MC DRS Part 2 - Blackhearted - Lyric Discussion

MC DRS - Blackhearted - Lyric Discussion

Earlier in the week I spoke about DRS' Soul Remembers. Hopefully you've seen it but if not you can check it out  here.

I sent it over to the man himself and he said some real positive stuff about it and even said "It's an accurate breakdown of some of his ramblings." So I'm honored as fuck. Big up everyone that took the time to read it, I'm happy as Larry people actually bother to read what I write, if you're reading this now, you're a don. 

Anyway, I promised a follow up to again prove DRS is way more your standard MC. I'm sticking to 'I Don't Usually Like MC's But.....' as it's his most recent full album. I could choose A LOT of songs to talk about but we'll keep em linked together for now.

(Photo taken from the video from HeavyFeet & DRS - Dirty & Stinking, listen here. Sick song and equally as sick video)

Blackhearted is the tune of choice, you can listen to it with this madness of a hyperlink I just inserted. To fully judge the song you need to listen to the whole thing, I just write about a tiny proportion of it.

Lynx is the beat maestro, throwing in a powerful bassline that adds to the tone of the song, and this one is a lot darker than Soul Remembers.
It focuses on the youth of today being quite simply 'Blackhearted.' It's relatable to more than just the usual DRS audience, it really is a massive issue in Britain's youth culture. Sure, the youth has always been fucked up, but here DR accurately spits about issues the current youngens (including myself) have to deal with growing up in this ever-grey country.

Both verses hold an insane level of impact and expression, but I feel verse two fully hits the nail on the head and is the most powerful lyrically. Plus I don't want make this a 10 page essay.

"Blackhearted children, the city's lost souls.

Millions of tortured minds, their stories not told.

At the end of their rainbow there's not gold,

Hard to be positive or find someone that's not cold."

Even though this intro to the verse doesn't use any ridiculously complex rhyme or vocabulary styles, it's still so relevant and true. A lot of the time it is hard to be positive. The majority of things we hear and see are usually death, poverty, hatred and money issues. How can kids growing up be positive when that's all they know of the world? Adults have become cold from being treated like shit, seeing a lack of hope and generally losing trust in society as a whole. Bang. That's what these bars make me think anyway.

"Millions of tortured minds, their stories not told." Insane impact, "Tortured minds" with "their stories not told" speaks to me. So many of us have our minds rammed with paranoia, or the fear of not amounting to anything, or wasting our lives away, whatever the situation is. But because so many are in the same situation, no one speaks about how it is up in their head. Hence why the youth just act cold-hearted, and walk around "hood up expression frozen". It's a thought process that usually ends in people doing stupid shit because they 'don't care' - but you know it's not a smart choice.

(Or maybe kids smash stuff up purely for fun, who knows)

"Short lived escapes can be bought in ready amounts,

If you need weapons no worries plenty about"

Truth. Again. "Short lived escapes" is an accurate metaphor for drugs, which are ridiculously accessible to the youth. They're all short lived escapes, you just leave reality for a little while and eventually come back with a hole in your pocket, or a hole in lining of your nostrils... The second line is self explanatory, tools used to kill another human are just way too easy to get hold of. 

"Nobody cares that they've been led astray, 

just that they were carrying a knife when they left home today."

This one hits hard, and is the final line of the second verse making it hit even harder. Few actually give a fuck that our youth are growing up with all of these issues, but they're ready to pounce on the troubled ones that feel as if they need to carry protection to not get robbed or attacked. Yeah there's a LOT of fuckers that carry a weapon as a form of intimidation to get what they want, but if their world was a kinder environment that doesn't prioritize money and power, they wouldn't have adopted that mindset in the first place...

I hope you enjoyed reading what I have to say, sorry it's quite negative overall but these are some real concerns DRS is making which he delivers with talent and originality. 

Will our culture ever change? Probably never. These are just current problems too, if DR was around 50 years ago he'd probably still be making similar observations, but talking about the issues that those kids have to deal with in that era instead. Straight up inspiring stuff for me. 

Download 'I Don't Usually Like MC's But...' here https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-dont-usually-like-mcs-but.../id895366432

DRS' second album 'Mid Mic Crisis' is out in March, be sure to listen, I'm certain it will be top notch.

You can also give him a follow on Twitter @MCDRS 

- Peace

MC DRS - Soul Remembers - Lyric Discussion

MC DRS - Lyric discussion

Probably about 90% of the time, since I was about 15/16 the music I choose to listen to is Drum & Bass. Now DnB has a pretty shitty reputation for itself. People that aren't a fan tend to think it's too fast and is just a collection of sounds and weird noises you can only enjoy after dropping some pills in a dingy rave, which is a bit closed minded for me.

People can listen to whatever they want as long as they themselves enjoy it. I hate how so many music genres are associated with an inaccurate stereotype.

Another typical DnB stereotype is that the MC's only perform at super fast speeds, and their lyrics have no real meaning. It's SO much deeper than that, I wish people took the time to understand. But then again I don't really give a shit as I enjoy it regardless of what commercialized chart loving Route 94 and Disclosure fans think.

MC DRS is probably my favourite MC, he has been for ages. I've seen him live many times, and particularly at Fabric and Critical's Xmas Party his stage presence blew me away. His lyrics aren't really posted on the internet often like most stuff, so I've chosen some words from one of his songs that I think demonstrate something more than just 'spraying bars'. It's closer to poetry than anything else in my opinion. Later this week I'll dissect another song of his to prove it's not just a one off. 

I know some people might think this song and music is terrible, but you can enjoy whatever the radio tells you that you should enjoy like most do, I don't really mind either way. 

Soul Remembers (Ft Dub Phizix & Fox) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI1fScNj5_Y (Listen and read at the same time for the full effect ya dig)

"She brings me warm feelings in cold seasons,

 Makes me feel like I'm alive when there's no reason.

Feel like I'm kissing summer sky, she intoxicates, 

So addictive I'm impatient if I ever have to wait.

Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the oak tree but don't lock the gates,

Special when she smiles genuinely when I serenade.

Beautifully dangerous the tactic of this game we play,

Look passionately into each others eyes when we lock and brace.

It's not a trend, I need her because fashions change,

When she glances at me my heart beats a rapid pace.

My soul remembers, every step along the way,

The time we shared is precious, something that you can't replace."

DRS' lyrical talent and flow, paired with Fox's vocal chorus over the top of Dub Phizix' dark bassline and piano riff come together to create a fantastic song. One of my favorites from the 'I Don't Usually Like MC's But...' album. 

This sounds like a love song to an ex, usually these are tragically cheesy, but here I can't help but think each line is genuine emotion. He uses a nice amount of elevated vocabulary, which straight away destroys the stereotype of MC's being 'thick' and unimaginative. 

"Feels like I'm kissing summer sky, she intoxicates, so addictive I'm impatient if I ever have to wait" is one of my favorite lines. The sibilance (repeated S sound) works so well and really makes their love feel almost toxic and dangerous, as he explains in the next set of lyrics. 

Each line rhymes perfectly, and the non stop flow makes it seem he's just pouring out all kids of emotions almost non stop. 

(I'm pretty sure I'm in this photo right at the back, shout out Fabric)

"It's not a trend, I need her because fashions change" is an awesome line. At first I didn't understand what he meant by "fashions change", I thought it literally meant fashion as in current trends because he just used the word trends, but he's referring to the manner in which he acts, well that's what I'm guessing it could mean something completely different.

A lot of people seem to want a relationship to look like they're doing well or are with the 'relationship trend' of this stupid generation, where 15 year olds think they should be getting married. But DRS is saying the opposite, he doesn't want a 'trend relationship', he wants a genuine one because he's changed the way he acts or goes about doing things. Deep shit.

I apologize as this blog ended up being insanely long, but I hope I kept your attention throughout and you have maybe changed your opinion on DnB MC's. Honestly, if you haven't I don't mind. But don't get me wrong some of them are definitely fucking fools. 

Peace out