In 1996, Mad Child and Prevail went to the B-Boy Summit in San Diego, California, where Mad Child won several rap battles and was initiated into the Rock Steady Crew, legendary to the hip hop/b-boy scene. The Crew is held in great respect as hip hop's highest collective - to join one must win a contest of skill against one of the highest ranked members. Swollen Members is one of only three rap groups affiliated with Rock Steady.
That same year, the duo began recording their first tracks, with help from many of their friends from the scene - MCs, DJs, and producers, including Rob the Viking. Rob would continue to work with the group through the years, eventually joining them later. From the praise they were receiving, they decided it was time to release their material as a group. With the subsequent release of three 12" singles on Mad Child's record label Battleaxe Records, the group quickly established themselves in the scene and built a respectable following. The next logical step was to release an album, which was titled Balance and released in 1999.
Balance received wide critical acclaim and has been claimed by the band to have sold in excess of 50,000 copies. Featuring collaborations with artists such as Everlast, Divine Styler, and Dilated Peoples, the album also netted Swollen Members the 2001 Juno Award for Best Rap Recording.
Following Balance, Swollen Members recorded and released Bad Dreams, which successfully dodged the so-called "sophomore curse" many artists suffer upon their second release. Bad Dreams was released on November 13, 2001, featuring guests such as Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, Son Doobie, Joey Chavez, and former member Moka Only. Like their debut, Bad Dreams was surprisingly successful for an independent rap album and brought Swollen Members global acclaim. Surprisingly, it appealed to both underground and mainstream audiences, with several singles reaching platinum status in Canada.
The album also earned Swollen Members their second Juno Award, and four MuchMusic Video Awards. The group continues to tour, visiting every major market possible and performing hundreds of shows a year; some with nearly 15,000 audience members. The media continues to give their music and live shows excellent coverage around the globe, and both new and old singles receive solid airplay on college and commercial radio. Their tracks have also been featured in a multitude of films, television programs, extreme sports videos, commercials, video games (especially games produced by Electronic Arts, which has a studio in their hometown of Vancouver), and compilation albums, the sales of which total in the millions when combined.
Swollen Members have appeared on numerous television shows, in addition to having several of their live shows televised. Like their singles, their music videos have been heavily played on both the Canadian MuchMusic and the American MTV, as well as on many independent video shows.
2002's Monsters in the Closet, their third release, brought them greater fame than ever before. Where Moka Only and Rob the Viking had only peripherally assisted the duo before, they now became official members of the group. Monsters included several unreleased tracks and remixes, as well as collaborations from fellow British Columbian Nelly Furtado and Saukrates of Def Jam. Production credits included Evidence from Dilated Peoples.
2003 brought Heavy, released yet again to critical acclaim and powerful sales, despite dismal video play time on MuchMusic. The band considers it the bridge between their underground origins and their potential for fame. Unfortunately the album was controversial among Swollen Members' fanbase. Many fans claim that Swollen Members have removed many elements of their style which had awarded them in the past. The lines were drawn between fans who began to listen to Swollen Members when Monsters in the Closet came out and fans attracted by the earlier two albums (especially Balance). They continue to tour, playing both local and international shows to the delight of their hometown fans.
In 2005 Moka Only decided to break off from the group for a second time and continue work on his solo career.
In 2006 Swollen Members released their fifth full album, Black Magic. It is understood that Mad Child and Prevail made an attempt to return to their previously critically acclaimed style and method. Their previous album Heavy was seen by the band as a disappointment, and isn't listed on their official site discography.
In August 2006, Swollen Members released their new single "Put Me On - Feat. Everlast" off of their new album, "Black Magic".
Their next CD is scheduled to be released at the end of the summer of 2008. According to the band's website, Mad Child will soon release a solo album.
Adrenaline
Swollen Members Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We gonna rock the whole crowd
Come to your town, Smash the door down
Trash the whole room
Kick the walls in, night to morning
Then we do it again, its adrenaline
[Verse 1: Prevail]
Swim with us in the abyss to the deep depths, take a deep breath
Strike your lungs like a deadly pathogen, let the assassins in
Loss of oxygen leads to hospitals, loss of optical and audio optional
But not optimal, octagonal, box you in stronger than oxen friend
Accidents happen I'm a phenomenon
Looking at me is like staring at the ring too long, you have seven days
Witness one of the greatest efforts we've ever made
I'm a heavyweight swinging like Butterbean
I'm a cut you clean, like a sub machine
Gun and run its fun to chase someone in space the shots I pop a top a bass drum
[Chorus] - 2X
[Verse 1: MadChild]
You better believe I got a knife up my sleeve
Tell your buddies you ain't leaving 'til you bloody and cleaved
Then by the glory of a warriors code
I'm a destroyer roll with a Bavarian heart
I'm territorial, wish I could look the door
Aggressive localism with my dogs of war
Small man's complex you only get torn apart
MadChild kinda like Napoleon Bonaparte
Fornicate with porn stars, sluts, and strippers
But only on the internet but what's the difference
Cause everything's a memory once it's done
I can be my worst enemy just for fun
We urban guerillas, got friends with turbans that's killers
We go from town to town burn and pillage your village
I'm merely concealing a weapon kept inside of my brain
That's why I'm insane, desire and pain, fire and rain
Sexy beast with an extra piece of ecstasy
So this can work effectively
Connect with me, we'll have a chain reaction
I'm playing the same game, I'm the main attraction
[Chorus]
[Verse 3: Moka Only]
I'm carcinogenic; my chemistry's a little bit off
You tend to be a little bit soft
Well I'm off on my tangent, detective agent
Lieutenant who's medicine you left with abrasions
Face the day like a vacation chasing
Fun, sun, and money then its back to the basement
Feels good taking it back to the basics
Like when I was hungry run around in my Asics
S & M was like the new cool band
That everybody be buzzing about at new stands
Who's then, you want to know, a lose cannon man
And it began with the tapes moving hand-in-hand
I'm writing under chandeliers
Something strange going on like langdaliers
This is one of them songs you can bang for years
Adrenaline through your heart we smash the unaware
[Chorus] - 2X
The song "Adrenaline" by Swollen Members talks about their thrill-seeking lifestyle of performing and living recklessly, specifically during their tours. Prevail begins the first verse with the imagery of diving into the deep, dark depths and then striking your lungs like a deadly pathogen. He also mentions that their rap lyrics could be beautiful and grotesque at the same time. The wordplay continues as he talks about accidents leading to hospitals and the significance of the box/octagon shape they create. The verse ends with the comparison of him swinging like Butterbean and cutting the opponent clean, like a sub-machine. Madchild starts the second verse by talking about his warrior's code and his feisty approach towards everything. He mentions his aggressive territorial behavior towards small men and his rendezvous with porn stars, which he considers a memory that is only as good as the internet. He then states that he is cultivating a weapon within his mind that makes him insane. Moka Only comes in for the third verse and talks about his flaws and how he tends to be a little off. He then describes how it feels good to take things back to basics, like when he used to run around in his Asics when he was hungry. He also discusses his come up in the rap world and mentions that he's been writing even under chandeliers. The song ends with the chorus and the repetition of the phrase 'It's adrenaline'.
Line by Line Meaning
We gonna rock the whole crowd
We are going to give a performance that will impress and excite everyone in the audience.
Come to your town, Smash the door down
We are going to visit your town and make a grand entrance by breaking down the door.
Trash the whole room
We are going to make a mess and cause destruction in the entire room.
Kick the walls in, night to morning
We are going to kick the walls repeatedly during the night and morning, showing no signs of stopping.
Then we do it again, its adrenaline
We will repeat the process because it gives us a rush of adrenaline, which we enjoy.
What we spit, beautiful and grotesque
The lyrics we rap are both beautiful and disturbing.
Swim with us in the abyss to the deep depths, take a deep breath
Join us in exploring the darkness of our minds and the depths of our lyrics, and be prepared for the experience.
Strike your lungs like a deadly pathogen, let the assassins in
Our lyrics are like a disease that will affect your lungs and the assassins in our words will infiltrate your mind.
Loss of oxygen leads to hospitals, loss of optical and audio optional
Our lyrics may leave you gasping for breath, which could result in hospitalization. You may even lose your vision and hearing.
But not optimal, octagonal, box you in stronger than oxen friend
Despite the risks, our lyrics will still contain strength and structure that will surround and overpower you.
Accidents happen I'm a phenomenon
Even when things go wrong, I am still a phenomenon, an incredible and unique entity.
Looking at me is like staring at the ring too long, you have seven days
Gazing upon me could have consequences similar to staring at the cursed ring from the movie 'The Ring,' as you may have only seven days left to live.
Witness one of the greatest efforts we've ever made
You will be able to see one of our best performances ever.
I'm a heavyweight swinging like Butterbean
I am a powerful force, able to hit with the same force as Butterbean, a retired boxer.
I'm a cut you clean, like a sub machine
I will take you down efficiently and with precision, just like a sub machine gun.
Gun and run its fun to chase someone in space the shots I pop a top a bass drum
We like to play games, like chasing someone in a large, open area while shooting guns, all while the sound of our gunshots blends seamlessly with the bass drum.
You better believe I got a knife up my sleeve
I am dangerous, and I may have a weapon hidden up my sleeve.
Tell your buddies you ain't leaving 'til you bloody and cleaved
Let your friends know that they will not leave unscathed - they may be bloodied and physically injured.
Then by the glory of a warriors code
I will follow the code of a warrior, which may glorify me.
I'm a destroyer roll with a Bavarian heart
I am a destroyer, with a heart as fierce and unrelenting as a Bavarian warrior.
I'm territorial, wish I could look the door
I am territorial, and I wish I could keep people out by locking the door.
Aggressive localism with my dogs of war
I am aggressively protective of my local area, and I surround myself with people who feel the same way.
Small man's complex you only get torn apart
If you underestimate me due to my size or perceived lack of strength, you will quickly be proven wrong and defeated.
MadChild kinda like Napoleon Bonaparte
I am reminiscent of Napoleon Bonaparte, a strong military leader known for his tactical ability and conquests.
Fornicate with porn stars, sluts, and strippers
I may have sexual encounters with people who are stereotypically considered promiscuous.
But only on the internet but what's the difference
These encounters may only happen online, but that does not matter since they are still real to me.
Cause everything's a memory once it's done
Everything, including my online sexual encounters, becomes a distant memory once it is over and done with.
I can be my worst enemy just for fun
Sometimes, I may intentionally cause myself harm or pain just for enjoyment.
We urban guerillas, got friends with turbans that's killers
We consider ourselves like guerrilla fighters in an urban environment, and we have allies who are dangerous and skilled killers.
We go from town to town burn and pillage your village
We travel from town to town, causing destruction and mayhem wherever we go.
I'm merely concealing a weapon kept inside of my brain
My greatest weapon is the power of my mind, which I keep hidden from others.
That's why I'm insane, desire and pain, fire and rain
My intense emotions and experiences make me appear insane, and my passions feel like both fire and rain.
Sexy beast with an extra piece of ecstasy
I am an attractive person with an additional level of ecstasy, which may refer to my personality or drug use.
So this can work effectively
My additional level of ecstasy is necessary for me to function properly.
Connect with me, we'll have a chain reaction
If you connect with me, it will lead to a powerful and explosive chain reaction.
I'm playing the same game, I'm the main attraction
I am always playing the game of life, and I am the main attraction, the center of attention.
I'm carcinogenic; my chemistry's a little bit off
I am like a disease, with something not quite right about my personal chemistry.
You tend to be a little bit soft
I see you as having weak and malleable qualities.
Well I'm off on my tangent, detective agent
I tend to go off on tangents, like a detective trying to solve a case.
Lieutenant who's medicine you left with abrasions
I am like a lieutenant who inflicts pain and harm to those who cross me.
Face the day like a vacation chasing
I approach each day like an adventure, always chasing pleasure and excitement.
Fun, sun, and money then its back to the basement
I enjoy fun, the sun, and making money, but then I return to my isolated and possibly dark mental space.
Feels good taking it back to the basics
It feels refreshing and satisfying to go back to fundamental and simple things.
Like when I was hungry run around in my Asics
I reminisce about times when I was hungry and had to run around in basic, functional shoes.
S & M was like the new cool band
At one point, S & M (which may refer to either the sexual practice or the musical group) was considered trendy and exciting.
That everybody be buzzing about at new stands
Everyone was discussing or curiousabout S & M.
Who's then, you want to know, a lose cannon man
If you want to know about me, I am a unpredictable and uncontrollable person.
And it began with the tapes moving hand-in-hand
My journey or transformation began with carrying and sharing cassette tapes.
I'm writing under chandeliers
I am writing or creating music while surrounded by luxurious and elegant light fixtures.
Something strange going on like langdaliers
Like in the Stephen King story 'The Langoliers,' there may be strange and inexplicable things happening around me.
This is one of them songs you can bang for years
This song will remain relevant and enjoyable for years to come.
Adrenaline through your heart we smash the unaware
Our music and energy will pump adrenaline through your heart, which will help us overpower and defeat anyone who underestimates us.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SHANE BUNTING, DANIEL JAMES DENTON, KILEY HENDRICKS, ROBIN HOOPER, WEST PLISCHKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind