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.
Fear
Swollen Members Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I perforate my verses straight 6 o'clock,
Reverberate the verbs, surround the noun, ground the pound the starting block
Martyrs on the rocks disengaged I threw them over,
Cliffside, from hangman's bluff that's their brains on heavy boulders
Ready the soldier's up, parascope, Red October
Elves and ogres, and hell raisers to focus
On pin head, a thin thread, is what holds your life together
Take pleasure in the taxidermy
Your raps whack poetic,
You rap whack pathetic,
Leave you in a house of wax like a museum figure deadened
Strike a match, melt a candle,
Blend the ammo with the cammo
Then go [?] with my famo, its like third rail to [?]
Prevail make you read brail
And eat nails, and swallow glass
Remain anonymous like Rass Kass, life's a blast
At total recall, you speak in hallow holograms
My tidal wave [?]
[Hook: Madchild]
We the last of our breed
The actors with masters degrees
I'mma rap to attack and ill feed
The laughter
I capture the last of these thieves
You'll hear laughter
I'm back on my [?]
Master [?]
Dastardly deeds, Inglorious bastards, notorious masters
The last of our breed we are bastards indeed
The last we will smash till you have to believe
[Verse 2: Madchild]
Yeah, I love god,
He has made me very lethal,
Destroy evil, I don't really like people
Never met an animal I didn't like, couldn't bite
Smash a rapper into pieces when I hit a mic
Equip a baseball bat thats full of wooden spikes
Walking down the dim-lit street call me the hooded knight
I drop a match and set a tank full of petroleum
Then moonwalk across Lemoniun, its pandemonium
Battle plan is that of an apache resistance,
Imagining ten dragons with flags in the distance
Skull and double axes
Troubled brother action
Ninjas doing double back flips, on that shit
Social distortion, black flags faction
Bad brained wasted youth have interaction
Punk-rock mind-state, [?] leopard print
Fresh like peppermint, darker than a second tint
[Hook]
[Verse 3: Snak The Ripper]
Yeah I'm the product of narcotics
Exotic drugs and [?]
Any social [?] antibiotics
Smoking hydroponics
Bumping ladi-dadi with a 20 year old hottie on my dick doing Pilates
Like [?] on a tricycle, trying to keep up with a Mazerati
Every week catching a body, see me dancing on a cop car
Strapped with C4, screaming out Allah Akbar
I'm not afraid of death I'm more afraid of living slow
So I stay driven till my goal is met, or till I lose control
Nobody can save me I'm completely out my mind
The only ones that doubt me are completely fucking blind
[Hook]
The song Fear by Swollen Members consists of three verses, each performed by a different member of the group. The lyrics of the song are an exploration of the dark and violent thoughts that often plague the minds of rappers. The first verse, performed by Prevail, talks about the power of words and the way in which they can be used to both build up and tear down. He also touches on the idea that life is fragile and can be shattered at any moment.
The second verse, performed by Madchild, is a more aggressive and confrontational take on the theme of fear. Madchild talks about his love of violence and his desire to destroy evil. He describes himself as a weapon and talks about the pleasure he takes in smashing rappers. He also touches on the idea that he is an outsider in society and that his violent tendencies make him a threat to those around him.
The third verse, performed by Snak The Ripper, takes a more introspective approach to the theme of fear. He talks about his drug use and the way in which it has altered his perception of reality. He also touches on the idea of mortality and the fear of living a slow and unfulfilling life. As with the other verses, there is a sense of darkness and sadness that permeates Snak The Ripper's lyrics.
Overall, Fear is a powerful and intense song that explores the darker aspects of the human psyche. The lyrics are raw and honest, and the performances by the various members of Swollen Members are both emotive and powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
I perforate my verses straight 6 o'clock
I write my lyrics with precision and punctuality
Reverberate the verbs, surround the noun, ground the pound the starting block
I use strong vocabulary to emphasize and anchor my lyrics
Martyrs on the rocks disengaged I threw them over
I discard those who suffer and cannot help themselves
Cliffside, from hangman's bluff that's their brains on heavy boulders
I leave their minds shattered and their bodies destroyed
Ready the soldier's up, parascope, Red October
I am preparing for battle with my team like a military unit
Elves and ogres, and hell raisers to focus
I am rallying all types of people to unite and focus on the task at hand
On pin head, a thin thread, is what holds your life together
Your life is delicate and vulnerable
Nas measure anatomy
I am analyzing and dissecting my opponents in my rhymes
Take pleasure in the taxidermy
I take pleasure in killing and preserving my rhymes and defeating my opponents
Your raps whack poetic,
Your rhymes are weak and not impressive
You rap whack pathetic,
Your rhymes are insulting and sad
Leave you in a house of wax like a museum figure deadened
I will defeat you and leave you frozen and motionless like a wax figure
Strike a match, melt a candle,
I am destructive and will burn my opponents down
Blend the ammo with the cammo
I am preparing my weapons and outfit for battle
Then go [?] with my famo, its like third rail to [?]
I am going to war with my family and friends, like an electric current to the third rail
Prevail make you read brail
I will make you feel the pain and struggle of reading braille
And eat nails, and swallow glass
I am strong and will endure any pain and hardship
Remain anonymous like Rass Kass, life's a blast
I will remain unknown but powerful like Ras Kass, and enjoy the thrill of life
At total recall, you speak in hallow holograms
When you die, you will be forgotten and only exist as a hollow memory
My tidal wave [?]
I am a force to be reckoned with and my power is unstoppable
We the last of our breed
We are unique and one of a kind
The actors with masters degrees
We are skilled and knowledgeable in our craft
I'mma rap to attack and ill feed
I will rap with aggression and feed off the negative energy
The laughter
I find humor in my opponents' defeat
I capture the last of these thieves
I defeat the last remnants of my opponents
You'll hear laughter
You will hear my victorious laughter
I'm back on my [?]
I am fully focused and ready to attack
Master [?]
I am skilled and have mastered my craft
Dastardly deeds, Inglorious bastards, notorious masters
I am ruthless and notorious in my actions and methods
The last of our breed we are bastards indeed
We are unique and unorthodox in our approach
The last we will smash till you have to believe
We will continue to defeat our opponents until they can no longer deny our power
Yeah, I love god,
I am religious and believe in a higher power
He has made me very lethal,
I am powerful and dangerous
Destroy evil, I don't really like people
I am destructive and dislike humanity
Never met an animal I didn't like, couldn't bite
I am kind to animals and they are the only creatures I do not harm
Smash a rapper into pieces when I hit a mic
I am confident and overpowering in my rap battles
Equip a baseball bat thats full of wooden spikes
I am prepared with unique and dangerous weapons
Walking down the dim-lit street call me the hooded knight
I am a mysterious and intimidating figure in the dark
I drop a match and set a tank full of petroleum
I am destructive and will destroy anything in my path
Then moonwalk across Lemoniun, its pandemonium
I move gracefully and confidently through chaotic situations
Battle plan is that of an apache resistance,
I am strategic and organized in my battles
Imagining ten dragons with flags in the distance
I have a vivid and powerful imagination
Skull and double axes
I am fierce and dangerous like a warrior
Troubled brother action
I am constantly in action and facing adversity
Ninjas doing double back flips, on that shit
I am skilled and surrounded by skilled people
Social distortion, black flags faction
I am unique and stand apart from society
Bad brained wasted youth have interaction
I interact with people of all kinds, including those who are rebellious and wild
Punk-rock mind-state, [?] leopard print
I have a rebellious and unique mindset and style
Fresh like peppermint, darker than a second tint
I am fresh and new, but also dark and mysterious
Yeah I'm the product of narcotics
I have been influenced and shaped by drug use
Exotic drugs and [?]
I use unusual and powerful drugs
Any social [?] antibiotics
I am immune to social norms and conventions
Smoking hydroponics
I smoke powerful marijuana
Bumping ladi-dadi with a 20 year old hottie on my dick doing Pilates
I am enjoying a luxurious and indulgent lifestyle
Like [?] on a tricycle, trying to keep up with a Mazerati
Others cannot keep up with my fast-paced and luxurious life
Every week catching a body, see me dancing on a cop car
I am reckless and destructive, and celebrate harmful behavior
Strapped with C4, screaming out Allah Akbar
I am explosive and destructive, and use religion as a justification
I'm not afraid of death I'm more afraid of living slow
I prefer to live fast and recklessly rather than be stagnant and boring
So I stay driven till my goal is met, or till I lose control
I am focused and driven to achieve my goals, even if it means losing control
Nobody can save me I'm completely out my mind
I am beyond help and lost in my own madness
The only ones that doubt me are completely fucking blind
Those who doubt me are ignorant and cannot see my true power
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHILIP GAVIN SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@motivationseeker2177
LYRICS
I perforate my verses straight 6 o'clock,
Reverberate the verbs, surround the noun, ground the pound the starting block
Martyrs on the rocks disengaged I threw them over,
Cliffside, from hangman's bluff that's their brains on heavy boulders
Ready the soldier's up, parascope, Red October
Elves and ogres, and hell raisers to focus
On pin head, a thin thread, is what holds your life together
Nas measure anatomy
Take pleasure in the taxidermy
Your raps whack poetic,
You rap whack pathetic,
Leave you in a house of wax like a museum figure deadened
Strike a match, melt a candle,
Blend the ammo with the cammo
Then go [?] with my famo, its like third rail to [?]
Prevail make you read brail
And eat nails, and swallow glass
Remain anonymous like Rass Kass, life's a blast
At total recall, you speak in hallow holograms
My tidal wave [?]
We the last of our breed
The actors with masters degrees
I'mma rap to attack and ill feed
The laughter
I capture the last of these thieves
You'll hear laughter
I'm back on my [?]
Master [?]
Dastardly deeds, Inglorious bastards, notorious masters
The last of our breed we are bastards indeed
The last we will smash till you have to believe
Yeah, I love god,
He has made me very lethal,
Destroy evil, I don't really like people
Never met an animal I didn't like, couldn't bite
Smash a rapper into pieces when I hit a mic
Equip a baseball bat thats full of wooden spikes
Walking down the dim-lit street call me the hooded knight
I drop a match and set a tank full of petroleum
Then moonwalk across Lemoniun, its pandemonium
Battle plan is that of an apache resistance,
Imagining ten dragons with flags in the distance
Skull and double axes
Troubled brother action
Ninjas doing double back flips, on that shit
Social distortion, black flags faction
Bad brained wasted youth have interaction
Punk-rock mind-state, [?] leopard print
Fresh like peppermint, darker than a second tint
Yeah I'm the product of narcotics
Exotic drugs and [?]
Any social [?] antibiotics
Smoking hydroponics
Bumping ladi-dadi with a 20 year old hottie on my dick doing Pilates
Like [?] on a tricycle, trying to keep up with a Mazerati
Every week catching a body, see me dancing on a cop car
Strapped with C4, screaming out Allah Akbar
I'm not afraid of death I'm more afraid of living slow
So I stay driven till my goal is met, or till I lose control
Nobody can save me I'm completely out my mind
The only ones that doubt me are completely fucking blind
@MadchildTV
The new album Demons drops April 12th. Watch the new video for Death Race: https://youtu.be/lnIVY8hvWqUNext single "Times Change" drops 2/15. Pre-order Demons online at https://fanlink.to/MadchildDemonsPreorder
@nevinwebster6835
hard plug
@braydenhotte6833
He deserves a hard plug though, they didnt even put his name in the description and his park was fire. anyway Times change is a fucking dope song, all u u guys should check it out right now!
@JordanLiggett
Fuck these hatin bitches beef is beef dude keep killing homie BAX WAR
@paulmckee4139
BAX WAR More music to help me on my journey to soberness
@jeremycreamer1006
I WANT A REFUND YOU PUT OUT 4 ALBUMS IN 1 LMFAO
JUS FUKIN WITH YA MADCHILD
@thisisfyne
Everybody gangsta until Prevail shows up dressed like a community college replacement teacher to destroy the gang with impeccable flow and lyrics
@mattb9054
What a friendly looking group of individuals 😁
@chrisgrasso5798
Literally made me laugh out loud thank u for that im dead
@KdohRR
probably some of the nicest people you'll meet