I know, I’ve been telling you that this video was coming for a while now – but its finally here. The delay for the premiere occurred due to the censors over at MTVu banning the video for being too “problematic” due to “suicide undertones.” So Invincible, being the G that she is, decided to record an intro for the video addressing MTV’s standards department, and now she’s looking for some feedback from you to see what you think of the video. So watch it below and leave a comment about what you think about, and if you think MTV is justisified in their decision.
“Ropes” also features Tiombe Lockhart and was produced by Knxwledge. The video was produced by Invincible and directed by veteran NY MC, Mr. Complex, who also directed Pharoahe Monch‘s clip for “When The Gun Draws.”
Big ups to Shamz at Okayplayer for premiering the video.
SUPPORT: Invincible – ShapeShifters IN STORES NOW
FEEDBACK: Leave a comment letting Invincible & MTVu know what you think
LYRICS: “Ropes” SEE BELOW
Ropes
Lyrics by Invincible, chorus by Tiombe Lockhart
Its hard to get a glimpse of hope
When you against the ropes
Try to penny pinch but after bills and rent ya broke
Life it always throws a wrench like Emp at Interscope
You in the aftermath succumb to numb it with a drink or smoke
To ease the pain I sleep all day
Relieves the hangover from the E and J
Lookin for a tunnels end, a light to lead the way
But the shame has been ingrained into my DNA
Cuz pop’s was a failure
Mom was on lithium
Always settled for less than the best
No one to pity em
No one to drop a pretty gem
At seven tied a plastic bag over my head
Like, “What’s the point but getting older and dead?”
So innocent, searching for missing links
Surrounded by the carcasses of instruments
Of dreams departed hardened by the sentiments
Out of tune and sharpened by the artists who neglected it
I’m scarred by my resemblance
Hook [performed by Tiombe Lockhart]:
Silly things
That I do to feel life
I realize
I drink and I smoke
Scrambling for a hint of hope
My tight rope
You know the one where a rabbi, imam and pastor walk in
To a bar to discuss what happens if the caskets dropping
The one inside committed suicide
Family spastic sobbin
The answers come in more flavors than Baskin-Robbins
Will god forgive em for the sin
and will they ever make amends
Or was it the last option off of the path they walked in?
Depending on if they believed in hell or heaven
Or if there was a chemical imbalance in their cerebellum
Or if the pain was overwhelming full of self loathing
Feeling plagued by failure like the first males chosen
Or what if hell’s frozen, and life was only this purgatory?
Full of greed, and murder, war
See I know you heard the story
What if they wait and have faith to reincarnate?
With luck they won’t be stuck again between a rock and hard place
Running in a hamster wheel
We wondering what answer’s real
And star gaze pray someone above to keep our heart safe.
HOOK
I heard the barrels cry wishing they could spare ya lives
Was feeling paralyzed but no I wasn’t scared to die
Feared not livin to the fullest so i pulled it
All or nothing
Now somebody wanna call my bluff when
I tried to flinch
Told them that the suicide attempt was cause I’d rather die
Than live and ride the bench
For every victory there’s like 50 times the set backs
For every revolution there’s a death trap
And everytime I see police attackin with a tazer gun
A protester that’s down already on the ground my face is stunned
I see people that’s unaffected like “that’s just for safety hun”
Turn around and tell myself: “You’re not the crazy one”
To all the unfazed and numb, hope that you hear
What I’ve spoken is clear
So you stop repressing choking the tears
We all walk the line between insanity and sanity
And hope and despair
Hope and despair
Outro [performed by Tiombe Lockhart]:
I realize
I’m as big as the sun in the sky
Wild dreams and mild denies
Slow raw and numb outside
I dream in the snow
I drink and smoke
Hint of hope
Walking on the tight rope…
Wow, amazing video. I really hope Mtvu reconsiders its position
ridiculous. top of the game.
MTV I’m disappointed all too often by you. What’s too problematic is all the nonsense reality TV shows that you’re playing day in and day out keeping our youth sedated by garbage TV.
Finally, we have a video that can enlighten and teach some people something and you say “that’s too problematic?”
I love the video Invincible. I love the song. I think MTV messed up royally by denying this video some airplay.
PEACE. my piece from Milwaukee,
Melissa Czarnik
that is some ill shit
fuck mtvU
It’s a shame! This vid is dope!
Lyrics are on point!
This is what we need on Mtv
Put it on its a awesome vid n track
Invincible Ropes is dope
Mtv please change your mind
MTV definitely needs to open their eyes. If Kanye had the same lyrics (not that he would) they’d play it.
Video and song is fire. Music witta ill message… MTVu yall just might save some COLLEGE LIVES by airing this video…
Invincible is the home girl, and I’ve always dug her writing and I think MTV is full of bull! Anything that has a real message, they shun, my home Mr. J of the Procussions did a song called ‘Constance’ about the Sex Trade, and MTV did what… you guessed it!
They do get the GAS-FACE!
Keep on Invincible, and Kenny, thanks for the heads up, It’s going on my inspiration blog page!
Easy.
This is a sensational video and a very, very powerful song. I hope MTVu reconsiders their position and airs this thought-provoking piece of art.
but is is okay for mtv, to show britney spears in her video “everytime” commiting suicide!
Vicious… Loved the song as well as the visuals.. Been following ya work for a while, Invincible.. And it keeps on inclining.. U and Finale some sharp m*ph*kk*s, fo real… Mtv needs to go head and do that Big Shug and Preemo thang.. “Let It Play”… BeSafeTho/
-y
effin masterpiece! keep it comin. mtv sucks. big time!
It is problematic but for the MTV cause they put a lot of work poisoning minds and you’re message it’s against their interests.
I don’t have MTV home but everytime I travel and see it I feel really embarrased.
Fuck tv!
Use Youtube and other channels to spread the message.
Fresh, thank you for your site. I dont think you realise how dope it is. I always look forward to your unselfish giving away of treats.
You are hip hop. Also thanks to people with you who release music on your site for FREE.
I am still banging the PPP mixtape and other PPP exclusive you have provided. Peace to Bling47 and its assoiciated acts.
fuck MTV and the whole networks that are up to shit. I will cop Tiombe’s album without even checking the video because thats how dope i think she is.
Kenny, keep it up. Share music expose imposters but mostly keep it fresh as you will always do.
Love your work, and the fact that you rap better and better. I understand that this is an important issue for you,and you want to adress it. But unfortunately research have shown that suicide numbers go up when media give the topic attention, even if the purpose is to prevent more from taking their lives. The mind works in mysterious ways, especially among teens. I guess the best way to fight it is to make joyful music. But once again, keep up the good work, hiphop needs you. Peace
damn.. eff mtv man..
this is great work. mtv is trying to keep viewers up up up so they buy what’s in the ads. community, family, reality– these things are maybe not so important to that corporation.
I thought the song, and vid were both thought provoking, and needed. However we need to understand that MTV represents religious fundamentalist, and paid advertisers. So you can’t expect them to understand the impact that suicide has on the lives of many people. Companies like MTV are there to shape public opinion for advertisers, and other conglomerates. Not to educate. They probably feel your vid would make kids want to commit suicide. Instead of help them understand the issue like it’s really doing. So great song, but don’t feel bad that MTV won’t show it. I want to thank you for putting it out their. Because it really is a breath of fresh air.
Man, one of my favorite joints off ShapeShifters. I think MTV needs to get off their bullshit. They rather hear fingersnaps or sexual undertones than to play some real life shit that people go through everyday. If MTV doesn’t want to play it, it’s there lost honestly.
Send that shit to CurrentTV, now that’s a channel worthy of some dope shit.
We don’t need them, we’re in 2009 they’re more ppl with Internet access than with MTV access. Everytime I heard about MTV is because they put it in some public places and ppl start asking me why I listen hip hop? And why Hip Hop is so this and that? Best thing that can happens to hip hop is the end of MTV. Sorry, I see how this video can help ppl and that MTV is a huge media but is just MTV is part of the problem and can’t be bring no help.
I love her voice. Very intelligent and raw. Real hip hop. Brightens my day to hear that true hip hop is reaching new levels.
The video lays out the instructions for suicide and displays the (clinically) necessary thought processes needed to have both major depression and schizophrenia. Is this what we want impressionable youngsters emulating. Thank goodness the execs at MTV took a reasonable stand.
If you want to sell this to the public you have to find other ways of distribution and stop all the boo hooing. Wait I have an idea lets put it on industry blogs and see if we could build some real underground buzz, we did after all make a video.
Shapeshifters was my favorite album of 2008 by a fairly wide margin, and “Ropes” was my favorite track. The verse about police brutality is far more subversive than the suicide talk, but I just think MTV’s standards department has to follow FCC guidelines pretty strictly.
Regardless, what an amazing meditation on life’s daily struggles. This song challenges religious and social conventions, and maintains the album’s signature, graceful flow throughout. MTV don’t deserve you, Invincible! Keep making great music!
Honestly Mtv is pretty consistent can’t be surprised. How can an intelligent young woman artist such as invincible have any place in mainstream MTV. If they really cared about the youth they would play this video and like she says in the intro have an honest dialogue about youth in our society and why they feel like killing themselves-or each other.
Keep doing what your doing Invincible and thank goodness for the internet!!!
sick song and video…its sad mtv don’t realise that!…if they actually thought about the possible positive impact – in the way that people could relate to the track….idiots.
big up to invincible..
I think:
The song “Ropes” is hot. Invincible is most deffinatly a star and just an all around dope emcee.
I fist was introduced to her from the music video “Sledghammer” which I thought was super dope.
(especially when I put it up to Micromantics music video “Lets Get Phisical)
To be honest, upon first take, I found the “Ropes” video to be missing a little something. I wanted to see more, perhaps a warning, a hotline or a statistic. Somthing that addresses the message in the song.
However, Mtv is no stranger to issues like suicide being depicted through musical and visual art.
(just look at Gnarles Barkley Mtv success)
Mtv-U especially has a responsibility in CAMPUS OUTREACH and the issue of suicide has always been one to be addressed. This video seems serious because it; MTV, compromise with Invincible, edit, even have her as guest hosts in addressing the issue.
Think “Awarness Day” with one of the illist artists to date.
Peace.
it wud’ve been dope if mtvu played the video because it wud give folks who consider suicide hopefully drops of hope to hear someone speaking to them directly and to know that there are others who understand and people with open arms. i believe in “ropes” because it’s sweetly bullhorning the unheard; dealing with one of many shadows that folks avoid. we need to hear invincible’s words; she always comes with the necessary! without giving the video any air play, on mtvu which is seen nationwide on college campus’ televisions or even simply mtv which is also seen internationally, prolongs festering wounds; mtv’s standards department mind as well pour some salt on it.
There’s no question about the moral and artistic value of this video. The real debate is why MTV wants to bamboozle people with this fake hand wringing moralizing. They clearly care about money not morals.
Hmm…they bully indie joints but Emimem’s videos and lyrics didn’t raise red flags?
They’re clearly tripping
i see no reason why this video shouldnt be played i thought the video was cool i didnt find it unsettling at all.. the undertones can not be any more unsettling than nelly’s hott in herre!!
so whats the problem!!
Leave it to MTV to push wrath, greed and lust and neglect those who need support…N.O.T.W.
it is a dope music and video. congrats!!! it is a real hip hop. it is dope!
but… well… i´m a video editor and a mother as well. i´ve thought a lot about tv´s stuff, you know? i was a potential suicide when teen. among crisis, suicidal people needs to grab onto something to keep living. if we find something that fits with our anguish, so, man… it is hard to stay alive. tv spreads ideas but people doesn´t think about that they see. everyone knows that, sure? people just “eat” that they see. it is pretty complicated to put this video on morning or afternoons tv´s schedule. BUT… under advises at late night, so, it will be pretty good! maybe, MTV gives you a letter of recommendation stating you to a big recorder. ask them it.
plus… if you think about… this case already helps you spread your word. i´m from brazil and i got knowing about you and your good work!
keep strong and talented as you really are!!!
hey mtv, how about you grow a pair and quit trying to be the next vh1.