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.
Ice
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am a nightmare walking, psychopath talking
King of my jungle just a gangster stalking
Living life like a firecracker quick is my fuse
Then dead as a deathpack the colors I choose
Red or Blue, Cuz or Blood, it just don't matter
Sucker die for your life when my shotgun scatters
You see they hit us then we hit them
Then we hit them and they hit us, man
It's like a war, ya know what I'm sayin'
People dont even understand
They don't even know what they dealing with
You wanna get rid of the gangs it's gonna take a lotta work
But people don't understand the size of this
This is no joke man, this is real
You don't know me, fool
You disown me, cool
I don't need your assistance, social persistance
Any problem I got I just put my fist in
My life is violent but violent is life
Peace is a dream, reality is a knife
My colors, my honour, my colors, my all
With my colors upon me one soldier stands tall
Tell me what have you left me, what have I got
Last night in cold blood my young brother got shot
My homie got jacked
My mother's on crack
My sister can't work cause her arms show tracks
Madness insanity live in profanity
Then some punk claimin' they understandin' me
Give me a break, what world do you live in
Death is my sect, guess my religion
Yo my brother was a gang banger
And all my homeboys bang
I don't know why I do it man, I just do it
I never had much of nuffin man
Look at you man, you've got everything going for yourself
And I ain't got nuffin man, I've got nuffin
I'm living in the ghetto man
Just look at me man, look at me
My pants are saggin braided hair
Suckers stare but I don't care
My game ain't knowelgde my game's fear
I've no remorse so squares beware
But my true mission is just revenge
You ain't in my sect, you ain't my friend
Wear the wrong color your life could end
Homocides my favorite venge
Listen to me man
No matter whatcha do don't ever join a gang
You don't wanna be in it man
You're just gonna end up in a mix of dead freinds and time in jail I
Know, if
I had a chance like you
I would never be in a gang man
But I didn't have a chance
You know I wish I did
I'll just walk like a giant police defiant
You'll say to stop but I'll say that I can't
My gangs my family its all that I have
I'm a star, on the walls is my autograph
You don't like it, so you know where you can go
Cause the streets are my stage and terror's my show
Phsyco-analize tried diognising me wise
It was a joke brother the brutally died
But it was mine, so let me define
My territory don't cross the line
Don't try to act crazy
Cause the bitch dont thank me
You can be read like a punk
It wouldn'ta made me
Cause my colors death
Thou we all want peace
But our war won't end
They'll always see
See the wars of the street gangs will always get to me man
But I don't wanna be down with this situation man
But I'm in here, if I had something betta to do I think I'd do it but
Right
Now I'm just down here boye
I'm trying to get money cause I'm smart
I'm gunna get paid while I'm out here
I'm gunna get that paper, ya know what I'm saying
If I had a chance like you
Maybe I would be in school
But I'm not, I'm out here living day to day surviving
And I'm willing to die for my colors
Yo'll please stop, cause I want ya all to live
This is Ice-T, Peace...
The lyrics of Ice-T’s song “Colors” speak about gang violence and the reality of living in a neighborhood where violent gangs thrive. The singer presents himself as a fearless and violent gang member, boasting about his fearlessness and violence, but he also talks about the struggles of being in a gang, including living in poverty, losing loved ones to gang violence, and dealing with drug addiction. The lyrics reveal a sense of hopelessness and lack of opportunities, as well as the idea that joining a gang may seem like the only option for survival in a neighborhood plagued by violence and poverty.
The singer also mentions the ongoing gang war and the idea that the gangs of L.A. will never die and will only continue to multiply. He acknowledges that people in the community may not understand what they are dealing with or the size of the problem. He warns against wearing the wrong colors or crossing into another gang’s territory, as this could lead to death. However, he also misses his brother, who was a gang member, and laments the loss of his young brother who was shot in cold blood.
Overall, the lyrics of “Colors” are a poignant commentary on the realities of gang violence and the sense of desperation that leads individuals to join gangs, as well as the potential tragic consequences of such involvement.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a nightmare walking, psychopath talking
I am a menacing figure, expressing violence with my words
King of my jungle just a gangster stalking
I dominate my territory like a powerful predator, constantly seeking my next target
Living life like a firecracker quick is my fuse
I live a fast-paced and explosive life, ready to ignite at any moment
Then dead as a deathpack the colors I choose
Once the violence erupts, I am dedicated to my gang's identity and will fight until the end
Red or Blue, Cuz or Blood, it just don't matter
Whether I represent the red or blue gang, cousin or blood, the distinction is insignificant
Sucker die for your life when my shotgun scatters
Anyone foolish enough to oppose me risks losing their life when my shotgun unleashes its deadly pellets
We gangs of L.A. will never die - just multiply
The gang culture in Los Angeles is resilient and will continue to grow in numbers
You see they hit us then we hit them
There is a cycle of retaliation where they initiate violence, and we respond in kind
Then we hit them and they hit us, man
The conflicts escalate as we retaliate, and they retaliate against our retaliation
It's like a war, ya know what I'm sayin'
The ongoing battles between gangs resemble a full-scale war
People dont even understand
Most people fail to comprehend the severity and complexity of this situation
They don't even know what they dealing with
They are ignorant of the true nature of the gangs and the dangerous world they inhabit
You wanna get rid of the gangs it's gonna take a lotta work
Eliminating the gangs requires immense effort and dedication
But people don't understand the size of this
The scale and magnitude of the gang problem are beyond the comprehension of most individuals
This is no joke man, this is real
The gravity of this situation should not be taken lightly; it is a harsh reality
You don't know me, fool
You are ignorant of my true self, you foolish person
You disown me, cool
You reject and distance yourself from me, which is fine by me
I don't need your assistance, social persistance
I can handle things on my own and don't require your help or constant presence
Any problem I got I just put my fist in
Whenever I face a problem, I resort to physical violence as my solution
My life is violent but violent is life
Violence is an inherent part of my existence, and I have accepted it as a reality
Peace is a dream, reality is a knife
Peaceful coexistence is merely an unattainable dream, as the harsh reality is the constant presence of danger
My colors, my honour, my colors, my all
The colors I represent through my gang affiliations hold great significance and are the very essence of my identity
With my colors upon me one soldier stands tall
When I proudly display my gang colors, I feel a sense of empowerment and stand tall as a dedicated soldier
Tell me what have you left me, what have I got
I question what you have provided me, as my circumstances have left me with very little
Last night in cold blood my young brother got shot
Tragically, my younger brother was senselessly killed
My homie got jacked
My close friend was violently attacked and robbed
My mother's on crack
My mother is addicted to crack cocaine
My sister can't work cause her arms show tracks
My sister is unable to secure employment due to the visible marks on her arms caused by drug use
Madness insanity live in profanity
Chaos and mental instability thrive in a world filled with vulgarity and obscenity
Then some punk claimin' they understandin' me
Some insignificant person tries to claim they comprehend my struggles
Give me a break, what world do you live in
Spare me your misguided sympathy; you live in a different reality altogether
Death is my sect, guess my religion
Devotion to death and violence defines my allegiance, so you can infer my 'religion'
Yo my brother was a gang banger
Listen, my brother was involved in gang activities
And all my homeboys bang
All of my close friends are gang members as well
I don't know why I do it man, I just do it
I am unsure of the reasons behind my involvement, but I continue to participate anyway
I never had much of nuffin man
I have always lacked material possessions and opportunities
Look at you man, you've got everything going for yourself
In comparison to me, you possess abundant advantages and favorable circumstances
And I ain't got nuffin man, I've got nuffin
I have nothing in my possession, and my situation is devoid of any positive prospects
I'm living in the ghetto man
I reside in a poverty-stricken and crime-ridden neighborhood
Just look at me man, look at me
Take a good look at me and acknowledge the hardships I face
My pants are saggin braided hair
I wear low-hanging pants and have hair styled in braids
Suckers stare but I don't care
People may gaze judgmentally, but I remain indifferent to their opinions
My game ain't knowelgde my game's fear
My approach to life is not about wisdom or intelligence, but rather about instilling fear
I've no remorse so squares beware
I lack any feelings of guilt or regret, so those who oppose me should be cautious
But my true mission is just revenge
Deep down, my ultimate goal is seeking vengeance
You ain't in my sect, you ain't my friend
If you are not part of my gang, you are not considered a friend or ally
Wear the wrong color your life could end
Wearing the incorrect gang-affiliated color could result in the loss of your life
Homocides my favorite venge
Committing homicides is my preferred method of seeking revenge
Listen to me man
Pay attention to what I'm about to say
No matter whatcha do don't ever join a gang
Under no circumstances should you ever become a member of a gang
You don't wanna be in it man
Being part of a gang is not desirable or beneficial
You're just gonna end up in a mix of dead freinds and time in jail I
Know, if
You will ultimately find yourself surrounded by deceased friends and serving prison time, believe me
I had a chance like you
If I had the opportunities and advantages you possess
I would never be in a gang man
I would never choose to be affiliated with a gang, given the choice
But I didn't have a chance
Unfortunately, circumstances did not provide me with such options
You know I wish I did
I genuinely desire that I had been given those opportunities
I'll just walk like a giant police defiant
I will move forward with self-assured confidence, defying the law enforcement authorities
You'll say to stop but I'll say that I can't
When you request me to cease my actions, I will claim that it is beyond my control to comply
My gangs my family its all that I have
My gang is my only source of support and belonging, it represents my entire life
I'm a star, on the walls is my autograph
In my territory, I am revered as a prominent figure, and my signature graffiti covers the walls
You don't like it, so you know where you can go
If you are displeased with my lifestyle and actions, then you are free to leave
Cause the streets are my stage and terror's my show
I consider the streets to be my personal platform, where I perform acts of terror and intimidation
Phsyco-analize tried diognising me wise
Psychologists attempted to analyze and diagnose me as mentally sound
It was a joke brother the brutally died
Their efforts were futile and meaningless, as they failed to understand the harsh reality of my existence
But it was mine, so let me define
However, my life experiences and circumstances are uniquely mine, allowing me to define their meaning
My territory don't cross the line
Do not venture into my territory, as you will be violating a boundary with severe consequences
Don't try to act crazy
Do not attempt to portray yourself as mentally unstable or dangerous
Cause the bitch dont thank me
Since you showed no gratitude or appreciation, I have no reason to show you favor
You can be read like a punk
Your true character and weaknesses can be easily discerned, just like a cowardly individual
It wouldn'ta made me
I would not have been affected or influenced by your actions or words
Cause my colors death
The colors I represent symbolize death and violence
Thou we all want peace
Although we may desire peace in theory
But our war won't end
The ongoing conflict and bloodshed will persist
They'll always see
Society will continuously witness and experience the consequences of our violent actions
See the wars of the street gangs will always get to me man
The perpetual battles between rival street gangs deeply affect me, my emotions, and my psyche
But I don't wanna be down with this situation man
Despite my involvement, I do not wish to remain connected to this dangerous and chaotic lifestyle
But I'm in here
Yet, here I am, still involved and unable to escape
If I had something betta to do I think I'd do it but
If I had access to a more favorable alternative, I believe I would choose it over this
Right
Indeed
Now I'm just down here boye
Currently, I find myself in a disadvantaged position, my friend
I'm trying to get money cause I'm smart
I am utilizing my intelligence and resourcefulness to earn money
I'm gunna get paid while I'm out here
I intend to receive financial compensation for my time spent in this environment
I'm gunna get that paper, ya know what I'm saying
I am determined to acquire wealth and prosperity, do you comprehend my intention?
If I had a chance like you
If I had the same opportunities afforded to you
Maybe I would be in school
Perhaps I would pursue my education and enroll in a formal schooling system
But I'm not, I'm out here living day to day surviving
However, that is not my reality; instead, I am living on the streets, focusing on survival with each passing day
And I'm willing to die for my colors
I possess unwavering loyalty and commitment to my gang, to the extent that I am prepared to sacrifice my life for its cause
Yo'll please stop, cause I want ya all to live
I implore all of you to cease your violent actions and choose a path that allows for life and peace
This is Ice-T, Peace...
This is Ice-T, signing off with a message of peace and tranquility
Writer(s): BETH ORTON, FINLEY QUAYE, WILLIAM ORBIT
Contributed by Jackson E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.