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
Possession
clipping. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I can't get these thoughts out of my head
These people, they want something from me"
"It is called paranoia, Cynthia
I would like to try a somewhat unconventional procedure with you, if that is acceptable
I believe it will alleviate these visions you are experiencing"
"Please, have a seat
I am going to hold up my watch, and I want you to look at it
I want you to keep your eyes on it, follow it as it swings
Do not look away
Excellent, your eyes are getting tired
As you become aware of how heavy your eyelids are, feel your entire body relax
Deeper, now
Take a deep breath and just let it go, and as you exhale, let your shoulders shrug
Feel your body go limp
Imagine you're an old coat, thrown over the back of a chair
You are completely relaxed now
In front of your face, picture a dark red cloud
Observe it, floating inches before your lips
Feel the heat radiating from it, almost too much to bear
And as you take another breath, suck the cloud deep in your lungs
Feel it fill your body, feel its heat spread through your limbs
And with each breath feel the churning cloud of hate and darkness
As it seeps into every cell of every organ
Prime them, preparing them to accept into your soul the allure of the dark master"
The lyrics to "Possession" by clipping. depict a conversation between two characters, Dr. Huxman and Cynthia, where they discuss Cynthia's disturbing thoughts and experiences. Cynthia expresses her obsession with these thoughts, unable to shake them from her mind. Dr. Huxman suggests an unconventional procedure, implying that he believes it can help alleviate Cynthia's visions. Although skeptical, Cynthia agrees to try it.
The dialogue then transitions into a hypnosis session, with Dr. Huxman instructing Cynthia to focus on his swinging watch. As she follows its movements, her eyes grow tired, and she begins to relax. Dr. Huxman takes her deeper into a state of relaxation, encouraging her to imagine herself completely at ease, like an old coat casually draped over a chair.
Further into the hypnosis, Dr. Huxman prompts Cynthia to visualize a dark red cloud in front of her face, describing an intense heat emanating from it. He guides her to inhale this cloud, allowing it to fill her body and spread through her limbs. The cloud represents hate and darkness, seeping into every part of her being, preparing her to embrace the allure of the "dark master" that is hinted at in the final line.
Overall, the lyrics explore themes of obsession, paranoia, and the allure of darkness. It presents a disturbing scenario where a character, Cynthia, may be susceptible to manipulation and control as she delves into the depths of her own psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
I know it's simply crazy Dr Huxman
I am aware that this idea may sound illogical, Dr. Huxman
But I can't get these thoughts out of my head
However, I am unable to stop these thoughts from occupying my mind
These people, they want something from me
These individuals, they have desires and expectations directed towards me
It is called paranoia, Cynthia
The term for this condition is paranoia, Cynthia
I would like to try a somewhat unconventional procedure with you, if that is acceptable
I am willing to propose an alternative method for treatment to you, one that may be considered unconventional, if you find it agreeable
I believe it will alleviate these visions you are experiencing
I have faith that it will relieve the presence of these hallucinations you are currently encountering
Please, have a seat
Kindly take a moment to sit down
I am going to hold up my watch, and I want you to look at it
I will raise my timekeeping device, and I request for you to direct your gaze towards it
I want you to keep your eyes on it, follow it as it swings
I desire for your eyes to remain fixated upon it, tracking its pendulum-like motion
Do not look away
Ensure that you do not divert your gaze
Excellent, your eyes are getting tired
Very good, your eyes are displaying signs of weariness
As you become aware of how heavy your eyelids are, feel your entire body relax
As you start to acknowledge the weightiness of your eyelids, allow your entire body to enter a state of relaxation
Deeper, now
Immerse yourself further into relaxation
Take a deep breath and just let it go, and as you exhale, let your shoulders shrug
Inhale deeply and release the breath, allowing your shoulders to lift with the exhalation
Feel your body go limp
Experience the sensation of your body becoming completely relaxed and devoid of tension
Imagine you're an old coat, thrown over the back of a chair
Envision yourself as a worn-out coat, casually draped over the backrest of a chair
You are completely relaxed now
At this point, you have achieved full relaxation
In front of your face, picture a dark red cloud
Visualize a cloud of intense scarlet hue right before your eyes
Observe it, floating inches before your lips
Notice its presence, suspended just inches in front of your mouth
Feel the heat radiating from it, almost too much to bear
Sensitize yourself to the warmth emanating from it, reaching a level that is nearly intolerable
And as you take another breath, suck the cloud deep in your lungs
As you inhale once again, draw the cloud deep into your lungs
Feel it fill your body, feel its heat spread through your limbs
Perceive its presence permeating your entire being, sense its warmth spreading throughout your limbs
And with each breath feel the churning cloud of hate and darkness
With every breath, experience the turbulent cloud composed of animosity and obscurity
As it seeps into every cell of every organ
As it gradually infiltrates every individual cell within each of your organs
Prime them, preparing them to accept into your soul the allure of the dark master
Condition them, readying them to embrace the temptation of the malevolent overseer into the depths of your soul
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Daveed Diggs, Jonathan Snipes, William Hutson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind