At the tender ages of 18 and 19 respectively, Nick Lupi and Just Enuf do not share the characteristics typical of up and coming artists. Both rappers display skilful, intelligent rhymes, a strong work ethic and a high-energy, dynamic live show; constantly performing at a level well beyond their years.
Just Enuf first turned to rapping as a form of expression after years of involvement in the Sydney graffiti scene, a transition common amongst rappers. This is, however, where the comparisons stop. Justs penmanship places him in a class of lyricist virtually unparalleled in the local hip-hop community. With a complex style inspired by both local and overseas artists, his heartfelt lyrics reflect an MC with skills and something to say.
Nick Lupi established himself as a fierce battle MC by the age of 15, taking out countless battles including Shoreshocked 2003, DoubleBeef 2003, One Mic 2004 and ParkJam 05 sometimes against opponents nearly twice his age. However, not content with being limited to the typecast of a battle MC, Nick has consistently proved he is a fully-fledged performer; combining charismatic, thought-provoking rhymes with thunderous stage presence.
The past 12 months has seen the Spit Syndicate hit the live circuit in a major way, supporting for some of the nations top hip hop artists including Bliss N Eso, Lyrical Commission, Milkbar Stars, Urthboy & Ozi Batla, Hyjak & Torcha, 13th Son and Brethren. They recently completed a successful tour supporting the NSW leg of Bliss N Eso's Day of the Dog national tour. In addition to their live exploits, the SS have featured on FBIs Stolen Records Hip Hop Compilation, the PureBred Sampler, Swarmys acclaimed The Appetiser EP and have recently completed a collaboration with Hyjak & Torcha.
The Spit Syndicate are now turning their attention to their debut album, and will continue to perform live across Sydney and the rest of Australia. With an already formidable list of achievements under their belt, it seems definite that for this Sydney duo, the future is truly bright.
Exhale
Spit Syndicate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was exiled on main street,
Whistling the same sweet blues,
Wondering if anyone else here,
But it was just me and my cigarette,
Watching it pirouette, it's death dance with my healthcare
The very same scene begun,
With the front of the 7:18, had me dreaming of elsewhere,
With the felt air, getting myself square,
The train arrives, and I look up in the sky,
At a plane going by and picture myself there,
I wonder if I've got it in me to run,
With no goodbyes on the tip of my tongue,
Just a flight of deliverance,
Visit the height of mankind's might,
But it still feels like we living' as visitors,
Impolite and in spite of all that it's given us,
From the high-rise in the skies to the littlest of villages,
The doors slide open, and the carriage is empty,
But for some strange reason it hasn't upset me,
I haven't even noticed, no car motors,
Is there no shift workers, is there no swing voters,
My ride crept by an empty intersection,
As if the whole city had slept in,
Hand on my heart, money on my mind,
Trying to part ways with the devil before 9 o'clock strikes,
A couple stops shy, I smiled at a satellite,
In this paradise of dice rolls and flashing lights,
Feel the fangs of the modern day parasite,
Rob you of your appetite and slang it right back to you,
End of the line, just in time,
Desensitised minds, still looking for signs,
All things are wings my the escape plan,
Exhale and step into the wasteland..
Hook
I can't breathe (dream) in this place that I call my home,
No I can't breathe,
I can't see no end, there's no end in sight, Think it might be time to take flight, I gotta break free,
And exhale in exile,
Get away exhale in exile,
Get away, exhale in exile,
Get away, exhale in exile.
Verse 2 – Jimmy
Walked out of the saloon at high noon, the moon shined luminous,
2 of us took a fifty and blew it in the sky like, ahh,
The sweet scent of the other side of the fence, despite my attempts to catch it, it flew by,
In a wave of where you been's, get ready for work's,
We don't talk anymore, what happened to you and I's man,
Whatever happened to the times when the only thing hanging above my head was blue sky,
Scene 1, see me and my counterparts are bottle passing, half an hour or something' out of my city when,
Uh hmm, ticket men are issuing a fine to the 5 of us like 'pleasure to meet you', scene 2,
Nick and me on a return trip to Asia it feel like we been gone for aeons,
14 days of "what the fuck day is it" toast to post-drama, infinity and beyond,
Little did we all know, that free falling into exile ain't enough to overthrow karma,
My job's been let off, my girl's saying "the fuck you think you get off",
N toy's talking as if they put me on, nah,
Holding' my head feeling heavy as heaven 747's cruise smoothly on past, I'm like,
Somebody's telling me something, look up and they're gone….
Hook
I can't breathe in this place that I call my home,
No I can't breathe,
I can't see no end, there's no end in sight, Think it might be time to take flight, I gotta break free,
And exhale in exile,
Get away exhale in exile,
Get away, exhale in exile,
Get away, exhale in exile..
I can't breathe in this place that I call my own,
No I can't breathe,
And I think I need something else to get me through this seven day break loop, Gotta break free, break free,
And get away, exhale in exile,
Get away exhale in exile,
Get away, exhale in exile,
Get away, exhale in exile.
Bridge
One day, I'ma get a ticket,
Don't care where I'm heading as long as it's one way,
Exhale in exile,
Many miles away from the claws of mundane,
One day, I'ma get you a ticket,
Don't care where we heading as long as it's one way,
In exile, we exhale,
The clarity of mind you find in the untamed.
In Spit Syndicate's song "Exhale", the first verse starts with the image of the singer standing on the main street, smoking cigarette and watching a train go by. He dreams of escaping from it all and writing love letters to a faraway home. When the train arrives, he looks up at the sky and imagines himself on a plane, but wonders if he has the courage to run away without saying goodbye. As he rides the train, he notices the city is empty, as if everyone had slept in, and he tries to distance himself from the devil before nine o'clock strikes. The song's hook repeats, "I can't breathe in this place that I call my home," conveying a sense of suffocation and a desire for escape.
In the second verse, Jimmy describes his experiences with exile, mentioning scenes of drinking and partying with friends, getting fined by ticket men, and returning to Asia after a long absence. He laments the loss of friendship, the boredom of mundane work, and the lack of clarity in his life. The song's bridge offers hope for a better future, where a one-way plane ticket can take the singer to an untamed place, where he can breathe and find clarity of mind.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released in 2017 as part of Spit Syndicate's album "One Good Shirt Had Us All Fly." The album was well-received by critics and fans, with many praising the duo's thoughtful lyrics, smooth flow, and catchy beats. Another interesting fact is that Spit Syndicate is an Australian hip-hop group consisting of rappers Nick Lupi and Jimmy Nice, who have been making music together since 2005. They are known for their socially conscious lyrics that explore themes of identity, belonging, and self-expression.
Line by Line Meaning
I was exiled on main street,
Feeling disconnected and isolated in the middle of a bustling street.
Whistling the same sweet blues,
Trying to find solace in a familiar melody.
Wondering if anyone else here,
Questioning the presence of community and connection in the crowded street.
But it was just me and my cigarette,
Realizing that the only company is a harmful habit.
Watching it pirouette, it's death dance with my healthcare
Witnessing the negative impact of smoking on health.
With the felt air, getting myself square,
Trying to breathe in fresh air and regain composure.
The doors slide open, and the carriage is empty,
Feeling empty and alone even in a space that should be filled with people.
Is there no shift workers, is there no swing voters,
Questioning the absence of activity and life in the city.
In this paradise of dice rolls and flashing lights,
Acknowledging the artificiality of the city and its attractions.
Rob you of your appetite and slang it right back to you,
The city's systems exploit and harm its inhabitants while appearing to provide for them.
All things are wings my the escape plan,
Freedom and escape are the only things that seem to provide hope.
Exhale and step into the wasteland..
Letting go of the city and its false promises and entering into uncertainty.
I can't breathe (dream) in this place that I call my home,
Feeling suffocated and lost in a familiar setting.
One day, I'ma get a ticket,
Hoping for a means of escape and freedom in the future.
And exhale in exile,
Finding release and relief in solitude and distance from home.
The clarity of mind you find in the untamed.
Discovering a new sense of perspective and understanding outside of the city's confines.
Contributed by Muhammad L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.