Sublime was an American reggae rock and ska punk band from Long Beach, Cali… Read Full Bio ↴Sublime was an American reggae rock and ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass), and Bud Gaugh (drums). Lou Dog, Nowell's dalmatian, was the mascot of the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996, resulting in Sublime's breakup. In 1997, songs such as "What I Got", "Santeria", "Wrong Way", "Doin' Time", and "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" were released to U.S. radio.

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.

Little District
Sublime Lyrics

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Oh in a Little District,
In a neighborhood,
People movin' swift,
Like they think they should

A word from your mouth,
Your lights get knocked out
A blast to your lips,

And later you move and slip
And if you have to don't drip

I don't know how they manage
But believe me ,mister, they do
If you ever live there,
You just listen and don't be no fool

In a Little District,
In a neighborhood,
People movin' swift,
Like they think they should

A word from your mouth,
Your lights get knocked out
A blast from your lip,
Later you move and trip
If you have to just slip

No one ask no question,
No one tell no lie
Listen to me people ,
This is The reason why

A word from your mouth,
Your lights get knocked out
A blast to your lip,
And later you move and trip
And if you have to just slip

I don't know how they manage
But believe me, mister, they do
If you ever live there
You just listen and don't be no fool

IN A LITTLE DISTRICT,
In a neighborhood,
PEOPLE MOVIN' SWIFT
Like they think they should

A word from your mouth,
Your lights get knocked out

A blast from your lip,
And later you move and trip

Overall Meaning

The song "Little District" by Sublime is a commentary on the rough environment of a specific area in their hometown, Long Beach, California. The song brings attention to the violence and criminal activity that can be found in this neighborhood, with the lyrics describing the consequences of speaking out of turn or getting involved in something you shouldn't. The lines "A word from your mouth, your lights get knocked out" and "Your lights get knocked out, a blast from your lip" allude to physical violence as a result of speaking up or saying the wrong thing.

The repeated phrase "If you have to just slip" encourages listeners to tread carefully and avoid getting involved in any trouble, suggesting that slipping away unnoticed rather than confronting problems may be the best way to survive in this dangerous place. The lines "No one ask no question, no one tell no lie" further emphasize the need to stay quiet and not get involved.

Despite the bleak picture painted by the song, there is a sense of admiration for those who manage to survive in such an environment. The line "I don't know how they manage, but believe me, mister, they do" acknowledges the resilience and resourcefulness of those living in this little district. The final line, "you just listen and don't be no fool," is a message to outsiders that it's important to be aware of the dangers in this neighborhood and to avoid foolish behavior.

Overall, "Little District" is a cautionary tale about the harsh realities of life in an inner-city neighborhood, told with Sublime's unique blend of ska, punk, and reggae influences.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh in a Little District,
In a small part of a city,

In a neighborhood,
In a specific area where people live,

People movin' swift,
People are moving quickly,

Like they think they should
As if they must move hastily.

A word from your mouth,
If you say one thing,

Your lights get knocked out
You get hurt badly.

A blast to your lips,
Someone hits you in the mouth,

And later you move and slip
You feel the pain later and it affects your movement.

And if you have to don't drip
Try not to show your injuries.

I don't know how they manage
I don't understand how they can live like this,

But believe me ,mister, they do
But they do, without questioning it.