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.
Murder
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, guess what
They gave us a super bowl this year
And you know what happened?
Robbing, shooting, killing
Murder (Murder, murdeeeerrrr)
Robbing, shooting, killing
Hennyed up, remied up, ski mask, black truck3
Dickie outfit, passenger side (Pistol grippin' punk)
Fuck it I just did two lines
A chrome Tec-9, it'll tear out nigga's spine
It's a party, go on in an have fun
Cause after it's over all you going hear is (RUN, NIGGA, RUN! AHH!!!) gunshots
Shooting, blasting, hitting the floor
$10, 000 in the safe, shit, I'm about to score
Cause I'm dangerous off angel dust
Shit, I'll bust, even the nigga that came with us2
And this is for my niggas that be robbing an stealing
Carjacking, murder one's and fucking drug dealings
I stumble in the club blowed, 9mm cocked
Something's telling me to stop, fuck it, I don't see the cops2
Niggas don't believe it till they see it's out
Stupid motherfuckers want to take the scenic route, now the heater's out
Bitches scream like I pulled my penis out
Begging me to put that big motherfucker away, but the demon's out
Everybody on the floor, come out of that mink
Come out of them diamonds, and you come out of that valuer
The party is over, shut the fuck down, cut the music
Matter of fact turn it back it up, shit, I can use it
I need the noise, in case I have to let a couple off
Saw another icy chain, walked over and tugged it off
Give me that buttersoft, and since you buying out the bar
You can buy my drinks for today and tomorrow (good looking)
I'm out for the paper, my homie, better hide your jewels
I'm in the game starving and I ain't playing by the rules, nigga
S-s-s-s-s-shady
It's "The Re-Up"
The song "Murder" performed by Various Artists is a grim portrayal of the criminal life in Detroit, Motown. The opening lines indicate that the city received a Super Bowl that year, but despite the sporting event, there has been a rise in crime, with robberies, shootings, and murders happening frequently. The lyrics describe the activities of the singer and his associates while indulging in robberies, drug abuse and killing. The lyrics paint an intense picture of the singer's violent tendencies and the reckless disregard for anything but their own gain. Throughout the song, the lyrics are heavily laced with violent imagery like guns, body parts, and bloodshed.
The opening verse set the tone with the singer describing the glorified path of drugs and violence with mentions of being wasted on Hennessy and Remi martin, donning a ski mask and Dickie outfit, and carrying a chrome Tec-9 that tears through a man's spine. The scene is set for when the singer and his team go out to rob and steal while causing havoc in the process. The verse ends with an exclamation, "This is for my n****s that be robbing and stealing, carjacking, murder ones, and f***ing drug dealings," putting forth an unapologetic adoration for the criminal life.
The second verse describes a robbery incident where the singer gets high on drugs and continues with their crime spree, despite knowing the cops could be around. The verse ends with a reference to the "Re-Up" album, calling it "S-s-s-s-s-shady." Overall, the lyrics present a bleak picture of Detroit and its criminal underground, as seen through the eyes of one of its most prolific members.
Line by Line Meaning
Detroit, Motown
This song is a tribute to the city of Detroit, also known as Motown, which has a legacy in music and culture.
Hey, guess what
The singer is addressing the listener and trying to get their attention.
They gave us a super bowl this year
The city of Detroit hosted the Super Bowl in the year this song was released.
And you know what happened?
The artist is setting up a rhetorical question to build suspense.
Robbing, shooting, killing
The artist is referring to the violence that occurred in Detroit during the Super Bowl, which gives a negative impression of the city.
Murder (Murder, murdeeeerrrr)
The frequent repetition of the word 'murder' emphasizes the violent nature of the events described in the song.
Hennyed up, remied up, ski mask, black truck3
The singer is describing how they have prepared themselves for committing a crime, including wearing a ski mask and driving a black truck while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Dickie outfit, passenger side (Pistol grippin' punk)
The artist is describing what they are wearing and the fact that they have a gun with them.
Fuck it I just did two lines
The artist just took drugs and is expressing a careless attitude.
A chrome Tec-9, it'll tear out nigga's spine
The artist is describing their weapon and how destructive it can be.
It's a party, go on in an have fun
The singer is referring to a party that is taking place, but is about to commit a violent crime.
Cause after it's over all you going hear is (RUN, NIGGA, RUN! AHH!!!) gunshots
The artist is describing the aftermath of their violent crime and how people will scream and run away from the gunshots.
Shooting, blasting, hitting the floor
The singer is describing the noises and movements that occur during gunfire.
$10, 000 in the safe, shit, I'm about to score
The singer is describing their motivation for committing the crime, which is to obtain money from a safe.
Cause I'm dangerous off angel dust
The singer is suggesting that they are under the influence of angel dust, which is a hallucinogenic drug that can make a person behave in unexpected ways.
Shit, I'll bust, even the nigga that came with us2
The artist is saying that they are willing to harm even their own accomplices in their pursuit of committing a crime.
And this is for my niggas that be robbing an stealing
The artist is dedicating this song to other people who commit crimes like robbery and theft.
Carjacking, murder one's and fucking drug dealings
The singer is listing off various crimes that they or people they know have committed.
I stumble in the club blowed, 9mm cocked
The singer is describing their state at a party, where they are intoxicated and carrying a gun.
Something's telling me to stop, fuck it, I don't see the cops2
The artist has a sense that they should not be doing what they are doing, but chooses to ignore it because they don't see any police present.
Niggas don't believe it till they see it's out
The artist is noting that people do not necessarily believe that someone has a gun until they actually see it.
Stupid motherfuckers want to take the scenic route, now the heater's out
The artist is saying that their adversaries are trying to be clever by taking a different route, but the artist pulls out their gun and confronts them.
Bitches scream like I pulled my penis out
The singer is describing how women scream when they see the gun and try to flee the scene.
Begging me to put that big motherfucker away, but the demon's out
The artist notes that people are begging them to put the gun away, but they do not feel in control and feel that something else is guiding their actions.
Everybody on the floor, come out of that mink
The singer is telling everyone at the party to get down on the floor and drop anything valuable they are wearing.
Come out of them diamonds, and you come out of that valuer
The singer is threatening that they will harm anyone who does not comply.
The party is over, shut the fuck down, cut the music
The singer is saying that they have taken over the party and are putting an end to it.
Matter of fact turn it back it up, shit, I can use it
The artist is changing their mind and deciding that they want the music to play again so that they can enjoy it while they continue their criminal activity.
I need the noise, in case I have to let a couple off
The artist wants the music to play so that they can drown out the noise of gunshots in case they have to use their gun again.
Saw another icy chain, walked over and tugged it off
The singer stole a valuable piece of jewelry from someone at the party.
Give me that buttersoft, and since you buying out the bar
The singer is demanding that someone give them a particular type of clothing and asserting their authority because they are paying for everything at the bar.
You can buy my drinks for today and tomorrow (good looking)
The artist is thanking someone for buying their drinks for the present and future.
I'm out for the paper, my homie, better hide your jewels
The artist is emphasizing that they are motivated by money and warning their associates to protect their valuable possessions.
I'm in the game starving and I ain't playing by the rules, nigga
The artist is saying that they are desperate to succeed in life and that they will do whatever it takes, even if it means breaking the law.
S-s-s-s-s-shady
This is a reference to Eminem, who is one of the performers on this song and who is often associated with the word 'shady'.
It's "The Re-Up"
This is the title of the album that this song appears on.
Writer(s): MARSHALL B. III MATHERS, R. JOHNSON, VON M. CARLISLE, LUIS EDGARDO RESTO
Contributed by Alexandra A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.