The two members also run their own independent record label, Custom Records, a joint venture with Fat City Records.
Their name is a reference to the Afro-American term "next man", which is explained on Urban Dictionary and can be heard in use in the song Find A Way (lyrics at OHHLA.com).
They have been prolific remixers since 2000, have been responsible for a string of popular Mixtapes, and are perhaps most well known for their 2 man, 4 turntable DJ sets (often fronted by an MC, usually MC Wrec or Dynamite MC) which include music from all genres and occupy the space between turntablism and club based DJing.
The pair grew up in Cambridge and are based in North London. They are both musicians, playing Guitar (Dom Search) and Keys (Brad Baloo).
Their first album "Amongst the Madness" (Scenario) was popular on the Hip Hop scene and included performances from MC's from the US and UK. The second Album Get Over It, released in 2003, featured such artists as American Rapper J-Live and Cutty Ranks. It showed a marked change in their sound, with a more electronic production sound. Dom Search appeared on two Groove Armada albums, "Vertigo" and "Goodbye Country, Hello Nightclub".
The 2005 reggae compilation "Blunted In The Backroom" on Antidote Records included two new Nextmen tracks, "Blood and Fire" featuring Dynamite MC, and "Piece Of The Pie" featuring Demolition Man.
The years have seen their sound change, with the use of more experimental production techniques and live instrumentation.
Small Axe
The Nextmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, evil men
Playing smart
And not being clever?
I said, you're working iniquity
To achieve vanity (if a-so a-so)
But the goodness of Jah, Jah
I-dureth forever
So if you are the big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
These are the words
Of my master, keep on tellin' me
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, fall in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it (fall in it)
If you are the big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe, sharp and ready
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
(to cut you down)
(to cut you down)
These are the words
Of my master, tellin' me that
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, uh, bury in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall bury in it, uh (bury in it)
If you are the big, big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
If you are the big, big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
Sharpened
The Nextmen's song "Small Axe" is a powerful message about the downfall of wickedness and injustice. The lyrics begin by questioning the actions of evil men who "play smart" but are not actually "clever." The singer points out that these men are working for their own vanity and gain, but the goodness of God will always endure. The chorus declares that if these men are the "big trees," the singer and others like him are the "small axes" ready to cut them down. This metaphor represents the power of the people to rise up against corrupt systems and institutions.
The second verse reinforces this message by quoting the singer's master who insists that no weak heart will prosper, and those who try to harm others will ultimately fall themselves. The repetition of the line "whosoever diggeth a pit shall fall in it" suggests that those who try to harm others will ultimately harm themselves. The chorus repeats this message of empowerment, declaring that they are ready to cut down those who exploit and oppress them.
Line by Line Meaning
Why boasteth thyself
Why are you bragging about yourself?
Oh, evil men
You are evil people.
Playing smart
You want to appear smart.
And not being clever?
But you are not truly clever.
I said, you're working iniquity
You are doing evil deeds.
To achieve vanity (if a-so a-so)
To gain something meaningless.
But the goodness of Jah, Jah
The goodness of God.
I-dureth forever
Will last forever.
So if you are the big tree
If you are in a position of power,
We are the small axe
We, the oppressed, are a small but powerful force.
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
We are ready to bring you down, with our words or actions.
These are the words
This is what my master told me.
Of my master, keep on tellin' me
My master keeps reminding me.
No weak heart
A person who is not strong.
Shall prosper
Will not succeed.
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Whoever digs a hole,
Shall fall in it, fall in it
Will fall into it themselves.
If you are the big tree, let me tell you that
If you are in power, I need to remind you that,
We are the small axe, sharp and ready
We, the marginalized, are powerful and prepared.
To cut you down (well sharp)
To bring you down with precision.
(to cut you down)
(to cut you down)
These are the words
My master's message to me.
Of my master, tellin' me that
Reminding me that my master said,
No weak heart
A person who is not strong.
Shall prosper
Will not succeed.
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Whoever digs a hole,
Shall fall in it, uh, bury in it
Will fall into it themselves.
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Whoever digs a hole,
Shall bury in it, uh (bury in it)
Will be buried in it themselves.
If you are the big, big tree
Again, if you are powerful,
We are the small axe
We, the oppressed, are still a force to be reckoned with.
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
And we are still prepared to bring you down, no matter how big you are.
To cut you down
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tpe54
Small Axe Lyrics
Why boasteth thyself
Oh, evil men
Playing smart
And not being clever?
I said, you're working iniquity
To achieve vanity (if a-so a-so)
But the goodness of Jah, Jah
I-dureth forever
So if you are the big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
These are the words
Of my master, keep on tellin' me
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, fall in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it (fall in it)
If you are the big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe, sharp and ready
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
(to cut you down)
(to cut you down)
These are the words
Of my master, tellin' me that
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, uh, bury in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall bury in it, uh (bury in it)
If you are the big, big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
If you are the big, big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
Sharpened