The Knocks were formed in 2008 by James "JPatt" Patterson and Ben "DJ B-Roc" Ruttner. Patterson and Ruttner met at New York City's New School and shared an apartment, where they set up small recording studios in their bedrooms. The loud noise coming from their apartment led to neighbors constantly knocking on their door in order to get them to pipe down, hence the duo's name. Early success as remixers, however, enabled them to build their own studio in Manhattan. During 2008 and 2009, Knocks remixes surfaced for Katy Perry ("I Kissed a Girl"), Britney Spears ("3"), and PRGz ("Soul Glo"). B-Roc and Andrew W.K. also released DAMN! The Mixtape Vol. 1 in 2009, featuring several Knocks productions.
In 2010, the Knocks released their first singles, the sunny "Dancing with the DJ" (which later appeared on their 2011 EP Magic) and the whistling "Make It Better." Over the course of the next few years, the duo's profile was magnified by additional remixes for Tegan and Sara ("Closer"), the 1975 ("Girls"), and Dragonette ("Let It Go"), among others, in addition to tours with Ellie Goulding, Dragonette, and Sleigh Bells. They also collaborated with Fred Falke for the KitsunΓ© Music release "Geronimo" in 2012, as well as Treasure Fingers for "DYWT," released on Fool's Gold Clubhouse in 2014. Also in 2014, the group released an EP, titled Comfortable and released on the Neon Gold label, that included collaborations with X Ambassadors and Ra Ra Riot.
Signed to Big Beat, the Knocks slowed it down a bit for the 2014 single "Classic," one of their funkier and more disco-indebted singles, featuring Powers. An EP titled So Classic appeared in April 2015, followed by a new version of "Classic" featuring a verse by Fetty Wap. The Knocks spent much of the year working on their long-delayed debut album, which was previewed by the singles "I Wish (My Taylor Swift)" (with Matthew Koma) and "New York City" (featuring Cam'ron). Finally, in March 2016, the duo released their first full-length, 55, which included additional guest appearances from Wyclef Jean, Walk the Moon, Carly Rae Jepsen, Alex Newell, and Semi-Precious Weapons' Justin Trantor. That July, the pair remixed selected tracks from the album on the 55.5 EP.
In early 2017, the Knocks released Testify, an EP of new songs featuring collaborations with MNEK, Delacey, and Tayla Parx. Later that year, the duo teamed up with Skylar Spence and released a future funk mixtape as Amelia Airhorn. They also formed the Mary Nixons, a group with Mat Zo, and issued the single "Adrian." They followed with the Captain Cuts collaboration "House Party." July 2018 saw the release of the single "Shades" which appeared later that year on the Knocks' second full-length, New York Narcotic. The album also featured contributions from Method Man, Sofi Tukker, and Foster the People.
2019 brought several singles, including the Kah-Lo collaboration "Awa Ni" and "Lucky Me" (with Great Good Fine Ok). Most of these were collected on the EP Summer Series: 2019. Several more singles arrived in 2020, including "One Fine Day" (with Idris Elba), "Bodies" (with MUNA), and "All About You" (featuring Foster the People). The following year, they released Melody & Silence, an EP with Foster the People that included a remix of the single, as well as covers of hits by Beck, Moby, and the Verve. Also in 2021, the Knocks released "R U High" (featuring Mallrat) and "Sound the Alarm" (featuring Rivers Cuomo and Royal & the Serpent), and were featured on Purple Disco Machine's "Fireworks." The following year saw the release of the full-length effort, HISTORY, which featured collaborations with Foster the People, MUNA, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Cold War Kids, Parson James, and Yoke Lore, among others.
Biography by Andy Kellman
Ride Or Die
The Knocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I'm fine living so close to the edge
Who needs a house when I've got all these friends?
They say, "Are you gonna give up some day?
Are you gonna grow up some day?"
Ooh
I know we're getting older but that don't mean it's over
I know we're getting sober but that's not on my mind
We can do this every night
You can be my ride or die
And we can live this way every day
Go out like dynamite, I'm living life, ride or die
Gonna live this way every day
Live, life, live, ride or die
Live, life, live, ride or die
Don't need a license when you've got no drive
It feels so right taking the wrong advice
They tell me one day that I'll pay the price
They're saying maybe I'll go up in flames
Maybe it'll blow up one day
Ooh
I know we're getting older but that don't mean it's over
Ooh
I know we're getting sober but that's not on my mind
We can do this every night
You can be my ride or die
And we can live this way every day
Go out like dynamite, I'm living life, ride or die
Gonna live this way every day
Live, life, live, ride or die
Live, life, live, ride or die
I know we're getting older but that don't mean it's over
Ooh
I know we're getting sober but that's not on my mind
We can do this every night
You can be my ride or die
And we can live this way every day
Go out like dynamite, I'm living life, ride or die
Gonna live this way every day
We can do this every night
You can be my ride or die
And we can live this way every day
Go out like dynamite, I'm living life, ride or die
Gonna live my life, live my life
Live, life, live, ride or die
Live, life, live, ride or die
The Knocks's "Ride or Die" is a song that celebrates living life to the fullest, and not conforming to societal expectations. The lyrics speak to the idea that it may seem reckless to others to live without a plan, without a stable job, and without a traditional family, but the singer is content with their lifestyle. They have their friends, they have adventure, and they have each other. They refuse to give up or "grow up" and instead want to keep living their life to the fullest, even if it means they might "go up in flames" someday.
The song is about embracing the present and not worrying about the future. The chorus, "We can do this every night, You can be my ride or die, And we can live this way every day, Go out like dynamite, I'm living life, ride or die, Gonna live this way every day" encapsulates this attitude. The singer wants to enjoy every moment with their partner and live where life takes them.
Overall, "Ride or Die" is a celebration of living on your own terms and enjoying every moment of your life.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe it's nice to be alone in the end
It may not be so bad to end up alone in life.
You know I'm fine living so close to the edge
I am okay with living recklessly and taking risks in life.
Who needs a house when I've got all these friends?
I don't need a physical home as long as I have my friends to support me.
They say, "Are you gonna give up some day?
Are you gonna grow up some day?"
Ooh
People ask me if I will ever give up this lifestyle and grow up, but I am not sure.
I know we're getting older but that don't mean it's over
Ooh
I know we're getting sober but that's not on my mind
Just because we are getting older and sober, it doesn't mean the fun has to end.
We can do this every night
You can be my ride or die
And we can live this way every day
Go out like dynamite, I'm living life, ride or die
Gonna live this way every day
We can continue to live our wild lifestyle every day, with you as my partner in crime.
Don't need a license when you've got no drive
It feels so right taking the wrong advice
They tell me one day that I'll pay the price
They're saying maybe I'll go up in flames
Maybe it'll blow up one day
Ooh
I don't need a license when I have no ambition, and it feels good to take reckless advice, even though others warn me of the consequences.
We can do this every night
You can be my ride or die
And we can live this way every day
Go out like dynamite, I'm living life, ride or die
Gonna live this way every day
Live, life, live, ride or die
Live, life, live, ride or die
We can continue to embrace the ride or die lifestyle every day, living life to the fullest.
Gonna live my life, live my life
Live, life, live, ride or die
Live, life, live, ride or die
I am committed to living my life to the fullest, taking risks, and living the ride or die lifestyle.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, CTM Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benjamin Michael Ruttner, Kaelyn Behr, Mark Derek Foster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GIVNG
Maybe it's nice to be alone in the end
You know I'm fine living so close to the edge
Who needs a house when I've got all these friends?
They say, "Are you gonna give up some day?
Are you gonna grow up some day?"
Ooh
I know we're getting older but that don't mean it's over
Ooh
I know we're getting sober but that's not on my mind
We can do this every night
You can be my ride or die
And we can live this way every day
Go out like dynamite, I'm living life, ride or die
Gonna live this way every day
Live, life, live, ride or die
Live, life, live, ride or die
Don't need a license when you've got no drive
It feels so right taking the wrong advice
They tell me one day that I'll pay the price
They're saying maybe I'll go up in flames
Maybe it'll blow up one day
Ooh
I knowβ¦
Dα»ch sang TiαΊΏng Viα»t
Nguα»n tin: LyricFind
Chr!s
We're getting closer and closer to the old Vicetone style :) Love it <3
Eghizio
I've noticed the same trend ;)
Strider
To be honest im not a fan of old Vicetone but i see the balance with their new releases recently, half old and half new Vicetone style and i'm liking it.
Przemek Ch.
its still much lighter and less powerfull when compared to old powerfull songs like Heartbeat or remixes of Legacy, Sparks etc.
Partial Bullet
Chr!s
Are you saying they were better?
D:
Metav Sharoni
So glad to hear your style once more!! This one is perfect! Especially the last drop!! Pure progressive House
JVitor
Vicetone as always producing and remixing fire <3
Juliette Tn
Love the original one but this one also has a special place in my heart... Love ur work guys <3
Nhα»― ThΓ nh
Listening to this masterpiece everyday β€ love u guys
Blinkofthenight
This song never get old isnt it