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.
Trust
Swollen Members Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
First scene in Halloween extremely violent
You know my team gonna triumph
Push a butcher knife, all-star line up
Assassins with hearts of sand, mechanical claws and blades for hands
Stephen King, Clive Barker, Wes Craven, John Carpenter
Heart's on the chest board, heart rate monitor
Pythagorean theorem, Madchild's a python, don t go near him
this record's independent
Either way the main frame deep lock with the deadliest
Go for the minotaur, bear the same resemblance
I ... dormant slow, save your moon colored scarlet, orbit low
Shadows in the evening, we believe in TRUST
Loyalty, the honorable provide, join us
My people are down deep, I keep them around me, we crush
Shadows in the evening, we believe in TRUST
Loyalty, the honorable provide, join us
My people are down deep, I keep them around me, we crush
I'm an abstract expressionist,
Aggressive pain from possessiveness
Crack your shell, warlock cast a spell
Otherwise it's back to hell
Cured by faith, seal my fate
You don't just want some food,
You wanna steal my plate
You whisper with the hiss of a snake, against me
You're the reason that my wrist are twisted when I sleep
No soft spot, rotten from the inside out
Protect what's mine, protect what's yours
Threats of course will be met by force
But I don't need enemies, I need inner peace
Gallagher gauntlet, Pack Man, centipede
I'm confused in my passenger
Self absorbed in this musical massacre
Shadows in the evening, we believe in TRUST
Loyalty, the honorable provide, join us
My people are down deep, I keep them around me, we crush
Shadows in the evening, we believe in TRUST
Loyalty, the honorable provide, join us
My people are down deep, I keep them around me, we crush
Flashes of bad faces, murderous half whispered
Scheming in dark corners, matter's a good listener
Classicals outrageous future remains twisted
Dreaming of more order, Prev is his own prisoner
Warm welcoming entrance, heavy adult sentence
Intentional incentive, the devil's apprentice
Carve mellow inventions deadens your senses
The sentinels relentless of venomous friendships
Shadows in the evening, we believe in TRUST
Loyalty, the honorable provide, join us
My people are down deep, I keep them around me, we crush
Shadows in the evening, we believe in TRUST
Loyalty, the honorable provide, join us
My people are down deep, I keep them around me, we crush
The song “Trust” by Swollen Members begins with a reference to the character Michael Myers from the movie Halloween. The lyrics suggest that like Myers, the members of Swollen Members are violent and dangerous. The repeated phrase “shadows in the evening, we believe in trust” emphasizes the importance of loyalty among the group. The song then goes on to describe the various skills and abilities of the different members, including an all-star line up of assassins with “mechanical claws and blades for hands.”
The lyrics suggest a sense of both aggression and protectiveness. The group is willing to use force to protect what is theirs, but also wants to find inner peace. There are references to both classical figures (Pythagoras, Eric the Red) and contemporary horror writers (Stephen King, Clive Barker), suggesting a wide range of influences. The line “otherwise it’s back to hell” suggests a sense of danger and urgency, while “I’m confused in my passenger” hints at a struggle with one’s own identity.
Overall, the song “Trust” is about the bonds of loyalty and the need for protection. The violent imagery and references to horror movies suggest a sense of danger and aggression, while the repeated phrase “shadows in the evening, we believe in trust” emphasizes the importance of loyalty among the group.
Line by Line Meaning
This reminds me of Michael Myers
This situation is comparable to that of the film 'Halloween' in its initial violent scene.
You know my team gonna triumph
My team will emerge victorious.
Push a butcher knife, all-star line up
My team is equipped with assassins armed with sharp blades, highly skilled and with big names.
Assassins with hearts of sand, mechanical claws and blades for hands
My team is made up of assassins who appear to show no emotions but possess mechanical appendages that can be used as weapons.
Stephen King, Clive Barker, Wes Craven, John Carpenter
My team comprises individuals who are highly skilled in their craft and who possess the same level of impact as these famous horror movie directors.
Heart's on the chest board, heart rate monitor
The situation is intense and stressful as evidenced by the palpable tension in the environment.
Pythagorean theorem, Madchild's a python, don't go near him
I am a dangerous person who is unapproachable and calculating in my actions.
Rob the Viking, direct descendant of Eric the Red, this record's independent
The producer of this record, Rob the Viking, descends from a notable family member of the past and this record is not subject to any external influences.
Either way the main frame deep lock with the deadliest
No matter what happens, the situation is critically intense and the danger is at its highest.
Go for the minotaur, bear the same resemblance
Take on a challenge of the utmost difficulty, one that is similar in nature to that of facing the minotaur in the labyrinth of legends.
I ... dormant slow, save your moon colored scarlet, orbit low
I am slow to react but I'm aware of what needs to be done to avoid a catastrophic result.
Shadows in the evening, we believe in TRUST
Loyalty, the honorable provide, join us
My people are down deep, I keep them around me, we crush
We, the group, place our trust in each other and our beliefs are based on loyalty and honor. Our team is deeply rooted and unstoppable.
I'm an abstract expressionist, aggressive pain from possessiveness
I am a free-thinking individual and aggressive when it comes to protecting what I own or control.
Crack your shell, warlock cast a spell, otherwise, it's back to hell
Break through any defenses, an expert in sorcery will cast a spell, and failure is not acceptable.
Cured by faith, seal my fate
My faith is the solution for any troubles or problems, and it will determine the outcome of my destiny.
You don't just want some food, you wanna steal my plate
You don't simply desire what I have, you want to take it from me.
You whisper with the hiss of a snake, against me
You utter deceitful words silently, underhandedly and subversively towards me.
You're the reason that my wrist are twisted when I sleep
You are the cause of my restless nights and inability to sleep soundly.
No soft spot, rotten from the inside out
I have no weakness or vulnerability, and I'm corrupt deep within.
Protect what's mine, protect what's yours
Threats of course will be met by force
We will protect what belongs to us, including yours. Any threat against us will be countered with force.
But I don't need enemies, I need inner peace
Gallagher gauntlet, Pack Man, centipede
I don't wish to have any foes, I seek nothing but tranquility. Entertaining games such as Gallagher gauntlet, Pack Man, and centipede bring me that desired state of mind.
I'm confused in my passenger
Self absorbed in this musical massacre
I'm uncertain about my journey, while also being engrossed in this musical epic.
Flashes of bad faces, murderous half whispered
Scheming in dark corners, matter's a good listener
Evil images in my mind, whispering assassins, planning in the shadows, without a sound attracting attention.
Classicals outrageous future remains twisted
Dreaming of more order, Prev is his own prisoner
Traditions with absurd expectations contrast the future with a negative outlook. The desire for more structure is inhibited by previous experiences, making it feel as if one is trapped.
Warm welcoming entrance, heavy adult sentence
Intentional incentive, the devil's apprentice
Friendly appearance leads to an unpleasant encounter. The plan is malicious in intent and the originator is assumed to be commissioned by the devil.
Carve mellow inventions deadens your senses
The sentinels relentless of venomous friendships
Creating harmless, pointless things impedes the ability to perceive. Deadly connections the guardians show, unyielding in nature.
Writer(s): Tetsuya, Hyde
Contributed by Maya K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.