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.
BAX WAR
Swollen Members Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They tried to spread like a disease, I'm here to vaccinate
I chop you into bunch of pieces with an axe's blade
Motherfucka, I'm an asshole
I got a cracked soul, fallin' in a black hole
I was homeless, used to sleep on fuckin' cardboard
Now I jump around the planet like it's parkour
Next tattoo on my body should say "Hard Luck"
And motherfucka, I am hard up
Talk your fuckin' ear off like a Christian in a Starbucks
Mad Child stay fierce, I am very vicious
I'm the leader of the cult without the Hare Krishna's
Small dude, everything I do is gigantic
I got the world in my hand, this is my planet
They say it can't be done, I'm like, "Why can't it?"
I'm the next Tech N9ne (Tech N9ne!), you're the Titanic
I'm from the BAX WAR fam, black metal, ma
I'm a rapper, I refuse to fuckin' get a job
Makin' somethin' out of nothin' like the Mafia
These rappers couldn't see me wearin' glasses with binoculars
[Hook: Prevail] (x2)
This is definitive fear unlimited, living inside of a rap war
So backup and get backed up and then smacked up, BAX WAR!
Inconsiderate idiots living inside of a city of rap war
Call backup and get chapped up, attack mode, BAX WAR!
[Verse 2: Prevail]
I consume power and those who least expect it
The prisoners doom, make room for the new record
True wreckin' ball, speech patterns takin' buildings down
Two emcees, one producer, sure to make your feelings drown
Underwater slaughter, no oxygen in right lung
Lost inside a time void, accosted when the night comes
Never fight the drums, they're bangin' out the speaker box
Colder than a solstice, hotter than a equinox
Fails four seasons, orchestrated like Vivaldi
I demonstrate and concentrate the strength of Swollen Army
So many heavy hitters, deadly spitters, rap assassins
Waitin' to attack until it's divvied up in rations
Cause that's when the stats'll stop dumpin' in abundance
We smash out them dagger mouths that battle my circumference
The circle grows stronger, much better when we're unified
War money, your money, you're bloody, do or die
[Hook] (x2)
[Verse 3: Mad Child]
I'm the misguided angel from the BAX WAR
You're a crack whore by the back door
I'm gettin' old, dinosaur, I'm a raptor
I'm the little white Hulk, he's the black Thor
I bury the past with various tasks
And carry an axe, reflection is as scary as mass
My cherry is passed, still I bleed external torment
My group is flyin' while you're crying, lying dormant
I'm the leader of a cult, but we're not the Mormons
But I walk on water like a fuckin' longshoreman
I still got poison in my veins
Paint our faces up like skulls, yeah, my boys are fuckin' strange
Mad Child, I stay colossal in the Colosseum
That's cause I'm awesome, you're a fossil in a small museum
I'm Colossus, made of steel, super human strength
My partner juggernaut, you fuckers ain't gon' leave a dent
[Hook] (x2)
The song "BAX WAR" by Swollen Members is a fierce declaration of dominance in the rap game. The lyrics, delivered by Mad Child and Prevail, are full of aggressive wordplay and imagery that invoke the idea of war and conflict. Mad Child starts off the first verse by describing himself as a vaccine for those who try to spread like a disease. He then goes on to display his skills as a rapper, boasting about his success despite his humble beginnings. Prevail follows in the second verse, asserting his power over his audience with his speech patterns that are as destructive as wrecking balls. The two rappers come together in the hook to declare their readiness for any challenge that comes their way.
The song isn't just a display of bravado, however - it also touches on the struggles that the rappers have faced to get to where they are. Mad Child talks about his past as a homeless person and his current status as the leader of a rap cult. Prevail speaks on the sacrifices that they have made to get to the top, including fighting off others who try to take what they have worked for.
Overall, "BAX WAR" is a song that is both a celebration of success and a warning to those who might try to stand in their way. Its powerful lyrics and energetic delivery make it a standout track in Swollen Members' discography.
Line by Line Meaning
They tried to spread like a disease, I'm here to vaccinate
I am here to stop the spread of negativity and toxicity
I chop you into bunch of pieces with an axe's blade
I am not to be messed with, as I am capable of severe damage
Motherfucka, I'm an asshole
I am not a pleasant person to deal with
I got a cracked soul, fallin' in a black hole
I have experienced struggles and hardships in my past
I was homeless, used to sleep on fuckin' cardboard
I have overcome difficult circumstances to achieve success
Now I jump around the planet like it's parkour
I am now able to travel and explore the world freely
Talk your fuckin' ear off like a Christian in a Starbucks
I am very talkative and passionate about my beliefs
Mad Child stay fierce, I am very vicious
I am intense and determined in all that I do
I'm the leader of the cult without the Hare Krishna's
I am a powerful figure with a large following
I'm from the BAX WAR fam, black metal, ma
I am a part of a music collective known as BAX WAR
Makin' somethin' out of nothin' like the Mafia
I am skilled at creating success from difficult circumstances
These rappers couldn't see me wearin' glasses with binoculars
I am far more talented and successful than other rappers
This is definitive fear unlimited, living inside of a rap war
The rap industry is full of competition and conflict
So backup and get backed up and then smacked up, BAX WAR!
Those who support me will be supported back, those who oppose me will be dealt with severely
I consume power and those who least expect it
I am capable of achieving success when others doubt me
The prisoners doom, make room for the new record
My success will overshadow others who have failed
True wreckin' ball, speech patterns takin' buildings down
My words are powerful and influential
We smash out them dagger mouths that battle my circumference
We will overcome and eliminate those who oppose us
I'm the misguided angel from the BAX WAR
I may seem out of place or unconventional, but I am still powerful
I'm the little white Hulk, he's the black Thor
I am strong and powerful, like a superhero
I bury the past with various tasks
I am able to move past my struggles and focus on my goals
But I walk on water like a fuckin' longshoreman
I am capable of doing what seems impossible
Mad Child, I stay colossal in the Colosseum
I am a powerful figure, even in the midst of competition and conflict
That's cause I'm awesome, you're a fossil in a small museum
I am superior and successful, while others are insignificant and outdated
Contributed by Hailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Swollen Members
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John Glass
I can't believe I never heard these guys before now. Would love to see them live . makes me wonder what else I missed out on ..
Thee High Pries.t.T.F Antonuccio
TtT
jethro oever van den
greatings from illuminati
carlos flesh
krie ingTOTAL>>>>clintsbeast<
Sean Mulligan
Swollen Members would love to see a show featuring swollen members, la coka, and some one to dust off Lords of Brooklyn 's mics. That be insane.
Dominik Billings
Swollen members are definitely back on track, this is sick
CyberEntertainment
This one is fucking sick. The beat is a beast.
pineapplepeanuts
Madchild is insane and Prevail is genius. Great combo for a rap group haha. I salute you Canada :-)
Michael
prev nailed the hook.. so much talent is insane