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 albums—40oz. to Freedom (1992) and Robbin' the Hood (1994)—were 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 1980–2008" 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 ↴
Junior Market, the address is 1934 East Anaheim, all the windows are
Busted out, and it's like a free-for-all in here and uh the owner should
At least come down here and see if he can secure his business-
If he wants to
April 26th, 1992
There was a riot on the streets
You were sittin' home watchin' your TV
While I was participating in some anarchy
First spot we hit it was my liquor store
I finally 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 that window drop
Finally we got our own p.a.
Where do you think I got this guitar that you're hearing today? ey!
Call fire at the mobile station at Alamedas and Anahiem,
Its, ah, flaming up good]
10-4 Alamedas and Anahiem
Homicide, never doin' no time!
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 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 their 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
And not for the white man
But if you look at the streets
It wasn't about Rodney King
It's bout this fucked up situation and these fucked up police
It's about coming up
And staying on top
And screamin' 187 on a mother fuckin' cop
It's not written on the paper it's on the wall
National guard!
Smoke from all around!
Units- 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]
As long as I'm alive, I'm a live el rico.
Let it burn
Wanna let it burn
Wanna let it burn
Wanna wanna let it burn
Riots on the streets of Miami
W'oh, Riots on the streets of Chicago
On the streets of Long Beach
And San Francisco (Boise Idaho)
Riots on the streets of Kansas City (Salt Lake, Hunnington Beach, CA)
Tuscalusa, Alabama ( Compton Michigan)
Cleveland, Ohio (Pensacola)
Fountain Valley (Texas, Barstow, let's do this every year),
Paramount, Victorville (Twice a Year), Eugene OR
Eureka, CA (Let it burn, let it burn)
Hesperia (Oh, ya let it burn, wont'cha wont'cha let it burn)
Santa Barbara, Nevada, Phoenix Arizona, San Diego, Lakewood Florida
Fuckin 29 Palms.
The song "April 29th, 1992" by Sublime is a reflection on the Los Angeles riots that took place on April 29th, 1992. The song starts with a phone call made by a person who is reporting a riot happening at a market in Anaheim. The caller urges the owner of the market to come and secure the business. This scene sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is a retelling of the chaos and destruction that was happening during the riots.
The lyrics "Tell me where were you? You were sittin' home watchin' your TV" suggest that the singer is frustrated with people who didn't participate in the riots, but also didn't do anything to prevent them. The lyrics also mention looting and destruction of property. The singer talks about hitting a liquor store and a music shop, and expresses pride in getting a guitar from looting the music shop. The song also talks about the frustration felt by those involved in the riots, who were tired of being mistreated by the police and society at large.
In summary, "April 29th, 1992" is a reflection on the Los Angeles riots from the perspective of someone who participated in them. It highlights the frustration and anger of the people involved and their desire for change.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know if you can, but can you get an order for Ons, that's O-N-S,
I'm making a request to buy something from Ons, which is short for Junior Market.
Junior Market, the address is 1934 East Anaheim, all the windows are
Busted out, and it's like a free-for-all in here and uh the owner should
At least come down here and see if he can secure his business-
The Junior Market at 1934 East Anaheim has been vandalized and looted, and the owner should come secure his business to prevent further damage.
If he wants to
It's up to the owner if he wants to secure his business or not.
April 26th, 1992
There was a riot on the streets
Tell me where were you?
You were sittin' home watchin' your TV
While I was participating in some anarchy
On April 26th, 1992, there was a riot on the streets and I was participating in the anarchy while others were safe at home watching on TV.
First spot we hit it was my liquor store
I finally 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.
We looted and set fire to my liquor store after stealing all of the alcohol that I couldn't afford.
Next stop we hit it was the music shop
It only took one brick to make that window drop
Finally we got our own p.a.
Where do you think I got this guitar that you're hearing today? ey!
We broke into a music shop and stole equipment, including a PA system that we're using now, and a guitar.
Call fire at the mobile station at Alamedas and Anahiem,
Its, ah, flaming up good]
10-4 Alamedas and Anahiem
Homicide, never doin' no time!
There's a fire at a mobile station and we're calling for help. We've also committed homicide and are not willing to face any punishment.
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 more comfortable
After looting and stealing, I realized I needed new furnishings and filled my van with stolen goods, making my living room 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 their 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
And not for the white man
But if you look at the streets
It wasn't about Rodney King
It's bout this fucked up situation and these fucked up police
The people in the neighborhood are fed up with years of hardship and it's increasingly difficult every year. Some people looted stores for necessities while others did it out of anger towards unjust police, not the Rodney King incident.
It's about coming up
And staying on top
And screamin' 187 on a mother fuckin' cop
It's not written on the paper it's on the wall
National guard!
Smoke from all around!
This riot is about being heard, getting ahead, and fighting back against the police system that has oppressed us. It may not be written on paper, but it's clear on the walls. The national guard is present and the city is in chaos.
Units- 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]
As long as I'm alive, I'm a live el rico.
Police have been threatened with weapons at 938 Temple and are attempting to make an arrest. The singer is alive and thinks of himself as 'el rico' or the rich one.
Let it burn
Wanna let it burn
Wanna let it burn
Wanna wanna let it burn
The artist wants everything to burn down and is encouraging the destruction.
Riots on the streets of Miami
W'oh, Riots on the streets of Chicago
On the streets of Long Beach
And San Francisco (Boise Idaho)
Riots on the streets of Kansas City (Salt Lake, Hunnington Beach, CA)
Tuscalusa, Alabama ( Compton Michigan)
Cleveland, Ohio (Pensacola)
Fountain Valley (Texas, Barstow, let's do this every year),
Paramount, Victorville (Twice a Year), Eugene OR
Eureka, CA (Let it burn, let it burn)
Hesperia (Oh, ya let it burn, wont'cha wont'cha let it burn)
Santa Barbara, Nevada, Phoenix Arizona, San Diego, Lakewood Florida
Fuckin 29 Palms.
There are riots taking place in various cities across the US, from Miami to Chicago to Boise to Tuscaloosa to San Diego, and the singer is encouraging it to continue every year. Even small towns like Hesperia are joining in.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BRADLEY JAMES NOWELL, LAWRENCE KRSONE PARKER, MARSHALL RAYMOND GOODMAN, MIKE 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 t😂
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! 😂👍
Aubrey Shelton
Yep 👍💯
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!