Tumi and the Volume are made up of four members. Tumi Molekane (vocals), the centerpiece of the group, is an accomplished South African poet from Johannesburg. In 2002, he met Tiago and Paulo Chibanga and Dave Bergman, who were playing backup for MCs at the Bassline, in Melville, Johannesburg. Tiago and Paulo are both members of the Mozambiquean, South African-based band 340ml. For the production of their first album, At the Bassline the group added Kyle Rose Smith, a violinist, to complete The Volume. On their second album, the self-titled studio release, Smith is featured but she left the band in early 2005 to join Freshlyground.
Tumi and the Volume was founded when then-solo emcee Tumi Molekane met The Volume, a backup band at the Bassline. The first collaborative project, which evolved into At the Bassline, began in the beginning of 2003. Yet since before the release of their first album, Tumi and the Volume have been performing across southern Africa and Europe.
Their first year together, 2002, saw them mostly tour South Africa and contribute to music festivals across the country, as well as open for bigger international groups performing in Johannesburg and Cape Town, such as Positive Black Soul, from Senegal, and Blackalicious, from the United States.
The release, and following critical acclaim of, At the Bassline, shot them onto a bigger stage, as the group performed at the Quart Festival in Norway, alongside with The Roots and Coldplay.
2005 through 2006 saw the successive releases of their second album--and first studio album--Tumi & the Volume, in first South Africa, and then Europe and North America. Through June and July of 2006, the band traveled to Canada and performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival.
In August of 2006, their first album was re-released on Apple iTunes Music Store.
People People
Tumi and the Volume Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alive people
A lost people
A beautiful people
And equally foul people
A proud people
Alive people
A lost people
And equally foul people
I'm just speaking of y'all people
To all people hopefully
More people will stop eating all people
Man I lost people to laws and wars and more evil
I celebrate life and never mourn people
Let the stone speak on behalf of those who came before
Paved these walls
Whose pain y'all just can't distort
It's deep rooted far beyond your lazy thought
Police suited cause Babylon be waging wars
On any native shores
Now terminate your soul
Even your legs and all
Leaving your face for more
Like self haters and achievement for y'all
I'm not believing your law's above Jesus and God
Uh uh no ways
I love my people in all shapes and sizes
Whether they're in a village or mall
It sounds corny for sure
But I'm only a flaw when I'm mc'ing what I believe is totally pure
Sift off the bullshit when they're speaking to y'all
Just cause it looks rich and smell funny doesn't mean it's manure
I've seen it before money got self esteem allure
You can't weather the bed when chasing cream for all
That's worth nothing to good weeping won't do
Than give yourself something credit
Dude I warned you
We are a proud people
Alive people
A lost people
A beautiful people
And equally foul people
A proud people
Alive people
A lost people
A beautiful people
And equally foul people
I'm speaking of y'all people
To all people hopefully
More people will stop eating off people
A proud people
Alive people
A lost people
A beautiful people
And equally foul people
I'm speaking of y'all people
To all people hopefully
More people will stop eating off people
Proud people
Alive people
A lost people
A beautiful people
And equally foul people
A proud people
Alive people
A lost people
A beautiful people
And equally foul people
I'm speaking of y'all people
To all people hopefully
More people will stop eating off people
We are proud people
Alive people
A lost people
A beautiful people
And equally foul people
A proud people
Alive people
A lost people
A beautiful people
And equally foul people
A proud people
Alive people
A lost people
A beautiful people
And equally foul people
I'm speaking of y'all people
To all people hopefully
More people will stop eating off people
The lyrics of Tumi and the Volume’s song People People are rather self-explanatory in the theme that they present. The song is essentially a reflection of the effects that wealth has on individuals and the lifestyle that comes with it. The verses are filled with different scenarios and experiences, ranging from luxury vacations to owning multiple properties or being able to afford expensive items. The chorus emphasizes the phrase ‘rich people problems’ repeatedly. The song seems to be an introspection into the lifestyle that comes with wealth, and the sentiments that come with it. The lyrics describe a longing for wealth and luxury coupled with the exhaustion of the daily hustle.
The song's opening line refers to going mental, which could be interpreted as going crazy over the pursuit of wealth. Throughout the track, the lyrics discuss various materialistic ambitions such as acquiring property, owning a Benz, and expensive designer clothes. The lines "Rich people problems, Rich people's problems" in the chorus highlight that the problems people with money deal with differ from those who have less, yet the challenges they face are still significant. Ultimately, the song functions as a commentary on the struggles and successes that come with wealth, and how their effects can be distressing.
Line by Line Meaning
Be like I'm going mental
Feeling overwhelmed by inspiration and creative energy
But inspiration
Despite feeling overwhelmed, the inspiration is driving Tumi forward
Lead me on like a pencil
The inspiration is guiding Tumi's creative direction like a pencil on paper
Now switch up
Time to change the topic and start talking about people and money
We dey play monopoly
Tumi and his friends are playing the game of life, trying to acquire wealth and assets
We all dey try acquire some property
Everyone is working to own property such as cars and houses
A Benz and some new friends now I feel uppity
Acquiring a fancy car and new friends has increased Tumi's sense of superiority
Coffee is my cup of tea
Tumi enjoys coffee more than tea
I go to Starbucks espresso shots happily
Tumi enjoys drinking espresso shots from Starbucks
The social ladder I'm climbing so steadily
Tumi is successfully working his way up the social hierarchy
House on the hills Abburi or Beverly
Tumi wants to own a house either in Abburi or Beverly Hills
I slang my twi, good for the chi, certainly
Tumi speaks Twi language, which is good for his reputation and sense of identity
I'm ready to pee, hold it for me
Tumi needs to use the bathroom and asks someone to hold it for him
Pour some don Perignon then it's on
Drinking expensive champagne is Tumi's way of celebrating his success
I'm in the sauna with two babes that get along
Tumi is in a sauna with two attractive women who enjoy each other's company
I want the first pair of the new LeBron's
Tumi wants to own the latest basketball shoes from LeBron James
We in it for the gold not for silver or bronze
Tumi and his friends are striving for the best in life, not settling for second best
Fresh caught prawns in the yacht at dawn
Tumi is eating fresh prawns on a yacht at dawn
Sophisticated babes, ratchet ass songs
Tumi is surrounded by attractive women who love to listen to low-class music
You want be righteous and poor are you that head strong
Tumi questions those who prioritize righteousness over material wealth
Then no biggie, but you dead wrong
It's not a big deal, but Tumi thinks that prioritizing righteousness over wealth is a mistake
I dey taya plus the hustle
Tumi is exhausted from the grind of working hard
E dey mek I see double
Tumi's exhaustion is making him feel dizzy
I want expensive trouble
Tumi wants to experience the problems that come with being wealthy
Me and money for be couple
Tumi equates his sense of identity with his wealth and possessions
Rich people problems
The problems that come with being rich and wealthy
Ever had a Danish in Denmark
Tumi has had a Danish pastry while in Denmark
I done seen reindeers in December
Tumi has seen reindeer during the month of December
Emirates, Arsenal vs Everton
Tumi has traveled on Emirates airlines and watched an Arsenal vs Everton soccer match
And I didn't think twice what I am paying for it
Tumi doesn't hesitate to pay a lot of money for luxurious experiences
Bet you saw us on the tally at the playoffs
Tumi and his friends were likely seen on television at a sporting event
Me and Drake had the same J's, I am annoyed
Tumi is frustrated that he and Drake have the same pair of shoes
Should have worn the AJs or the Louboutin's
Tumi thinks he should have worn different, more exclusive shoes
Nothing suitable ¾less I got some exclusives on
Tumi doesn't feel like he has anything to wear that's special enough, unless he has some exclusive items
Don't you hate when you paying for the latest whip
Tumi hates waiting for the newest, most expensive car to become available
And the dealership lady put you on the waiting list
Tumi hates it when the dealership tells him he has to wait for the newest car to become available
Bitch I am already rich
Tumi is frustrated that people can't see how wealthy he is
I don't even wait when I take a trip, go figure
Tumi doesn't wait around for anyone or anything, even on vacation
Save that shit for them broke niggas
Tumi thinks that people who can't afford luxurious experiences should stop trying to relate
I am so sick of hotel rooms with no mirrors
Tumi is frustrated with hotel rooms that don't have enough mirrors
She so thick but the titties need to go bigger
Tumi thinks that a woman's breasts are too small, even though she has a large body
Nose thinner, face lift maybe I just need more liquor
Tumi is considering plastic surgery, but thinks he might just need to drink more alcohol instead
Rich people problems
The problems that come with being rich and wealthy
Hello and where you calling from
The beginning of a radio show segment where listeners call in to win tickets
Okay so you want to win the sold out money ticket for the concert this weekend
The radio show is giving away tickets to a sold-out concert
Okay a bird in hard
An incorrect answer to the contest question
We being all ridiculous
The radio hosts think the conversation is getting silly
Opportunity not
The radio hosts try to finish the contest question
I'm the one whose suppose to be asking the question hoh
One of the hosts is annoyed that the other isn't doing their job correctly
Chale this guy is drunk
One of the hosts thinks a caller is drunk and calls him out on it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fusion01wp
Brilliant album, so underrated
@moderndayhomer
masterpiece.