What started out as wanting to make a beat that really gets you hyped and motivated, to the first and so far only song I’ve produced to have a music video directly tied to the lore, Code red has by far been my most productive piece of music I’ve ever made. While other songs hold more value and meaning to me personally, no song has been able reach the level of energy that this song does. This is also the song that I think show the biggest example of how different the message of it is when you bring the lore into consideration. While the message is generally the same in both accounts, connecting pieces of lore throughout the rest of the discography and applying it to this song brings a whole new level of engagement and energy once you figure out what’s going on.

Obviously, a beat with a lot of energy has to have lyrics that match that level of energy. I tried to imagine what a sports team would say to each other in the locker room when they’re playing against their rival team. Saying that this is the biggest game of their careers and that they have to give it everything they got or else they’re gonna lose. Also acting as a battle cry to instill fear in their opponents and make them scared to face them. Feelings of dominance, power, adrenaline rushes, confidence are all over the lyrics of this song. I tried to encapsulate how one would feel when feeling those things how someone would act after getting that adrenaline rush. 

Now all that would make for a great song by itself, but put this in the context of the universe of the discography, and a whole bunch of layers get added to the song. This is also why I wanted this song to have a music video out of all the songs on the EP. I knew I was going to make a music video for one of them that involved the discography universe, and this song made the most sense since it was the song I could build off of the most. Ballistica constantly talking about how confident he is that he can bring down Antropy’s, and being able to motivate himself and the listeners to do the same. Encouraging them to join him in this war. However, the cliffhanger of the EP is that the viewer is asking themselves: what war is Ballistica asking them to be a part of? Who or what exactly is he fighting against? Who are Antropy and Agon (who are named in the bridge)? And finally, what’s the meaning behind the end of the music video?

Code Red

What may be Ballistica’s most open and honest song he’s ever made, hoping this will also convince innocent people to join his side. Open and honesty are characteristics that people look for when it comes to genuine friendship, and that’s what Ballistica wants to prove to the people. Continuing his quest to prove to the people that his side is the right side, he shows that his side comes with not only a sense of flourishing and bliss, but also truth and honesty. In order to show his honesty and openness, he tells the story of himself from 3 years ago, almost succumbing to Agon’s influence.

3 years ago

Ballistica is sending a message to Antropy. A message of resilience and intent. No matter how strong Antropy becomes, no matter how much Agon influences the vessel, no matter how weak Ballistica becomes, he will never give up. He refuses to let the Antropy’s and Agon have any control over the vessel, himself, or the people that fight with him. He preaches to remain strong and keep fighting. To do what you need to do to survive. No matter what fight you find yourself in, whether it’s a small struggle or the fight of your life, you should never let yourself die out.

Die out

Ballistica has been able to influence a great number of people to join in the fight against Agon and the Antropy’s. Those who have been able to relate and confide in his messages. People who share the same feelings about Agon that he does. However, it’s still not enough. The vessel has millions of Antropy’s inside it, and the Ballistica army is only comprised of a few hundred people. After this realization, Ballistica has a plan. He tells his army to keep spreading the word to people who may not understand why he’s fighting. He tells his people to think about all the people in their lives who could help. Remember as many people that they can using a method called the Chain Reaction. 

Chain reaction

Ballistica and his army are on their way to find the CDC. It’s been a long journey, and the army is starting to grow weary and tired. They’ve started to think about abandoning the journey. Believing that the CDC is too hard to find, if they even exist. Ballistica catches on to this and decides to give his people some motivation. He tells them what the vessel will be without Antropy’s. A vessel without Agon. A vessel where they can live however they want, and live a peaceful life. He ends his speech by reminding his people that that is how things were before Antropy found his way into the vessel. Everyone was free and didn’t have to worry about what anyone else thought about them, or what they did. 

This will make me cool

Antropy hears that Ballistica has formed an army of his own and is coming for him and the CDC. Antropy decides to make a battle cry for his own army. A battle cry that shows Ballistica what it means to be an Antropy, and be one with Agon. Seeing that Ballistica wasn’t affected by the original message of the CDC, Antropy knew that he had to put more into this new message that the rest of the CDC couldn’t do. The only one that matters in this world, is yourself. 

Epicenter

The battle has begun, with many people meeting their unfortunate end. Now it’s almost over. There are only 2 left: Ballistica and the original Antropy. They come face to face for the first time. Ballistica has encountered other Antropy’s before during Code Red, but none like the original one. He knew that this Antropy would put up a bigger fight then the others. Both sides put up a good fight against the other, but the final battle becomes too much, with the vessel on the brink of collapse. The vessel cries out, begging for the fight to stop, and it finally does. 

Inner-lude

The Middle Man has had enough. Ballistica and Antropy have been at this feud for far too long. They didn’t listen after his first attempt to show them what they’ve done. Focusing on how much they’ve affected him didn’t work. He takes a different approach; he’s not holding anything back this time. He’s showing Ballistica and Antropy what they’ve done now and that they are the problem. They are the reason the vessel is falling apart. Not because of Antropy’s cult, and not because of Ballistica’s lifestyle before Antropy was free. He’s going to expose them to everybody who will listen to him. 

Telephone

After finally listening to the Middle Man, Antropy finally understands how much of a problem he has been within the vessel. He also realizes that both him and Ballistica are necessary for the vessel to function, and neither one should have any authority or power over the other. He finds himself alone and unable to feel anything except for regret. He feels like he’s at fault for “destroying” the vessel and Ballistica trying to kill him for it. He feels like he lost Ballistica, the other piece needed for the vessel to be stable, without actually losing him. He now believes he has to live in the vessel alone. 

Threshold

After finally listening to the Middle Man, Ballistica finally understands that he has faults and he negatively affects the vessel too. However, he’s still struggling to accept that Antropy is also necessary in the vessel for it to be balanced. He’s stuck in a dilemma: if he accepts Antropy is a part of the vessel, the vessel won’t be completely the way he thinks it should be; if he kills Antropy and have the vessel be the way he thinks is best, that means there would be no balance and risk the true destruction of it. He’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

Rock/Hard place

Ballistica and Antropy have both accepted the fact that the other is necessary for the vessel to stay stable and balanced. Because of this, the vessel is back to being stable, and has reached his peak potential. He is now ready to enter the real world. He makes one final song to show Agon that he won’t fall to his influence even if Antropy exists within him, and that he’s not going to let himself or anyone else submit to his influence. He vows to inspire people to be the best possible self they can be. A strong, worthy, and authentic self that he calls: the Olympian.

Olympian

Lemme just inspire people, that’s about it

Code Red

Ballistica

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