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
Union Dues
Sweatshop Union Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ahahaha
well look whose looking out the circus crowd
with a whole crowd of clowns to tear it all down
pound for pound i will tip the scales
spit til the frail(?) think I'm sick as hell
meditive merchant of the sweatshop union
and if using my head mean losing respect
I chose what I like to prove i object
welcome seldom seen but heard
above the mainstream on a leaf observer
I can see the earth as an innocent bystander
and eat the worms that are giving our minds cancer
my answer is to stay out of the water
and climb faster to escape out of the monitors reach
think I'd let the beast ever defeat
a frog like me, not likely
Aw here it comes right the drums like waves
escape the race to be a sweatshop slave
Try to be brave in a field that hasnt been grazed
after that im going back and hitting the hay
Dig my own grave to sleep through the day
way out of sight now its my time to play
though I paved the path im last to be amazed
better pack up or break go back and pass away
But if I wasnt in your stereo I'd shake your hands
and a mass'd see the greetings of a drum program(?)
I understand you must rebel in a race against the clock
we're all underpayed slaves livin in a sweatshop
seek with eyes reject lies and ask why
like the minds of the children go creative and watch
as the subtle lies of the dicks and dimes (?)
give the truth to the people thats a 1.5
Hot outside a sweatshop
sippin on a soda pop
sodalicious bitches stop
hoping they can hold a cock (?)
Visions of a 5 oclock
table everybody drop
droppin down my lovers top
shiney singin numbers rock (?)
Wax from the candle drop
hold my babies boobs bra (?!)
babies from the jiz god
got it from my Ma and Pop
shoot it like a super cop
follow with a photo drop
dreamin at the worst spot
waiting for the bird (?) to stop
I gotta be the bigger man now walk tough stand proud
chest out back straight heads up stand out
enough of this sad round of government hand outs
I'll do a free show cuz i love it when fans shout
dance now clap now drink eat sleep shit
act out and how think deep beat this
beef kip, Dusty M, Metty'n me (?)
sweatshop red hot we ready to leave
sweatshop is the name
to take you outs why we came
this is our point of view
we just might point at you (x2)
The song Union Dues by Sweatshop Union is a powerful statement about the struggles of being an underpaid worker in the music and artistic industry. The lyrics cleverly refer to the name of the band as a metaphor for the conditions of the industry itself. The artist introspectively examines the role they play as a musician in a capitalist society, using metaphors of escape artistry to communicate the importance of finding individuality and pursuing genuine art over corporate greed. The song also touches on themes of rebellion against the mainstream media and the need to stay aware and reject lies in order to preserve creativity and truth.
The lyrics show a great deal of self-awareness and introspection as Sweatshop Union critiques the industry that they are a part of, ultimately concluding that the only way to escape the sweatshop-like conditions is to reject mainstream values and create genuine art. The metaphorical language of escaping and rebellion against the clock, mainstream media, and corporate greed, provide a powerful appeal to the listener to seek out their own path and find their true voice.
Line by Line Meaning
well look whose looking out the circus crowd
I am aware of what's happening in society.
with a whole crowd of clowns to tear it all down
There are too many people who are ignorant and are tearing down society.
pound for pound i will tip the scales
I will make a change in society for the better.
spit til the frail(?) think I'm sick as hell
I will speak my mind until people listen and understand what I have to say.
well im sorry for the minor confussion
I'm sorry if I've caused any confusion or misunderstandings.
meditive merchant of the sweatshop union
I am a member of the Sweatshop Union who is thoughtful and reflective.
and if using my head mean losing respect
I won't compromise my beliefs even if it means I lose respect from others.
I chose what I like to prove i object
I choose to do what I believe is right to show that I object to the current state of society.
welcome seldom seen but heard
I'm someone who isn't always seen but whose voice is always heard.
above the mainstream on a leaf observer
I observe society from a different perspective than the mainstream.
I can see the earth as an innocent bystander
I see the world as an innocent bystander who is being mistreated.
and eat the worms that are giving our minds cancer
I consume the things that are negatively affecting society and try to find a solution.
my answer is to stay out of the water
I choose to avoid the negative aspects of society.
and climb faster to escape out of the monitors reach
I try to move away from the things that are negatively affecting me and society as a whole.
think I'd let the beast ever defeat
I won't let the negativity of society overcome me.
a frog like me, not likely
I am resilient and won't give in to negativity easily.
Aw here it comes right the drums like waves
I'm ready to make a change and it's going to start with my music.
escape the race to be a sweatshop slave
I don't want to be a part of the oppressive system of society.
Try to be brave in a field that hasnt been grazed
I'm trying to make a change in a society that hasn't seen change in a long time.
after that im going back and hitting the hay
After doing my part for society, I'll go back to my life and rest.
Dig my own grave to sleep through the day
I'll work hard so that I'm able to rest and relax later.
way out of sight now its my time to play
I'm taking a break from society for a bit and focusing on myself.
though I paved the path im last to be amazed
I've put in a lot of work for society, but I'm not surprised by the lack of change.
better pack up or break go back and pass away
I'm ready to leave society if things don't change.
But if I wasnt in your stereo I'd shake your hands
I appreciate people who listen to and support my music.
and a mass'd see the greetings of a drum program(?)
People would appreciate the message behind my music.
I understand you must rebel in a race against the clock
I understand people who feel like they need to rebel against society to make a change.
we're all underpayed slaves livin in a sweatshop
We're all being oppressed by society.
seek with eyes reject lies and ask why
I encourage people to seek out the truth and question everything they're told.
like the minds of the children go creative and watch
Children are more creative and we should observe and learn from them.
as the subtle lies of the dicks and dimes (?)
People in power are lying to us in subtle ways.
give the truth to the people thats a 1.5
I'm trying to give people the truth, but I know it might take a while for them to accept it.
Hot outside a sweatshop
It's hot and uncomfortable working in a sweatshop.
sippin on a soda pop
I'm taking a break and enjoying a drink.
sodalicious bitches stop
I objectify women.
hoping they can hold a cock (?)
I'm being vulgar and disrespectful towards women.
Visions of a 5 oclock
I'm thinking about the end of the day.
table everybody drop
Everyone sits down to eat.
droppin down my lovers top
I'm being sexual with my partner.
shiney singin numbers rock (?)
I'm enjoying music and singing along.
Wax from the candle drop
Wax from a candle is melting.
hold my babies boobs bra (?!)
I'm being vulgar and disrespectful towards women.
babies from the jiz god
I'm talking about my offspring.
got it from my Ma and Pop
I inherited my traits from my parents.
shoot it like a super cop
I'm confident and quick.
follow with a photo drop
I'm taking a picture.
dreamin at the worst spot
I'm having a nightmare.
waiting for the bird (?) to stop
I'm waiting for something to end.
I gotta be the bigger man now walk tough stand proud
I need to be strong and confident.
chest out back straight heads up stand out
I need to be confident and stand out.
enough of this sad round of government hand outs
I'm tired of relying on the government for help.
I'll do a free show cuz i love it when fans shout
I'm willing to perform for free because I love when people enjoy my music.
dance now clap now drink eat sleep shit
I'm listing basic human actions.
act out and how think deep beat this
I'm encouraging people to think and be creative.
beef kip, Dusty M, Metty'n me (?)
The members of the Sweatshop Union are named.
sweatshop red hot we ready to leave
The Sweatshop Union is ready to make a change and leave their old way of life behind.
sweatshop is the name
The Sweatshop Union is the name of the group.
to take you outs why we came
We're here to make a change in society.
this is our point of view
This is how we see the world.
we just might point at you
We might call out people who are contributing to the problems in society.
Contributed by Layla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.