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
Moose
Sweatshop Union Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God bless your life
God bless you laid to rest
Seem like only so many summers ago
Moose laid foot in the same age at the same grocery store
Laid out plans from the safety of home
Boy, two steps ahead of all the rest
But you're restless, so I guess it's all for the best
Sublet your techniques and MPC
Before you left four beats bless the first CD
Wildlife Canada as it came to be
Round the time, 99 chained to 2G
Raised in the good old rains of NV
In those days, always remained with me
See the pain ain't just sayin "so long"
It's just a shame dog you didn't stay so long
You may be gone but the memory is strong
so your name lives on as they play this song
Dear friend
God bless you laid to rest
It go: one for the friendship
Two for good judgment
Communicate what you gonna do and stay above it
I take a deep breath and pray for you
Exhale and hope my faith makes it through
One for the friendship, two for good judgment
Communicate what you gonna do and stay above it
take a deep breath and pray for you
Exhale yeah and hope my pause make it through
I crack a fresh book, a new page to write your name
in my own way, to stop meditate and light a flame
You left like you came, alone
But we pray that you're safe, at home in a way better place
You made a tough choice homie guess it's fine
Wish we could come visit but it's just not time
Gotta keep on this vicious grind, we ambitious
Think of you every time we sip this wine
I raise my glass to you,
Wonder why this fate was passed to you
Wonder would I take the case if you asked me to
I don't know, and that's the truth
We left living with, after you
So here's my toast to you,
MOOSE
From everyone that's close to you
I won't say rest in peace I want your soul to move
And come back in the flesh, so we can see you again
Like we're holdin our breath til youre breathin again
Dear friend
God bless you laid rest
It go: one for the friendship
Two for good judgment
communicate, what you gonna do and stay above it
Take a deep breath and pray for you
Exhale I hope my pause make it through
God bless you laid to rest>
The song "Moose" by Sweatshop Union is an ode to a friend who has passed away, known as Moose or Mike Joss. The lyrics reflect on Moose's life and his impact on those who knew him. The song begins by expressing condolences for Moose's passing and wishes for him to rest in peace. The lyrics then reminisce about their shared past, recalling the days they spent together at the grocery store and Moose's musical pursuits. Moose is described as someone who was always a step ahead of others and had a restless spirit. Sweatshop Union also talks about Moose's love for music, his skill with the MPC, and the first CD he blessed with his beats. The song is concluded with a toast to Moose and a hope that his soul will move on.
The lyrics of "Moose" reflect on the themes of friendship, loss, and the passage of time. It is a touching tribute to someone who has left a deep impact on their loved ones. The song's message is one of remembrance and celebration of a life lived.
Line by Line Meaning
The memory of Mike Joss, "Moose"
Honoring the memory of Mike Joss, also known as Moose
We miss you dogg, one love, still here, 'sright forever
Expressing love and missing Moose, but recognizing that his memory lives on
God bless your life
Offering blessings for Moose's life
Seem like only so many summers ago
Reminiscing about Moose's youth
Moose laid foot in the same age at the same grocery store
Recalling Moose's early days working at a grocery store
Before you chase grades and high playin to show
Before Moose focused on academics and pursuing his passion for music
Laid out plans from the safety of home
Making plans for his future from the comfort of his home
Boy, two steps ahead of all the rest
Recognizing Moose's intelligence and determination
But you're restless, so I guess it's all for the best
Acknowledging Moose's restless nature and understanding his choices
Sublet your techniques and MPC
Sharing his music-making techniques and equipment
Before you left four beats bless the first CD
Producing music before his passing, which included the first CD with four beats
Wildlife Canada as it came to be
Referencing Moose's involvement in the Canadian hip-hop group, Wildlife
Round the time, 99 chained to 2G
Referring to the year 1999 when Moose was involved in music creation and the emergence of 2G networks
Raised in the good old rains of NV
Noting Moose's upbringing in the rainy climate of NV (Nanaimo, British Columbia)
In those days, always remained with me
Holding onto memories of Moose's past
See the pain ain't just sayin "so long"
The sadness of Moose's passing is more than just saying goodbye
It's just a shame dog you didn't stay so long
Expressing sorrow that Moose's time on Earth was short
You may be gone but the memory is strong
Although Moose is no longer here, his memory lives on
so your name lives on as they play this song
Dear friend
God bless you laid to rest
This song is a tribute to Moose and his name will live on through it
It go: one for the friendship
Two for good judgment
Communicate what you gonna do and stay above it
I take a deep breath and pray for you
Exhale and hope my faith makes it through
Reflecting on the value of friendship, the importance of good judgment, and hoping for guidance
I crack a fresh book, a new page to write your name
Starting a new chapter in Moose's honor
in my own way, to stop meditate and light a flame
Making a personal commitment to honor Moose's memory
You left like you came, alone
But we pray that you're safe, at home in a way better place
Moose's passing was a solitary event, but hoping that he is now in a better place
You made a tough choice homie guess it's fine
Wish we could come visit but it's just not time
Understanding that Moose made difficult decisions and wishing for more time together
Gotta keep on this vicious grind, we ambitious
Think of you every time we sip this wine
Continuing to work hard, while remembering Moose in every moment
I raise my glass to you,
Wonder why this fate was passed to you
Wonder would I take the case if you asked me to
Raising a glass in Moose's memory and questioning why he was taken too soon
I don't know, and that's the truth
We left living with, after you
So here's my toast to you,
MOOSE
From everyone that's close to you
Acknowledging that we don't have all the answers but honoring Moose with a toast from those he was close to
I won't say rest in peace I want your soul to move
And come back in the flesh, so we can see you again
Like we're holdin our breath til you're breathin again
Dear friend
God bless you laid rest
Expressing a desire for Moose's soul to be free and hoping for his return in the future
Contributed by Dylan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.