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
The Revolution
Sweatshop Union Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics "get em up hit em up" in Sweatshop Union's song The Revolution can be interpreted in a few different ways. On the surface, the phrase could refer to inciting a physical confrontation or fighting back against oppression. It could also be seen as a call to action to unite and rise up against societal issues and injustices.
However, the song as a whole speaks to a revolution that is more than just physical force. It encourages critical thinking and questioning of societal norms, as well as advocating for change through peaceful means. The line "we'll never be defeated if the movement is peaceful" emphasizes this message.
Overall, "get em up hit em up" can be seen as a rallying cry to take action and stand up for what is right, but not necessarily through violence.
Line by Line Meaning
get em up hit em up
We are calling for action and urging everyone to stand up for their rights and fight against oppression and injustice.
we don't give up never give up
Our spirit and determination will not be broken by those who seek to keep us down. We will persevere in the face of adversity.
we don't let up never let up
Our efforts to bring about change will not cease until our demands are met and our voices are heard.
fight back rise up
We need to resist and fight against oppression with all our strength, and rise up to defend our rights and dignity.
we won't let them break us
We will not allow those in power to break our spirits and will continue to push for change, no matter how difficult it gets.
we won't let them take us down
We will not let the powerful take away our agency and continue to dominate us. We will fight against their tyranny and stand for our rights.
we fight for liberation
Our fight is for liberation and freedom from oppression and all forms of discrimination, irrespective of race, gender, or class.
we fight with determination
Our fight for change is driven by unwavering determination and the will to win against all odds.
the revolution's happening now
We are currently living through a revolution of values and beliefs, where people are fighting for their rights and dignity to create a better world.
Contributed by Liliana V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.