In 2008, Stalley made his mixtape debut, titled Goin Ape, with fellow Ohio-native rapper Terry Urban. In 2009, he followed with the release of the new mixtape, titled MadStalley: The Autobiography, and a newfound reputation as a force on stage. Stalley attended the 2010 Iron Mic Competition in Beijing as the featured MC.
After Stalley signed a deal to Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group (MMG) label. Stalley has worked with producers Ski Beatz on the tracks, including "Address", "S.T.A.L.L.E.Y.", "Do It Big", and "Harsh Ave". Artist, named Rashad Thomas, was featured on album Lincoln Way Nights and a recording artist, named J. Rawls would be featured on the track "Babblin".
Stalley was featured on Curren$y's Universal/Def Jam album Pilot Talk on the track "Address" (released in June 2010), as well as he featured on Ski Beatz's Universal/Def Jam projects– including 24 Hour Karate School and 24 Hour Karate School, Pt. 2. In February 2011, Stalley completed a sports-themed music project, commissioned by ESPN, for future use in television and online programming. Stalley's Lincoln Way Nights (released in February 2011) has received 130K+ downloads and reigned at number 2 for Bandcamp hip hop releases. Lincoln Way Nights (released in November 2011) debuted at number 18 on the iTunes hip hop charts and has sold 4K+ copies.
Stalley also was featured on the Maybach Music Group albums, including Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, along with Rick Ross's mixtape Rich Forever. He also appeared on Ross' fifth studio album God Forgives, I Don't.
His most recent mixtape Savage Journey To The American Dream (released in March 2012), which reached 100K downloads in the first week, and was featured as the Stereogum Mixtape of the Week and the Spin Rap Release of the Week (7 out of 10). It was graded an XL by XXL, and HipHopDX awarded it 3.5 out of 5. The mixtape almost entirely produced by Huntsville, AL underground veterans Block Beattaz. Stalley's debut retail single "Swangin" featuring Scarface, from his Honest Cowboy, released on March 26, 2013 reuses a beat from G-Side's namesake track "Swangin" off their 2008 album "Starshipz & Rocketz", also produced by Block Beattaz. The music video was released on July 9, 2013 and featured a cameo from Paul Wall. On August 8, 2013, following of his mixtape's release, it was met with generally positive reviews from critics such as PopMatters. After it was revealed, it received a nomination at the 2013's BET Hip Hop Awards for the "Best Mixtape Category". After receiving a great response from his label, he released Honest Cowboy: EP to iTunes on September 17, 2013, which is on the same day as the release of the label's third compilation album Self Made Vol. 3.
On August 22, 2014, Stalley announced his debut album, Ohio, and four days later, he announced October 27 as the release date.
On August 21, 2015, almost one year since announcing his debut album, Stalley released a seven track mixtape, titled The Laughing Introvert. On January 25, 2016, Stalley released his 7th mixtape titled Saving Yusuf.
In 2017, Stalley released his second and third albums through Real Talk Entertainment, New Wave[/ablum] and Another Level. In an August 4 interview with Respect. magazine, he confirmed he was now independent.
The sound of Silence
Stalley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Between cars and bass?
Man 2: I-I-I-it depends on your trunk space...
Depends on... what kind of car you have. Um...
Man 1: Cause some people are smart...?
A big enough car, they'll use their whole back seat for a box--
The back seat and the trunk.
So... It just all depends...
((...all depends,.all depends))
(echoes & fades out)
Glassback roof. Ground effects kit.
Fiberglass enclosure, sub-woofers: 15 inches.
Prowling through the "Milq". '73 Caprice,
Two-tone blue--black pinstripes: 350 engine.
Dual flow-masters, swisher-sweets getting twisted.
Blasting out old tunes--
Trying to match the music with my new views.
Looking at the the world different lately--
I just wanna take care of the lady that made me.
Honestly that same motive is driving me crazy.
Feel the pressure through the bucket seats.
A lot of death wishes but it's always the same ones...
That end up loving me,
It's puzzling putting together pieces.
Demon-days be coming in with snakes and leaches--
The garden of the boulevard:
Trying to duck the bullet large.
Straight aces--trying to play the cards I've been dealt,
To only come to grips that I've been playing by myself...
*"...Que ia ser melhor depois
Você queria ser
O grande herói das estradas
Tudo que você queria ser"*
(Translation)
"...You want to be
The great hero of the roads
Everything you wanted to be"
A black hole for a dusty soul.
And 14 inch red-lines for that dusty road.
I spin a globe and place my finger on it:
Where ever it stops it's the next place I'm owning--
I'm on it.
Still journeying with tight boats.
A leather journal filled with life quotes.
Got a whole lot of living--
Still my life's a movie with words with a vivid real:
The last real nigga out--
You should try and build...
A catalog like mine,
Ain't a lotta like mines:
That's why I'm always *'uno'* on my grind.
Small circle short tolerance for dummies that try and climb...
The mountain I define: I communicate like a mime.
With middle fingers and a straight face,
So I hope you getting my... sentiments to your life.
Actions speak many words--
No need to read between the lines.
Just watch: suggestion; as I pass by--
This brilliant world of mine.
*"Com sol e chuva você sonhava
Que ia ser melhor depois
Você queria ser
O grande herói das estradas
Tudo que você queria ser"*
(Translation)
"With sun and rain you dreamed
What would be better then
You want to be
The great hero of the roads
Everything you wanted to be"
(Speaking)
(Portuguese Sample)
*"Ser!..."*
(Sample plays)
Female voice-sample plays: "Elevate the game"
The Sound of Silence by Stalley is a detailed examination of the relationship between cars, bass and music. The song starts with two men having a conversation about the relation between cars and bass, with one man suggesting that it depends on the trunk space and the kind of car you have while the other agrees, noting that some people have to use their whole back seat for a box when they don't have a big enough car. This sets the stage for Stalley to describe his own car, a 73 Caprice with dual flow-masters and 15-inch subwoofers in a fiberglass enclosure. He talks about blasting out old tunes and trying to match the music with his new views, looking at the world differently lately and wanting to take care of the lady that made him.
Stalley then goes on to describe his life as a "black hole for a dusty soul," constantly journeying with tight boats and a leather journal filled with life quotes. He talks about having a whole lot of living left to do, but still feeling like his life is a movie with words and a vivid real. He describes himself as the last real "nigga" out and talks about building a catalog that's unlike anyone else's, communicating like a mime with middle fingers and a straight face. He ends the song with a sample repeating the Portuguese word "ser" and a female voice-sample saying "elevate the game."
Overall, The Sound of Silence is a reflective song that explores Stalley's relationship with music and his own identity. It shows how cars and bass can be a way of expressing oneself and communicating emotions, while also reflecting on the struggles and pressures of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Man 1: [ inaudible]...I wanna know what's the relation
Between cars and bass?
A person is curious about how cars and bass are related to each other.
Man 2: I-I-I-it depends on your trunk space...
Depends on... what kind of car you have. Um...
The relation between cars and bass depends on the trunk space and the type of car.
Man 1: Cause some people are smart...?
A person wonders if some people are smarter than others in terms of cars and bass.
Man 2: Yeah. Ah... some people when they don't have...
A big enough car, they'll use their whole back seat for a box--
The back seat and the trunk.
So... It just all depends...
((...all depends,.all depends))
(echoes & fades out)
Some people use their back seat for a bass box when they lack space in the trunk, so it all depends on the situation.
Glassback roof. Ground effects kit.
The car has a glassback roof and a ground effects kit.
Fiberglass enclosure, sub-woofers: 15 inches.
The car has a 15-inch sub-woofers in a fiberglass enclosure.
Prowling through the "Milq". '73 Caprice,
Two-tone blue--black pinstripes: 350 engine.
The person is driving a 1973 Caprice through the 'Milq' with a two-tone blue-black pinstriped 350 engine.
Dual flow-masters, swisher-sweets getting twisted.
The car has dual flow-masters and the person is smoking a cigar.
Blasting out old tunes--
Trying to match the music with my new views.
The person is listening to old music and trying to find meaning in it based on their recent experiences.
Looking at the the world different lately--
I just wanna take care of the lady that made me.
The person has a new perspective on life and wants to take care of their mother.
Honestly that same motive is driving me crazy.
The person's motive is driving them crazy because they feel a lot of pressure.
Feel the pressure through the bucket seats.
The person is feeling a lot of pressure and it is affecting them physically.
A lot of death wishes but it's always the same ones...
That end up loving me,
The person receives a lot of hate from certain people, but those same people end up loving them eventually.
It's puzzling putting together pieces.
Demon-days be coming in with snakes and leaches--
The garden of the boulevard:
Trying to duck the bullet large.
The person is trying to navigate through life and avoid negativity and danger.
Straight aces--trying to play the cards I've been dealt,
To only come to grips that I've been playing by myself...
The person is trying to make the best of the cards they have been dealt, but realizes that they are alone.
"...Que ia ser melhor depois
Você queria ser
O grande herói das estradas
Tudo que você queria ser"*
This lyric is a Portuguese sample that translates to 'With sun and rain you dreamed / What would be better then / You want to be / The great hero of the roads / Everything you wanted to be'
A black hole for a dusty soul.
And 14 inch red-lines for that dusty road.
The person is feeling lost and empty, and the car's red tires are contrasting against the dusty road.
I spin a globe and place my finger on it:
Where ever it stops it's the next place I'm owning--
I'm on it.
The person is adventurous and will go wherever their finger lands on the globe.
Still journeying with tight boats.
A leather journal filled with life quotes.
The person is still on their journey through life and has a leather journal filled with inspiring quotes.
Got a whole lot of living--
Still my life's a movie with words with a vivid real:
The last real nigga out--
You should try and build...
The person has had many experiences in life but feels like they are the only authentic person left. They encourage others to become authentic as well.
A catalog like mine,
Ain't a lotta like mines:
That's why I'm always *'uno'* on my grind.
The person has a unique style and is always working hard.
Small circle short tolerance for dummies that try and climb...
The mountain I define: I communicate like a mime.
The person has a small group of friends and does not tolerate people who are fake or try to take advantage of them. They communicate their feelings non-verbally.
With middle fingers and a straight face,
So I hope you getting my... sentiments to your life.
The person uses their middle fingers but is serious in their message to others.
Actions speak many words--
No need to read between the lines.
The person's actions are enough to understand their message.
Just watch: suggestion; as I pass by--
This brilliant world of mine.
The person wants people to observe and appreciate the world around them as they pass by.
"Com sol e chuva você sonhava
Que ia ser melhor depois
Você queria ser
O grande herói das estradas
Tudo que você queria ser"*
This is the same Portuguese sample heard earlier.
(Speaking)
(Portuguese Sample)
*"Ser!..."*
(Sample plays)
Female voice-sample plays: "Elevate the game"
This section includes a Portuguese sample and a female voice-sample that says 'Elevate the game.'
Contributed by Claire W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alan Coelho
Very good mix this with Brazilian music. I'm from Brazil and I liked it!
balbalz29
i strongly agree with you bro...brasil music is nice...we moroccans love brasil..... peace
Hamza Salhi
balbalz29 it's milton nascrimento
balbalz29
Many thanx bro
biglex42
Hamza Salhi no its not, its Simone's version.
Elan Barreto
Representou
Elo Entretenimento
I am happy to know that there are musicians who value our musical culture. Very Good!
Simões 161
PROUD TO BE BRAZILIAN AND SEE OUR MUSIC ON THE HIP HOP! THANKS CURREN$Y E STALLEY!
Ramos Ramos
wow. just wow. could never imagine milton nascimento's voice in a rap song. it's amazing!
nxthgbutGEMZ仲間
THE BEAT THOOOOOUUUUGGGHHH!!!!!!!! 😝🔥🔥🔥 never get old of this