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.
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Eaten Alive
clipping. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you step a foot up in the swamp with your gators on
That's redundant when one takes a foot
And I ain't never slicked up in your city uninvited
Wish a motherfucker would
Stay put, this shot is heavy
Your frame light (light)
You're more than six degrees and can't explain the life
When the fuck the swamp turn into real estate?
Spirits in the weeping willows heavyweight
Spirits out the bathtub for the every day
Heavy mists got vision cloudy anyway
Any way they go they never get away
Shotgun in the shed and he can't wait to play
Fuck up a dollar general for Gatorade
It's gators waiting in the water, chillin'
Fuck it, he can wait
Grab a motherfucker and then fade away
Wrestle with the scales until the break of day
Bullet through a bottle, like it's breakaway
Shattered glass amassing on the grasses where the babies play
Bleeding feet could bring the beast out any day
Bleeding hearts come teach him, thinking they could save
They maybe should save their favors for a rainy day
It's way too many dead around for fake-ass prayers to make a way
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't you step a foot up in the swamp with your gators on
That's redundant when one takes a foot (take that)
I ain't never slicked up in your city uninvited
Wish a motherfucker would
Stay put, this shot is heavy, your frame light
You're more than six degrees and can't explain the life
When the fuck the swamp turn into fashion week?
Used to be pull up here flashy wouldn't last a week
Used to stand out by just standing 'til he atrophied
Stitches tattooed on his lips so he don't have to speak
Hood commando flip a gram up to a half a key
Pop a band up out the bando 'bout a half a week
Pimpin' partners lock it down, they feel like Master P
You ain't in the trap house 'less you got a master key
The rims are thirty inches here because the grass is deep
Gold on his molars 'cause he only got 'bout half his teeth
You passing through to spread your gospel, you gon' have to leave
Wrapped up in a casket are the only ones that pass to see
Most cues ain't verbal, why you wasting time with flattery?
All kings are bastards 'round here, that just happens naturally
Bathwater babies creep up out the bayou magically
And leave your brains behind the outhouse in the grass for cats to eat
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't you step a foot up in the swamp with your gators on
That's redundant when one takes a foot (take that)
I ain't never slicked up in your city uninvited
Wish a motherfucker would
Stay put, this shot is heavy, your frame light
You're more than six degrees and can't explain the life
You never lived, you never leave, it's curtains
The fog over the swamp should make you nervous
Take the chorus
They weighed the water child
Highest to the demons speaking english via crocodile
Cock a smile sideways, church for Sunday
Sometimes that shit you didn't know more dangerous than gunplay
In "Eaten Alive," Clipping. delves into the mysterious and dangerous world of the swamp. The song is about the dangers of entering an unfamiliar territory without understanding its rules and customs. The lyrics warn the listener not to wear "gators" or alligator shoes, in the swamps. The opening verse warns, "Don't you step a foot up in the swamp with your gators on/That's redundant when one takes a foot." The song challenges the idea of invading, exploring or exploiting a place without permission, hinted at in the lines "I ain't never slicked up in your city uninvited/Wish a motherfucker would."
The song gradually builds up, with the chorus emphasizing the dangers of the ominous swamp. The lyrics question, "When the fuck the swamp turn into real estate?" and "When the fuck the swamp turn into fashion week?" These lines are a commentary on how the outside world views the swamp as a place to be exploited, rather than respected. The song captures the eerie and creepy sounds of the swamp with a slow and ominous repetition of "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah," and sound effects that make the listener feel as though they're actually walking through the swamp.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The repeated 'yeahs' signify a warning to the listener.
Don't you step a foot up in the swamp with your gators on
Wearing alligator shoes while entering the swamp is futile and foolish.
That's redundant when one takes a foot
Using a single foot to enter the swamp is dangerous enough, so wearing alligator shoes is unnecessary.
And I ain't never slicked up in your city uninvited
The artist hasn't visited the listener's city without an invitation.
Wish a motherfucker would
The artist invites anyone who dares to visit uninvited to be met with violent consequences.
Stay put, this shot is heavy
The gunshot that will be fired is powerful and dangerous.
Your frame light (light)
The listener is physically weak and not prepared for the singer's threat.
You're more than six degrees and can't explain the life
The artist suggests that the listener is not as connected or influential as they think they are and cannot comprehend their tough lifestyle.
When the fuck the swamp turn into real estate?
The artist is questioning when the swamp became desirable property.
Spirits in the weeping willows heavyweight
The ghosts in the trees surrounding the swamp hold a strong presence.
Spirits out the bathtub for the every day
Even regular places like bathtubs are haunted in this area.
Heavy mists got vision cloudy anyway
The thick fog in the swamp makes it difficult to see clearly.
Any way they go they never get away
No matter where you flee, escape from the dangers of the swamp is unlikely.
Shotgun in the shed and he can't wait to play
The singer knows someone who is eager to use their shotgun in the swamp.
Fuck up a dollar general for Gatorade
The danger and desperation of the swamp leads people to rob dollar stores for basic supplies.
It's gators waiting in the water, chillin'
The alligators in the swamp are relaxing and waiting for their next prey.
Fuck it, he can wait
The artist is nonchalant about someone else being attacked by the alligators.
Grab a motherfucker and then fade away
Someone could be pulled under the water by an alligator and disappear without a trace.
Wrestle with the scales until the break of day
Fighting with an alligator is a physical struggle that could last all night.
Bullet through a bottle, like it's breakaway
Shooting through a bottle is as easy as breaking it apart.
Shattered glass amassing on the grasses where the babies play
Broken glass litters the ground where children play in the swamp area.
Bleeding feet could bring the beast out any day
Any sign of vulnerability and weakness could attract the danger of the swamp.
Bleeding hearts come teach him, thinking they could save
People with good intentions try to save those in the swamp from harm, but it often leads to their own demise.
They maybe should save their favors for a rainy day
The artist suggests that helping others in the swamp is a wasted effort and it would be better to save resources for oneself.
It's way too many dead around for fake-ass prayers to make a way
The singer scoffs at the idea that prayer will solve the issues in the swamp, as there are too many dead bodies around as a result of the danger and violence.
When the fuck the swamp turn into fashion week?
The singer marvels at the notion that a dangerous swamp has now become fashionable.
Used to be pull up here flashy wouldn't last a week
In the past, showing off wealth would result in being targeted for crime and potentially not living very long in the swamp area.
Used to stand out by just standing 'til he atrophied
To stand out in the swamp, one would have to stay for a long time, potentially leading to physical deterioration and weakness.
Stitches tattooed on his lips so he don't have to speak
Someone in the swamp may have had their lips sewn shut as a means of staying silent and avoiding calling attention to themselves.
Hood commando flip a gram up to a half a key
Drug dealers in the swamp are resourceful and can make large deals happen quickly.
Pop a band up out the bando 'bout a half a week
Thieves can easily make a few thousand dollars within a week by stealing from empty houses or abandoned buildings.
Pimpin' partners lock it down, they feel like Master P
Pimps have control over their prostitutes and feel powerful like the rapper Master P.
You ain't in the trap house 'less you got a master key
Those who don't have access to the necessary keys or knowledge are not capable of working within the drug scene of the swamp.
The rims are thirty inches here because the grass is deep
Large wheels are necessary in the swamp area to drive through tall grass.
Gold on his molars 'cause he only got 'bout half his teeth
Someone in the swamp may have invested in gold teeth as a means of elevating their appearance, despite having missing or damaged teeth.
You passing through to spread your gospel, you gon' have to leave
Trying to preach a religious message in the swamp area is not welcome and will only result in being shunned or threatened to leave.
Wrapped up in a casket are the only ones that pass to see
The singer suggests that only those who have died and are in a coffin can escape the danger of the swamp.
Most cues ain't verbal, why you wasting time with flattery?
In the swamp area, people's intentions are often clear and not hidden, so using flattery is useless and unnecessary.
All kings are bastards 'round here, that just happens naturally
Despots reign in the swamp with little decency, and it's expected behavior from those in power.
Bathwater babies creep up out the bayou magically
Children born in the swamp are said to magically appear, adding to the mysterious nature of the area.
And leave your brains behind the outhouse in the grass for cats to eat
Those who don't heed the warnings of the swamp may lose their minds or their lives, and their bodies may be left for animals to pick apart.
You never lived, you never leave, it's curtains
If you enter the swamp, your chances of survival and leaving the area are slim to none.
The fog over the swamp should make you nervous
The thick fog conceals the true dangers lurking in the swamp.
Take the chorus
The artist repeats the chorus as a reminder of the swamp's lethal nature.
They weighed the water child
The bodies of those drowned in the swamp may be found floating in the water.
Highest to the demons speaking english via crocodile
In the swamp area, it is believed that the voice of the devil speaks through the crocodiles that inhabit the area.
Cock a smile sideways, church for Sunday
The singer suggests that those in the swamp may put on a fake smile but attend church on Sundays to appear moral.
Sometimes that shit you didn't know more dangerous than gunplay
The unknown dangers of the swamp can be more lethal than a physical altercation with a gun.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Daveed Diggs, Jonathan Snipes, William Hutson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind