gangsters and carry weapons are not true MCs
is flavorless, and wreckless
Their rhymes lack style and meaning, and they are reckless in their actions
Your bestest behavior gets
If you want to succeed, you need to respect the craft and behave professionally
I plays the hits, displays the shit
I perform well-known tracks while showcasing my talent
a razor gets parlayed amidst
I use sharp, witty lyrics to slice through the competition
and later splits a feeling that
My music evokes strong emotions in listeners
I made ya hit, a really phat I gave to kids
I create memorable tracks that inspire and energize listeners
when I punched em
I am a skilled and respected MC who can hold his own in a freestyle battle
I crunch men, at a function
I take on any MC and demolish them with my rhymes
Ponder on this, I swallowed the spliff with elocution
I am a talented rapper who can smoke and rhyme at the same time
Encompassing the pompous means when I escalate my tool
When I rap, I take on arrogant rappers and win with my talent
shins get split, men get spindled swiveled pivoted
I leave my opponents bruised and battered after I'm through with them
by my riveting centrifuge
I am like a powerful force that can't be stopped
I swindling crews, bringing a fist to bruise
I take on groups of MCs and crush them with my powerful rhymes and fists
Pulverizing skulls annihilating trifling dunces
I am a skilled rapper who can crush opponents with my rhymes
Pulling rifle pumps to stifle punks when my knife splits
I will take on anyone with any weapon and still come out on top
Split your spleen hit you clean in the kisser
I can knock out opponents with a single punch to the face
When I twist a riddle I'm breakin the brittle
My rhymes are so sharp and witty that they can break the spirit of my opponents
and flimsy with my whimsy
I am playful and witty in my rhymes
Puns and phrases I stun and phase kids
My rhymes are clever and unexpected, catching other rappers off-guard
Terrorize em paralyze em paraplegic, when I leave em
I am so good at rhyming that I can leave other rappers speechless and immobile
Mindless spineless vertabraetless with menengitis
I am so skilled at rhyming that I can make other rappers physically ill with my words
I earn em swift and minus a life with my nine
I can take out any opponent with my skills and the power of my rhymes
I get the props, you get the buttocks
I earn respect and admiration from fans, while my opponents are ridiculed and shamed
I know my what nots, stoppin flows like blood claats
I am a skilled rapper who can shut down my opponents with my rhymes
Nah, 'cause that's a bad word in Jamaican
I am careful with my language and don't use offensive words
And I am that, grams packed 'cause my jam's phat
I am a talented rapper and my music is popular and well-received by fans
So get the beaner butter we discovered treasure
My rhymes are like a pot of gold, and fans can't get enough of them
You're sweet when I stomp you with my feet just for pleasure
I enjoy crushing and humiliating my opponents with my rhymes
cause I write the rhymes like a slave'll pick the cotton
I am a skilled writer who can craft clever and powerful rhymes
The best from the West 'cause I'm fresh and you're rotten
I am one of the best rappers from the West Coast, while my opponents are subpar
Take out the trash or I'll take it out your ass
I won't tolerate bad rhymes, and I will shut them down with my own rhymes if necessary
With a blast from the past in the future, I'll shoot ya
I am so talented that I can rap about anything, past or future, and still make it sound good
But for the present beatdowns will suffice
I am content to destroy my opponents with my rhymes in the present moment
Lose 'cause you choose to be down with some mice
My opponents are weak and cowardly for aligning themselves with subpar rappers
You dumb dunces I come once it's my time to
I am always ready to take on opponents and crush them with my rhymes
want to hear a joke? I'm you
My opponents are so pathetic that they are a joke themselves
Don't you wish I won't dismiss your treachery
My opponents should be afraid of me, because I will expose and defeat their underhanded tactics
I bet you be, leaving upon a stretcher G
I am so skilled at rapping that I can leave my opponents injured and defeated
I'm coming tighter, your rhymes are Oreida
My rhymes are so sharp and potent that they make other rappers look weak in comparison
Little reminiscent of the poetry I write
My rhymes are like poetry, with powerful and evocative words and phrases
a-stoundingly, you're sounding like me, might we
My opponents are trying to imitate my style, which is a testament to my skills and influence
Step outside and settle this I cause catastrophies
I am so powerful and fierce that I can bring disaster to my opponents if necessary
I laugh at these cause my shit is astonishing
I am confident and amused by my own skill and talent
Demolishing, you and your following
I can take out entire groups of rappers with my rhymes
I'm swallowing MC's like I was a black hole ramsack those
My talent is so vast and powerful that it can consume and destroy other rappers
wack flows who chose to oppose
My opponents are weak and foolish for trying to go up against me
I don't suppose, dare or where my stubble grows
I am confident and fearless in my rhymes, and nothing can shake me
Reverses the process, god bless you swing and whoa it's you!
I am always one step ahead of my opponents, and they are powerless against me
Opio, disposes of crews like snotty tissues
I am so skilled and powerful that I can destroy entire groups of rappers with ease
I rip through bodies with corkscrews you wish you never tried
My rhymes are like a corkscrew, effortlessly and mercilessly cutting through my opponents and leaving them defeated
Chorus 2X
We will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of again, and we will shut down any MCs who do not respect our craft and talent
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC
Written by: ADAM CARTER, DAMANI THOMPSON, OPIO LINDSEY, TAJAI MASSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pacific Chief
Phesto: Ponder on this, I swallowed the spliff with locution
Encompassing the pompous means, when I escalate my tool
Shins get split, men get spindled, swiveled, pivoted
By my riveting centrifuge
I'm swindling crews, bringing a fist to bruise
Pulverizing skulls annihilating trifling dunces
Pulling rifle pumps to stifle punks when my knifes'll
Split your spleen hit you clean in the kisser
When I twist a riddle I'm breakin' the brittle
And flimsy with my whimsy
Puns and phrases I stun in phases
Terrorize 'em, paralyze 'em paraplegic, when I leave 'em
Mindless, spineless, vertebrate-less with meningitis
I earn 'em swift and minus a life with my nine
Some of the sickest lyrics in hip history.
Paco Nice
Souls of Mischief and Pharcyde lowkey set the bar for mic skills in hip hop
AlienNationRadio
@Craig The Almyghty Myghty Pythons!!
Craig
did you know they did an album together
Pacific Chief
Phesto: Ponder on this, I swallowed the spliff with locution
Encompassing the pompous means, when I escalate my tool
Shins get split, men get spindled, swiveled, pivoted
By my riveting centrifuge
I'm swindling crews, bringing a fist to bruise
Pulverizing skulls annihilating trifling dunces
Pulling rifle pumps to stifle punks when my knifes'll
Split your spleen hit you clean in the kisser
When I twist a riddle I'm breakin' the brittle
And flimsy with my whimsy
Puns and phrases I stun in phases
Terrorize 'em, paralyze 'em paraplegic, when I leave 'em
Mindless, spineless, vertebrate-less with meningitis
I earn 'em swift and minus a life with my nine
Some of the sickest lyrics in hip history.
Tom Thunder
I learnt it at full speed then remembered about adjusting the speed afterwards.... thanks for the lyrics!
shvwn escxbvr
one of the greatest verses of all time...🤯
Ben Lichtman
This is what I think off when people ask why I think most new rap is terrible
real king
@Wali Gibson salute bro bro!!
Wali Gibson
@real king The era now is a sub genre called Hip Pop!🤔🤔💯💯
Naar Gabar
That 3 eyed face logo should be just as iconic as the WuTang's