Lyrically, clipping.’s music attempts to reshuffle and repeat accepted rap scenarios, while eliminating a traditional single-point perspective. Diggs’s writing is heavily citational, like a rough-edged collage, gluing together half-glimpsed images and misremembered references, many of which might feel familiar, and some of which assuredly do not. But even while he consumes and regurgitates established styles, his self-erasure is incomplete; Diggs’s dense, often motormouthed flow remains wholly his own.
Individually, the members are known outside of the group for their extra-curricular artistic projects. Diggs is a stage actor, while Snipes composes music for film, and Hutson is an established noise music artist. Snipes and Hutson have collaborated on many projects, including the score to the documentary Room 237, which was released by IFC in 2013.
In February 2013, clipping. released their debut album, Midcity, on their website. The project was created entirely in-house, with the trio writing, producing, engineering, mixing and mastering all of the material themselves. There was no budget, no outside promotion, no hype-machine, no blog or label interest. In fact, clipping. had no expectation that anyone would bother listening to the album, let alone enjoy it. Nevertheless, reactions were largely positive— despite the uncompromising nature of the production, and its obfuscatory lyrical content— and within five month’s of Midcity’s release, clipping. signed a deal with Sub Pop Records.
CLPPNG, the band’s label debut, was written and recorded between February and October of 2013. Highly well-received, CLPPNG is an album that demonstrates the variety of sounds available when the ‘rules’ of a genre are willfully questioned.
http://www.itsclippingbitch.com
A Better Place
clipping. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And can't feel the wind for the weight of the yoke
And fear that the night will not turn into day
Remember the darkness will show you the way
It's a long way away, it's a long way away
And I'm all alone, alone, alone
All alone, alone, away
Made up of many a miniature message
And misses the most of it
So convoluted, design for disaster
It's making the best of a universe
Far too expansive to cope with
And he never chose nor was chosen
By metrics that make any sense
And the senses are numbed by emotional stresses
There must be a
Better place to
Be somebody
Be somebody else
Who got time on a string, on a finger?
Nothing to remember
But the passage of it
Who got time to let anything linger?
Where it hovers
Surely you will learn to love it
Who got time for this love shit anyway?
Gotta survive
Isn't that mess enough for him?
There must be a
Better place to
Be somebody
Be somebody else
Set a course
It's a bet upon an endless
Roulette wheel odds are ungodly
As are the odds of the body
Making it through and surviving the gravity shift
The gravitas of which is lost
From the lost thoughts of a being chip-ch-chopped
To a bite size in the light eyes
Beggin' don't leave the messenger
The messages and SOS and other S's
In the language where it goes
There must be a
Better place to
Be somebody
Be somebody else
And somebody gotta keep watch where the watch stops
He talks about his pops in polarity
Fingers fantasize of rocks there will never be
"Land ho!" likely
Lest a hole in the mantle of Heaven
He's demanding the evidence for something
That maybe never was for anyone
He's missing something pretty
He's missing where the air tastes gritty
He's missing the splendor and misery
Of bodies, of cities, of being missed
There must be a
Better place to
Be somebody
Be somebody else
Flesh is weaker than the metal, it is true
But the metal's being moved into a thing it doesn't do
Circuitry is only serviceable as much as it is you
So why don't you use it?
Till you use it up, abuse it
It is strong, it can take it if you can't
Your sinews are more intuitively designed for dance
Well, it set up a random course safely away from suns
Four-hundred and twenty-three
By a hundred and twelve by fifty-one
There must be a
Better place to
Be somebody
Be somebody else
Inside the mind of a man is a mystery
Made up of these centuries
Of mistakes he believes
Are important to be
Part of his DNA, calls it history
Species with memories longer
Don't bother with sweating the old shit
Maybe it's this time-bound conscience
That keeps him out pushing through nothing
With only the hope brought on by this belief that
There must be a
Better place to
Be somebody
Be somebody else
Are you ready to go?
Are you ready to go yet?
Let's go
Are you ready to go yet?
Let's go
Are you ready to go?
Are you ready to go yet?
Let's go
Are you ready to go yet?
Let's go
Are you ready to go?
Are you ready to go yet?
Let's go
Are you ready to go yet?
Let's go
There must be a
Better place to
Be somebody
Be somebody else
Go
The lyrics to "A Better Place" by clipping. touch on themes of struggle, self-identity, and the search for a better life. The song begins with a sense of despair and hopelessness, with the singer addressing someone who is beaten down and burdened by their circumstances. They encourage them to embrace the darkness and find their way through it. The repetition of the phrase "it's a long way away" emphasizes the distance between where they are now and the better place they long for.
The second verse delves into the complexities of the human mind, describing it as a "massacre" of thoughts and emotions. The singer navigates a chaotic universe and questions the meaning and purpose of their existence. The lyrics suggest that they feel disconnected from society, unable to conform to societal metrics or norms. The senses are numb from emotional stresses, further emphasizing their isolation.
The chorus reflects the yearning for escape, for the opportunity to be someone else in a better place. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and survival, questioning the value of love in the face of the struggle to survive. The following verses continue to explore themes of searching for meaning and purpose while grappling with the limitations of the physical body. The singer seeks evidence of their existence and questions the nature of reality and perception.
The song concludes with a final chorus, expressing the desire to be someone else and find a better place. The repetition of the question "Are you ready to go?" serves as a call to action, urging the listener to take control of their own destiny and pursue a better life.
Overall, "A Better Place" encapsulates the sense of longing for escape and self-discovery, as well as the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a chaotic world.
Line by Line Meaning
If ever you find yourself beaten and broke
In times of hardship and financial struggle
And can't feel the wind for the weight of the yoke
Feeling burdened and unable to experience freedom or joy
And fear that the night will not turn into day
Having anxiety about the dark times not coming to an end
Remember the darkness will show you the way
Finding guidance and direction in the difficult moments
It's a long way away, it's a long way away
The desired better place seems distant and far off
And I'm all alone, alone, alone
Feeling isolated and without support
All alone, alone, away
Being distant from any sense of belonging
Inside the mind of a man is a massacre
The chaos and destruction within one's own thoughts
Made up of many a miniature message
Composed of numerous small fragments of thoughts
And misses the most of it
Failing to grasp the true essence and significance
So convoluted, design for disaster
Complicated and likely to lead to negative outcomes
It's making the best of a universe
Finding ways to navigate through life's challenges
Far too expansive to cope with
Overwhelming and beyond one's capacity to handle
And he never chose nor was chosen
The individual did not have agency in their circumstances
By metrics that make any sense
Based on criteria that lack rationality or logic
And the senses are numbed by emotional stresses
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed, causing a dulled perception
Who got time on a string, on a finger?
Who has the luxury of controlling time and their own destiny?
Nothing to remember but the passage of it
Only left with the fleeting moments as time goes by
Who got time to let anything linger?
No time to dwell or hold onto anything for long
Where it hovers, surely you will learn to love it
Embracing the present moment and finding appreciation in it
Who got time for this love shit anyway?
Who has the time or energy for complicated relationships?
Gotta survive, isn't that mess enough for him?
Just trying to get through life's hardships is already overwhelming
Set a course
Determine a direction or path to follow
It's a bet upon an endless
Taking a gamble on an infinite and uncertain outcome
Roulette wheel odds are ungodly
The chances of success are extremely low and unpredictable
As are the odds of the body
Likewise, the chances of physical survival are slim
Making it through and surviving the gravity shift
Adapting and enduring the changing and challenging circumstances
The gravitas of which is lost
The significance and weight of the situation is not fully understood
From the lost thoughts of a being chip-ch-chopped
Resulting from the fragmented and confused thoughts of an individual
To a bite size in the light eyes
Reduced to smaller, insignificant pieces in the eyes of others
Beggin' don't leave the messenger
Pleading for the messenger not to abandon their role
The messages and SOS and other S's
The urgent calls for help and other desperate signals
In the language where it goes
Within the complex system of communication and understanding
And somebody gotta keep watch where the watch stops
Someone has to stay vigilant even when time feels stagnant
He talks about his pops in polarity
Discussing his father with conflicting emotions and perspectives
Fingers fantasize of rocks there will never be
Imagining and longing for unattainable riches
"Land ho!" likely
Expressing excitement or anticipation of reaching a desired destination
Lest a hole in the mantle of Heaven
Unless there is a rupture or flaw in the perfection of the divine realm
He's demanding the evidence for something
Seeking proof or validation for his beliefs or desires
That maybe never was for anyone
Questioning if what he wants is even possible or attainable
He's missing something pretty
Missing out on something beautiful or worthwhile
He's missing where the air tastes gritty
Not appreciating the raw and imperfect aspects of life
He's missing the splendor and misery
Failing to fully experience both the joy and pain of existence
Of bodies, of cities, of being missed
The richness and complexity of human relationships and longing
Flesh is weaker than the metal, it is true
Acknowledging the vulnerability and fragility of human bodies
But the metal's being moved into a thing it doesn't do
However, the technology is being utilized for purposes beyond its intended function
Circuitry is only serviceable as much as it is you
Technology can only serve its purpose when controlled by a human
So why don't you use it?
Why not make the most of the available resources and tools?
Till you use it up, abuse it
Fully utilizing and potentially overusing the technology until it is no longer functional
It is strong, it can take it if you can't
The technology can withstand the strain, even if the individual cannot
Your sinews are more intuitively designed for dance
The human body is better suited for expressive and artistic movements
Well, it set up a random course safely away from suns
Creating an unpredictable path, avoiding the risks and dangers
Four-hundred and twenty-three by a hundred and twelve by fifty-one
Navigating through vast numbers and variations, seeking safety
Inside the mind of a man is a mystery
The intricate and enigmatic nature of human thoughts and consciousness
Made up of these centuries
Formed by the accumulated experiences and knowledge spanning generations
Of mistakes he believes are important to be
The errors and missteps that he considers significant to his identity
Part of his DNA, calls it history
Considering these mistakes as an integral part of his personal and collective history
Species with memories longer
Species with longer lifespans and collective memories
Don't bother with sweating the old shit
Not worrying or obsessing over past mistakes or trivial matters
Maybe it's this time-bound conscience
Perhaps it is the human consciousness that is bound by time
That keeps him out pushing through nothing
Preventing him from making progress or moving forward
With only the hope brought on by this belief
Placing faith and optimism in the belief that
That there must be a better place to be somebody
There exists a more fulfilling and authentic way of being
Be somebody else
To find a new identity or sense of self
Are you ready to go?
Are you prepared for the journey or change?
Are you ready to go yet?
Are you ready to start moving or transitioning?
Let's go
Let's begin the process or take action
Go
Embark on the path towards a better place
There must be a better place to be somebody
There must exist a more fulfilling and authentic way of existing as an individual
Be somebody else
To find a new identity or sense of self
Lyrics © Fintage House Publishing
Written by: DAVEED DIGGS, WILLIAM MORAN HUTSON, JONATHAN RALEIGH SNIPES, STEVEN KAPLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Augusto Lira
Such a beatiful song to close up a album, that for the most part, sounded like a living nightmare. It's heartwarming
Armalight
This song makes me wanna cry. After all the pain and loneliness 2331 went through, he STILL doesn't get a happy ending. Just a maybe ending, which is all most of us can hope for. I may not know what it's like to be a slave on the run, but I sure as shit know loneliness, and this whole album resonates with me so fucking deeply because of that.
jagger1407
Man this album is insane, definitely one of the best hip-hop albums of the last decade
But can we just acknowledge that the situation Cargo 2331 is in definitely is 1000x worse than anything the songs of There Existed an Addiction to Blood described? Imagine you're a slave that finally "broke the chains", only to find yourself in a complete state of isolation for the rest of your life? With an AI that holds off any other ship coming for you, essentially holding off the last human interaction that you could ever hope to achieve in a situation like this? The memory of everything that makes you you slowly fading with each passing day and, in the end, accepting your lonely fate and just go?
It's a very grim story told through static, gospel and hip-hop songs, perfectly fitting clipping.'s style. Fuck I love this band
jon sense
The go! Go! Go! Go! Part puts a tear to my eye
givemewhatsleft
This album, and this song in particular feels so far ahead of it's time. I feel like this will be celebrated in a thousand years in ways it deserves to be celebrated now, by humans much much more intelligent than we are. This is evolutionary music
grashoppah
This might be THE album. Fucking amazing, I’m in tears, happy tears? I don’t know, just thankful
Calebeedude
Even though splendor and misery is my least favorite clipping album, this is still my favorite song by them
EnbyNomad
This song gives me hope that someday I'll reach that place.
Martin A. Maguire - [Music]
The first time I heard this I burst out laughing whilst walking down the street. My brain couldn't comprehend it...
Cube Logic
"There must be a better place to be somebody, be somebody else"
Outside of the context of song, this line kinda sounds like words of suicidal person
And also "Are you ready to go? Lets go" sounds like voices in their head, telling him to "go"