The term Various Artists is used in the record industry when numerous singers and musicians collaborate on a song or collection of songs. Most often on Last.fm, compilation album tracks appear under the name of Various Artists erroneously because the individual artist is not listed in the album's ID3 information.
Compilation albums, for example.
Sometimes, single releases may be credited to Various Artists when their profits are going to charity and, usually in high-profile cases, are sometimes known by a group name. Examples include Band Aid with their releases of Do They Know It's Christmas? and USA for Africa with We Are The World.
Various Artists is also an actual performance name for Torsten Pröfrock, who runs the German DIN label. Torsten performs also as Dynamo, Erosion, Resilent, Traktor besides some others. He's a good friend of Robert Henke and since the Fall of 2004, he is a member of Monolake.
Various Artists was also a short-lived Bristol punk band formed by brothers Jonjo and Robin Key (originally from Birmingham). Other members were also simultaneously in Art Objects who went on to become The Blue Aeroplanes, the latter the Key brothers also co-wrote some songs and were involved in. When Various Artists imploded, the Key brothers went on to form Either / Or.
Various Artists also appear on tracks from musical theater soundtracks, due to the nature of having many cast members on one song, as well as an ensemble in some cases.
Free
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
R U Still Down? (Remember Me)
When I Get Free II
Ay Trusty Trusty, what you want man?
Aww nigga let me get one of them ciggarettes, damn!
Shit, come on bastard, get the phone for a nigga
Use the phone, aww nigga get the phone for me man
What's the number? 323-6545, tell her it's Pac
[Chorus: repeat 2X]
When I get free, motherfuckers better watch they ass
Soon as I get released, I'ma clock some cash
Did some time locked down, but I'm back on the street
There'll be trouble when they see me
I heard a snicker a laugh, I take a look at the evening news
And see a nigga gettin cuffed by the boys in blue
Is it a, frame up, tryin to keep me out the game, stuck
These motherfuckers tryin to dirty up my name, but
I slip as quick as the wind, it's me again, fuck friends
My foes be on a mission, tryin to do me in
Fuck em I'm out to get out, they all thought
I blow up like gauge, and in a rage blow they balls off
Why are you niggaz tryin to test me trick?
And be the first ones to snitch to arrest me bitch
Maintain with a nigga meal ticket only if you with the real
The nigga will kick it, I'll enforce it with the steel
These are lessons that I learned in jail
Rule one: fuck a busta he can burn in Hell
Now I'm workin with connects that I got in the pen
In no time I'll be clockin again
[Chorus]
Heyyy, still sittin in my cell as I dwell on my past
Tryin to figure how a nigga turned dreams into cash
Quick call her collect, ain't no respect on the other side
My cellmate's suicidal cause his mother died
And my C.O. is a lady, and I'm thinkin maybe
me and her can hook up a scheme, to be Swayze
Cause she keep on callin me baby, to a young
motherfucker facin eighty that's enough to make me crazy
Now how long will it take, to get a hook
Got her watchin me liftin weights, sneakin looks
I devised a plan, I'm in the trunk while she drives
but man, ain't no disguise I'ma die as a man
If we make it then I'm takin it to Hell
all them niggaz that was frontin while I sat up in a cell
Locked in jail, I couldn't touch her so I planned, in misery
The nigga you don't wanna see
[Chorus 3X]
When I get free, believe that shit
Yeah nigga fuck your cigarette, fuck that phone call motherfucker
I'll be out this motherfucker in a few days
I'll pay these bitches back in spades
Punk ass bastards, long as my AK flexes
we gonna play these bitches
That's how we do this shit
Fuck that I'm out, C.O. turn the fuckin lights out!
The song "Free" by Various Artists is a tribute to Tupac Shakur, who is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. The lyrics of the song, which is a remix of "When I Get Free II" by Tupac, are focused on his struggle with the law and his desire to be released from prison. The chorus repeats the lines, "When I get free, motherfuckers better watch they ass/Soon as I get released, I'ma clock some cash." This suggests that Tupac was determined to make it big in the music industry, despite the obstacles he was facing.
Throughout the song, Tupac's anger and frustration are evident as he talks about being framed, being betrayed by his friends, and being locked up in jail. He also addresses the issue of police brutality, which is a recurring theme in his music. The lines, "I take a look at the evening news/And see a nigga gettin cuffed by the boys in blue" suggest that Tupac was well aware of the injustices that were being committed against black people by law enforcement.
The song also touches on Tupac's relationships with women, particularly his cell mate and an unnamed woman he refers to as "her." The line "Got her watchin me liftin weights, sneakin looks" suggests that Tupac was the object of desire for some of the women he encountered in prison. His attitude towards these relationships is ambiguous, as he seems to use them as a means of survival, rather than being genuinely interested in these women.
Overall, "Free" is a powerful song that showcases Tupac's talents as a lyricist and rapper. It is a song that is both passionate and angry, but also speaks to his desire for freedom and his determination to succeed against all odds.
Line by Line Meaning
Ay Trusty Trusty, what you want man?
2Pac is trying to get the attention of someone named Trusty Trusty and asking what they want from him.
Aww nigga let me get one of them ciggarettes, damn!
2Pac is asking for a cigarette from Trusty Trusty.
Shit, come on bastard, get the phone for a nigga
2Pac is requesting Trusty Trusty to get him the phone.
Use the phone, aww nigga get the phone for me man
2Pac is again requesting Trusty Trusty to get him the phone.
What's the number? 323-6545, tell her it's Pac
2Pac is giving Trusty Trusty the phone number and asking him to tell the person on the other end (a woman presumably) that it's him, 2Pac.
[Chorus: repeat 2X] When I get free, motherfuckers better watch they ass Soon as I get released, I'ma clock some cash Did some time locked down, but I'm back on the street There'll be trouble when they see me
2Pac is warning that people should be careful when he is released because he plans to make money and take revenge. He has already been imprisoned for a while, but upon release, he plans to take action.
I heard a snicker a laugh, I take a look at the evening news And see a nigga gettin cuffed by the boys in blue Is it a, frame up, tryin to keep me out the game, stuck These motherfuckers tryin to dirty up my name, but
2Pac is concerned that the system is trying to frame him and put him in jail as a strategy to keep him away from his career.
I slip as quick as the wind, it's me again, fuck friends My foes be on a mission, tryin to do me in Fuck em I'm out to get out, they all thought I blow up like gauge, and in a rage blow they balls off
2Pac does not trust anyone, including his friends, and his enemies are actively trying to harm him. However, he is determined to get out of jail and take revenge on those who have worked against him in the past.
Why are you niggaz tryin to test me trick? And be the first ones to snitch to arrest me bitch Maintain with a nigga meal ticket only if you with the real The nigga will kick it, I'll enforce it with the steel These are lessons that I learned in jail Rule one: fuck a busta he can burn in Hell Now I'm workin with connects that I got in the pen In no time I'll be clockin again
2Pac has learned from his time in jail that people will try to test and betray him. He only wants to associate and maintain relationships with real people who are loyal to him. He has formed new connections in prison that he plans to use when he is released, to earn money again.
Heyyy, still sittin in my cell as I dwell on my past Tryin to figure how a nigga turned dreams into cash Quick call her collect, ain't no respect on the other side My cellmate's suicidal cause his mother died And my C.O. is a lady, and I'm thinkin maybe me and her can hook up a scheme, to be Swayze Cause she keep on callin me baby, to a young motherfucker facin eighty that's enough to make me crazy
2Pac is reflecting on his past and thinking about how he turned his dreams into money. He is currently in jail, and there is no respect given to him. His cellmate is struggling with personal issues, and he's thinking of hooking up with the female guard to maybe plan an escape, given her affection shown towards him. He's feeling restless and ready to leave and take action.
Now how long will it take, to get a hook Got her watchin me liftin weights, sneakin looks I devised a plan, I'm in the trunk while she drives but man, ain't no disguise I'ma die as a man If we make it then I'm takin it to Hell all them niggaz that was frontin while I sat up in a cell Locked in jail, I couldn't touch her so I planned, in misery The nigga you don't wanna see
2Pac is devising a plan to escape with the female guard, including hiding in the trunk of her car for the escape. If they succeed, he plans on getting revenge on all the people who had doubted him while he was locked up. He has been planning in jail, and he's warning people that they don't want to see him angry.
[Chorus 3X] When I get free, believe that shit Yeah nigga fuck your cigarette, fuck that phone call motherfucker I'll be out this motherfucker in a few days I'll pay these bitches back in spades Punk ass bastards, long as my AK flexes we gonna play these bitches That's how we do this shit Fuck that I'm out, C.O. turn the fuckin lights out!
2Pac repeats his warning that upon release, he will take revenge on those who have held him down. He is dismissive of the people who are still holding him back and considering his plans when he gets out, mainly using his firearm to confront those who have harmed or underestimated him. He concludes by leaving the situation and asking the guard to turn the lights off.
Writer(s): Donavon Frankenreiter, Jack Hody Johnson
Contributed by Claire R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@marfaxa
just a note: originally released August 23, 2005
@Jamesharveycomics
thank you! I thought I was going nuts
@eduardorivera4343
Trippy folk Chillin
@gabrielecolombo4264
Thank you so much
@jbs8704
Free Disign s Original.. Dorian Benediction đź‘Ť Redeem One s Self...