B i o g r a p h y (by John Bush )
While the roster on England's much-hyped trip-hop label Mo'Wax is packed to the gills with bedroom boffins turned recording artists, Attica Blues is the closest it comes to having an actual band. The pancultural collective began life in 1994 when producers D'Afro (born Charlie Williams) and Tony Nwachukwu first met up. D'Afro had previously founded London's Urban Poets Society collective, but the duo later became Attica Blues for their continuing studio experiments. While trying to sell some Japanese hip-hop records, D'Afro met up with Mo'Wax founder James Lavelle and was offered a spot on the label. The duo began recording their first single alone but when a local student, the Egyptian-born Roba El-Essawy, visited the studio during the recording for their debut single, D'Afro and Nwachukwu decided to add her to the group. Attica Blues released their first two EPs Vibes, Scribes 'N Dusty 45s and Blueprint in 1995, and followed with two more during 1996-97. Mo'Wax issued their self-titled debut album in September 1997. D'Afro and Nwachukwu have also worked as remixers for Flora Purim and Sneaker Pimps as well as label-mates U.N.K.L.E., DJ Krush and Adriana Evans.
Intro (Instrumental) Blueprint Atlanta It's alright Impulse (Instrumental) Medieval 3ree (a means to be) Tender (the final story) 808 song (Instrumental) Pendulem being (Instrumental) Gone too far R.E.A.L Expense Wbra (Instrumental) Questions (Instrumental) Enter What are you gonna do now (Bonus track)
Test don't test Deeper What do you want It's not enough Mangled The man Just an avenue Page one (Instrumental) Now you know Talk to me Re-cycled (Instrumental) The quest Look at yourself Security
Attica Blues
Blueprint Excursions through the inner mind's eye Now morning's sun is dawning Moon blue indigo Blueprint I spied the blueprint Children run come follow As swallows surf the skies Past tense of the intent Blueprint I spied the blueprint Blueprint I spied the blueprint Blueprint I spied the blueprint Basement contemplation Rotation fourty five Archive excavation From vinyl's dusted groove Blueprint I spied the blueprint Blueprint I spied the blueprint
Atlanta Come with me on this journey Come with me on this journey Is it possible for you to claim a land you've never seen To talk about a far away place you've never been Imagine a city buried beneath the sea An idyllic island, calm and serene Untouched by civilizations uncivilized hands Lies a land at 20,000 leagues Fighting over street corners but never own the rocks Homeboys closest to the foundations when lying in a box Imagining cities buried beneath the sea And idyllic islands calm and serene Untouched by civilizations uncivilized hands Lies a land at 20,000 leagues Rob from always on the run dot net is so bad and copy paste is a sin Come with me on this journey Come with me on this journey Come with me on this journey Come with me on this journey Hidden from discovery, faith remains the same Underground street heroes never played the game And then Columbus came, introduced his ways His midas touch turned golden sands back into dust Now morals rusting and decaying Where is, where is Atlanta
*** Thanx a lot to Richard for this one ***
It's alright Sits in her chair as she listens to '87 All those hours spent stargazing in the Bastions of the night Prancing and the dancing As opportunities knocked within celebrity Corridors I could have been famous you know She mutters to her young ones who have heard It too many times before But it's alright Cos that was then and this is now It's alright Cos youthful yesterfun is not tomorrows way He stumbles over debris of last night's Take-out Tasting memories of arms around him Not like the nights before Things were different then Anyway It's been a long night out But those old moves don't seem to drop the Same way they did back then But it's alright Cos that was then and this is now It's alright Cos youthful yesterfun is not tomorrows way He's late, he's late again But this time there's no excuse for him to give As he approached to find her standing there Seems my time with you was spent waiting for the right moment Waiting for that break you always went on about But no more 'cos to stay... and wait... Would mean our lives will never change Sits in her chair as she listens to '87 All those hours spent stargazing in the Bastions of the night But it's alright But it's alright But it's alright But it's alright...
Medieval Lost in mirrored labyrinths i strive to find Anyway to escape And leave it all behind But the dense layer lingers on With promised blue skies beyond What once were rainbows Now hazy shades of pastel grey Circles ever viscious Content ever sparse Will i really ever live to tell the Bitter tale of my quest? Wandering through the corridors of time I find wider divides Primordial plans for a new day dawning Without mourning Past moons That once shone on the ones that today Left behind Visionary dreams dissolve in our hands Such potent potential for transcending Dimensions Do you pass or do you fail on the Consciousness scale Do your inhibitions lie in body or mind Are you relying on that silver lining? Bewitched Bewildered And Begulied I lie Like the tornado's eye Whilst all around you the madness swirls Until drawn in It hurls you high And lets you fly for a while But then it lets you fall It lets you It makes you Fall...
3ree Riding a beam of light Light on your love tonight You touched this child's delight I'm high on your love Who'd think someone could be All that you are to me I can't believe the joy you brought to me A means to be so free Tender From paper to pen, from pen to paper Breathe these whispered words from what was once, to what now has to be Breathe these whispered words And when the Blue ink dries, and when we both have cried Only tender teardrops will remain... When night-time falls and the air draws cold Candles flicker, flames, I close my eyes dreaming you are here Waiting for your shadow, to appear And what seems strange once our words fade away, is that Only tender teardrops will remain Only tender teardrops will remain I felt the wind behind me, I turned but you weren't there I felt the wind behind me, I turned but you weren't there, now Only tender teardrops will remain...
Gone too far
Know whats on your mind I know though hard to find And just rest your self And give me a chance To explain I know the reasons why I know without no do ubt The reasons why you tried To push me down So i can see You've gone too far To give it all away You've gone too far To give the game away I know you tried so hard I know and could i make it out And i fell beside you grab so tight Dwindling revealing to me You've gone too far To give it all away You've gone too far To give the game away See what i have seen You know its driving Days have to end Oh why, tell me are you blind To what is going on around Because dont you know What you reap is what you sow So except (?? Upset?) So except (?? Upset?) You've gone too far To give it all away You've gone too far To give the game away You've been too far To give it all give it all Give it all away You've gone You've gone You've gone Too Far
*** Thanx a lot to Driftwood for this one ***
R.E.A.L. Expense It doesn't really matter what you think at this moment in time It doesn't really matter It doesn't really matter what you think at this moment in time It doesn't really matter But just remember to keep a realistic perspective on the things that you do Whatever it took for you to get to that position ???? Are you sure you can hold it down You can hold it down for real It doesn't cost anything to be yourself Wealth has no value when you're dealing with yourself But these days it's hard to tell Ony you can truely know What's real What's real What's real What's real It's hard enough without selling yourself shorter than those of minute existence With our flexible friends, who really depend on their own grant account, take heed Rob from always on the run dot net is so bad and copy paste is a sin It doesn't cost anything to be yourself Wealth has no value when you're dealing with yourself But these days it's hard to tell Ony you can truely know What's real What's real What's real What's real It doesn't cost anything to be yourself Wealth has no value when you're dealing with yourself But these days it's hard to tell Ony you can truely know What's real What's real What's real What's real It doesn't really matter what you think at this moment in time It does It does
Enter Backstreet ways Crowded dorways The darkness scares you Do you dare to look into those eyes Their kindness must disguise Ulterior Motives Will you ever know if the shadow's that Follow are only yours Don't look behind Keep your eyes on the road Trust Yourself But none else My friend Extend a hand But beware Of the ones that bite Synonymous with the anonymous No one knows you When you know no one The life you lead is one of solitaire Samaritans run the streets And yet to me they seem ever empty
What are you gonna do now I've been all around the earth to many different places Spoken in tongues to mnay different faces And after I couldn't communicate the beat was my language Bridging divides between days of our lives What are you gonna do now What are you gonna do now I've been all around the earth to many different places Spoken in tongues to many different faces Let's gather round now to discuss what our future lies Think if our eyes could see a day where we could meet half way Compromise because tomorrow lies in your hands What are you gonna do now What are you gonna do now What are you gonna do now What are you gonna do now Are you someone who judges one by their colour Do you know a man who lives to control another Suffering in silence when you should speak out Scream out, shout it out What are you gonna do now What are you gonna do now What are you gonna do now What are you gonna do now
Test don't test
Test don't test this is just an intro A small sampling of what the lyrical machine is capable of Do not test .. warning . highly volatile .. This is attica blues . those of you who are listening . from the comfort of your own living room .. I'm feeling it . it's like . it's wonderful We'll explore this record.. By reproducing a number of musical sounds First at a very mild level and then at progressively higher levels First lets begin with the basics .. Musical instrument tests . Attica blues .
*** Thanx a lot to Mawfunk for this one ***
Deeper
You gave your all Expected nothing in return but a promise that you would be the sole one I told you then I saw it all But could just stand by to watch you fall deeper Your skies caved in Tears escaped Then the anger came with a strength Another point of view Doesn't count for much When the objective one Isn't missing his touch I stood by you then I'll stand by you now But don't want to just watch you fall deeper Deeper Started to accept, Just to carry on, But excluding him meant a whole piece of life gone Couldn't let it go Barriers came down Now you're there again like the scar forgot the pain I told you then I said it all But now again I watch you fall deeper Deeper
*** Thanx a lot to Brandon for this one ***
What do you want
Know you as a jet black angel Watching over me like cctv 24/7 you see everything 365 and i'm no mastermind Dealt with mood swings mad behavior Controlling me like you own me Feels like it's your world i just live here 365 and it's bad comprimise I want to know I want to know Am I what you want or am I what you need Am I what you want or am I what you need Patience wearing sent to test me Pressure building mercury rising Feels close to overload, feels close to overload 365 I want to know I want to know I wanna know Am I what you want or am I what you need Am I what you want or am I what you need Am I what you want or am I what you need Am I what you want or am I what you need What do you want X2 Am I what you want X2
It's not enough
Opens her eyes, Doubting she slept at all, Waiting for him, Wanting the call It's getting late, And she's tired of it Where could he be? Who could he be with? She doesn't trust, But she still needs him One thing is known - that she can't let go It's not enough to think that you're in love It's not enough to need It's not enough just to be You have to show that it's real He feels the same - still thinks nothing's changed She'll always be there, No one is to blame She's the only one, but something's wrong here Disturbing silence starting to creep in It's passing by them, The friendship's wearing thin Long as love survives it's alright in his eyes But it's not enough to think that you're in love It's not enough to need It's not enough just to be You have to know what it means They argue over waht never bothered them before Don't realize they're doing it anymore Immune to pain, Just let it wash away It's not enough
Mangled
It's just a broken dream It's just a broken dream One of the endless promises It's just a broken dream It's just a broken dream It's just a broken dream One of the endless promises It's just a broken dream It's just a broken dream It's just a broken dream One of the endless promises It's just a broken dream It's just a broken dream It's just a broken dream One of the endless promises It's just a broken dream
The man You can crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me Blind me Defy me Crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains You can crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me Remind me to find me to tear me appart 'Cause you and i both know There's someone that we all know All been punched by the wounds won't show Be thankful that i'm taking time To warn you about a path that could be detrimental To your heart, pride, love and pain Deep scars that will never heal again He'll consume you You don't want to play I assure you He'll put you under his spell (that's the bad guy) If the plan goes well (that's the bad guy) Hypnotize Playing Jedi tricks on your mind You can crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me Blind me Defy me Crush me Control me Harass me Deny me You can crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me Remind me to find me to tear me appart 'Cause you and I both know Now cut the sinnin' kin when he's around Don't be no slave to the scoundrel Use you and expose your inner fears And then he's done here Dressed in silk But tangled in his web Sucked dry Don't say your surprised. He'll consume you You don't want to play I assure you He'll put you under his spell (That's the bad guy) Assume his plan will go well (Say good night to the bad guy) Hypnotize Playing Jedi tricks on your mind. You can crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me Blind me Defy me Crush me Control me Harass me Deny me You can crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me Remind me to find me to tear me appart 'Cause you and I both know You're the man (Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? muahahaha) Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me You can crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me Blind me Defy me Crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains You can crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me Remind me to find me to tear me appart 'Cause you and i both know You can crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me Blind me Defy me Crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains You can crush me Control me Harass me Deny me Enslave me in chains But you will never hold me Remind me to find me to tear me appart 'Cause you and i both know You're the man 'Cause you and i both know (The man) (The man) (The, the, the, the, the man) (The man)
*** Thanx a lot to him for this one ! ***
Just An Avenue
There were times I could not see past all the decoys laid, Placed in front of me Just the frequency that was bothering me, When all the time should have realized Just your avenue for another escape Just your avenue for another escape I always felt that things would change (change for the best) And for once I'd see some sort of progression You always say you're down, But when push comes to shove you always have excuses Just your avenue for another escape Just your avenue for another escape You really need to think again You know you have to make amends Don't look me in the eye, Assume it's alright I won't be here for long Only one reason for you not to change Just your avenue for another escape Just your avenue for another escape And when you've had enough, don't bother even turning back to look at me And when you've had enough, don't bother even turning back to look at me And when you've had enough, don't bother even turning back to look at me Just your avenue for another escape Just your avenue for another escape
Now you know
Standing at the crossroads, Wondering which way to go As I look around I see I'm not alone on this side of mine, 'Cause this time, I know I'm doing nothing wrong Should I bust a basic left? Or go on straight ahead, And let that Roman way decide fate through this path of mine, 'Cause this time there seems to be no other way Now you know Now you know That what you have is all that I can give Standing at the crossroads, wondering which way to go Now i know, Know what to do in this heart of mine, 'Cause in this life, Do you get a second chance? It seems so obvious to me So why can't you see? It's up to you I know what I need to do 'Cause this time there really is no turning back Now you know, now you know That what you have is all that i can give
Talk To Me Your talk is cheap but you still can't afford this You talk, you talk when the walk, in my walk When you stalk me once, you stalk me twice You talk, you talk, I won't be so nice You lost your class with your acts of ???? You don't appreciate what you've got so Talk at my cost and pay my price Your alibis came into the mice Easier said than done, take my advice Giving you substantial ?? pure bliss is difficult to dislike But I've come to this conclusion and livin' in this crucial illusion People talk shit People spit when they talk in my face, is no joke Don't talk back Why would I carry a conversation that has no destination Don't make sense When we talk, I gotta say, I'm ready to walk away I can't stand the rhetoric What's the use in talking this out, what you talking about Check it out, we used to chill in the back of your house Remember when we made flags and was passin' them out There wasn't, many things we wasn't talking about Any problems that we had, we was talking them out No doubt, I used to take you up, all around town Take you where you wanna go, just spin him a pound But it was ?? my dog like Cujo Anything I had, you know, was yours for sure We used to chill in Amsterdam, smoking illegal In the Paradiso chillin' with ?? Hours later, I was grabbing your coat Nab back to the crib for a midnight stroke It was more than a young man sowing his oats There was many dawgs that your ass used to provoke That made me sort of wonder 'til I almost choked Can I make ??? she grow Had me driftin' on the coast, what's going coast to coast 'Cos the only thing I wanted to do was get close And you wouldn't even talk to me C'mon, c'mon, talk this out, talk this out Don't turn your back on me Turn around slowly Silence is blinding me Why won't you talk to me Don't turn your back on me Turn around slowly Silence is blinding me Why won't you talk to me
The quest I am I am searching I am searching for faith, beauty and hip-hop I am searching for all those who died between hip hop and heaven And all souls set adrift and free from bedlam With headstrong lyrics that rise like smoke from silver incense burners I wonder who stole the thunder with the rasping edge And who banged for baptisms with butterflies, serpentine roads and sunsets broken by cicadas Have we really lost our century in an hour? Are we devoured by blind faith in the powers that be? Are these words as tense as drawn bow strings? Shall we rebuild the tears like sap from rubber trees? Answer me! Answer me you T.S. Elliots in goose down jackets with your felt tip urban hieroglyphs, spliff smoke, and spray paint Answer me you soliloquists with clenched fists 'round the mike Answer me you angels in adidas Tell me Do M.C.'s still howl rhymes into the purple black of midnight? Do they still fight to make arrangements with deities courting them with a jangle of gold and silver bangles on their wrist? I need yearning voices of mangled passion I need rehearsed create those style of faith and fashion I'm searching for hip-hop beats, stomping feet to implore the ? ? ringing across the seagulls to muffle the sun I'm searching for perfumed cherry blossoms and ? You see there will be no toast to the future in the banquet table of ? No golden petals weaving a carpet of light No hint of arrogance on puckered lips No wind-swept islands and dreams of sun-lit silence No riot of flowers and beauty magnified through outmost attention And no free-style incantations to save the souls of man I'm peeling off your straitjacket so you feel the sun my friend I want wings, a feather, and booms so we can fly like birds to better lands I'm wondering I'm wondering how temples are now smokestacks I'm up all night in silvery moonlight with palms of ?? Who stole my afro-pick? Who licked my fingertips to sooth scratches from the vinyl groove? Has anybody seen faith, beauty and hip hop? I have to find faith, beauty and Hip hop
Look at yourself
You're a big fish in a small pond Everyone knows your name, so you claim Out for fortune and for the fame, Though you play your life like it's just a game I'd rather be fabulous than famous Live my life steady than nervous Always looking over my shoulder Never knowing what's coming round the corner Look at yourself Look at yourself You're the flyest in the neighbourhood, But I wonder if we'd all be like you if we could The flashest cars, The sovereign rings, Champagne worlds filled with material things Peddling plastic dreams A way of life far removed from reality But nothing lasts for long, And you can't take it with you when you're gone Look at yourself Look at yourself I'd rather be fabulous than famous Live my life steady than nervous Always looking over my shoulder Never knowing what's coming round the corner Look at yourself Look at yourself
Security Reality has checked my me Time is expecting what I've been rejecting for so long My body is calling, energy level is falling, And I've found I'm not as strong as I used to be Is it all about security? I need to provide to stay alive, Build a future,build a home 10 years from now thime will run out Just want to slow bad time down But 10 years ago felt like yesterday, Now a family seems so far away want to fit more in But don't get me wrong - responsibility isn't a bad thing Am I judging men by how they'd father my children, Rather than for who they are The only thing I'd imagine hasn't really worked out the way I thought, And the only thing my life has brought is uncertainty Is it all about security? Thought one day I'd wake to be a woman Thought one day I'd wake to be a woman Thought one day I'd just wake to be a woman Is it all about security? Security