Sublime released three studio albums, one live album, five compilation albums (one of which also contains never-before released material), three EPs, and one box set. Although their first two albumsโ40oz. to Freedom (1992) and Robbin' the Hood (1994)โwere quite popular in the United States, Sublime did not experience major commercial success until 1996 with their self-titled third album, released two months after Nowell's death, which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, and spawned the single "What I Got", which remains the band's only No. 1 hit single (on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart) in their musical career. As of 2009, the band has sold over 17 million albums worldwide, including about ten million in the U.S. alone. Michael "Miguel" Happoldt and Marshall "Ras MG" Goodman contributed to several Sublime songs.
Following Sublime's dissolution, former members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh founded the Long Beach Dub Allstars in 1997, which also included many frequent Sublime contributors such as Michael "Miguel" Happoldt (former member of The Ziggens), Marshall Goodman "Ras MG" (former Sublime member), and Todd Forman (3rd Alley). LBDAS disbanded in 2002, due to several members of the band breaking a no-drug vow they had taken. In 2009, the surviving members attempted to reform the band with Rome Ramirez, a young guitarist and admitted Sublime fan from California. However, not long after performing at Cypress Hill's Smokeout Festival, a Los Angeles judge banned the new lineup from using the Sublime name as they needed permission from Nowell's estate, which owns the rights to the Sublime name. This prompted the lineup of Wilson, Gaugh and Ramirez to change their name to Sublime with Rome, which has since released three albums, although Gaugh left the group shortly after the release of their 2011 debut Yours Truly.
With the mainstream success of their self-titled album, going five times platinum and earning worldwide airplay, Sublime's influence persists to this day. Sublime was one of the most popular bands of the third wave of ska, specifically characterized as ska punk. Sublime often combined punk rock and hardcore punk with hip hop, heavy metal, dancehall, reggae, ska, funk, and (21st century) surf music. Sublime also has been described as 'reggae rock'.
Their signature sound and their songs are often associated with the beach and coastal areas of Southern California, such as San Diego, Orange County, Venice Beach and Long Beach as well as areas of Northern California like Eureka. Over two decades after Nowell's death and the band's breakup, Sublime remains immensely popular throughout North America, especially in its state of origin, California.
Sublime's songs have been featured via soundtrack in a variety of media. Los Angeles alternative rock radio station KROQ has listed Sublime at No. 3 in their annual "Top 106.7 biggest KROQ bands of all time" list for the past six years in a row, behind Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, and No. 81 at the "Top 166 Artists of 1980โ2008" list.
With over 17 million units sold worldwide, Sublime is one of the most successful, and "powerfully moving" ska-punk acts of all time influencing many modern reggae and ska acts.
April 29th 1992
Sublime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know if you can, but can you get an order for Ons, that's O-N-S,
Junior Market, the address is 1934 East Aneheim,
all the windows are busted out,
and it's like a free-for-all in here and
uh the owner should be able come down here
and see if he can secure his business, if he wants to...
There was a riot on the streets
Tell me where were you?
You were sittin' home watchin' your TV
While I was paticipating in some anarchy
First spot we hit it was my liqour store
I found out they got all that alcohol I can't afford
With red lights flashin', time to retire
And then we turned that liquor store into a structure fire
Next stop we hit, it was the music shop,
It only took one brick to make the window drop
Finally we got our own P.A.
Where do you think I got this guitar that you're hearing today?
When we returned to the pad to unload everything
It dawned on me that I need new home furnishings
So once again we filled the van until it was full
Since that day my livin' room's been much more comfortable
Cause everybody in the hood has had it up to here
It's getting harder, and harder, and harder each and every year
Some kids went in a store with her mother
I saw her when she came out she was gettin' some Pampers
They said it was for the black man
They said it was for the mexican
But not for the white man
But if you look at the streets, it wasn't about Rodney King
It's bout this fucked-up situations and these fucked-up police
It's about comin' up and stayin' on top
And screamin' 187 on a mother fuckin' cop
It's aint on the paper, it's on the wall
National guard
Smoke from all around
[Any unit, any unit...]
(Homicide, never doing no time)
Let it burn, wanna let it burn, wanna let burn wanna wanna let it burn.
Riots on the streets of Miami. oh riots on the streets of Chicago,
oh on the streets of Long Beach. in San Francisco.
riots on the streets of Kansas City.
oh Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Cleveland, Ohio.
Fountain Valley; Paramount; Victorville; Eugene, Oregon;
Eureka, California; Esperea; Santa Barbara; Neveda;
San Diego; Lake Wood Florida. fucking 29 Palms!
Officer:
[Units be advised of an attempt 211 to arrest now at 938 Temple, 9-3-8
Temple, many subjects with bats trying to get inside the CB's
house...they're trying to kill him]
The song "April 29th, 1992" by Sublime is a commentary on the 1992 Los Angeles riots that were sparked by the acquittal of police officers involved in the brutal beating of Rodney King. The rioters, primarily African American and Latino, targeted businesses in their own neighborhoods, causing destruction and chaos. The first lines of the song are a recording of a police officer requesting that the owner of a local market come to secure his business, which has been damaged during the riots. The rest of the song is a description of the singer's participation in the riots, particularly the looting and burning of a liquor store and a music shop. He then describes using the stolen equipment to play music and how he even used the opportunity to get new furnishings for his home.
The song expresses frustration and anger at the systemic racism and police brutality that plagued the communities that were most affected by the riots. The line "They said it was for the black man, they said it was for the Mexican, but not for the white man" points out the discrepancy in how different races were treated in the criminal justice system. The line "Screaming 187 on a motherfucking cop" refers to the California penal code for murder and suggests a desire for revenge against the police who were responsible for the King beating.
Line by Line Meaning
Officer:
I don't know if you can, but can you get an order for Ons, that's O-N-S,
Junior Market, the address is 1934 East Aneheim,
all the windows are busted out,
and it's like a free-for-all in here and
uh the owner should be able come down here
and see if he can secure his business, if he wants to...
The officer is calling for a request to secure a business that is completely vandalized and possibly looted. The owner is advised to come over and inspect their business's security measures.
April 29th, 1992
There was a riot on the streets
Tell me where were you?
You were sittin' home watchin' your TV
While I was paticipating in some anarchy
The singer is questioning where the listener was on the day of April 29th, 1992, where a riot occurred. The singer participated in the riot while the listener was likely watching it unfold through their television screen.
First spot we hit it was my liqour store
I found out they got all that alcohol I can't afford
With red lights flashin', time to retire
And then we turned that liquor store into a structure fire
The singer's liquor store was the first target during the riot. He discovered they have so much alcohol he can't afford, which was promptly looted and then set ablaze.
Next stop we hit, it was the music shop,
It only took one brick to make the window drop
Finally we got our own P.A.
Where do you think I got this guitar that you're hearing today?
The singer and his accomplices proceeded to loot a music shop by one throw of a brick to break open the doors. They finally got what they wanted, a P.A., and even the guitar used in the song.
When we returned to the pad to unload everything
It dawned on me that I need new home furnishings
So once again we filled the van until it was full
Since that day my livin' room's been much more comfortable
After looting the stores, the singer realized the need for new furnishings and proceeded to fill a van with it, making his living room much more comfortable ever since.
Cause everybody in the hood has had it up to here
It's getting harder, and harder, and harder each and every year
Some kids went in a store with her mother
I saw her when she came out she was gettin' some Pampers
They said it was for the black man
They said it was for the mexican
But not for the white man
But if you look at the streets, it wasn't about Rodney King
It's bout this fucked-up situations and these fucked-up police
It's about comin' up and stayin' on top
And screamin' 187 on a mother fuckin' cop
It's aint on the paper, it's on the wall
People in the neighborhood are very frustrated and things have been getting worse each year. Some children looted a store with their mother and the singer witnessed the mother leaving with some Pampers. People say it's for the blacks and Mexicans, but not for the whites. The riots were not specifically about Rodney King but about the terrible situation and the corrupt police. The people's goal is to rise to the top and get justice by any means necessary, even if it means attacking the law enforcement.
National guard
Smoke from all around
[Any unit, any unit...]
(Homicide, never doing no time)
Let it burn, wanna let it burn, wanna let burn wanna wanna let it burn.
The National Guard was called in during the riots and there was smoke everywhere. A homicide occurred, but the perpetrator would not be punished. The singer suggests that the city should be left to burn, letting the riots run their course.
Riots on the streets of Miami. oh riots on the streets of Chicago,
oh on the streets of Long Beach. in San Francisco.
riots on the streets of Kansas City.
oh Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Cleveland, Ohio.
Fountain Valley; Paramount; Victorville; Eugene, Oregon;
Eureka, California; Esperea; Santa Barbara; Neveda;
San Diego; Lake Wood Florida. fucking 29 Palms!
The singer mentions many cities that had riots, including Miami, Chicago, Long Beach, San Francisco, Kansas City, Tuscaloosa, Cleveland, and more. Even smaller cities such as Fountain Valley and Victorville experienced riots. The final city mentioned, 29 Palms, was probably included just for emphasis.
Officer:
[Units be advised of an attempt 211 to arrest now at 938 Temple, 9-3-8
Temple, many subjects with bats trying to get inside the CB's
house...they're trying to kill him]
The police officer gives a warning about a group of people armed with bats attempting to attack someone's house, trying to kill the person inside.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, MR COOK SONGS
Written by: Marshall Goodman, Bradley Nowell, Michael Happoldt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Barth
30 years ago today I was in the middle of this living 2 blocks off of Anaheim right near Temple Ave in Long Beach. It was wild. Sublime was the best band to capture the true essence of Long Beach.
Steve Jackson
I'm sorry but doesn't he say April 26 1992?? Is this a Mandela thing??
Danny Woodward
@Steve Jackson he does they say it, was a mistake bradley made and with the weight of the song it just sounded better so they kept it in
Jade Wong
@Steve Jackson The you t๐
Steve Jackson
Ok but January 6 2022 there was a riot at the capitol where were you. See just doesn't add up
Kam Troy
@Steve Jackson That wasn't a riot or any of the things the media called it.
X Q
30 years ago. Masterpiece. One of my favorite songs.
Mental Ward
You just beat me by 39 minutes! ๐๐
Aubrey Shelton
Yep ๐๐ฏ
F Davis
Sublime's very original sound was so unique, and kick ass they are classified as their own genre. This alone says a lot about the band's talent. I've never heard of another instance where a single group or artist was designated as their own genre. Sublime should be in the rock n roll hall of fame imo. They're truly freaking awesome!