Canadian hip-hop heavyweights Sweatshop Union, one of the hardest working ensembles to ever emerge from British Columbia, have been making righteous, politically charged music for over a decade but on their newest album Infinite (summer 2013), they’re ready to really enjoy themselves.
The 6-member crew took their time with this album, spending a year to gather sounds and lyrics, whereas previous records have been completed in mere months. It bridges the gap between conscious music and fun party jams, exploring heavy themes but it’s also built for kicking back and vibing. The group believes that the record’s strength lies in this dichotomy.
Infinite (nominated 2014 WCMA) follows 2011’s Bill Murray EP, which won the Western Canadian Music Award for Hip-Hop Album of the Year, and raised their profile beyond their grassroots following, some time after pair of Juno nominations from their previous work together (Natural Progression & United We Fall | 2004 & 2006).
The new LP contains a range of sounds, combining old-school hip-hop with futuristic, electro headbangers, not to mention some ballads and spoken word interludes. It accomplishes the tricky task of reflecting the outfit’s individual tastes, as they inform SSU’s collective vision.
The group is prolific and moves quickly but as of this moment, Infinite stands as the most eclectic record in the Sweatshop Union catalogue. Listeners will find it tricky to categorize but it’s clear the collective had a lot of fun making this music and they hope it’s contagious. After all, despite its title, Infinite reflects a group of men who know that life is short and that they need to savor all the joyful moments that making music together provides.
Discography
* Sweatshop Union 2001
* Local 604 2002
* Natural Progression 2004
* United We Fall 2005
* Water Street 2008
* Bill Murray EP 2011
* Infinite 2013
Broken Record
Sweatshop Union Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been singing this song for too long
Just wishin' we we all would move on
Sick and tired of doing what you want
You've gone and turned this all into shhh
It seems a little watered down
Everybody wanna be a rap artist now
Tryin' to get the platinum, regardless how
Ain't it a damn shame, music today?
Fad's the same, still you ain't got shit to say
Expect the kids to pay this expensive fee
When they can get an MP3 from a friends CD
Especially when there's less then three tracks ya like
If it was worth spendin' money then we actually might
So much crap on the mic, labels ain't actin' right
Making cash from the hype like The Passion of the Christ
Just imagine the lights, camera, action, the life
The cars, the cash, the stars flashin' their ice
Cock tease R$B pop queens gassin' you up
Fashion thugs passin' you drugs in the back of the club
You want a part of it, but is that all an artist is?
A blank mind with a spine made of cartilage?
Hard as it may seem, it pays to stay dreamin'
Away form the mainstream, just prayin' you'll break even
Chorus
Pop Music (scratches) [x4]
Well, ain't I just a star? / Seated on this bus
You might recognize me, but keep it on the hush
You might wanna ask me what I'm doing takin' transit
Or working at this place, / makin' your bacon sandwiches
Kids be acting kinda funny 'cause they see me
In a couple little shitty rap videos on TV
Yeah I got a name, with maybe $2 to it
Just try and cop a chain making blue collar music
Truth is ain't much has changes / Still seems that Kraft Dinner sucks the same
Tryin' to come up in the game/ With a buck and change
So touch luck for the other guy and / what's his name
Aim high and shoot far below my goals / What I expect I'm owed or ever get from shows
The math never adds up I ain't collecting dough / So on and on like a Broken Record it goes...
Chorus [x2]
In Sweatshop Union’s song “Broken Record,” the group critiques the current state of popular music and how it affects artists who are trying to make it in the industry. The chorus highlights the frustration of singing the same song for too long and wishing for progress. The group also calls out the trend of watered down rap and the pursuit of fame regardless of the cost. The second verse directly addresses the music industry and how it takes advantage of young people who are willing to pay an expensive fee to access music. The verse raises questions about the value of the music that is being marketed and sold. Later in the verse, the group illustrates the glamorized lifestyle of a successful artist but questions whether this is all that an artist is. The song concludes with a final chorus asking for change.
The song highlights the ongoing struggle of independent artists trying to make a living in the music industry. The lyrics challenge the status quo and the conventional pursuit of fame at all costs. Through its lyrics, the band demonstrates a deep concern for the music industry and how it affects artists and their audiences. The group's message is about staying true to oneself, pursuing non-mainstream dreams and values, and maintaining hope despite the odds.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been singing this song for too long
I've been repeating myself, saying the same thing for too long.
Just wishin' we we all would move on
I'm wishing everyone would just move on from the issue instead of staying stuck.
Sick and tired of doing what you want
I'm fed up with doing what you want instead of what's best for everyone.
You've gone and turned this all into shhh
You've ruined everything, made it into nothing worthwhile.
It seems a little watered down
It doesn't seem as strong and powerful as it once did.
Everybody wanna be a rap artist now
Everyone wants to be a rapper now, it's become quite popular.
Tryin' to get the platinum, regardless how
People are trying to gain popularity and fame, no matter what it takes.
Hard you played yourself to get fame
You've worked hard, but you're selling out just to get famous.
Ain't it a damn shame, music today?
Isn't it sad how music is these days?
Fad's the same, still you ain't got shit to say
The trends keep repeating, and you still don't have anything meaningful to say.
Expect the kids to pay this expensive fee
You expect kids to pay a lot for your music, even though it might not be worth it.
When they can get an MP3 from a friends CD
When they can just get it for free from their friends instead.
Especially when there's less then three tracks ya like
Especially when there are only a few tracks on the album that you actually like.
If it was worth spendin' money then we actually might
If it was actually worth buying, then people might do it.
So much crap on the mic, labels ain't actin' right
There's a lot of bad music out there, and the music labels aren't being responsible.
Making cash from the hype like The Passion of the Christ
They're making money off of the hype, just like with The Passion of the Christ movie.
Just imagine the lights, camera, action, the life
Imagine the glamour and excitement of fame and success.
The cars, the cash, the stars flashin' their ice
The expensive cars, money, and glitzy jewelry that stars show off.
Cock tease R$B pop queens gassin' you up
Female pop stars who flirt but won't actually give you what you want.
Fashion thugs passin' you drugs in the back of the club
Drug dealers in the club who try to be cool and fashionable.
You want a part of it, but is that all an artist is?
You want to be part of that culture, but is it really all that being an artist is?
A blank mind with a spine made of cartilage?
Is being an artist just about having no original ideas and a weak will?
Hard as it may seem, it pays to stay dreamin'
Even if it's difficult, it's worth staying true to your dreams.
Away form the mainstream, just prayin' you'll break even
If you stay away from the mainstream, you might at least come out even financially.
Well, ain't I just a star? / Seated on this bus
I might look like a star, but here I am sitting on a bus.
You might recognize me, but keep it on the hush
You might know who I am, but let's not make a big deal out of it.
You might wanna ask me what I'm doing takin' transit
You might wonder why I'm taking public transportation instead of a fancy car.
Or working at this place, / makin' your bacon sandwiches
Or why I'm working in a low-paying job like making sandwiches for you.
Kids be acting kinda funny 'cause they see me
Kids react strangely when they see me, maybe because they recognize me.
In a couple little shitty rap videos on TV
They might have seen me in some low-quality rap videos on TV.
Yeah I got a name, with maybe $2 to it
I might be recognized, but I don't have much money to my name.
Just try and cop a chain making blue collar music
It's hard to afford the flashy jewelry that's associated with being a rapper when you're making music for working-class people.
Truth is ain't much has changes / Still seems that Kraft Dinner sucks the same
The hard truth is that not much has changed, and Kraft Dinner still tastes pretty bad.
Tryin' to come up in the game/ With a buck and change
Trying to make it in the industry with very little money.
So touch luck for the other guy and / what's his name
It's tough luck for the other guy and anyone else who isn't well-known in the industry.
Aim high and shoot far below my goals / What I expect I'm owed or ever get from shows
Even if I try my best and set high goals, I often fall short of what I expect to earn from shows.
The math never adds up I ain't collecting dough / So on and on like a Broken Record it goes...
I don't make enough money to ever collect any dough, and I feel like I'm stuck repeating the same old thing over and over again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D Burke
Hip as fuck. Reminds me of a collective efforts banger.
SemperAugustusBubble
This is what hipsters should have become.
joanne wilson
so cool