The group was founded in 1969 by Russell Knighton at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the group was called the Macalester College Black Voices. It was in 1971 when current director Gary Hines took leadership over the ensemble, and the group name was officially changed to Sounds of Blackness.
The chief lead singer of the group was Ann Nesby until 1995 when Nesby left the group to pursue a solo career. The group continues to perform internationally. The group performed the original songs for the 1999 Disney animated short John Henry (based on the folklore character) as part of Disney's American Legends, the short was re-released in 2015 as part of the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection. The original songs were written by Gary Hines and Billy Steele, with a score by Stephen James Taylor
The group has received three Grammy Awards, four Stellar Awards, one Emmy nomination, the International Time for Peace Award, the International Dance Music Award, five NAACP Image Award nominations and 1 NAACP Image Award.
Sounds of Blackness's "Time For Love" was nominated for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for R&B Song of the year.
Try
Sounds Of Blackness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a get him gone like Illuminati
cause we ain't playin up in Chicago
30 make him yell like he in soprano
oooh let a nigga try me, try me
I'm a shoot his face like a picture I.D
Let him know that we ain't playin up in Chicago
Lay them boys down like a lot of dominoes
Pop a nigga frame like he was a garter
Run in his crib like Mr. Rogers
Flip his ass quick put him in gymnastics
Bitch we can go to war like we being drafted
Tell Lil Durk let's have a party with my lil shortys
We ain't getting drunk but they bringing 40s
I can murder with my fashion you niggas lackin
Bouta drop a body feel like I'm contracting
Better be rushing to the bank walking like a model
Yo man give me neck til' I feel his tonsils
My lil homie got the tech loaded for you bastards
Bet he touch a nigga like say a pastor
Bitch I be slayin on my Kim K where my corpse at?
Youngest bitch fuckin up these streets like my name was North West
My bitches don't wanna talk like a case of Strep throat
We rather just get up on it word to fuckin DeJ Loaf
Bullets clear you out yo brain now you need a mentor
Blow a nigga down like he in a windstorm
All I do is say the word they be running over
Kill a nigga in a week call it that Ebola
And ooh
Way too many niggas focused on
Where I be at, who I be with and what I do
Take ya baby out like it was his born day
Leave her pussy wet like we having foreplay
I'm really having shit that's why bitches mad tho?
Have you ever seen amounts longer than ya zip code?
I ain't never had a problem with spending benjis
Lean up on myself, Rest In Peace to Pimp C
Got a pocket full of notes
Pay my shooter like D Rose
I could blow a couple G's
Racked up no double D's
May give him a taste, nigga like Muhammad
He say it's the bomb but I'm not Islamic
You know I'm from the Chi where they bang corners
Heads up on the ground like we tossing quarters
Talking all that tough shit, that rough shit
You gone stumble up and get fucked with
Can't roll with these weak hoes
These niggas sweeter than duck lips
Pulled up in that tinted truck
They gone smoke something like ganja
Doing all that dickriding, you still driving that Hummer
I'm offended, stop pretending
I don't play about my blood like a diabetic
Fuck niggas, something I don't condone
Swear to god, the only thing I'm waiting on
The song "Try" by Sounds of Blackness is a powerful and intense piece that speaks about the struggles of living in a city with high crime rates and the need to protect oneself. The lyrics are rapped in a fast-paced, aggressive manner, and the use of violent metaphors is prominent throughout the song. The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that if someone tries the rapper, they will retaliate with force, using Illuminati symbolism to illustrate their power.
Throughout the verses, the rapper describes various ways in which they would defend themselves and take down anyone who threatened them. They reference running into someone's home, flipping them over, and making them do gymnastics; these vivid descriptions of violence not only highlight the potential danger of living in Chicago's dangerous area but also provide a sense of catharsis for the rapper and their audience.
The song also includes multiple musical influences, including rap and gospel music. It features a choir in the background, adding to the overall intensity of the song. As a whole, "Try" is a song that seeks to inspire strength and resilience in its listeners, encouraging them to stand up for themselves and take control of their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Let a nigga try me, try me
If someone tries to mess with me, they'll regret it
I'm a get him gone like Illuminati
I'll make him disappear like the mysterious Illuminati
cause we ain't playin up in Chicago
We take things seriously in Chicago
30 make him yell like he in soprano
The sound of our gun, a .30 caliber, will make him scream high like a soprano singer
oooh let a nigga try me, try me
I warn any fool who thinks he can get the better of me
I'm a shoot his face like a picture I.D
I'll shoot him in the face, just like taking a picture for an ID
Let him know that we ain't playin up in Chicago
We have no time for games in Chicago
Lay them boys down like a lot of dominoes
We'll take them out easily, just like toppling down a stack of dominoes
Pop a nigga frame like he was a garter
We'll shoot him until his body falls apart like a garter belt
Run in his crib like Mr. Rogers
We'll invade his house quickly and without fear, just like Mr. Rogers inviting guests into his home on his TV show
Flip his ass quick put him in gymnastics
We'll knock him down fast and make his body contort like a gymnast's
Bitch we can go to war like we being drafted
We're prepared to fight like soldiers being drafted into battle
Tell Lil Durk let's have a party with my lil shortys
I suggest Lil Durk and I should hang out with our little gang members
We ain't getting drunk but they bringing 40s
We won't be drinking, but they'll bring 40-ounce bottles of liquor
I can murder with my fashion you niggas lackin
My style is deadly and you don't have what it takes to keep up with me
Bouta drop a body feel like I'm contracting
I'm about to kill someone and it feels as natural as breathing
Better be rushing to the bank walking like a model
You better hurry to the bank with a confident walk like a model
Yo man give me neck til' I feel his tonsils
Your man will give me oral sex so intense he'll feel it in his throat
My lil homie got the tech loaded for you bastards
My young friend has a gun ready to shoot you foolish people
Bet he touch a nigga like say a pastor
He's skilled enough to shoot you as precisely as a pastor touches a believer during a blessing
Bitch I be slayin on my Kim K where my corpse at?
I'm killing it with my fashion like Kim Kardashian, where are the people who can't keep up with me?
Youngest bitch fuckin up these streets like my name was North West
I'm the youngest and most reckless girl causing chaos in the streets like Kim Kardashian's daughter North West
My bitches don't wanna talk like a case of Strep throat
My girls and I prefer to take action instead of talking, just like people with strep throat avoid speaking
We rather just get up on it word to fuckin DeJ Loaf
We'd rather get to work and take care of business, just like rapper DeJ Loaf
Bullets clear you out yo brain now you need a mentor
Our bullets will damage your brain so badly you'll need a new teacher to function well
Blow a nigga down like he in a windstorm
We'll shoot him down so hard he'll feel like he's in a violent windstorm
All I do is say the word they be running over
People will quickly do whatever I ask them to do
Kill a nigga in a week call it that Ebola
We'll kill someone within a week, just like the Ebola virus claims its victims quickly
Way too many niggas focused on Where I be at, who I be with and what I do
Many people are too concerned with my whereabouts, my company, and my actions
Take ya baby out like it was his born day
We'll kill your baby, as if it was his very first and last day of life
Leave her pussy wet like we having foreplay
We'll sexually assault her and leave her vagina wet, as if we had foreplay
I'm really having shit that's why bitches mad tho?
I have everything I want, which makes other women jealous
Have you ever seen amounts longer than ya zip code?
Have you ever seen amounts of money so large, they surpass your entire zip code?
I ain't never had a problem with spending benjis
I never hesitate spending large amounts of money
Lean up on myself, Rest In Peace to Pimp C
I can rely on myself, just like rapper Pimp C used to do before he passed away
Got a pocket full of notes
I'm carrying a lot of money with me
Pay my shooter like D Rose
I compensate my hitman generously, just like basketball player Derrick Rose
I could blow a couple G's
I can spend thousands of dollars easily
Racked up no double D's
I amassed a lot of wealth without needing large breasts
May give him a taste, nigga like Muhammad
I may give him a small encounter with danger, just like boxer Muhammad Ali could toy with his opponents
He say it's the bomb but I'm not Islamic
He might boast about his power but I'm not afraid of him
You know I'm from the Chi where they bang corners
I'm from Chicago, where people are known to fight on street corners
Heads up on the ground like we tossing quarters
We'll make him drop to the ground like a coin toss
Talking all that tough shit, that rough shit
You're talking big but can't handle the rough side of things
You gone stumble up and get fucked with
You'll make a mistake and suffer the consequences
Can't roll with these weak hoes
I won't associate with weak and feeble women
These niggas sweeter than duck lips
These men are too soft and feminine
Pulled up in that tinted truck
We arrived in an SUV with tinted windows
They gone smoke something like ganja
They're going to smoke marijuana
Doing all that dickriding, you still driving that Hummer
You're trying too hard to impress me, but you're still driving an outdated Hummer car
I'm offended, stop pretending
I'm mad and I want you to stop lying
I don't play about my blood like a diabetic
I don't mess around when it comes to my family and friends, just like diabetics take their blood sugar seriously
Fuck niggas, something I don't condone
I don't approve of unworthy and untrustworthy men
Swear to god, the only thing I'm waiting on
I swear to God I'm only waiting for one thing
Contributed by Grayson G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
HSSU Camera Club
on Black Butterfly
Black Butterfly by Sounds of Blackness
Chorus
Black Butterfly, you can do most anything your heart desires
Freedom comes with understanding who you are
Its time to reclaim your place among the stars
Spread your wings and fly
Awakening the genius has been asleep too long
A people with a beauty rich and strong
A heritage that rates second to none
Original, your qualities, don’t change them to fit in
Now that you’re on top just keep rising
Experience new life, be born again.
Chorus
What’s going on?
To not reveal unless we choose to see
Has generations lost in history
To hide our culture and identity
Keep your pride
You can’t be another color butterfly
So when you shine, let everybody see your light
Cuz you know out of sight means out of mind