The Streets

[CHAPPERS]

Yeah, I agree. But its not like he's the only one doing that. He's just the only one that the media have chosen to exploit, and there's far better if you look for it.

Hmmmmm, his first album was relatively slept on. The 'media' didn't really pick up on him until his second album came out. Deny it all you like Koaste, mans got skills.

 

[enigma]

Apparently one of his parents is from London and the other one is from Brum, which explains his hybrid accent.

I dont like everything he has done, but I dont think you can just dismiss him out of hand, I think he is a very talented and UNIQUE bloke.

Preferred the first album, but some good tunes on the second one, such as Blinded by the Lights.

 

[D'Angelo Saxon]

Hmmmmm, his first album was relatively slept on. The 'media' didn't really pick up on him until his second album came out. Deny it all you like Koaste, mans got skills.

The media didn't pick him up till his second album? Get out of it...

His fisher-price lyricism makes him marketable to the under 15's. Thats why he's so popular. Skill doesn't come into it.

 

[enigma]

The media didn't pick him up till his second album? Get out of it...

His fisher-price lyricism makes him marketable to the under 15's. Thats why he's so popular. Skill doesn't come into it.

I think thats quite harsh. Some of his lyrics are simple, but I think he makes some good obervations about how Britain is today. Blinded by the Lights is a vivid portrayal of a night on pills/drugs etc.

I think thats whats made him popular. I dont even think that the under 15s are a massive part of the people that buy his records. My guess is it would be people that are at college up until late 20s that do the same sort of things that he does, and can relate to him.

As for the media. they picked up on him after the first album, but a lot more people jumped on the bandwagon after the second album.

 

[Silent Bob]

Original Pirate Material was QUALLA. The second one was ok, not great.

 

[CHAPPERS]

The media didn't pick him up till his second album? Get out of it...

There was a good few months where OPM wasn't heard of by a LOT of people, let alone the media who only raelly got involved when they heard 'Dry Your Eyes'.

 

[enigma]

Original Pirate Material was QUALLA. The second one was ok, not great.

I have to agree with you, the first one is better.Some amazing tunes on there, Weak Become Heroes, Dont Mug Yourself, Turn the Page etc...

The second one is maybe more experimental in terms of the production, but I can't listen to it as much. Some good tunes on there. I like the concept of the album. Dry Your Eyes is a shit song though.

I like some of the remixs of his stuff- Roll Deep remix of Lets Push Thing Forward, Fit but you Know It (Kano, Donae'O, Tinchy Stryder, Lady Sov).Could Well Be IN (few mcs), get out of my house (Kano and a few others).

 

[Rougvie]

Streetscore is an amazingly humble, sombre track about a bloke who cannot understand why people are buying his records about everyday life.

Thats what Mike Skinner does best, songs that we relate to because they are about being in a kebab shop at 3 in the morning at some point in our lives, in the early stuff and OPM the lyrics very graphically illustrated the bad days that drink/drugs/boredom bring, in a way that many many people have experienced.

The latest single is pitched to a very different audience that is into the normal 50 cent type of rubbish that promotes celebrity status. Skinner used to parody that sort of stuff, not sure if he hasnt got just a bit caught up in all his hype.

 

[D'Angelo Saxon]

The Streets is just an audio version of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. That is all.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

SKINNER is a GENIUS.

They are the most important group in YEARS.

Off to see them at Brixton and cannot RUDDY wait.

 

[enigma]

The Streets is just an audio version of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. That is all.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Ok here's some examples. This is one of my favourites off the first album, if you read it you can feel the lyrics flow.

"Turn The Page"

That's it
Turn the page on the day, walk away
'cos there's sense in what I say
I'm 45th generation Roman
But I don't know 'em
Or care when I'm spitting
So return to your sitting position and listen it's fitting
I'm miles ahead and they chase me
Show yer face on TV, then we'll see
You can't do half, my crew laughs
At yer rhubarb and custard verses
You rain down curses but I'm waving,
Yer hearse is driving by
Streets riding high, with the beats in the sky
All stare, eyes glazed
Garage burnt down, the fire raged
For 40 days and in 40 ways
But through the blaze they see it fade
The sea of black, the beaming heat on their faces
Then a figure emerges from the wastage
Eyes transfixed with a piercing gaze
One hand clutching a sword raised to the sky
They wonder how, they wonder why
The sky turns white, it all becomes clear
They felt lifted from their fears
They shed tears in the light
After 6 dark years
Young bold soldiers, the fire burns
Cracks and smoulders
5 years older and wiser
The fires are burning on fire, never tire
Slay warriors in the forests and on higher
We sing, hear the strings rising
The war's over, the bells ring
Memories fading, soldiers slaying
Looks like geezers raving
The hazy fog over the Bull Ring
The lazy ways the birds sing
A new baby's born every day
Few men may be scorned today
But look at things the other way
Cos it may well be yer final day
And then the crowds roar, they slay, they all say
I produce this using only my bare wit
Gimme a jungle, a garage beat and admit defeat,
Use war and past injury as my metaphor and simile
Get all applications into me before the deadline
Cos it's a fine line between strifeful crimes
And a life of crime
But you will reach the day, and it's all mine
You can take it or leave it,
I shake and reveal stage tricks like Jimi Hendrix
In the afterlife gladiators meet their maker
Float through the wheat fields and lakes of blue water
To the next life from the fortress
Away from the knives and slaughter
To their wives and daughters
Once more before the Lord judges over all of us
Cos in this place you'll see me
Brace yourself, cos this goes deep
I'll show you the secrets, the sky and the birds
Actions speak louder than words
Stand by me my apprentice
Be brave, clench fists.
________________________________________

This is off the second album. Nothing clever about it, as if it's been dumbed down so that some 15 year old pikeys can understand it.


"I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way"

I should be standing at the bar
Waving a ten pound note around
But I sit here on the sofa at my girl’s house
I should be chatting shit as I’m nubbing out another snout
But I’ll roach a spliff watching the TV for now

I should be watching the fruit machines
For which one will pay out
But I sit on the sofa at my girls
Any how

I should be legging it from a cab
Like a mad little lout
But I’ll roach a spliff watching the TV
Throughout

I know I never tell her
But every single day man
I’m always thinking loads about her
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me
And I don’t know what I’d do without her

I should actually go out and about
Flip some beer mats
Instead of sitting her at my girls gaff
Because all I seem to do is sit in this habitat
Just roaching a spliff, watching the TV and that

And the TV at my house is a bit broken on the back
So I use my girls TV to watch the match
Yeah, I might head out later
To get off this beaten track
Of watching the TV, roaching up
I’m the same old man

I know I never tell her
But every single day man
I’m always thinking loads about her
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me
And I don’t know what I’d do without her

But on second thought
So why don’t you shots
No, I think I’ll sit on the sofa
And eat my TV meal
I would actually much prefer to just sit here and chill
Roaching a spliff, watching East Enders or the Bill
Because basically I love her
And I love being here still
And I love sitting on the sofa
With my girl
For real
I don’t want to knock my mates
But there it’s the same old drill
Roaching a spliff and watching the TV is my will

I know I never tell her
But every single day man
I’m always thinking loads about her
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me
And I don’t know what I’d do without her

No f*** that
I might ask my mates where they’ll be drinking
From the sofa, giving them a ding
Tell them
I will go freeze on that ground
Later on this evening
Instead of roaching a spliff, watching the TV again
And then go out whilst back at her’s
She does her thing
Sitting on the sofa at her end
But as I watch the big screen
I know I will quite miss
Me and her roaching a spliff
Watching the TV again

I know I never tell her
But every single day man
I’m always thinking loads about her
That’s exactly what I’m talking about
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me
I wouldn’t have it any other way
I’ll tell you this
And I don’t know what I’d do without her
I know I never tell her
There’s a whole world out there
But every single day man
A whole world
I’m always thinking loads about her
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me
But do I give her
Do you know what I mean
And I don’t know what I’d do without her
There’s a whole world out there

I’ve got one package
Of rizzler over there
but it’s nearly run out
I’ve got bits of cigarette
All over the place
Mmmmhmmm
The clipper needs a shake
The ashtray needs emptying
But I wouldn’t have it any other way
I said I wouldn’t have it any other way
I said I wouldn’t have it any other way
I wouldn’t have it any other way
I wouldn’t have it any other way
I wouldn’t have it any other way
I wouldn’t have it any other way
oooohoooo
No I wouldn’t
No I wouldn’t

I said the ashtray needs emptying
I said the clipper needs a shake

But I
Need the same thing as yesterday
Hey hey
Ho ho
I wouldn’t have it any other way
I wouldn’t have it any other way

 

[Brighton Breezy]

"I'm 45th generation Roman"

GENIUS

 

[D'Angelo Saxon]

 

[CHAPPERS]

Ok here's some examples. This is one of my favourites off the first album, if you read it you can feel the lyrics flow.

"Turn The Page"

That's it
Turn the page on the day, walk away
'cos there's sense in what I say
I'm 45th generation Roman
But I don't know 'em
Or care when I'm spitting
So return to your sitting position and listen it's fitting
I'm miles ahead and they chase me
Show yer face on TV, then we'll see
You can't do half, my crew laughs
At yer rhubarb and custard verses
You rain down curses but I'm waving,
Yer hearse is driving by
Streets riding high, with the beats in the sky
All stare, eyes glazed
Garage burnt down, the fire raged
For 40 days and in 40 ways
But through the blaze they see it fade
The sea of black, the beaming heat on their faces
Then a figure emerges from the wastage
Eyes transfixed with a piercing gaze
One hand clutching a sword raised to the sky
They wonder how, they wonder why
The sky turns white, it all becomes clear
They felt lifted from their fears
They shed tears in the light
After 6 dark years
Young bold soldiers, the fire burns
Cracks and smoulders
5 years older and wiser
The fires are burning on fire, never tire
Slay warriors in the forests and on higher
We sing, hear the strings rising
The war's over, the bells ring
Memories fading, soldiers slaying
Looks like geezers raving
The hazy fog over the Bull Ring
The lazy ways the birds sing
A new baby's born every day
Few men may be scorned today
But look at things the other way
Cos it may well be yer final day
And then the crowds roar, they slay, they all say
I produce this using only my bare wit
Gimme a jungle, a garage beat and admit defeat,
Use war and past injury as my metaphor and simile
Get all applications into me before the deadline
Cos it's a fine line between strifeful crimes
And a life of crime
But you will reach the day, and it's all mine
You can take it or leave it,
I shake and reveal stage tricks like Jimi Hendrix
In the afterlife gladiators meet their maker
Float through the wheat fields and lakes of blue water
To the next life from the fortress
Away from the knives and slaughter
To their wives and daughters
Once more before the Lord judges over all of us
Cos in this place you'll see me
Brace yourself, cos this goes deep
I'll show you the secrets, the sky and the birds
Actions speak louder than words
Stand by me my apprentice
Be brave, clench fists.
________________________________________

This is off the second album. Nothing clever about it, as if it's been dumbed down so that some 15 year old pikeys can understand it.


"I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way"

I should be standing at the bar
Waving a ten pound note around
But I sit here on the sofa at my girl’s house
I should be chatting shit as I’m nubbing out another snout
But I’ll roach a spliff watching the TV for now

I should be watching the fruit machines
For which one will pay out
But I sit on the sofa at my girls
Any how

I should be legging it from a cab
Like a mad little lout
But I’ll roach a spliff watching the TV
Throughout

I know I never tell her
But every single day man
I’m always thinking loads about her
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me
And I don’t know what I’d do without her

I should actually go out and about
Flip some beer mats
Instead of sitting her at my girls gaff
Because all I seem to do is sit in this habitat
Just roaching a spliff, watching the TV and that

And the TV at my house is a bit broken on the back
So I use my girls TV to watch the match
Yeah, I might head out later
To get off this beaten track
Of watching the TV, roaching up
I’m the same old man

I know I never tell her
But every single day man
I’m always thinking loads about her
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me
And I don’t know what I’d do without her

But on second thought
So why don’t you shots
No, I think I’ll sit on the sofa
And eat my TV meal
I would actually much prefer to just sit here and chill
Roaching a spliff, watching East Enders or the Bill
Because basically I love her
And I love being here still
And I love sitting on the sofa
With my girl
For real
I don’t want to knock my mates
But there it’s the same old drill
Roaching a spliff and watching the TV is my will

I know I never tell her
But every single day man
I’m always thinking loads about her
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me
And I don’t know what I’d do without her

No f*** that
I might ask my mates where they’ll be drinking
From the sofa, giving them a ding
Tell them
I will go freeze on that ground
Later on this evening
Instead of roaching a spliff, watching the TV again
And then go out whilst back at her’s
She does her thing
Sitting on the sofa at her end
But as I watch the big screen
I know I will quite miss
Me and her roaching a spliff
Watching the TV again

I know I never tell her
But every single day man
I’m always thinking loads about her
That’s exactly what I’m talking about
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me
I wouldn’t have it any other way
I’ll tell you this
And I don’t know what I’d do without her
I know I never tell her
There’s a whole world out there
But every single day man
A whole world
I’m always thinking loads about her
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me
But do I give her
Do you know what I mean
And I don’t know what I’d do without her
There’s a whole world out there

I’ve got one package
Of rizzler over there
but it’s nearly run out
I’ve got bits of cigarette
All over the place
Mmmmhmmm
The clipper needs a shake
The ashtray needs emptying
But I wouldn’t have it any other way
I said I wouldn’t have it any other way
I said I wouldn’t have it any other way
I wouldn’t have it any other way
I wouldn’t have it any other way
I wouldn’t have it any other way
I wouldn’t have it any other way
oooohoooo
No I wouldn’t
No I wouldn’t

I said the ashtray needs emptying
I said the clipper needs a shake

But I
Need the same thing as yesterday
Hey hey
Ho ho
I wouldn’t have it any other way
I wouldn’t have it any other way

Would you care to post some lyrics of an artist that you like?

 

[Billy the Fish]

Would you care to post some lyrics of an artist that you like?

I just did

 

[CHAPPERS]

I'm getting confused as to what we're discussing now.

 

[Billy the Fish]

I'm getting confused as to what we're discussing now.

I'm not sure what you're talking about but i'm just making a point that there is a difference in the quality of lyrics between the first and second album (with the notable exception of Blinded by the Lights) and if When you Wasn't famous is anything to go by, the third album will be another step of dumbing down. It doesn't mean I don't like the tunes, I just preffered it when you had to think about what the words meant rather than having it spelt out for you.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I'm not sure what you're talking about but i'm just making a point that there is a difference in the quality of lyrics between the first and second album (with the notable exception of Blinded by the Lights) and if When you Wasn't famous is anything to go by, the third album will be another step of dumbing down. It doesn't mean I don't like the tunes, I just preffered it when you had to think about what the words meant rather than having it spelt out for you.

And I think it's down to him running out of things to write about. I reckon after this album the music will come back to the fore, as in OPM.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

The fact is he's just an everyday geezer chatting about stuff geezers do, which is easier to relate to than 50 cent rapping about popping a cap in a mother fuckers arse!!

Fair comment