Abraham was intent on not falling and started the band as a way to cope and ultimately rising up from hardship. “Jacksonville is a poor and ignorant city,” Abraham continues, “many people who live there have never been anywhere else so I feel to rise up out of that takes a special kind of person.”
After several years on the road, honing their chops nationwide with the likes of Rancid, Bad Brains, Bouncing Souls, Gym Class Heroes, Wu-Tang Clan, Suicidal Tendencies and others, it’s safe to say the band has risen from their humble beginnings in the Southeast. They’ve performed to thousands at major festivals including Coachella, Bamboozle and Warped Tour but they never forget their roots. The band reps their home turf hard no matter what part of the country they may be in at any given time. Aaron shrugs it off with gratitude, “many bands and rappers pay homage to their hometown because it’s what they know and it’s where they got their courage so I have to thank my town and people for that because their aren’t many voices in our town that come with credibility.”
Credibility is something Whole Wheat Bread has earned on both sides of the musical fence – the punk and rap worlds. The game’s elite is down with WWB and whether that’s Lil Jon on the rap side or Tim Armstrong for punk, the band has connected with the artists that have influenced them and now, remarkably view the band as peers. Rancid has invited the band on the road while Lil Jon invited them to play on his upcoming album. “They can see the authenticity of our sound plus Lil Jon loves punk and Tim Armstrong loves rap,” says Aaron, “me and him were talking about T.I. and Lil Jon would talk to me about Bad Brains.”
The band’s unique guitar-charged punk rock mixed with southern hip-hop is perfectly constructed for the iPod-on-shuffle generation who enjoys their music rap, punk, reggae, rock, all mixed together and all points in between. “We can play a show of punk songs and someone from Jamaica will come up to me after the show and ask me, are one of y’all from the Caribbean?” says Aaron, “the different influences have always been there so I see more songs coming that are exactly that and less songs that are simply a punk song.”
Hearts of Hoodlums is the band's new album. It was produced by Travis Huff (Yellowcard, Armor For Sleep) with guest appearances by rapper Murs and punk rocker Mike McColgan of Street Dogs. Hearts of Hoodlums showcases the band’s versatility from the balls-out metal of “I Can’t Think” to the epic “Staying True” starting with acoustic guitars and string flourishes only to end with the band rocking out in full-unabashed glory. The album’s opener “Bombs Away” shines with vocal contributions from Mike McColgan of Street Dogs and a lyrical message that hits home. According to Abraham the song is about “the war, the effect of the economy, immigration and so on”. He continues, “it all seems so senseless and all that happens in the end is a loss.”
The catchy “Girlfriend Like This” has a reggae backbeat and features samples that would sound at home on a Lee Scratch Perry album. The band’s homage to repping your home turf “Throw Your Sets Up” features southern rap with distorted guitars sounding somewhat like a hybrid of Outkast and N.E.R.D.
Fans of the band’s punk edge won’t be disappointed as while the album is versatile, there’s plenty to mosh to like “Lower Class Man” or “New Age Southern Baptist N*gga From Da Hood” of which Aaron simply says, “hallelujah my n*gga.”
Whole Wheat Bread will perform on March 19 at SXSW in Austin, TX. They are planning a UK trip this April.
Broke
Whole Wheat Bread Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no time for question asking
Hide the weed under the napkin
Try hard not to laugh
'Cause I fucked up big time on this one
I'm getting busted for possession
Shit, I got a concealed weapon
Laying in my lap
If you were where I'm at
You would do the same god damn thing
It ain't because I'm black
It's just because I don't have a thing
I'm 19 years old and broke as fuck
I'm a pothead and an alcoholic
Label me a fucking convict
There's not a penny in my wallet
So gimme all your change
I'm in and out of jail and rehab
Can't seem to break the habits we have
But Mary Jane always makes me laugh
And that's the bitch to blame
If you were where I'm at
You would do the same god damn thing
It ain't because I'm black
Its just because I don't have a thing
I'm 19 years old and broke as fuck
Broke as fuck
Broke as fuck
I'm 19 years old and broke as fuck
I'm 19 years old and broke as fuck
I'm 19 years old and broke as fuck
The lyrics to Whole Wheat Bread's song Broke in 2-3 tell the story of a 19-year-old who is caught with drugs and a concealed weapon while also being broke and struggling with addiction. The song is a commentary on the struggles that young people face when trying to make ends meet and the temptations that come along with it. The first verse sets the stage, with the singer getting pulled over and realizing that he's in trouble. He tries to hide his weed and stay composed, but he knows he's going to get busted. He reflects on his situation, acknowledging that he messed up and that he's going to pay the price. The second verse dives deeper into the singer's struggles. He admits to being a pothead and an alcoholic, and he's been in and out of jail and rehab. He seems unable to escape his addictions, and he's resigned to his fate. The song ends with a repetition of the title, emphasizing the singer's poverty and desperation.
The lyrics are powerful because they paint a picture of a person who is trapped in a cycle of addiction and poverty. The singer is aware of his problems, but he seems unable to overcome them. The song also touches on themes of systemic inequality, as the singer suggests that his situation is not solely due to his race, but also his lack of resources. It's a nuanced and thoughtful exploration of a complex issue, and it's a testament to Whole Wheat Bread's songwriting abilities.
Line by Line Meaning
They're pulling up, their lights are flashing
The police are arriving and their sirens and lights are on.
There's no time for question asking
There is no time to question the situation or the police.
Hide the weed under the napkin
Conceal the marijuana by placing it under a napkin.
Try hard not to laugh
Make an effort not to laugh or act suspicious.
'Cause I fucked up big time on this one
The artist made a serious mistake and is in trouble now.
I'm getting busted for possession
The singer is being arrested for having drugs.
Shit, I got a concealed weapon
The singer also has a hidden weapon and may face additional charges.
Laying in my lap
The weapon is currently on the artist's lap.
If you were where I'm at
If you were in my position or situation,
You would do the same god damn thing
You would make the same choices or mistakes that I did.
It ain't because I'm black
The situation is not because of the singer's race.
It's just because I don't have a thing
The artist is in trouble because they have nothing, no money or resources.
I'm 19 years old and broke as fuck
The singer is young and completely without money.
I'm a pothead and an alcoholic
The singer has a habit of smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol.
Label me a fucking convict
The singer is often labeled or treated as a criminal.
There's not a penny in my wallet
The artist has no money in their wallet.
So gimme all your change
The artist is asking for anyone's spare change.
I'm in and out of jail and rehab
The singer has been in and out of jail and rehab centers for their habits.
Can't seem to break the habits we have
The singer cannot seem to quit or change their bad habits.
But Mary Jane always makes me laugh
Marijuana always makes the artist feel happy or laugh.
And that's the bitch to blame
Marijuana is to blame for the artist's continued use and trouble with the law.
Broke as fuck
The artist is extremely poor or out of money.
I'm 19 years old and broke as fuck
The singer is young and completely without money.
I'm 19 years old and broke as fuck
The artist is young and completely without money.
I'm 19 years old and broke as fuck
The singer is young and completely without money.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Tirius69
these guys put on a freaking awesome show
@richardr8621
I saw these guys in Hartford CT about 15 years ago when I was 19. I will never forget how much fun I had.
@TheBrittanybrown
I seen them open up for suicidal, and their really good!
@RedlinebikerPW
I play this song on my birthday every year. "19 years old and broke as fuck". Still true, every birthday.
@projektRad
I'm 19 years old...have a job and am still broke as FUCK!!! i love this song....
@splitgardenz1
Im 37 and broke as fuck! on blast
@Danfrombackhome
I'm 25, broke, work a job I hate and just wanna jam all day.
@bobtheheadman
SO FUCKING GOOD.
@haleypartyka8388
Happy 19th birthday to me. Celebrating by listening to this song and being broke as fuck.
@HypnoticChronic1
Was 19 year old pot head n broke as fuck when I first heard this dope ass song I'm 22 now n still broke as fuck props to WWB for reppin FL and keepin it real