Gaining recognition through various features and live shows, Yugen has been on the SA scene for over a decade. After joining indie label Iapetus Records in 2009, home to artists such as the late great Robo, Hymphatic Thabs and Fifi the RaiBlaster, she teamed up with Sampletologist Kanif the Jhatmaster, releasing several videos and singles, leading up to her debut album.
‘Return of the Astro-Goth’ (2013) was well received by the Hip-Hop community worldwide, receiving several five star ratings, and caught the attention of renowned Hip-Hop veterans such as Chuck D and Sage Francis. It also saw her nominated three times at the 2014 SA Hip-Hop awards, in the best Lyricist, best Newcomer and best Female categories.
Having toured Europe several times, Yugen has opened for Hip-Hop legends such as MC Lyte (Germany/Switzerland), Pete Rock & CL Smooth (Denmark) and Edo G (Austria), and was the opening act at world renowned Hip-Hop Kemp in Czech Republic in 2016.
Back home in SA she has performed alongside names such as Public Enemy (2012), Sage Francis (2015) and Jeru the Damaja (2016).
She has also featured on several international collaborations, releasing music with artists such as Jak Progresso, Naomi Pilgrim, Copywrite, Von Poe VII and Bradata of Dusted Wax Kingdom.
Her sound is a mix of sci-fi soundscapes, hard drums and meditative melodies, over which Blakrok’s words command vivid attention. Live the room often moves as one, as in a trance, led through the acoustic void.
Currently perfecting her spells and putting final touches to her follow up album deep in the basements of Iapetus, she sometimes emerges to collect writing paper or moonbeams.
Carbon Form
Yugen Blakrok Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cosmic breath, I'm air element, find strength in the mental
The thought behind the rhyme's consequential
The flow's decked in space boots, leaping over lunar tombs
Write lyrics in runes and play the Muse
Inspire Fate to paint predestination's landscapes
For the awakened, imaginations are stargates
Hearing voices in the breeze observing airy commentary
Asleep in howling deserts with thorn trees in bloom
Until the spell breaks, I'm wolf to the full moon
And wild as the monsoon, glassy eyes like crushed minerals
The pattern's troublesome planet's crying rivers of literals
Wooden tears flaking into fragments and splintering
Buried in the earth where dark secrets lie whispering
That the end has not yet come to the place where dreams rest at
I look at self, facing the mirror, nothing's reflected
Black stone carbon, I'm stardust
Bizarre, trust quiet, part-mime invade the mind like archons
My jargon's a headache to decipher, never idle
The heavy burden's only light work to bright disciples
And I'm sky bound, messenger like Malachi
Cardinal offspring of Capricorn and Gemini
Born from a sandstorm, whirlwinds in my burning eyes
Slayed a beast with seven tongues, electrifying
So I vibrate in coded synergy, linguistics my Achilles heel
Wade in stellar waters deep, a mystic whistling in the reeds
That cosmic breath, that air element that finds strength in the mental
Make all doubts of the mind inconsequential
In this song, Yugen Blakrok explores her identity as a cosmic being, examining her existence as a combination of elemental and imaginative forces. She recognizes herself as an air element, finding strength in her mental abilities, and puts great importance on the thoughts behind her lyrics. Blakrok also presents herself as a sort of interstellar traveler, decked out in space boots and leaping over lunar tombs. She writes her lyrics in runes and looks to her muse for inspiration.
Blakrok imagines predestination's landscapes and sees imaginations as accessible through stargates. She is in tune with the natural world, hearing voices in the breeze and commenting on the natural beauty of the world, such as the howling deserts with thorn trees in bloom. Despite being a wolf to the full moon and wild as the monsoon, she recognizes the pain and chaos that exists within the world, where planets cry rivers of literals and dark secrets lie buried in the earth.
Line by Line Meaning
Cosmic breath, I'm air element, find strength in the mental
I draw strength from the power of my mind and thoughts, which are like the cosmic breath and air element, respectively.
The thought behind the rhyme's consequential
Each word and idea behind my lyrics has a significant impact and meaning.
The flow's decked in space boots, leaping over lunar tombs
The rhythm and movement of my lyrics are like a space explorer, jumping over the craters of the moon.
Write lyrics in runes and play the Muse
I use the ancient language of runes to create my lyrics and let the Muse guide me in my artistic expression.
Inspire Fate to paint predestination's landscapes
I use my creativity and imagination to inspire Fate to create a destiny full of possibility and beauty.
For the awakened, imaginations are stargates
Those who are awakened to their creative potential can use their imagination to travel to new realms and dimensions of existence.
Whistle, I'm listening Pilgrim of the House of the Wind, I'm the emissary
As a traveler through life and the winds of change, I listen closely to the world around me and act as an emissary for those who cannot speak.
Hearing voices in the breeze observing airy commentary
I hear the whispers of the wind and use them to understand and reflect upon the world and its complexities.
Asleep in howling deserts with thorn trees in bloom
I find peace and rest even in the harshest and most dangerous environments, surrounded by the beauty of nature.
Until the spell breaks, I'm wolf to the full moon
I am like a wild wolf, howling at the full moon until the spell of life is broken and my journey is complete.
And wild as the monsoon, glassy eyes like crushed minerals
My passion and energy are like a wild monsoon, and my eyes reflect intensity and strength like crushed minerals.
The pattern's troublesome planet's crying rivers of literals
The pattern of our existence and the words we use to describe it can be difficult to understand, and sometimes even the earth itself seems to be crying with us.
Wooden tears flaking into fragments and splintering
My tears are like wood, fragile and prone to splintering into pieces.
Buried in the earth where dark secrets lie whispering
Sometimes, our deepest and darkest secrets are buried within us, whispering their secrets to us from deep within the earth of our being.
That the end has not yet come to the place where dreams rest at
Even though we may feel broken and lost, there is still hope that our dreams will be realized and come to fruition.
I look at self, facing the mirror, nothing's reflected
Sometimes, when we look at ourselves in the mirror, we cannot see a reflection of who we truly are, and it can feel like we are lost or invisible.
Black stone carbon, I'm stardust
Although I may seem solid and unchanging like black stone carbon, I am made of the same stardust and cosmic elements as everything else in the universe.
Bizarre, trust quiet, part-mime invade the mind like archons
My strange and unconventional style of music and expression may be difficult to comprehend at first, but over time it can invade the mind and inspire trust and faith.
My jargon's a headache to decipher, never idle
My unique way of speaking and writing may be difficult to understand and interpret, but I am always working and creating something new.
The heavy burden's only light work to bright disciples
Although my work may seem challenging and overwhelming, it is only light and easy for those who are willing to learn and follow in my path.
And I'm sky bound, messenger like Malachi
I am like a messenger from the heavens, bound for the sky and inspired by the prophet Malachi.
Cardinal offspring of Capricorn and Gemini
I am like a cardinal point of the compass, with qualities of both Capricorn and Gemini in my personality.
Born from a sandstorm, whirlwinds in my burning eyes
I emerged from the chaos and destruction of life, my eyes burning with the intensity of a raging sandstorm.
Slayed a beast with seven tongues, electrifying
I have faced and conquered great challenges and dangers, like a beast with seven tongues, and emerged from the experience feeling alive and electrified.
So I vibrate in coded synergy, linguistics my Achilles heel
I am in tune with the rhythms and flows of the universe, and use my poetic language to express my deepest feelings and emotions.
Wade in stellar waters deep, a mystic whistling in the reeds
I am like a mystical creature, singing and whistling in the depths of the universe, surrounded by the beauty and wonder of the stars.
That cosmic breath, that air element that finds strength in the mental
Once again, I am reminded that my essence and strength lies in the power of my mind and the cosmic breath that runs through all things.
Make all doubts of the mind inconsequential
With this knowledge of my own strength, I can overcome any doubts and fears that may come my way and make them inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Nokuthula Qaqamba Ndodana
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Timothy Stafford
{Intro}
Yes
Never relax
Okay
{Verse}
Cosmic breath, the air element
Find strength in the mental
The thought behind the rhyme’s consequential
The flow’s decked in space boots
Leaping over lunar tombs
Write lyrics in runes and play the muse
Inspire fate to paint predestination’s landscapes
For the awakened, imaginations are stargates
Whistle, I’m listening–the pilgrim of the house of the wind
I’m the emissary
Hearing voices in the breeze, observing airy commentary
Asleep in howling deserts with thorn trees in bloom
Until the spell breaks, I am wolf to the full moon
Wild as the monsoon, glassy eyes like crushed minerals
The pattern’s troublesome–planet’s crying rivers of literals
Wooden tears flaking into fragments and splintering
Buried in the earth where dark secrets lie whispering
That the end has not yet come to the place where dreams rest at
I look at self, facing the mirror, nothing’s reflected
Black stone carbon, I’m stardust, bizarre trust
Quiet, part-time mime, invade the mind like archons
My jargon’s a headache to decipher
Never idle, the heavy burden’s only light work to bright disciples
And I’m sky-bound, messenger like Malachi
Cardinal offspring of Capricorn and Gemini
Born from a sandstorm, whirlwinds in my burning eyes
Slayed a beast with seven tongues, electrifying
So I vibrate in coded synergy, linguistics my Achilles heel
Wade in stellar waters deep, a mystic whistling in the reeds
That cosmic breath, that air element that finds strength in the mental
Make all doubts of the mind inconsequential
{Outro}
Black stone carbon, I’m stardust, bizarre trust
Quiet, part-time mime, invade the mind like archons
I.O.T Records
//////////////// LYRICS ////////////////
Cosmic breath, I’m air element, find strength in the mental
The thought behind the rhyme’s consequential
The flow’s decked in space boots, leaping over lunar tombs
Write lyrics in runes and play the Muse
Inspire Fate to paint predestination’s landscapes
For the awakened, imaginations are stargates
Whistle, I’m listening – Pilgrim of the House of the Wind, I’m the emissary
Hearing voices in the breeze observing airy commentary
Asleep in howling deserts with thorn trees in bloom
Until the spell breaks, I’m wolf to the full moon
And wild as the monsoon, glassy eyes like crushed minerals
The pattern’s troublesome – planet’s crying rivers of literals
Wooden tears flaking into fragments and splintering
Buried in the earth where dark secrets lie whispering
That the end has not yet come to the place where dreams rest at
I look at self, facing the mirror, nothing’s reflected
Black stone carbon, I’m stardust
Bizarre, trust – quiet, part-mime invade the mind like archons
My jargon’s a headache to decipher, never idle
The heavy burden’s only light work to bright disciples
And I’m sky bound, messenger like Malachi
Cardinal offspring of Capricorn and Gemini
Born from a sandstorm, whirlwinds in my burning eyes
Slayed a beast with seven tongues, electrifying
So I vibrate in coded synergy, linguistics my Achilles heel
Wade in stellar waters deep, a mystic whistling in the reeds
That cosmic breath, that air element that finds strength in the mental
Make all doubts of the mind inconsequential
Timothy Stafford
{Intro}
Yes
Never relax
Okay
{Verse}
Cosmic breath, the air element
Find strength in the mental
The thought behind the rhyme’s consequential
The flow’s decked in space boots
Leaping over lunar tombs
Write lyrics in runes and play the muse
Inspire fate to paint predestination’s landscapes
For the awakened, imaginations are stargates
Whistle, I’m listening–the pilgrim of the house of the wind
I’m the emissary
Hearing voices in the breeze, observing airy commentary
Asleep in howling deserts with thorn trees in bloom
Until the spell breaks, I am wolf to the full moon
Wild as the monsoon, glassy eyes like crushed minerals
The pattern’s troublesome–planet’s crying rivers of literals
Wooden tears flaking into fragments and splintering
Buried in the earth where dark secrets lie whispering
That the end has not yet come to the place where dreams rest at
I look at self, facing the mirror, nothing’s reflected
Black stone carbon, I’m stardust, bizarre trust
Quiet, part-time mime, invade the mind like archons
My jargon’s a headache to decipher
Never idle, the heavy burden’s only light work to bright disciples
And I’m sky-bound, messenger like Malachi
Cardinal offspring of Capricorn and Gemini
Born from a sandstorm, whirlwinds in my burning eyes
Slayed a beast with seven tongues, electrifying
So I vibrate in coded synergy, linguistics my Achilles heel
Wade in stellar waters deep, a mystic whistling in the reeds
That cosmic breath, that air element that finds strength in the mental
Make all doubts of the mind inconsequential
{Outro}
Black stone carbon, I’m stardust, bizarre trust
Quiet, part-time mime, invade the mind like archons
Timothy Stafford
I keep coming here again & again! ❤
Timothy Stafford
Again!
Sarah Stafford
@Timothy Stafford And sending others!
Timothy Stafford
@Sarah Stafford of course
BJ Scarberry
Her flow is undeniable. Truly a kindred spirit & force to be reckoned with. I came across her after my band (just Yugen) was mistakingly tagged in a post by her. Best thing that's ever happened.
Palesa Sikwane
Met her in a cypher at black Sunday about a decade back. Now she's doing tracks featured on black panther with Vince Staples and touring the world and sharing her amazing gift. Dope stuff Yugen ; you're repping that unique SA hip-hop that so many people slept on and some people don't even know about(I call it the "forgotten era") . Would like to see Thabz on a feature 🔥. Thanks for the upload ☺️ one love.
Meta Vet
All her lines, flow and lyrics are the style I’ve been playing with for years it’s amazing to hear that style manifested with such skill. Her and her teams imagery and movements are sublime. Some true ART. I think I’m in love☯️
lebohang likotsi
we need rappers like her...food for thoughts
Lebo Huey
The end has not come yet to the place where dreams rest at🖤