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.
DJ's
Sublime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Start talking trash and I'll come with my Smith and Wesson
A little competition comes my way (billy bye)
But it always winds up the same
But the stone that the builder refused
Shall be the head corner stone
Ah, but there ain't nothin' wrong
And still I sit and lie awake all night
Oh, all of the DJ's surely have taken a lesson
Try talkin' trash and I'll come with my Smith and Wesson
(Enough DJs come with) enough, enough style
(But when I bust my lyrics we all know it's) wicked and wiley
'Cause there
Ain't nothin' wrong
Ain't nothin' right
And still I sit and lie awake all night
Oh, You better strapped with your gat if you wan' walk with me
I bound to come down with the new style
Rockin' rubadub known as reggae music
Gonna come down with the new lyrics
'Cause it just ain't no thing
Oh, I said it's been a real long time
Oh, but there
Ain't nothin' wrong
Ain't nothin' right
And still I sit and lie awake all night
Oh yeah
Rubadub blender a new mixer, go
I am the one DJ with enough flava
It go here I go, here I'm come, heara the dubbed down DJ
Lord have his grilled cheese
I mean ah, I am Jamaican but I ain't no freak
I caught the man Eno with a ten pound bag o' tweak (eazy, "damn")
And we called him ghost rider
Every time you see him he fulfill the danger
Ain't nothin' wrong
Ain't nothin' right
And still I sit and lie awake all night
Oh, oh
Dreddy got a job to do
And we might fulfill the mision
To see his pain would be his greatest ambition
But ah, we will survive in this world of competition
Shooting guns and our ammunition
Bo, bo, bo, bo, bo, bo, bo
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go
I won't wait so long, mmm
I said I won't wait so long for you
Oh, oh, yeah mmm mmm ooh oh
Hard to get so much
Stop your messin' around, ah ah ah
Better think of your future, ah ah ah
Time you straighten right out, ah ah
Or you'll wind up in jail
The song "DJs" by Sublime opens by indicating that all the DJs have learned to be cautious in their discourse since talking trash would elicit a response, especially from the singer who would bring his Smith and Wesson. The singer talks about the endless competition, which he always ends up winning since the stone that was rejected as useless has become the cornerstone (a Biblical reference to Christ who was rejected by people as irrelevant but went on to become the cornerstone of Christianity). Despite the competition, the singer finds himself lying awake at night, pondering about life and its complexities. As the song progresses, the singer declares his dominance in the music industry and threatens anyone who wants to walk with him to be prepared and strapped with a gun. Although he is a Jamaican, he is not a "freak," and he narrates how one of his friends named Eno was caught with a ten-pound bag of drugs.
Line by Line Meaning
All of the DJ's surely have taken a lesson
The DJs have all been educated on how to behave
Start talking trash and I'll come with my Smith and Wesson
If someone starts saying bad things, the singer will use their gun
A little competition comes my way (billy bye)
Sometimes the singer is challenged
But it always winds up the same
But the outcome is predictable
But the stone that the builder refused
The thing that was rejected will end up being the most important
Shall be the head corner stone
It will become the foundation of everything
Ah, but there ain't nothin' wrong
Things are not good or bad
Ain't nothin' right
Neither are they right
And still I sit and lie awake all night
Nevertheless, the singer is unable to sleep at night
Oh, All of the DJ's surely have taken a lesson
Everyone knows how to behave
Try talkin' trash and I'll come with my Smith and Wesson
The singer is not afraid to use their gun
(Enough DJs come with) enough, enough style
There are many DJs, each with their own style
(But when I bust my lyrics we all know it's) wicked and wiley
But the singer's lyrics are particularly clever and skillful
'Cause there
Because things are not clear-cut
Ain't nothin' wrong
Nothing is really bad
Ain't nothin' right
Nothing is really good
And still I sit and lie awake all night
Despite this, the singer cannot sleep
Oh, You better strapped with your gat if you wan' walk with me
You should carry a gun if you accompany the singer
I bound to come down with the new style
The artist plans to introduce a new musical style
Rockin' rubadub known as reggae music
This new style is known as reggae
Gonna come down with the new lyrics
The singer will also incorporate new lyrics
'Cause it just ain't no thing
It's not difficult
Oh, I said it's been a real long time
It's been a while since this has happened
Rubadub blender a new mixer, go
Introducing a new musical mixer
I am the one DJ with enough flava
The singer is a DJ with a unique style
It go here I go, here I'm come, heara the dubbed down DJ
This is a description of the DJ's playing
Lord have his grilled cheese
This means nothing, it's just a nonsense phrase
I mean ah, I am Jamaican but I ain't no freak
The singer is Jamaican, but is not strange or unusual
I caught the man Eno with a ten pound bag o' tweak (eazy, 'damn')
The singer once caught someone with drugs
And we called him ghost rider
This person was given a nickname
Every time you see him he fulfill the danger
This person was always up to no good
Dreddy got a job to do
Someone named Dreddy has a task to complete
And we might fulfill the mision
We may successfully complete this task
To see his pain would be his greatest ambition
This task is very important to Dreddy
But ah, we will survive in this world of competition
But it will be challenging to succeed
Shooting guns and our ammunition
The singer will be shooting at enemies
Bo, bo, bo, bo, bo, bo, bo
This is just a meaningless utterance
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go
Go, go, go!
I won't wait so long, mmm
The singer won't wait much longer
I said I won't wait so long for you
The singer is talking to someone specific
Oh, oh, yeah mmm mmm ooh oh
Nonsensical words
Hard to get so much
It's challenging to obtain things
Stop your messin' around, ah ah ah
Stop messing around or you will get in trouble
Better think of your future, ah ah ah
You should consider what might happen in the future
Time you straighten right out, ah ah
It's time to start behaving properly
Or you'll wind up in jail
Otherwise you might end up in prison
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRADLEY JAMES NOWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hisvorpalsword
Listening to Sublime is like a fucking history lesson. Dude man was such a serious student of so many different genres and subgenres. You hear the love and tribute he had for the masters.
@hanumanji20
The boss dj
@Clarkillustrations
Hip Hop, Metal, Rock, and Reggae mostly... ya dude is lit
@elizabethwofford1685
These days it'd be cultural appropriation. The 90s didn't seem that long ago but it was a lifetime ago
@Humble-iq5ue
@@Clarkillustrations also Rocksteady
@Humble-iq5ue
@@elizabethwofford1685 sadly you're right. Back then no one saw it that way, it was seen as appreciation.
@mattc2101
I have been literally listening to Sublime every day for the past year. One of the only bands I can listen to on repeat without EVER getting tired of their sound. Bradley Nowell was, by the very definition, an absolute GENIUS, and my only regret is that I never got to see him play live :(
@christianpetti1114
same bro, never gets old
@aldodavila7696
KingHit TagPro Brad was one of a kind! That’s why Sublime will always be a relevant band. Because of Brad! Not taking anything away from the other two band members but Brad was the brain and talent that made it all happen!
@krusecontrol7689
Same bro