ALBUM DETAILS
The focus is on the story and the beats.
Arcade
Old days
Good times
Old days
Good times
Me and bobby j
Headed to the barber shop
Had to get there early
For the front seat window spot
Sevvenllevn blue ice
Heads boppin leftright
There go all the girlies
Boots be lookin just right
Edge it up earl
Gotta be lookin clean
Smooth it out brotha
Freshest dudes you ever seen
23rd and jackson
Summer sun was shining gold
Headed to the arcade
Where the legends took control
Quarters in my pocket
Dreams inside my hand
Whole world waiting
Soon as I would land
Old days
Good times
1981 yall
Old days
Good times
Everything felt right
Old days
Good times
Neon in the night
Old days
Good times
Forever in my mind
No you wont
No ghosts
Cant catch me
No you wont
No ghosts
Cant catch me
Climbing to the top
Watch out for the barrel roll
Jumping every ladder
Trying to save control
Blue ghost runnin
Burned into my minds eye
Master of the joystick
Score so crazy high
Cutie at the pinball
Hit me with the left eye
Brothers gettin jealous
Cause I got the score high
Im the man baby
Come here to my right side
Hold four quarters
Then we takin bikes outside
Old days
Good times
1981 yall
Old days
Good times
Everything felt right
Quarter on the machine
Means I got next
Whole room watching
Cause im one of the best
Boom box outside
Sunset in the sky
Walkie talkie ringing
Yeah the crew outside
Where did it go
Where did time run to
Those summer nights
Still live in me and you
Old days
Good times
1981 yall
Old days
Good times
Never gonna fade now
Old days
Good times
Still inside my soul
Old days
Good times
Long live rock and roll
Watchillie
PLAY SAMPLE
bark bark house
PLAY SAMPLE
Boba boss
PLAY SAMPLE
c. City
Used to go shopping with my sky pager
Me and my homies clockin beats
Where it's always goin down
Try'na impress all the cuties with that boom bap sound
Rollin through the doors with a pad of cash
An aiwa or sony, denon beats that last
Hit hard
Hit smooth
Them beats be clean
Crank the equalizer till that punch be mean
This is what I want
That's the one right there
Gonna buy it
Gonna woo the dips with the curly hair
C city
Where the party at
C city
Where the speakers clap
C city
Where the bass go boom
C city
Bring the funky to the room
Get your funky beats at c city
Get your funky beats at c city
So much more than a store
Was the place that's lookin out
The spot for gettin speakers when ya wanna push clout
Make that 808 boom
Make those high notes sing
Betta test it out before ya buy it
Make sure sound clean
J-v-c r-c
M-90 was the top
M-70 was its cousin
And both rocked the block
Listen start to finish
Cassette real-to-reel
Put it on your shoulder
So you'd catch the feel
That bass boom
Highs hit
Kicks make chest bone thump
Makin honey dips with the curlies wanna shake they rump
At the corner
On the street
Where they heard the sounds
My jvc m-90 always brought the crowds
C city
Where the party at
C city
Where the speakers clap
C city
Where the bass go boom
C city
Bring the funky to the room
Get your funky beats at c city
Get your funky beats at c city
Headphones on and I'm pressin play
Tryna find the perfect tape to take away
Run dmc
Rakim
Ll too
If the beat hit hard then you know I had to move
Eric b was pumpin
Fresh prince got spins
Beastie boys kickin while I checked the bins
Standin there for hours
Tryna make my choice
Cause every tape was talkin with a different voice
One more sample
One more track
One more groove
Then I'd carry that cassette home and let the whole block move
Boom bap
Ta-boom bap
Boom bap
Ta-boom bap
Dual cassettes and dolby make your whole crew clap
Boom bap
Ta-boom bap
Clean tweeters that are neater so you hear me spit facts
Boom bap
Ta-boom bap
C city was the place where the fresh beats sat
Way back in the day I'm glad no memories fade
Of a time we kicked rhymes and the beats that we made
And listened to on jvc while we rocked the box
Chillin on the corner with the boys from the blocks
The 80s wasn't perfect but we paid the bills
Made bonds with bros for life as we rocked the beats and chilled
Cause the place we rose above
Was the place we thinkin of
Was the place that showed us love and proof to see
That the beats and rhymes were kickin
With more flavor than mama's chicken
When we chilled and hung out at c city
C city
Where the party at
C city
Where the speakers clap
C city
Where the bass go boom
C city
Bring the funky to the room
Get your funky beats at c city
Get your funky beats at c city
Fresh
Beats be kickin hard make ya check ya neck
Fresh
Boom
Loud
That jvc m-90 always brought the crowd
Fresh
Beats be kickin hard make ya check ya neck
Fresh
Boom
Loud
That jvc m-90 always brought the crowd
Always was funky
Watchillie
PLAY SAMPLE
catfish
PLAY SAMPLE
Creepin
Delivery time
Creepin’ your left side
You’ll-neva-see-me-comin’-by
Drop that cash
Dat baccarat glass
Betta sip fast
You’ll-neva-see-me-comin’-by
Slice that groove
Ya body gonna move
Legit nothin’ to prove
You’ll-neva-see-me-comin’-by
Grab on tight
Yeah that wallet mine
You know I’m sky-high
You’ll-neva-see-me-comin’-by
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
You know I’m gonna get ya
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
You know I’m gonna get ya
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
You know I’m gonna get ya
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
And this is how I creep ya
Window sill
Time to get ill
That ice-cold chill
You’ll-neva-see-me-comin’-by
Lock that door
I’m finna get more
I’ll glide across the floor
You’ll-neva-see-me-comin’-by
Crack that safe
Ain’t takin’ no fakes
Jackin’ the lotus vase
You’ll-neva-see-me-comin’-by
Bag now full
I’m hittin’ your hood
I wish a bruva would
You’ll-neva-see-me-comin’-by
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
You know I’m gonna get ya
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
You know I’m gonna get ya
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
You know I’m gonna get ya
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
And this is how I creep ya
Mine
Creep ya
Mine
Creep ya
Mine
It’s all mine
Always am the naughty
I never caught a body
The law is always on me
Ya know I’m gonna get ya
Always in the ready
My pockets gettin heavy
I’ll even take your lady
Ya know I’m gonna get ya
Six don’t lie
I told ya much times
Profession is crime
Ya know I’m gonna get ya
Ya hearin is my lesson
Never be confessin
Always keep ya guessing
And ya know I’m gonna get ya
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
You know I’m gonna get ya
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
You know I’m gonna get ya
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
You know I’m gonna get ya
Creeping on up
Up up up
Creeping on up
And this is how I creep ya
Mine
Creep ya
Mine
Creep ya
Mine
Creep ya
Mine
Warchiklie
Creepin’
Creepin’
Creepin’
It’s mine
Creepin’
Creepin’
Creepin’
It’s mine
Watchillie
Creepin’
Creepin’
Creepin’
It’s mine
PLAY SAMPLE
don't kill a bruvah
PLAY SAMPLE
double jeopardy
FULL SONG
Ramp
Man it’s hot outside
Bruvahs out da window yellin rock ya ride
Down-town
Brook-lyn
Was the place to be
Summer party being naughty was our destiny
Mama yellin listen bed-not light that nerve
Holla back
Awww-ite as I popped that curb
Pedal pedal
Left
Right
Errr’d up the stance
While me and all the homies lookin for that chance
To be the winners and the sinners
This rocket bout ignite
Cause we rolling and we rollin gonna jump n take flight
Once we find a
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Today we gonna fly baby
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Catch air not even shy baby
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
This is how we soar high
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Cause today we all invincible
Don’t matter if it’s wood
Or card-board the sword
We jumpin and we pumpin
Slicin up the ward
Burroughs
Side streets
And behind ya shop
Our crew is rockin
And we clockin
Cause we own the block
Girlies watching
People waving
Yeah they know what’s up
Today we catch air
Cause we got-the-right-stuff
Our crew was like celebrities
The five that fly
Takin chances was our legacy
We felt the pride
Once we find a
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Today we gonna fly baby
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Catch air not even shy baby
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
This is how we soar high
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Cause today we all invincible
Ain’t no stopping us
Gotta ride
Gotta ride
Ain’t no stopping us
Fly high
Ain’t no stopping us
Gotta ride
Gotta ride
Ain’t no stopping us
This is where we say good-bye
The schwinn my sin as I stung the ray
Bobby had the raleigh chopper and the fade
Bmx mong-goose tommy gave the x
But willie’s amf avenger pulled our mad respect
We rode hard
Rode long
Rode deep in streets
Lookin where to put the ramp that’s extra steep
Thrill seekin
We was creepin
Ready-to risk it all
Nair one was thinkin injury or that we’d fall
On the
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Today we gonna fly baby
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Catch air not even shy baby
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
This is how we soar high
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Cause we thought we was invincible
Bobby came down
All we heard was crack
Bed not tell his mama or she go’n break ya neck
But bobby’s leg was facin lefff
When suppose be right
Oh lawwd we all in trouble gon catch that belt tonight
Everyone was cryin
Man that’s lots of blood
Only one could save us now was the man above
And the lesson that we learned was not to take that chance
Don’t be actin stupid
Try-na beat that ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
I think we’re done flyin baby
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
I’m grounded till forever ladies
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
This summer I’m stuck now inside
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Ramp
Still icing up that backside
Damn
We had lots of fun till bobby crashed
Whooooeeee
That leg though
It was fun for a minute though wasn’t it
You in lock for weeks right
Yeah
No pain
No gain
Before school we get back at it though
Bet
Watchillie
Though mostly fictional, there is some truth because WATCH3 had an AMF Avenger, and also loved to do BMX and also jump his bike over anything he could find as a teenager.
PLAY SAMPLE
pop pop
At its core, Pop Pop! is a song about interruption.
Every section of the story begins with something ordinary:
- Buying cigarettes at the corner store.
- Walking through the neighborhood.
- Heading to a party.
- Meeting a girl.
- Trying to enjoy the night.
Each time, the routine is broken by the same recurring event: gunfire.
The "Pop Pop!" refrain functions almost like a character in the song. It appears repeatedly and unpredictably, disrupting the flow of the narrator's evening. This mirrors how violence often affects communities—not as a single dramatic event, but as a recurring force that constantly interrupts normal life.
The narrator's perspective is important. He is not participating in the violence. He is observing it, reacting to it, and attempting to navigate around it. This viewpoint keeps the song grounded in realism and prevents it from becoming either a glorification of street culture or a moral lecture.
As the story progresses, the narrator's frustration grows. What begins as annoyance at another ruined evening develops into a broader realization that the violence is stealing opportunities, relationships, and moments from everyone around him. Even his chance encounter with a girl is cut short when another shooting sends people running for safety.
The repeated references to "another night," "another body," and "same corner, same block, same story" emphasize the cyclical nature of the problem. The violence is not portrayed as an isolated event but as a pattern that repeats itself over and over again.
The final lyric change from "No name" to "Had a name" serves as the song's central message. Throughout the story, victims are reduced to statistics, headlines, and rumors. In the closing chorus, the narrator recognizes the humanity behind those numbers. The victim is no longer anonymous. He was someone's son, friend, brother, or father.
Musically, the song draws inspiration from classic West Coast and early 1990s storytelling hip-hop, combining hard drums, a rolling bass groove, and conversational lyricism. The result is a track that feels nostalgic and energetic on the surface while carrying a deeper reflection on community, loss, and the human cost of normalized violence.
Theme: The disruption of ordinary life by recurring violence.
Central Message: Every statistic, every headline, and every victim "had a name."
PLAY SAMPLE
Rump Rump
This is for the cuties
And you know we love
Straight hair or short or curley
Sent from god above
See you walkin
And you talkin
Girl you make me drool
Them jeans be intoxicating
Girl two hundred proof
My eyes be hypnotized as I watch you sway
Watch you shakin as you baking
Wit that prime cut sway
While you walkin bruvvahs partin as you swing the junk
Girl that booty legendary
You got the right stuff
You got that
Rump rump
Rump rump
Louie's pushin up girl you got the right stuff
Rump rump
Rump rump
God made you a miracle
Both halves be astronomical
Rump rump
Rump rump
As I watch that bounce girl
Make me wanna pounce girl
Bounce bounce bounce bounce
Like the tiger
Bounce bounce
It’s defying gravity
I’m shaking every part of me
Radiant as the sun—rise glow
You know you lookin sexy
Louie’s steal the show
Swishing to the left
While I watch the right
All I hear is jimmy walker dynomite
Tracing that curve from the top on down
You rockin’ that her-mez kelly like a leather queen’s crown
Rump rump
Rump rump
Louie's pushin up girl you got the right stuff
Rump rump
Rump rump
God made you a miracle
Both halves astronomical
Rump rump
Rump rump
As I watch that bounce girl
Make me wanna pounce girl
Movin like pudding
Maybe chocolate mousse
Light fluffy and dangerous
Girl you’re lighting up the fuse
I feel my pressure rising
Fine things I’m gonna buy ya
Fellas they don’t have a chance
I gonna season up them yams
Baby
Boom bap
Da boom bap
Boom bap
That backside is the rhythm baby
Hell of a ride
That
Rump rump
Rump rump
Louie's pushin up girl you got the right stuff
Rump rump
Rump rump
God made you a miracle
Both halves be astronomical
Rump rump
Rump rump
As I watch that bounce girl
Make me wanna pounce girl
Ooooooooweeeee
Fillin out them leather pants
That nectarine
Oooooooooowweeee
Baby
Baby
Only city men with the golden wallet
Have an itty bitty bitty slight chance
At that
Rump rump
Rump rump
Louie's pushing up girl you got the right stuff
Rump rump
Rump rump
God made you a miracle
Both halves be astronomical
Rump rump
Rump rump
As I watch that bounce girl
Make me wanna pounce girl
Pounce pounce
Bounce bounce
Rump rump
Rump rump
Pounce pounce
Bounce bounce
Shake it like you stole it
Girl you got the right stuff
Bounce bounce
Rump rump
Bounce bounce
Rump rump
Watchillie
Watchillie
Not every song has to carry a heavy message. *Rump Rump* was written simply to celebrate the fun side of hip-hop—the era when artists weren't afraid to make people smile, laugh, and dance.
Ironically, Rump Rump wasn't planned at all. While leaving the grocery store and listening to Pop Pop, another song from the Third Arm album, a completely different hook suddenly popped into my head: "Rump Rump... Rump Rump..." By the time I stopped at a traffic light, I had already pulled out my phone and written the chorus. When I got home, the verses poured out naturally, growing around that catchy hook. Like many songs on Third Arm, the track began as a single groove that refused to leave until it became a song.
Inspired by the playful spirit of early '90s groups like A Tribe Called Quest, the song embraces clever wordplay, exaggerated admiration, and infectious boom bap grooves. Rather than objectifying its subject, it leans into the tradition of lighthearted storytelling and over-the-top compliments that were common in the golden age of hip-hop.
Sometimes music doesn't need to solve problems or make a statement. Sometimes it's just about turning up the volume, nodding your head, and having a good time. *Rump Rump* is WATCH ]|['s tribute to that carefree energy.
At first listen, *Rump Rump* sounds like a simple party anthem—and that's exactly the point.
The song intentionally steps away from the deeper, emotionally layered writing found elsewhere in WATCH ]|['s catalog and instead recreates the playful personality that made early '90s hip-hop so memorable. Every verse is filled with humorous observations, exaggerated reactions, pop culture references, and tongue-in-cheek one-liners that paint the picture of a confident woman turning heads everywhere she goes.
Musically, the track leans into an upbeat boom bap pocket with a groove designed to make listeners move before they even realize they're dancing. The repetitive "Rump Rump" hook acts almost like another percussion instrument, becoming part of the rhythm rather than simply a lyric. The call-and-response vocals, stacked backgrounds, and playful ad-libs all reinforce the feeling of a neighborhood block party where everyone is in on the joke.
While the lyrics are intentionally playful, there's also an appreciation for confidence, style, and presence. The woman at the center of the song isn't simply being described—she owns every room she walks into. The reactions of everyone around her become part of the comedy, making the track less about lust and more about the undeniable charisma of someone who effortlessly steals the spotlight.
Like many songs from hip-hop's golden era, *Rump Rump* isn't meant to be analyzed too seriously. It's a celebration of rhythm, personality, humor, and the simple joy of making people smile. Sometimes the best songs leave listeners with nothing more complicated than a catchy hook they can't stop repeating—and that's exactly what *Rump Rump* was built to do.
PLAY SAMPLE
Hostage
Hostage
Overwhelming moment of weakness
With the quickness
Unrescinded decisions intended
Failed all that was envisioned
Accused
Abused
Refuse to succumb
To this conformity
Gravity lulls my situation
As I'm swallowed by enormity
Mind shaken
Rights taken
Needle strikes twelve
Initiated this descent
Down to hell
Fallin' down
Cause I'm locked
been around the block
Lock down
Fallin' down
Cause I'm locked
World rocked
been around the block
Lock down
Fallin' down
Head shock
been around the block
Lock down
Cause I'm locked
Tick tock
time is running out
Lock down
Down
Down
Think I'm gonna drown
Under violence I'm silenced
I'm trying
No words spoken comin' out
Asphyxiated
I'm baited
Berated
Fessin' the objective
Want me to
Admit
I did
This
Shhhhh
Gotta shackle on my left
Straitjacket on my right
Ain't no rolling over
Without epic strength to fight
Cause they ain't gonna keep me down easy
When they got me
Fallin' down
Cause I'm locked
been around the block
Lock down
Fallin' down
Cause I'm locked
World rocked
been around the block
Lock down
Fallin' down
Head shock
been around the block
Lock down
Cause I'm locked
Tick tock
time is running out
Lock down
Down
Down
Think I'm gonna drown
Can't believe it's happening
This not any part of me
Torn truth is my tragedy
no
Freedom only destiny
Stayin' calm
Ensure they see
I'm more than just lies or greed
yes
The system is crankin'
Attempted tankin' my life
But as I'm
Dreamin'
Schemin'
Breathin'
Soon I'm gonna fly
Leavin'
This disaster don't matter
Cause I'm gonna
Escape
Fight with every part of me
Reach my soul
And set it free
Rising
Rising
Rising
As I soar among the clouds
And the last thing you'll be hearin'
Baby
So
Long
Out
No more stayin' down
New shock
been around the block
Lock down
no more
Kept down
World rocked
been around the block
Lock down
Cause I'm fid'na break out
Out
Out
not even a doubt
Lock down
I'm leavin'
Clockin' out
Tick tock
Tick tock
time is running out
Lock down
Down
Down
Not even a doubt
Out
Out
Out
Out
Out
Out
Out
Out
Out
Watch me as I be rollin', baby
You called it
Lock down
I call it
Break out
Watch me
Out
Watchillie
**Hostage** explores one of the most frightening human experiences: feeling trapped inside a system where your voice no longer seems to matter. Rather than focusing on a specific place or event, the song tells the story from the perspective of someone who believes their freedom, identity, and choices have been taken away.
The production deliberately avoids distracting flourishes, allowing the relentless beat and conversational vocal delivery to carry the listener through the experience. The recurring "Lock Down" hook becomes both a physical reality and a psychological state, while the whispered background responses create the feeling of internal thoughts pushing back against external control.
As the song progresses, despair gradually gives way to determination. The repeated declarations of "Rising" and "Breaking Out" represent more than a physical escape—they symbolize reclaiming hope, identity, and the belief that no circumstance can permanently imprison the human spirit.
Ultimately, *Hostage* is about resilience. Even when everything around us seems designed to convince us we are powerless, there remains a quiet voice inside that refuses to surrender.
At its core, *Hostage* examines the psychological effects of losing agency. The lyrics are intentionally written in the present tense, placing the listener inside the narrator's thoughts as events unfold. Instead of observing the experience from a distance, we experience the confusion, fear, frustration, and determination alongside them.
The opening verses establish a rapid cascade of events where impulsive decisions and overwhelming consequences collide. Short, percussive phrases such as "Mind shaken / Rights taken" mimic fragmented thinking under extreme stress, while recurring references to clocks and countdowns reinforce the feeling that time itself has become another form of confinement.
The repeated "Lock Down" refrain functions on multiple levels. It describes physical confinement, emotional paralysis, institutional control, and the mental prison that forms when a person begins to believe they have lost their identity. The whispered responses act almost like an internal dialogue—sometimes echoing fear, sometimes offering resistance—creating a subtle conversation between despair and hope.
The bridge marks the turning point. The sequence "Dreamin', Schemin', Breathin'" signals the narrator's shift from passive survival to active resilience. The emphasis moves away from what has been taken and toward what cannot be taken: conviction, imagination, and the will to endure.
The closing refrain transforms the central metaphor. "Lock Down" gradually loses its power as "Breaking Out" becomes the dominant voice. Whether the listener interprets the ending as literal freedom or an internal reclaiming of self is left intentionally unresolved. The final message is that freedom begins the moment a person refuses to let fear or confinement define who they are.
Like many WATCH songs, *Hostage* operates on multiple levels. It can be heard as the story of incarceration, institutional confinement, unjust accusation, personal crisis, or any experience where an individual feels overwhelmed by forces beyond their control. By leaving the setting undefined, the song invites listeners to bring their own experiences into the story, making the struggle—and ultimately the hope—universally human.
PLAY SAMPLE
setbacks
Yeah
Uh huh
One time
When first light
Hits
The retina
Wake up wake up wake up wake up
I’m getting up
When first light
Hits
The retina
Wake up wake up wake up wake up
I’m getting up
Try’na be
A better man
Another chance
Time to advance
Brand new
Comin’ through
With a better view
This ain’t hidden talent
This is daily balance
It’s a situation
That’s felt alll
Across the nation
When I feel I’m movin’ forward
Yo
Step back
Step back
Step back
When I think that I’m improovin'
Step back
Step back
Step back
If I stop
I know it takes me under
Step back
Step back
Step back
When I feel I’m on the come up
Step back
Step back
Step back
It seems a
Cascade
of
Problems
Lives inside of me
Searching for the clues
Like I’m shaggy in the mysteries
Grabbin’ on the wheel
I’m squeezin’
Try’na turn this ship around
Feelin’ lost
And never found
I’m flexin’
Whack
Thor’s hammer down
Yet
When I feel I’m movin’ forward
Yo
Step back
Step back
Step back
When I think that I’m improovin'
Step back
Step back
Step back
If I stop
I know it takes me under
Step back
Step back
Step back
When I feel I’m on the come up
Step back
Step back
Step back
When first light
Hits
The retina
Wake up wake up wake up wake up
I’m getting up
When first light
Hits
The retina
Wake up wake up wake up wake up
I’m getting up
Gettin up
Knowing
In control
Is where the wisdom
And the proof is at
Need no explanations
Growin’
Showin’
When I’m spittin’ facts
Failin’
Learnin’
Wisdom
Splittin’ atoms
In this battleground
Diligently tryin’
Sanctifying
Movin’
At the speed of sound
When I feel I’m movin’ forward
Yo
Step back
Step back
Step back
When I think that I’m improovin'
Step back
Step back
Step back
If I stop
I know it takes me under
Step back
Step back
Step back
When I feel I’m on the come up
Step back
Step back
Gonna make that change
Gonna break that chain
Right now I am intentional
My life rearranged
Gonna focus
Now
Make 'dat
Vow
Gonna make mo' betta
Cause I'm gettin' all the chedda
Still
When I feel I’m movin’ forward
Yo
Step back
Wake up
Step back
When I think that I’m improovin'
Step back
Wake up
Step back
I stop
I know it takes me under
Step back
Wake up
Step back
When I feel I’m on the come up
Step back
Wake up
Step back
When I feel I’m movin’ forward
Yeah
Step back
Step back
Step back
When I think that I’m improovin'
Step back
Step back
Step back
If I stop
I know it takes me under
Step back
Step back
Step back
Right when
I feel I’m on the come up
Step back
Step back
Step back
Back back back
Step back
Makin' one mo’ betta
Gonna run it like that
Back back back
Step back
Ain't no givin' up
Because you know I out-last
Back back back
Step back
Makin' one mo’ betta
Gonna do it like that
Back back back
Step back
You won't see me comin'
Till I run right past
Step back
Step back
Step back
This is how we run-it gonna do it like that
Step back
Step back
Step back
This is how we run-it gonna do it like that
Step back
Step back
Step back
This is how we run-it gonna do it like that
Step back
Run it
Step back
Run it
Step back
Run it
Step back
Run it
Watchillie
After writing a series of deeply personal and emotionally vulnerable songs for *Ab*, I wanted to shift gears completely and return to the kind of music that made me fall in love with hip hop in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The goal wasn't to write another heavy emotional piece. It was to create a high-energy boom bap anthem that people could blast in the car, quote with their friends, and keep humming long after it ended.
The idea started with a simple observation about life. It often feels like the moment we're finally making progress, something unexpected happens to knock us backward. At first, the hook revolved around the word "setback," but during the writing process it evolved into "Step Back."
That small change transformed the entire song.
Instead of simply describing something that happens to us, the hook became something listeners could participate in. "Step Back!" became a chant, a movement, and a response. It's a phrase you can shout, dance to, or literally act out while still carrying the deeper meaning of overcoming life's setbacks.
Musically, the vision was a love letter to the golden era of East Coast hip hop. Thick boom bap drums, gritty funk grooves, call-and-response vocals, and an infectious anthem-style chorus were all intentional. Every revision focused on making the hook more memorable, the energy bigger, and the groove harder while keeping the message positive and grounded.
In the end, *Setbacks* became exactly what I hoped it would be: a fun, high-energy Third Arm anthem that reminds us life may push us backward from time to time, but getting back up is always the next move.
On the surface, *Setbacks* is an upbeat boom bap anthem. Underneath the infectious groove is a message about resilience, perspective, and refusing to let temporary obstacles define who we become.
The recurring image of "first light" represents more than the beginning of a day. It symbolizes renewal. Every sunrise is another opportunity to begin again, regardless of what happened yesterday. The repeated background chant of "Wake up" is intentionally layered to sound like both an alarm clock and an inner voice calling us to become more aware of the choices we make.
The verses acknowledge that growth is rarely a straight path. Progress is interrupted by mistakes, unexpected problems, self-doubt, and moments when it feels easier to give up than to keep going. Rather than pretending those moments don't exist, the song accepts them as part of everyone's journey.
One of the song's defining ideas is the shift from "setback" to "Step Back." That subtle change reframes adversity. A setback is something that happens to you. Stepping back is something you choose to do. Sometimes the wisest response isn't to charge forward blindly but to pause, reassess, learn, and then continue with greater clarity. What appears to be moving backward can actually become preparation for moving farther than before.
Lines such as "This ain't hidden talent, this is daily balance" reinforce another central theme. Lasting progress isn't built on extraordinary gifts. It's built on consistency, discipline, and showing up every day, even when motivation is low.
The later verses shift from describing struggle to embracing responsibility. Growth comes through learning, self-control, wisdom, and intentional choices. The transitional verse marks the turning point, replacing reaction with determination. Breaking old chains, making new commitments, and choosing a different direction become conscious decisions rather than hopeful wishes.
By the time the final chorus arrives, the song has evolved into a celebration of perseverance. The alternating chants of "Wake up" and "Step Back" remind us that awareness and resilience work together. One helps us recognize where we are. The other reminds us that temporary setbacks never have the final word.
Ultimately, *Setbacks* is a reminder that progress isn't measured by never falling behind. It's measured by the willingness to get back up, keep learning, and keep moving forward, one step at a time.
PLAY SAMPLE
grey nation
40
50
60
Plus
This is for the grey's
We are a nation
Age is but a number
What they say
But what they mean
One day your bendin' over
Crack crack
Go the knees
Next thing you're writhin' on the floor
Like a salmon wearin' black
Then you're rollin' over and
Pop crack
My back
Now my pressure risin'
And I'm feelin' like a nervous wreck
Somebody call the ambulance
I think I broke my neck
Now
Grey nation
Yo I need another drug
Something for this chronic pain
Organic from above
Grey nation
Yo I need another drug
Something for this chronic pain
Effective, strong, tough
Grey nation
Something above, below board
Cbd or thc
I need what I can afford
Grey nation
Insurance says denied again
Losin' hope
Health-care's joke
I'm fid'na stretch and pray instead
Must have been asleep
During the class explainin' aging facts
Life's gonna be a spiral
Aches and pains
And some kind of lumbar rash
Side effects the game
Three-card monty
Always losin'
Doc abusin'
Ain't no party
Copays and insurance
And yes I met deductible
This body got me broke
I swear I think I need another one
Grey nation
Yo I need another drug
Something for this chronic pain
Organic from above
Grey nation
Yo I need another drug
Something for this chronic pain
Effective, strong, tough
Grey nation
Something above, below board
Cbd or thc
I need what I can afford
Grey nation
Insurance says denied again
Losin' hope
Health-care's joke
I'm fid'na stretch and pray instead
We grey
Grey
Grey
Nation
We grey
Grey
Grey
Nation
We grey
Grey
Grey
No patience
We grey
Grey
Grey
Nation
We grey
Grey
Grey
Nation
Takin' out you sucka's and you don't know how we did it
Boom
Gotta gotta
Gotta gotta
Gotta gotta
Gotta go
Ain't passin' a bathroom
'cause you never know G
When you part of nation grey
Sho' nuff you gotta pee
And the dentist is the menace
'cause my gums always recedin'
And it's miralax
Them is the facts
It's fiber always eatin'
Again can't find my readers
I been searchin' rooms below the bed
Twenty minutes later
Damn
They sittin' right on top my head
Grey nation
Yo I need another drug
Something for this chronic pain
Organic from above
Grey nation
Yo I need another drug
Something for this chronic pain
Effective, strong, tough
Grey nation
Something above, below board
Cbd or thc
I need what I can afford
Grey nation
Insurance says denied again
Losin' hope
Health-care's joke
I'm fid'na stretch and pray instead
Grey nation
40
50
60
Plus
We are old and rickety
And yes we've had enough
Grey nation
Got nothin' to prove
We are indestructible
And we comin' for you
Grey nation
40
50
60
Plus
We are old and rickety
And yes we've had enough
Grey nation
Got nothin' to prove
We are indestructible
And we comin' for you
X
X
X
Gen-x
X
X
X
Gen-x
X
X
X
Gen-x
We are indestructible
And we comin' for you
Grey nation
We ain't old
We vintage, baby
Watchillie
"Grey Nation" was born the way many of the best songs are: unexpectedly.
While riding to a doctor's appointment, a simple phrase appeared out of nowhere: "Grey Nation!" It immediately felt like an anthem. As the hook repeated in my head, the chorus began writing itself, followed by scenes and observations that anyone over forty can recognize.
Rather than making fun of getting older, the song celebrates the strange, frustrating, and often hilarious realities that come with it. The aches, the doctor visits, the insurance battles, the reading glasses that somehow disappear while sitting on top of your head, and the constant search for something that actually makes you feel better are experiences shared by millions of people.
Musically, I wanted "Grey Nation" to capture the carefree spirit of classic 90s hip-hop. It's built around a deep live groove, playful storytelling, and a chant that feels like friends in the studio having as much fun recording it as listeners will have singing along.
Every generation eventually discovers that growing older isn't about giving up. It's about adapting, laughing at yourself, and realizing that experience is a badge of honor. "Grey Nation" is an anthem for everyone who has earned a few grey hairs and still refuses to stop living.
On the surface, "Grey Nation" is a humorous hip-hop anthem about the everyday absurdities of aging. Beneath the jokes, however, is something much more universal: the realization that growing older creates an instant community.
Nearly everyone reaches a point where the body begins negotiating instead of cooperating. Knees complain, backs seize up, medications multiply, insurance becomes a full-time opponent, and even simple tasks can turn into comedy. The song embraces these moments instead of resisting them, finding humor where frustration often lives.
The recurring chant, "Grey Nation," represents more than a particular age group. It symbolizes a shared membership that nobody signs up for but everyone eventually joins. Once you're part of the club, the experiences become remarkably familiar, regardless of background or profession.
The chorus captures one of the defining contradictions of modern life. People are living longer than ever, yet many spend increasing amounts of time navigating pain management, healthcare systems, prescriptions, and wellness trends while simply trying to maintain the quality of life they once took for granted. The references to chronic pain, CBD, THC, insurance denials, and stretching instead of surgery reflect conversations happening around dinner tables every day.
Humor is the vehicle, but resilience is the destination. Every punchline reminds us that while the body changes, identity does not. The same people who once stayed out all night, blasted music from their cars, and thought they were indestructible are still inside. They may move a little slower and make more trips to the bathroom, but the spirit remains unchanged.
The final declaration, "We ain't old... We vintage, baby!" captures the heart of the song. Vintage isn't worn out. Vintage has history, character, stories, and value earned through experience.
Ultimately, "Grey Nation" is less about aging than it is about refusing to let aging define you. It laughs at life's inconveniences while celebrating the people who keep showing up, keep adapting, and keep finding reasons to smile. If laughter is good medicine, then "Grey Nation" is a prescription the entire nation can enjoy.
PLAY SAMPLE
real one
This one goes out
To all the real ones out there
You know who you are
Every monday
Every paycheck
Every family
Every sacrifice
This one's for you
It's just another day of work y'all
The sun is comin' back around
Bills to pay
Rent to pay
So you know I gotta say
It's just another day of work y'all
Once again it's goin' down
A back to break
My pride to take
Feelin' like I'm stretched thin now
It's just another day of work y'all
You know it's goin' down
At home they mad
The kids are sad
Yet I'm doin' all I can
My job is to protect
Provide
To listen
And to sacrifice
To be there
Unconditional
The captain of the ship because
This is what it's like
A real one
A real one
Real one
No praise
Real one
Bad pay
Real one
This is what it's like
A real one
A real one
Real one
Still showin' up
Real one
This is what it's like
A real one
A real one
Always under pressure
Real one
Real one
Bills due
Still true
Real one
Real one
Pressure
Sky high
Real one
Real one
Taking care of bidness
Is the mission
It's another week of work y'all
The boss is on my neck
I'm jugglin' home
A cluttered dome
Can barely see straight yet
It's another week of work y'all
Again I'm showin' up
Sometimes it feels like torture
Just to do what I'm supposed to
It's another week of work y'all
I'm clockin' in again
Meetings stack
Inbox packed
Phone won't stop
No slack
Coffee cold
Mind froze
Five more hours to do
Before I'm through
My job is to protect
Provide
To listen
And to sacrifice
To be there
Unconditional
The captain of the ship because
Sometimes it feels a mystery
To keep in synchronicity
The house
The fam
The dog
The home
Each day another battle zone
Context switch
Strike the pitch
Hit another home run
Tank is low
Funds are low
Duckin' from the repo
Still I cannot fail
I must prevail
Deep breath again
Inflate this sail
My job is to protect
Provide
To listen
And to sacrifice
To be there
Unconditional
The captain of the ship because
Mission impossible
Mission
Mission
Missin' mission
Mission impossible
Mission
Mission impossible
Mission
Mission
Feelin' unstoppable
On this mission
The victory
Ain't the ending
It's wakin' up
Again
It's puttin' boots
Back on
It's doin'
What you said you'd do
When nobody's watchin'
Each day another chance
To slay the dragon
Keep on winning
Always movin' forward
Never backward
Always capable
'cause as long as breath's in this body
I'm gonna be unstoppable
Yes
My job is to protect
Provide
To listen
Always sacrifice
To be there
Unconditional
The captain of the ship because
This is what it's like
A real one
A real one
Real one
No praise
Real one
Bad pay
Real one
This is what it's like
A real one
A real one
Still showin' up
Real one
This is what it's like
A real one
A real one
Always under pressure
Real one
Real one
Bills due
Still true
Real one
Real one
Pressure
Sky high
Real one
Real one
Taking care of bidness
Is the mission
Some build bridges
Some build homes
Some build futures
Lay bricks by stone
Some wear boots
Some wear ties
Some wear scrubs
Saving lives
Some wear steel
Some wear blue
Some wear suits
Just like you
Different roads
Same mission
Stand tall
Keep livin'
Hold it down
Real one
You a real one
Real one
Keep showin' up
Real one
Don't stop now
Real one
Real one
Real one
Real one
Real one
Watchillie
**Real One** is an anthem for the people who show up every day, even when nobody notices.
The inspiration came from the evening before returning to work after the July 4th holiday weekend. As millions of people prepared to go back to their jobs, I found myself thinking about the shared experience of getting up, paying the bills, providing for family, carrying responsibilities, and continuing forward regardless of how tired, stressed, or unappreciated we may feel.
This song isn't about loving work. It's about honoring perseverance.
Whether someone wears work boots, a suit, scrubs, a uniform, or works from a desk at home, there is dignity in consistently doing what needs to be done. The repeated phrase "Real One" isn't reserved for celebrities or heroes. It's a tribute to ordinary people who quietly carry extraordinary responsibility.
Sometimes the greatest victories aren't dramatic. Sometimes they're simply getting up one more morning and doing what you said you would do.
**Watchillie.**
At its heart, **Real One** is about redefining what success looks like.
Modern culture often celebrates wealth, status, fame, and recognition, yet most people spend their lives accomplishing something much less visible but equally important. They provide. They protect. They listen. They sacrifice. They keep families together, support coworkers, care for patients, teach children, build homes, repair roads, answer phones, solve problems, and continue showing up long after the excitement has faded.
The repeated chorus transforms the phrase "Real One" from slang into a statement of character. Being a "real one" isn't about image. It's about consistency.
Throughout the verses, the song acknowledges the realities many people experience: financial pressure, demanding jobs, endless meetings, family obligations, mental exhaustion, and the constant balancing act between work and home. Rather than portraying these struggles as defeat, the song reframes persistence itself as victory.
The "Mission Impossible" section represents the feeling that life can sometimes demand more than any one person should reasonably be expected to carry. Yet the song responds to that impossible feeling not with surrender, but with determination. Every new day becomes another opportunity to continue the mission.
The bridge delivers the central message of the song:
*The victory isn't the destination. The victory is choosing to continue.*
The closing verse broadens the perspective beyond a single occupation. Construction workers, healthcare professionals, office workers, tradespeople, engineers, teachers, first responders, service workers, parents, caregivers, military personnel, and countless others all contribute in different ways. Their uniforms may differ, but their purpose is the same: to carry responsibility and keep moving forward.
Ultimately, **Real One** is a celebration of quiet resilience. It reminds us that character is measured less by applause than by the willingness to keep showing up, doing the right thing, and carrying the weight when nobody else is watching.
Every day someone chooses responsibility over convenience, service over recognition, and perseverance over surrender.
That's a real one.
PLAY SAMPLE
weed whacker
Aw, come on
You ever notice
You pull one weed
Five more show up
And here we go again
Out-side
Try'na pull weeds
Gotta make it purrty
Yes I'm pulling
And I'm scraping
And I'm digging like a mole
Clink-clink
This dirt has got me thinkin'
My life in this role
Problems
They grow
They seed
Multiplyin' overnight
Wake up
Wake up
Yet
More weeds are still in sight
Try to whack
Try to prune
These berry vicious vines
But gonna fight the battle
Right now
And prepare for next time
Yo
Let me tell ya
Got me feelin'
Like a weed whacker
Whack
Whack
Whack
Feelin like a weed whacker
Whack
Whack
Whack
Problems
Poppin' up
Like weeds
Everybody got a problem
Everybody got a need
Everybody showin' up
Soon as they see me breathe
That's why I'm the weed whacker
Whack
Gotta get my hands dirty
Pullin' and extractin'
With my scythe
I'm retractin'
While whackin'
And jackin'
Weed sub-tractin'
Cause it's more than just them weeds y'all
More than just the seeds y'all
This is what I need y'all
Pull it from the root
Pull up
Pull up
You can't be takin' over
'cause this is my life
Non-stop
As the problems keep on coming
I just finished up this section
Yet fourteen more be growin'
I feel it's a conspiracy
As it feels they mock me
Cause the more I try to dominate
The more they laugh and block me
Heh
Heh
Heh
They move the line
Redo the test
Feels like I'm runnin'
From the
I
R
S
With a little rain
I watch it spread
Debt
Compound interest
That hole I dread
Suffocatin'
With dat choke hold
My life
This field feels overrun
While the weeds be laughin'
We've just begun
Heh
Ha
Ha
Ha
Tried the shovel
Tried the spray
Bought the gadget yesterday
Cash evaporates
At the home depot
And yes
Heh
I'm broke today
Cha-ching
Awww man
And all them weeders are teasin'
Just like my life of strife
And complications
Problems always got a reason
To say
Why this ain't workin'
That is broken
Ain't got no cash
And like them weeds that's sproutin'
Ain't no doubt
They'll always outlast
Repeat
My lawn
My life's
This constant game
That spins outta control
Untamed
But with this hammer
Will not stammer
To play
Whack-a-mole
Keep whackin'
Whack
Whack
Whack-whack
Keep whackin'
Whack
Whack
Whack-whack
Wiggity wiggity wiggity
Whack
Wiggity wiggity wiggity
Whack
Wiggity wiggity wiggity
Whack
Dang
There's another one
Ha
Ha
Ha
Watchillie
Weed Whacker is a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek hip hop track that turns an ordinary day of yard work into a humorous reflection on everyday life. While pulling weeds around the yard, it struck me how similar they are to the challenges we all face. You solve one problem, and before you know it, several more have popped up to take its place.
Rather than taking a serious approach, I wanted the song to capture the playful spirit of classic 90s boom bap fun storytelling, memorable chants, and a groove that makes you smile. Beneath the jokes, though, is a simple reminder that life's obstacles never completely disappear. The goal isn't to eliminate every weed; it's to keep showing up, keep working, and not let them take over the yard... or your life.
On the surface, Weed Whacker is about lawn maintenance. Underneath, it's about resilience.
Every weed represents something that demands our attention: financial pressure, stress, unexpected setbacks, responsibilities, self-doubt, broken appliances, deadlines, relationships, or simply the countless little frustrations that accumulate over time. Just when one issue is resolved, another seems ready to take its place.
The chorus embraces this reality rather than fighting it. Becoming the "Weed Whacker" symbolizes choosing to confront life's problems instead of being overwhelmed by them. The work is repetitive, sometimes exhausting, and often feels endless, but that's simply part of living.
Even humorous lines about Home Depot, debt, and running from the IRS point toward a universal experience: adulthood often feels like an ongoing cycle of fixing, maintaining, paying, repairing, and adapting. The weeds keep growing, but so does our ability to handle them.
The closing line "Dang... there's another one" brings the entire metaphor full circle. It's funny because it's true. There will always be another weed. There will always be another challenge. The answer isn't frustration or surrender, it's picking up the weed whacker, laughing about it, and getting back to work.
Sometimes the healthiest response to life's endless list of problems isn't to pretend they don't exist. It's to smile, keep your sense of humor, and keep whacking.
PLAY SAMPLE