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13,387,484 | 4 | Lil Wayne | 4 | Lil Wayne (Ft. Drake) | Family Feud | 3,402,324 | New Years Eve, lookin’ like a royal flush
Wait, we all in the same suit | New Years Eve, lookin’ like a royal flush Wait, we all in the same suit | Drake references the royal flush, which is a hand in Poker where you have a straight with face cards and they are all the same suit. Drake and his squad show up to New Years all wearing the same suit, hence, looking like a royal flush. | 5,662,361 | MarcoADiGabriele | 204 | https://genius.com/MarcoADiGabriele | 38 | https://genius.com/13387484/Lil-wayne-family-feud/New-years-eve-lookin-like-a-royal-flush-wait-we-all-in-the-same-suit | Drake references the royal flush, which is a hand in Poker where you have a straight with face cards and they are all the same suit. Drake and his squad show up to New Years all wearing the same suit, hence, looking like a royal flush. |
4,838,699 | 12,404 | Action Bronson | 12,404 | Action Bronson | Big League Chew | 697,016 | Flashbacks of riding on the A-Train | Flashbacks of riding on the A-Train | Reminiscent of back in the days they only way he got around was on the A-train in Vew York which goes from 207th Street in Inwood, Manhattan to Liberty Avenue/Rockaway in Queens.
Fun Fact: The A provides the longest one-seat ride in the system, at over 31 miles between Inwood and Far Rockaway. | 301,198 | dash1of1 | 14,129 | https://genius.com/dash1of1 | 1 | https://genius.com/4838699/Action-bronson-big-league-chew/Flashbacks-of-riding-on-the-a-train | Reminiscent of back in the days they only way he got around was on the A-train in Vew York which goes from 207th Street in Inwood, Manhattan to Liberty Avenue/Rockaway in Queens.
Fun Fact: The A provides the longest one-seat ride in the system, at over 31 miles between Inwood and Far Rockaway. |
20,415,151 | 7,922 | Logic | 7,922 | Logic | Open Mic\\Aquarius III | 5,555,612 | [Verse 2] | [Verse 2] | This verse comprised half of the third verse on Logic’s 2019 single “OCD.”
In the No Pressure World Premiere for the album, Logic explained why “OCD” was not on the album:
The reason “OCD” isn’t on this album is because I didn’t want it to be on this album. And the reason that that verse is on this album, is because this song is called “Open Mic”, and when you hit the open mic, sometimes you freestyle, sometimes you bring shit people never heard, and sometimes you bring back certain shit that people have heard. “OCD” will be forgotten in the grand scheme of shit. The reason I left those lyrics on here is because I wanted it to live forever, on an album. | 3,251,272 | spillretro | 249 | https://genius.com/RealA10N | 52 | https://genius.com/20415151/Logic-open-mic-aquarius-iii/Verse-2 | This verse comprised half of the third verse on Logic’s 2019 single “OCD.”
In the No Pressure World Premiere for the album, Logic explained why “OCD” was not on the album:
The reason “OCD” isn’t on this album is because I didn’t want it to be on this album. And the reason that that verse is on this album, is because this song is called “Open Mic”, and when you hit the open mic, sometimes you freestyle, sometimes you bring shit people never heard, and sometimes you bring back certain shit that people have heard. “OCD” will be forgotten in the grand scheme of shit. The reason I left those lyrics on here is because I wanted it to live forever, on an album. |
10,230,309 | 177,756 | Rae Sremmurd | 177,756 | Rae Sremmurd (Ft. Kodak Black) | Real Chill | 2,419,709 | Because I was Spend Ben (Spend Ben)
They know I would Kill Bill (Hit him)
I walk round Ben still (Ben still) | Because I was Spend Ben (Spend Ben) They know I would Kill Bill (Hit him) I walk round Ben still (Ben still) | Kodak Black is referring to Quentin Tarintino’s fourth film Kill Bill where the main character, “The Bride,” was apart of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad and known to be highly skilled with a sword.
Similarly, Kodak carriers around a weapon made of steel (a gun), that he uses to take out his foes. | 3,361,090 | InfiniteJam | 896 | https://genius.com/InfiniteJam | 9 | https://genius.com/10230309/Rae-sremmurd-real-chill/Because-i-was-spend-ben-spend-ben-they-know-i-would-kill-bill-hit-him-i-walk-round-ben-still-ben-still | Kodak Black is referring to Quentin Tarintino’s fourth film Kill Bill where the main character, “The Bride,” was apart of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad and known to be highly skilled with a sword.
Similarly, Kodak carriers around a weapon made of steel (a gun), that he uses to take out his foes. |
1,457,025 | 88 | Rick Ross | 554 | Tyga (Ft. Rick Ross) | Dope | 110,781 | I (Pop, pop) wish a nigga would call Thomas | I (Pop, pop) wish a nigga would call Thomas | Nod to the song “I Wish” by Carl Thomas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhHIPx6FnVA | 181,371 | iAMtheAVOCADO | 36 | https://genius.com/iAMtheAVOCADO | 2 | https://genius.com/1457025/Tyga-dope/I-pop-pop-wish-a-nigga-would-call-thomas | Nod to the song “I Wish” by Carl Thomas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhHIPx6FnVA |
1,931,825 | 223 | Common | 223 | Common | Forever Begins | 14,364 | Now we let our chains hang | Now we let our chains hang | http://players.brightcove.net/4863540648001/HklmClHkx_default/index.html?videoId=5237523394001 | 148,353 | Common | 11,305 | https://genius.com/Common | 7 | https://genius.com/1931825/Common-forever-begins/Now-we-let-our-chains-hang | http://players.brightcove.net/4863540648001/HklmClHkx_default/index.html?videoId=5237523394001 |
29,187 | 22 | The Notorious B.I.G. | 22 | The Notorious B.I.G. | Machine Gun Funk | 444 | Strapped like Bamboo, but I don’t sling guns
I got bags of funk and it’s sellin’ by the tons | Strapped like Bamboo, but I don’t sling guns I got bags of funk and it’s sellin’ by the tons | Bamboo is a character in the 1993 movie Strapped (played by Fredro Starr from Onyx), a former drug dealer who now sells guns for a living. | 276 | YUNGPUNC | 1,877 | https://genius.com/YUNGPUNC | 38 | https://genius.com/29187/The-notorious-big-machine-gun-funk/Strapped-like-bamboo-but-i-dont-sling-guns-i-got-bags-of-funk-and-its-sellin-by-the-tons | Bamboo is a character in the 1993 movie Strapped (played by Fredro Starr from Onyx), a former drug dealer who now sells guns for a living. |
13,827,213 | 228 | Method Man | 46 | Snoop Dogg (Ft. B-Real, Method Man & Redman) | Mount Kushmore | 3,065,642 | Killa Beez mind your beeswax | Killa Beez mind your beeswax | Killa Beez is a reference to the Wu Tang Clan as a whole. In Method Man’s song “Sandman” you can hear the sound of bees attacking a man as well the phrase itself expressed in multiple songs like the one sampled bellow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAcyyquhd3Y | 4,983,529 | jnewman424 | 139 | https://genius.com/jnewman424 | 0 | https://genius.com/13827213/Snoop-dogg-mount-kushmore/Killa-beez-mind-your-beeswax | Killa Beez is a reference to the Wu Tang Clan as a whole. In Method Man’s song “Sandman” you can hear the sound of bees attacking a man as well the phrase itself expressed in multiple songs like the one sampled bellow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAcyyquhd3Y |
20,771,728 | 388 | Talib Kweli | 354 | Black Star | Definition | 2,459 | My name is in the middle of equality | My name is in the middle of equality | “My name is in the middle of ekwelity.” | 1,585,887 | Realpbc | 411 | https://genius.com/Realpbc | 11 | https://genius.com/20771728/Black-star-definition/My-name-is-in-the-middle-of-equality | “My name is in the middle of ekwelity.” |
4,965,543 | 491 | Big K.R.I.T. | 7,922 | Logic (Ft. Big K.R.I.T.) | Top Ten | 713,925 | Been around for a minute now, one hunnid, I’m in it now
People that wasn’t there back in the day talkin’ ’bout, man, remember I’m winning now
I could only imagine if I was beginning now, back in the beginning now
Fuck that, spent a mil’ on the chain and I tell my company deduct that
Get the fuck back | Been around for a minute now, one hunnid, I’m in it now People that wasn’t there back in the day talkin’ ’bout, man, remember I’m winning now I could only imagine if I was beginning now, back in the beginning now Fuck that, spent a mil’ on the chain and I tell my company deduct that Get the fuck back | Logic has come a long way from where he started out. Despite him signing with Def Jam in 2012, Logic refused to announce his million dollar deal, because he wanted his fans to understand that money wouldn’t change his music. He released Undeniable and Welcome to Forever with VMG before announcing his deal in 2013. After all he’s accomplished, Logic feels like his life has meaning, and he wouldn’t give the feeling up for anything.
He used to be broke, and now that’s he’s raking in money, there’s no way he’s going back. This is not a journey Logic wants to relive after spending (at least) half of his signing bonus on his tours and merch.
Note that the chain he talks about is the same one from “Under Pressure” and “My Chain.” | 219,416 | inTuneizzle | 29,363 | https://genius.com/inTuneizzle | 30 | https://genius.com/4965543/Logic-top-ten/Been-around-for-a-minute-now-one-hunnid-im-in-it-now-people-that-wasnt-there-back-in-the-day-talkin-bout-man-remember-im-winning-now-i-could-only-imagine-if-i-was-beginning-now-back-in-the-beginning-now-fuck-that-spent-a-mil-on-the-chain-and-i-tell-my-company-deduct-that-get-the-fuck-back | Logic has come a long way from where he started out. Despite him signing with Def Jam in 2012, Logic refused to announce his million dollar deal, because he wanted his fans to understand that money wouldn’t change his music. He released Undeniable and Welcome to Forever with VMG before announcing his deal in 2013. After all he’s accomplished, Logic feels like his life has meaning, and he wouldn’t give the feeling up for anything.
He used to be broke, and now that’s he’s raking in money, there’s no way he’s going back. This is not a journey Logic wants to relive after spending (at least) half of his signing bonus on his tours and merch.
Note that the chain he talks about is the same one from “Under Pressure” and “My Chain.” |
8,109,931 | 20,503 | Young Thug | 20,503 | Young Thug (Ft. Trouble) | Thief in the Night | 2,344,469 | Deep in your partner ain’t right
Put that lil’ babe on ice
I make the paper like rice
Head on that bucket, your mothafuckin’ life, Skoob, uh | Deep in your partner ain’t right Put that lil’ babe on ice I make the paper like rice Head on that bucket, your mothafuckin’ life, Skoob, uh | Trouble fucked the girl so hard that she had to take a break to ice herself down afterward. He doesn’t pronounce the “c” in “ice” since he identifies as a blood.
Rice paper is a type of paper made from rice, Trouble makes so much money you’d think he was printing it. | 2,297,399 | MattyIce0217 | 494,419 | https://genius.com/QueenOfCoplaints | 11 | https://genius.com/8109931/Young-thug-thief-in-the-night/Deep-in-your-partner-aint-right-put-that-lil-babe-on-ice-i-make-the-paper-like-rice-head-on-that-bucket-your-mothafuckin-life-skoob-uh | Trouble fucked the girl so hard that she had to take a break to ice herself down afterward. He doesn’t pronounce the “c” in “ice” since he identifies as a blood.
Rice paper is a type of paper made from rice, Trouble makes so much money you’d think he was printing it. |
8,800,618 | 610,968 | Lil Yachty | 610,968 | Lil Yachty | Intro | 2,437,081 | One night get her out the thong | One night get her out the thong | Yachty plays on his breakout hit’s title “1Night” to refer to needing only one night to get a girl to drop her panties for him, as well as the single itself being a hit with the ladies. | 1,735,504 | Fllexx_ | 29,336 | https://genius.com/TheWubGod | 11 | https://genius.com/8800618/Lil-yachty-intro/One-night-get-her-out-the-thong | Yachty plays on his breakout hit’s title “1Night” to refer to needing only one night to get a girl to drop her panties for him, as well as the single itself being a hit with the ladies. |
18,900,808 | 108 | 50 Cent | 108 | 50 Cent | ’Till I Collapse (Freestyle) | 1,396,725 | Spit shells to your convertible Lotus | Spit shells to your convertible Lotus | “Spit shells” is a slang term meaning to shoot bullets.
Lotus Cars is a British car manufacturer best known for his roadster Elise which is a convertible. | 184,650 | hk | 34,519 | https://genius.com/hk | 3 | https://genius.com/18900808/50-cent-till-i-collapse-freestyle/Spit-shells-to-your-convertible-lotus | “Spit shells” is a slang term meaning to shoot bullets.
Lotus Cars is a British car manufacturer best known for his roadster Elise which is a convertible. |
13,329,611 | 14,266 | Andre 3000 | 1,043,518 | HUNCHO JACK | Where U From | 3,386,853 | America’s most wanted (Who?)
Huncho and Jack (Huncho and Jack, yeah) | America’s most wanted (Who?) Huncho and Jack (Huncho and Jack, yeah) | Quavo plays on the title of the TV show America’s Most Wanted: America Fights Back, a show that followed the murdering and capturing of criminals in a dramatized fashion. Quavo uses the title to express the amount of publicity surrounding the duo and how rappers strive to be like them or even take their careers down.
It also alludes Tupac’s song “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted”, with Snoop Dogg.
https://youtu.be/BL6dWDfs5x8?t=1m27s
It’s also a play on that the album “Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho” was one of the most anticipated albums of the year 2017. | 4,336,132 | Cocktree | 44,300 | https://genius.com/Cocktree | 25 | https://genius.com/13329611/Huncho-jack-where-u-from/Americas-most-wanted-who-huncho-and-jack-huncho-and-jack-yeah | Quavo plays on the title of the TV show America’s Most Wanted: America Fights Back, a show that followed the murdering and capturing of criminals in a dramatized fashion. Quavo uses the title to express the amount of publicity surrounding the duo and how rappers strive to be like them or even take their careers down.
It also alludes Tupac’s song “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted”, with Snoop Dogg.
https://youtu.be/BL6dWDfs5x8?t=1m27s
It’s also a play on that the album “Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho” was one of the most anticipated albums of the year 2017. |
3,368,326 | 628 | Pitbull | 628 | Pitbull (Ft. Akon) | Shut It Down | 464,384 | Sube sube, hasta la nube
Pa delante-lante
No mires pa tras | Sube sube, hasta la nube Pa delante-lante No mires pa tras | In English, these lyrics mean:
Upload up until the cloud
Pa before chelating
Do not look behind pa
“Pa” means per annum, which is per year in English and chelating means to be forming a chela. | 340,585 | k_peake17 | 19,981 | https://genius.com/k_peake17 | 0 | https://genius.com/3368326/Pitbull-shut-it-down/Sube-sube-hasta-la-nube-pa-delante-lante-no-mires-pa-tras | In English, these lyrics mean:
Upload up until the cloud
Pa before chelating
Do not look behind pa
“Pa” means per annum, which is per year in English and chelating means to be forming a chela. |
1,791,877 | 628 | Pitbull | 2,487 | Jennifer Lopez (Ft. Pitbull) | Live It Up | 153,422 | Con el multito de Jennifer | Con el multito de Jennifer | Translates to “with the amulet of Jennifer”. | 70,148 | chihuahua0 | 189,784 | https://genius.com/chihuahua0 | 1 | https://genius.com/1791877/Jennifer-lopez-live-it-up/Con-el-multito-de-jennifer | Translates to “with the amulet of Jennifer”. |
4,953,479 | 20,185 | Travis Scott | 72 | Kanye West (Ft. Allan Kingdom, Paul McCartney & Theophilus London) | All Day | 482,233 | I took a young sweet breath, and I reached into my Earth
Gave him what I had left
At that moment, I dispersed
At that moment, I dispersed | I took a young sweet breath, and I reached into my Earth Gave him what I had left At that moment, I dispersed At that moment, I dispersed | Allan’s bridge describes Ye’s creative process and his “service to the people” mantra.
Kanye’s become one of the great curators of the modern era and has always been admired for his “open” creative process. Rather than doing it all himself, Ye likes to surround himself with the best individuals in each field before “dispersing” product into the world.
There may also be a connection between Allan Kingdom’s refrain and a passage of Genesis that describes God’s creation of man.
Genesis 2:7 says:
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,
and the man became a living being.
Kingdom discusses the song coming from a religious mind-state in his Complex interview, stating:
The chorus was just a piece of a larger story that I had written. It was like a prayer, a whole prayer-song thing that I wrote, and he liked that one piece for that song. | 1,077,840 | deadbby | 1,832 | https://genius.com/k-j | 166 | https://genius.com/4953479/Kanye-west-all-day/I-took-a-young-sweet-breath-and-i-reached-into-my-earth-gave-him-what-i-had-left-at-that-moment-i-dispersed-at-that-moment-i-dispersed | Allan’s bridge describes Ye’s creative process and his “service to the people” mantra.
Kanye’s become one of the great curators of the modern era and has always been admired for his “open” creative process. Rather than doing it all himself, Ye likes to surround himself with the best individuals in each field before “dispersing” product into the world.
There may also be a connection between Allan Kingdom’s refrain and a passage of Genesis that describes God’s creation of man.
Genesis 2:7 says:
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,
and the man became a living being.
Kingdom discusses the song coming from a religious mind-state in his Complex interview, stating:
The chorus was just a piece of a larger story that I had written. It was like a prayer, a whole prayer-song thing that I wrote, and he liked that one piece for that song. |
56,197 | 45 | Eminem | 45 | Eminem | White America | 1,931 | If they were brown, Shady’d lose, Shady sits on the shelf | If they were brown, Shady’d lose, Shady sits on the shelf | Eminem’s stark contrast from the mostly-black rap game is, according to him, the reason he’s sold so many millions of albums. Even just being white isn’t enough; he needs to have blue eyes. According to Eminem, if he had brown eyes and wasn’t as “cute” he wouldn’t have sold as many albums.
The previous line together with this one constitute a sardonic commentary on the fact that Eminem dyes his hair and wears blue contacts to create an image that will help him sell records. Eminem’s hair is naturally brown and his eyes are naturally hazel. | 1,587 | CarlosDanger69 | 47,161 | https://genius.com/GothicM | 114 | https://genius.com/56197/Eminem-white-america/If-they-were-brown-shadyd-lose-shady-sits-on-the-shelf | Eminem’s stark contrast from the mostly-black rap game is, according to him, the reason he’s sold so many millions of albums. Even just being white isn’t enough; he needs to have blue eyes. According to Eminem, if he had brown eyes and wasn’t as “cute” he wouldn’t have sold as many albums.
The previous line together with this one constitute a sardonic commentary on the fact that Eminem dyes his hair and wears blue contacts to create an image that will help him sell records. Eminem’s hair is naturally brown and his eyes are naturally hazel. |
18,432,549 | 639,521 | A Boogie wit da Hoodie | 639,521 | A Boogie wit da Hoodie | Wrong Nigga | 2,893,476 | I can scoop any bitch I want but I wasn’t gon’ sweat it | I can scoop any bitch I want but I wasn’t gon’ sweat it | He can get any female he want no hesistation but he ain’t bout to brag about it | 9,740,857 | JujuBaller | 119 | https://genius.com/JujuBaller | 0 | https://genius.com/18432549/A-boogie-wit-da-hoodie-wrong-nigga/I-can-scoop-any-bitch-i-want-but-i-wasnt-gon-sweat-it | He can get any female he want no hesistation but he ain’t bout to brag about it |
22,326,994 | 12,404 | Action Bronson | 453 | Asher Roth (Ft. Action Bronson) | Choices | 61,541 | Old Impalas jumpin’ like Rasheed Wallace | Old Impalas jumpin’ like Rasheed Wallace | Bam Bam has some old school Chevrolet Impalas with hydraulics, resembling former NBA player Rasheed Wallace. | 166,784 | ZachariaYonis | 74,215 | https://genius.com/ZachariaYonis | 1 | https://genius.com/22326994/Asher-roth-choices/Old-impalas-jumpin-like-rasheed-wallace | Bam Bam has some old school Chevrolet Impalas with hydraulics, resembling former NBA player Rasheed Wallace. |
19,971,600 | 610,968 | Lil Yachty | 610,968 | Lil Yachty (Ft. Future & Mike WiLL Made-It) | Pardon Me | 5,392,917 | Play with that drum like I’m Tommy Lee | Play with that drum like I’m Tommy Lee | Here, Future references a line on his 2019 track St. Lucia on which he raps:
“I be like Tommy Lee on a Pamela Anderson (Yeah)
I be ridin' with a hundred round drum like a Pakistan”
Future is comparing Tommy Lee’s drumming to a 100 round drum, which is a magazine that holds 100 bullets. | 3,491,008 | Rackies | 4,229 | https://genius.com/Rackies | 19 | https://genius.com/19971600/Lil-yachty-pardon-me/Play-with-that-drum-like-im-tommy-lee | Here, Future references a line on his 2019 track St. Lucia on which he raps:
“I be like Tommy Lee on a Pamela Anderson (Yeah)
I be ridin' with a hundred round drum like a Pakistan”
Future is comparing Tommy Lee’s drumming to a 100 round drum, which is a magazine that holds 100 bullets. |
2,644,641 | 42 | The Game | 42 | The Game | One Night | 44,973 | Get yo hand out my pocket nigga, go fish | Get yo hand out my pocket nigga, go fish | In the card game Go Fish, you ask opponents for specific cards that you need to complete a set
If your opponent doesn’t have the card you request, they tell you to Go Fish, and you pick a card from the deck
Game has plenty of cash in his pocket, but none with your name on it | 174,194 | spadegangsta | 48,897 | https://genius.com/spadegangsta | 9 | https://genius.com/2644641/The-game-one-night/Get-yo-hand-out-my-pocket-nigga-go-fish | In the card game Go Fish, you ask opponents for specific cards that you need to complete a set
If your opponent doesn’t have the card you request, they tell you to Go Fish, and you pick a card from the deck
Game has plenty of cash in his pocket, but none with your name on it |
327,804 | 59 | 2Pac | 59 | 2Pac | Against All Odds | 1,085 | This little nigga named Nas think he live like me
Talkin’ ’bout he left the hospital, took five like me
You live in fantasies, nigga, I reject your deposit | This little nigga named Nas think he live like me Talkin’ ’bout he left the hospital, took five like me You live in fantasies, nigga, I reject your deposit | This is in reference to Nas' lyrics on 1996’s “The Message,” where Nas raps:
Heard shots and dropped, son, caught a hot one
Somebody take this biscuit ‘fore the cops come
Then they came askin’ me my name, what the fuck?
I got stitched up, it went through
Left the hospital that same night, what
This is almost exactly what happened to 2Pac when he got shot at Quad Studios in ‘94. After 2Pac “caught a hot one” he used the lift to go upstairs and he (or Zayd who was with 2Pac) gave his gun (“take this biscuit”) to Lil’ Shawn who hid it in the piano (Lil' Shawn recalls this in an interview with WWETV and says Biggie came back to retrieve the guns for 2Pac).
The cops then came on the scene (the same cops that arrested him for the false allegation of rape) and said to him, “How’s it hanging 2Pac?” He then went to the hospital and got his wounds “stitched up” and “left the hospital that same night”. Hence, Nas' lyrics above reflect 2Pac’s life so these specific lines attack Nas exactly for that, saying, “This little n—-a named Nas think he live like me / Talkin' ‘bout he left the hospital, took five like me”.
In addition to this, 2Pac thought Nas was coming at him with future diss songs having already thought that Nas subliminally dissed him (2Pac thought the following was aimed at him) with the opening lines in “The Message”, which go:
Fake thug, no love, you get the slug CB4 Gusto /
Your luck low, I didn’t know ‘til I was drunk though.”
2Pac took issue with this as he had seen Nas previously at the House of Blues (before July 1996) and told him that all this East v West hasn’t got anything to do with him. So on that note, Nas and 2Pac were cool but then when he heard “It Was Written” (which also influenced 2Pac in to writing “Me and My Girlfriend”), 2Pac felt Nas was talking about him (with the Fake thug line stated above) and that if Nas felt that way about him then he should have told him to his face at the House of Blues. He was thus expecting further shots from Nas as he (Nas) was also friends with Mobb Deep who 2Pac was also blatantly dissing and he has heard Nas was going to retaliate (this is according to Nas himself – see below).
2Pac and Nas would meet again on the 4th of September 1996 at the afterparty for the MTV Video Music Awards at Bryant Park in New York City. There are three/four versions of the events of this day. The first version is recalled by “Jungle” who is Nas' brother. He claims, in the “Nas: Behind the Music” documentary, that Nas grabbed 2Pac’s shoulder from behind and said “Where you going, come here” motioning a pulling gesture. Nas also claims, in this documentary, that, “we stepped to him and Suge and said, “You in our city, what’s going on?” Jungle claims in this interview that he was trying to get a gun from one of his friends that was standing behind Nas (Jungle claims he was stood next to Nas) so that he could shoot 2Pac (keep in mind that this is taking place in a public area at Bryant Park). Nas says, “We got to the bottom of it, then and there. I told him that I’m hearing that you’re about to diss me in a record and he says “Yea, I got this album where I came at you because I heard you was coming for me” and I’m like I got no songs about you, bro. And he (2Pac) was like, “Nas, me and you are brothers, we were never supposed to go at it; not me and you… I’ll take that off the album, come meet me in Vegas.”
Edi Amin (a member of the Outlawz) in his interview with HipHopDX says that what Jungle is claiming is a lie. Fatal Hussein (another Outlaw) says that what Nas had said (not sure which interview he is referring to as Nas has spoke about this a few times) about his (Nas') version of events was also a lie and that it hurt him (Fatal) when he heard his (Nas') version of events, knowing he was lying. Fatal says (Edi confirms this in his DX interview and this can be seen in the Death Row East video interview) that he (Fatal) brought half of Jersey (hyperbole) with him, i.e. they had “goons” left, right and centre. According to Edi:
“Nas was only with his brother and like two other dudes. I remember that meeting well because ‘Pac kept telling him, “Speak up! I can’t hear you.” Nas was saying in a low voice, “There’s no beef, you know what I’m saying?” ‘Pac was like, “Huh? I can’t hear you. Speak up!” They squashed it after that because ‘Pac was a Nas fan, as we all were.”
Nas says the beef was settled and 2Pac told him that he was going to take the disses (these lines that you’re reading) off his record (that includes Watch Ya Mouth – another Nas diss song) as they (Nas and 2Pac) were never meant to be at odds (no pun intended) with each other. 2Pac never got the chance to remove these lyrics. Nas says, “I didn’t see myself as his enemy but he (2Pac) felt like I was in the middle of this war with him… and that’s the way (these diss records) he (2Pac) had to set if off”.
Nas says in an interview with Vlad TV, that, “I saw him and he saw me. He had a bunch of people with him and I had a bunch of people with me. It could have gone either way… As the New York dude at the time it was my duty to see what was going on. So I went to see what was going on and he basically had, you know, there was some issues with Mobb (Deep) and at the time me and Mobb were a lot tighter and he had heard that I said things about him and I had heard he had this Makaveli album coming up and he (2Pac) told me what he was saying. And he was basically like, “me and you were never supposed to go at it, not us, it wasn’t supposed to happen.” He was gonna change all of that and come meet him in Vegas…”
It is also interesting to note that EDI Amin claims that 2Pac reached out to Nas prior to this event informing him that he was going to diss him. He says in his HipHopDX Interview, “The thing is after the Makaveli album, he said that he got that shit out of his system and he wasn’t doing that anymore. He actually contacted Nas to let him know about the Makaveli album, and as a matter of fact, he was the only one that ‘Pac reached out to. He told him that the album was coming out and that he was going after him in it.”
There is also a Snoop version of events, where he says, “Him (2Pac) and Nas at Central Park… It’s so gangsta… it was the prequel to my interview with Angie Martinez (where Snoop says Biggie and Puffy are his homeboys!)… I don’t know if that’s the right name of the park (Central Park) but it was a big a– park. So 2Pac and all of us from Death Row are mobbing. We see Nas so he (2Pac) walk up to Nas [and] Nas got about 100 goons with him and I know they’re killers. But ‘Pac ain’t trippin’, he just don’t care. So he walk upon Nas [and] Nas reach upon to shake ‘Pac hand. And Nas said, “I got love for you ‘Pac” and 'Pac said, “Well, n—-, if you got love for me, I got a song coming out where I diss you, Jay-Z, Biggie.” He named about forty… he named a bunch of n—-s and he told Nas, “If you got love for me, n—-, you ain’t gonna say nothing after this record come out”. And Nas shook his hand… (Snoop goes on to explain Nas embraced 'Pac and whilst doing that he looked over his shoulder and winked to his goons to indicate, don’t do it) and Nas then said “I love you 'Pac” and they separated and then 'Pac looked at me, he said, “I told you n—- we got these n—-s punked out here.” But to me, Nas was gangster 'cause he didn’t push the light. He could have pushed the green button and we would have been done.” | 6,417 | Crakpot | 740 | https://genius.com/THussain | 121 | https://genius.com/327804/2pac-against-all-odds/This-little-nigga-named-nas-think-he-live-like-me-talkin-bout-he-left-the-hospital-took-five-like-me-you-live-in-fantasies-nigga-i-reject-your-deposit | This is in reference to Nas' lyrics on 1996’s “The Message,” where Nas raps:
Heard shots and dropped, son, caught a hot one
Somebody take this biscuit ‘fore the cops come
Then they came askin’ me my name, what the fuck?
I got stitched up, it went through
Left the hospital that same night, what
This is almost exactly what happened to 2Pac when he got shot at Quad Studios in ‘94. After 2Pac “caught a hot one” he used the lift to go upstairs and he (or Zayd who was with 2Pac) gave his gun (“take this biscuit”) to Lil’ Shawn who hid it in the piano (Lil' Shawn recalls this in an interview with WWETV and says Biggie came back to retrieve the guns for 2Pac).
The cops then came on the scene (the same cops that arrested him for the false allegation of rape) and said to him, “How’s it hanging 2Pac?” He then went to the hospital and got his wounds “stitched up” and “left the hospital that same night”. Hence, Nas' lyrics above reflect 2Pac’s life so these specific lines attack Nas exactly for that, saying, “This little n—-a named Nas think he live like me / Talkin' ‘bout he left the hospital, took five like me”.
In addition to this, 2Pac thought Nas was coming at him with future diss songs having already thought that Nas subliminally dissed him (2Pac thought the following was aimed at him) with the opening lines in “The Message”, which go:
Fake thug, no love, you get the slug CB4 Gusto /
Your luck low, I didn’t know ‘til I was drunk though.”
2Pac took issue with this as he had seen Nas previously at the House of Blues (before July 1996) and told him that all this East v West hasn’t got anything to do with him. So on that note, Nas and 2Pac were cool but then when he heard “It Was Written” (which also influenced 2Pac in to writing “Me and My Girlfriend”), 2Pac felt Nas was talking about him (with the Fake thug line stated above) and that if Nas felt that way about him then he should have told him to his face at the House of Blues. He was thus expecting further shots from Nas as he (Nas) was also friends with Mobb Deep who 2Pac was also blatantly dissing and he has heard Nas was going to retaliate (this is according to Nas himself – see below).
2Pac and Nas would meet again on the 4th of September 1996 at the afterparty for the MTV Video Music Awards at Bryant Park in New York City. There are three/four versions of the events of this day. The first version is recalled by “Jungle” who is Nas' brother. He claims, in the “Nas: Behind the Music” documentary, that Nas grabbed 2Pac’s shoulder from behind and said “Where you going, come here” motioning a pulling gesture. Nas also claims, in this documentary, that, “we stepped to him and Suge and said, “You in our city, what’s going on?” Jungle claims in this interview that he was trying to get a gun from one of his friends that was standing behind Nas (Jungle claims he was stood next to Nas) so that he could shoot 2Pac (keep in mind that this is taking place in a public area at Bryant Park). Nas says, “We got to the bottom of it, then and there. I told him that I’m hearing that you’re about to diss me in a record and he says “Yea, I got this album where I came at you because I heard you was coming for me” and I’m like I got no songs about you, bro. And he (2Pac) was like, “Nas, me and you are brothers, we were never supposed to go at it; not me and you… I’ll take that off the album, come meet me in Vegas.”
Edi Amin (a member of the Outlawz) in his interview with HipHopDX says that what Jungle is claiming is a lie. Fatal Hussein (another Outlaw) says that what Nas had said (not sure which interview he is referring to as Nas has spoke about this a few times) about his (Nas') version of events was also a lie and that it hurt him (Fatal) when he heard his (Nas') version of events, knowing he was lying. Fatal says (Edi confirms this in his DX interview and this can be seen in the Death Row East video interview) that he (Fatal) brought half of Jersey (hyperbole) with him, i.e. they had “goons” left, right and centre. According to Edi:
“Nas was only with his brother and like two other dudes. I remember that meeting well because ‘Pac kept telling him, “Speak up! I can’t hear you.” Nas was saying in a low voice, “There’s no beef, you know what I’m saying?” ‘Pac was like, “Huh? I can’t hear you. Speak up!” They squashed it after that because ‘Pac was a Nas fan, as we all were.”
Nas says the beef was settled and 2Pac told him that he was going to take the disses (these lines that you’re reading) off his record (that includes Watch Ya Mouth – another Nas diss song) as they (Nas and 2Pac) were never meant to be at odds (no pun intended) with each other. 2Pac never got the chance to remove these lyrics. Nas says, “I didn’t see myself as his enemy but he (2Pac) felt like I was in the middle of this war with him… and that’s the way (these diss records) he (2Pac) had to set if off”.
Nas says in an interview with Vlad TV, that, “I saw him and he saw me. He had a bunch of people with him and I had a bunch of people with me. It could have gone either way… As the New York dude at the time it was my duty to see what was going on. So I went to see what was going on and he basically had, you know, there was some issues with Mobb (Deep) and at the time me and Mobb were a lot tighter and he had heard that I said things about him and I had heard he had this Makaveli album coming up and he (2Pac) told me what he was saying. And he was basically like, “me and you were never supposed to go at it, not us, it wasn’t supposed to happen.” He was gonna change all of that and come meet him in Vegas…”
It is also interesting to note that EDI Amin claims that 2Pac reached out to Nas prior to this event informing him that he was going to diss him. He says in his HipHopDX Interview, “The thing is after the Makaveli album, he said that he got that shit out of his system and he wasn’t doing that anymore. He actually contacted Nas to let him know about the Makaveli album, and as a matter of fact, he was the only one that ‘Pac reached out to. He told him that the album was coming out and that he was going after him in it.”
There is also a Snoop version of events, where he says, “Him (2Pac) and Nas at Central Park… It’s so gangsta… it was the prequel to my interview with Angie Martinez (where Snoop says Biggie and Puffy are his homeboys!)… I don’t know if that’s the right name of the park (Central Park) but it was a big a– park. So 2Pac and all of us from Death Row are mobbing. We see Nas so he (2Pac) walk up to Nas [and] Nas got about 100 goons with him and I know they’re killers. But ‘Pac ain’t trippin’, he just don’t care. So he walk upon Nas [and] Nas reach upon to shake ‘Pac hand. And Nas said, “I got love for you ‘Pac” and 'Pac said, “Well, n—-, if you got love for me, I got a song coming out where I diss you, Jay-Z, Biggie.” He named about forty… he named a bunch of n—-s and he told Nas, “If you got love for me, n—-, you ain’t gonna say nothing after this record come out”. And Nas shook his hand… (Snoop goes on to explain Nas embraced 'Pac and whilst doing that he looked over his shoulder and winked to his goons to indicate, don’t do it) and Nas then said “I love you 'Pac” and they separated and then 'Pac looked at me, he said, “I told you n—- we got these n—-s punked out here.” But to me, Nas was gangster 'cause he didn’t push the light. He could have pushed the green button and we would have been done.” |
22,063,964 | 68 | Kid Cudi | 68 | Kid Cudi | Solo Dolo (Nightmare) | 26,045 | Oh, whoa, whoa
Why must it feel so wrong
When I try and do right? | Oh, whoa, whoa Why must it feel so wrong When I try and do right? | A rhetorical device that Scott Mescudi often utilizes is the rhetorical question.
It is a question that is not meant to be answered but rather the content of the question is pondered for the sake of making a point or argument.
It gives the lyrics more depth, meaning and even making the song more relatable to the listener. Pondering such a question within a song allows us to feel the moral complexity | 12,858,178 | KarranMehta | 258 | https://genius.com/KarranMehta | 20 | https://genius.com/22063964/Kid-cudi-solo-dolo-nightmare/Oh-whoa-whoa-why-must-it-feel-so-wrong-when-i-try-and-do-right | A rhetorical device that Scott Mescudi often utilizes is the rhetorical question.
It is a question that is not meant to be answered but rather the content of the question is pondered for the sake of making a point or argument.
It gives the lyrics more depth, meaning and even making the song more relatable to the listener. Pondering such a question within a song allows us to feel the moral complexity |
83,812 | 108 | 50 Cent | 45 | Eminem (Ft. 50 Cent, Ca$his, Dr. Dre, JAY-Z & Stat Quo) | Syllables | 2,965 | There once was a time everywhere you turned (’Where you turned)
Shady-Aftermath was all you heard
But they say 50 sang too much, and Em got soft (Got soft)
And they say Dre just fell the fuck off (Woo!) | There once was a time everywhere you turned (’Where you turned) Shady-Aftermath was all you heard But they say 50 sang too much, and Em got soft (Got soft) And they say Dre just fell the fuck off (Woo!) | Circa 2002-3, Eminem and Dr. Dre’s musical projects were inescapable. 50 Cent had his six-times-platinum debut album (executive produced by Em and Dre and released via their labels, Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment) and Em had released a hit movie
Stat Quo, who was discovered by Dre around that time, enumerates some of the reasons for why that period may have ended – 50’s propensity to sing hooks turned from catchy to predictable, Em moved away from songs about murdering his wife onto more family-friendly fare, and Dre, well, didn’t really release much of anything. A magazine cover from the glory days, below: | 16 | SameOldShawn | 591,450 | https://genius.com/SameOldShawn | 60 | https://genius.com/83812/Eminem-syllables/There-once-was-a-time-everywhere-you-turned-where-you-turned-shady-aftermath-was-all-you-heard-but-they-say-50-sang-too-much-and-em-got-soft-got-soft-and-they-say-dre-just-fell-the-fuck-off-woo | Circa 2002-3, Eminem and Dr. Dre’s musical projects were inescapable. 50 Cent had his six-times-platinum debut album (executive produced by Em and Dre and released via their labels, Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment) and Em had released a hit movie
Stat Quo, who was discovered by Dre around that time, enumerates some of the reasons for why that period may have ended – 50’s propensity to sing hooks turned from catchy to predictable, Em moved away from songs about murdering his wife onto more family-friendly fare, and Dre, well, didn’t really release much of anything. A magazine cover from the glory days, below: |
990,999 | 7,922 | Logic | 7,922 | Logic | My Chain | 84,604 | Yeah, I’m swimming in women like Young Sinatra 1 & 2 | Yeah, I’m swimming in women like Young Sinatra 1 & 2 | A reference to the first lines of his songs “Young Sinatra” and “Young Sinatra ll” in which he says:
Various women I’m swimming in like a shark " | 113,787 | Lishy54 | 49,976 | https://genius.com/Adelin | 3 | https://genius.com/990999/Logic-my-chain/Yeah-im-swimming-in-women-like-young-sinatra-1-and-2 | A reference to the first lines of his songs “Young Sinatra” and “Young Sinatra ll” in which he says:
Various women I’m swimming in like a shark " |
581,475 | 147 | Lupe Fiasco | 17,235 | Robert Glasper (Ft. Bilal & Lupe Fiasco) | Always Shine | 65,355 | My momma so mad, so no alcohol in here | My momma so mad, so no alcohol in here | DOUBLE ENTENDRE
Because he and his family are Muslim, they don’t drink alcohol (his mom would be mad if he did)
His mom is part of M.A.D.D. (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) | 11,803 | RollinPocketsAllSwollen | 262 | https://genius.com/RollinPocketsAllSwollen | 3 | https://genius.com/581475/Robert-glasper-always-shine/My-momma-so-mad-so-no-alcohol-in-here | DOUBLE ENTENDRE
Because he and his family are Muslim, they don’t drink alcohol (his mom would be mad if he did)
His mom is part of M.A.D.D. (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) |
3,375,657 | 939 | Freddie Gibbs | 20,503 | Young Thug (Ft. A$AP Ferg & Freddie Gibbs) | Old English | 465,914 | Catch me ridin’ with them slimes ’cause them my youngins
Catch me boolin’ with them slimes ’cause them my youngins
I be slimin’ with them slimes ’cause them my youngins
Catch me slidin’ with the slimes ’cause them my youngins (Hey) | Catch me ridin’ with them slimes ’cause them my youngins Catch me boolin’ with them slimes ’cause them my youngins I be slimin’ with them slimes ’cause them my youngins Catch me slidin’ with the slimes ’cause them my youngins (Hey) | “Slime” is a word used by Bloods (mainly on the East Coast) to refer to their homies. Slime could also refer to an anaconda, because “they’re slimy.”
“Boolin'” is more Blood slang, frequently used by Thugger. He replaces the “c,” which stands for crips, in “coolin'” with a Blood-friendly “b.” This is also a metaphor; Thugger and his homies stick together like glue, or slime.
The term was greatly popularized by Lil Wayne, who is a big influence on Young Thug. | 525,250 | mostdope123 | 1,064 | https://genius.com/mostdope123 | 43 | https://genius.com/3375657/Young-thug-old-english/Catch-me-ridin-with-them-slimes-cause-them-my-youngins-catch-me-boolin-with-them-slimes-cause-them-my-youngins-i-be-slimin-with-them-slimes-cause-them-my-youngins-catch-me-slidin-with-the-slimes-cause-them-my-youngins-hey | “Slime” is a word used by Bloods (mainly on the East Coast) to refer to their homies. Slime could also refer to an anaconda, because “they’re slimy.”
“Boolin'” is more Blood slang, frequently used by Thugger. He replaces the “c,” which stands for crips, in “coolin'” with a Blood-friendly “b.” This is also a metaphor; Thugger and his homies stick together like glue, or slime.
The term was greatly popularized by Lil Wayne, who is a big influence on Young Thug. |
11,218,379 | 2,049 | Ab-Soul | 2,049 | Ab-Soul | Womanogamy | 2,925,995 | ‘Cause I like girls that like girls that’s in love with me | ‘Cause I like girls that like girls that’s in love with me | This type of relationship is known as Polyfidelity. | 2,113,142 | DapperDay | 99,837 | https://genius.com/SLR | 3 | https://genius.com/11218379/Ab-soul-womanogamy/Cause-i-like-girls-that-like-girls-thats-in-love-with-me | This type of relationship is known as Polyfidelity. |
3,252,368 | 1,422 | Danny Brown | 330,087 | BADBADNOTGOOD & Ghostface Killah (Ft. Danny Brown) | Six Degrees | 439,684 | Teach niggas how to walk again from the fucking shotty | Teach niggas how to walk again from the fucking shotty | GFK will shoot enemies with a shotgun and since shotguns are very powerful at close ranges due to the shots being sprayed in pellets, he’ll leave the person he shot paralyzed.
People that are paralyzed from trauma such as being shot are given physical therapy to help them re-learn how to do basic motor functions like walking. | 844,981 | Drilagg | 6,850 | https://genius.com/Drilagg | 2 | https://genius.com/3252368/Badbadnotgood-and-ghostface-killah-six-degrees/Teach-niggas-how-to-walk-again-from-the-fucking-shotty | GFK will shoot enemies with a shotgun and since shotguns are very powerful at close ranges due to the shots being sprayed in pellets, he’ll leave the person he shot paralyzed.
People that are paralyzed from trauma such as being shot are given physical therapy to help them re-learn how to do basic motor functions like walking. |
3,219,255 | 176 | Black Thought | 244 | The Roots (Ft. Dice Raw & Greg Porn) | Understand | 429,441 | Who only true religion look better than Levi’s | Who only true religion look better than Levi’s | True Religion and Levi’s are a clothing brand that specialize in jeans and denim. Here, Greg Porn reveals that he faces the temptation of waging war (robbery, murder, etc.) with those whose only true devotion is to their vanity. Their only higher loyalty is to their desire to one day be seen in more than just Levi jeans (a popular, but less-fashionable brand of jeans than the more high-end and stylish True Religion brand which is famous in hip-hop)
In the bible, Levi was the ancestor/founder of the Tribe of Levi, one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In addition, he’s referencing the fact he’s not the only one in church faking it. When he says ‘True Religion’ he’s calling out the fake church goers. | 619,014 | 47gc | 8,990 | https://genius.com/MichaelBrian | 8 | https://genius.com/3219255/The-roots-understand/Who-only-true-religion-look-better-than-levis | True Religion and Levi’s are a clothing brand that specialize in jeans and denim. Here, Greg Porn reveals that he faces the temptation of waging war (robbery, murder, etc.) with those whose only true devotion is to their vanity. Their only higher loyalty is to their desire to one day be seen in more than just Levi jeans (a popular, but less-fashionable brand of jeans than the more high-end and stylish True Religion brand which is famous in hip-hop)
In the bible, Levi was the ancestor/founder of the Tribe of Levi, one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In addition, he’s referencing the fact he’s not the only one in church faking it. When he says ‘True Religion’ he’s calling out the fake church goers. |
1,036,376 | 76 | Raekwon | 21,894 | A$AP Mob (Ft. A$AP Ferg, A$AP Rocky & Raekwon) | Underground Killa$ | 86,378 | Like Pops from the Wayans | Like Pops from the Wayans | Pops is a popular character from The Wayans Bros. who frequently said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfbm0ac6ixI
Lupe Fiasco makes references Pops in his song off Enemy of the State | 133,108 | tm | 303,890 | https://genius.com/tomi | 0 | https://genius.com/1036376/A-ap-mob-underground-killa/Like-pops-from-the-wayans | Pops is a popular character from The Wayans Bros. who frequently said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfbm0ac6ixI
Lupe Fiasco makes references Pops in his song off Enemy of the State |
27,700,419 | 162,126 | Kodak Black | 754,623 | DJ Twin (Ft. Kodak Black & Sean Kingston) | Lonely | 2,811,186 | I pray for better days, takin’ chances everyday | I pray for better days, takin’ chances everyday | Kodak is saying that he prays for better times, but he still takes risks every day. | 10,307,073 | KodakLovesTyrone | 1,391 | https://genius.com/KodakLovesTyrone | 0 | https://genius.com/27700419/Dj-twin-lonely/I-pray-for-better-days-takin-chances-everyday | Kodak is saying that he prays for better times, but he still takes risks every day. |
10,001,626 | 7,922 | Logic | 7,922 | Logic | Studio Ambience at Night: Malibu | 2,797,976 | While this feelin’ inside of my body’s seepin’ like a drug
Will you hug me, rub me on the back like a child
Tell me you love me, need me
Promise me you’ll never leave
Even though my daddy you know he | While this feelin’ inside of my body’s seepin’ like a drug Will you hug me, rub me on the back like a child Tell me you love me, need me Promise me you’ll never leave Even though my daddy you know he | Bobby is not feeling right. He’s comparing the feeling inside him to a rug, which means he’s been having rough time because he feels somewhat betrayed stepped on.
He’s hoping his significant other will smoothen the struggles he has experienced, and that they will be together forever. | 2,626,473 | Sergio115 | 14,681 | https://genius.com/AmazinKazin | 12 | https://genius.com/10001626/Logic-studio-ambience-at-night-malibu/While-this-feelin-inside-of-my-bodys-seepin-like-a-drug-will-you-hug-me-rub-me-on-the-back-like-a-child-tell-me-you-love-me-need-me-promise-me-youll-never-leave-even-though-my-daddy-you-know-he | Bobby is not feeling right. He’s comparing the feeling inside him to a rug, which means he’s been having rough time because he feels somewhat betrayed stepped on.
He’s hoping his significant other will smoothen the struggles he has experienced, and that they will be together forever. |
1,021,051 | 21 | Wu-Tang Clan | 507 | GZA (Ft. Ghostface Killah, Raekwon & U-God) | Investigative Reports | 2,219 | King Elegant, slang master, jack expensive noodle hats | King Elegant, slang master, jack expensive noodle hats | Ghost has tons of style in both his clothes and his words – thus him being “King Elegant.” Him holding this title of class then requires him to only rob expensive stuff like extravagant hats. | 26,827 | JZA | 381 | https://genius.com/JZA | 4 | https://genius.com/1021051/Gza-investigative-reports/King-elegant-slang-master-jack-expensive-noodle-hats | Ghost has tons of style in both his clothes and his words – thus him being “King Elegant.” Him holding this title of class then requires him to only rob expensive stuff like extravagant hats. |
221,781 | 848 | LL Cool J | 848 | LL Cool J | To Da Break Of Dawn | 29,047 | Your skin needs lotion, teeth need Colgate | Your skin needs lotion, teeth need Colgate | Colgate is a toothpaste company founded in 1873.
This line was later sampled in Gang Starr’s 1990 single “Who’s Gonna Take the Weight” | 17,271 | mmcm312 | 41,842 | https://genius.com/Shut_Up_Bill | 6 | https://genius.com/221781/Ll-cool-j-to-da-break-of-dawn/Your-skin-needs-lotion-teeth-need-colgate | Colgate is a toothpaste company founded in 1873.
This line was later sampled in Gang Starr’s 1990 single “Who’s Gonna Take the Weight” |
29,964,516 | 18,047 | Joey Bada$$ | 18,047 | Joey Bada$$ | Sweet Dreams | 181,733 | Been on my grind, I keep it 50-50 | Been on my grind, I keep it 50-50 | A 50-50 grind is a skateboarding trick where the skater balances both their trucks equally, hanging off half-on and half-off of the obstacle. Joey Bada$$ was an avid skateboarder during his early days as a rapper, the 1999 album cover being a photo of him and producer Powers Pleasant skateboarding in Brooklyn. | 12,155,387 | JoshuaDeane | 1,277 | https://genius.com/JoshuaDeane | 0 | https://genius.com/29964516/Joey-bada-sweet-dreams/Been-on-my-grind-i-keep-it-50-50 | A 50-50 grind is a skateboarding trick where the skater balances both their trucks equally, hanging off half-on and half-off of the obstacle. Joey Bada$$ was an avid skateboarder during his early days as a rapper, the 1999 album cover being a photo of him and producer Powers Pleasant skateboarding in Brooklyn. |
11,070,807 | 547 | Killer Mike | 48,147 | Run The Jewels | Call Ticketron | 2,922,147 | It’s the Mensch, the myth
I do push-ups nude on the edge of cliffs | It’s the Mensch, the myth I do push-ups nude on the edge of cliffs | El-P is being hyperbolic about his greatness. In Yiddish, a Mensch is a “person of high integrity or honor.”
El-P is essentially calling himself the best out there, a mensch, a myth, a legend. He does dangerous and ridiculously amazing things, like push ups on the edge of cliffs. He makes a similar claim in “Nobody Speak”:
I’m unmentionably fresh, I’m a mensch, get correct
Mensch in German also means ‘man’ so it could be a clever way of saying “the man, the myth.” | 2,688,589 | lxsdr | 38,205 | https://genius.com/lxsdr | 26 | https://genius.com/11070807/Run-the-jewels-call-ticketron/Its-the-mensch-the-myth-i-do-push-ups-nude-on-the-edge-of-cliffs | El-P is being hyperbolic about his greatness. In Yiddish, a Mensch is a “person of high integrity or honor.”
El-P is essentially calling himself the best out there, a mensch, a myth, a legend. He does dangerous and ridiculously amazing things, like push ups on the edge of cliffs. He makes a similar claim in “Nobody Speak”:
I’m unmentionably fresh, I’m a mensch, get correct
Mensch in German also means ‘man’ so it could be a clever way of saying “the man, the myth.” |
7,716,030 | 178 | Aesop Rock | 178 | Aesop Rock | Save Yourself | 7,524 | Kill ’em all, yield | Kill ’em all, yield | Relating to the next line, people and the government destroy, but don’t take responsibility, and let someone else take it. | 928,158 | giggybiggy | 2,040 | https://genius.com/giggybiggy | 0 | https://genius.com/7716030/Aesop-rock-save-yourself/Kill-em-all-yield | Relating to the next line, people and the government destroy, but don’t take responsibility, and let someone else take it. |
11,348,763 | 20,185 | Travis Scott | 20,185 | Travis Scott | sweet sweet | 2,849,772 | I done made it out the hood through all the hoops (Hula hoops) | I done made it out the hood through all the hoops (Hula hoops) | “Through the hoops” or “Jump through the hoops” is a phrase that describes doing a lot of difficult things before one is allowed to have or do something they want. Travis has gone through all of the hardships and struggles in order to become successful, and make it out of the hood.
Travis has definitely gone through some hoops in his music career as well, whether that be skipping classes and dropping out of a university, booking a one way flight to New York then LA, or almost being homeless before meeting artist T.I.
Yeah, it was crazy. Me and my homie Jason, we were both just trapping out of that whip. | 3,966,288 | m8uwantcocoa | 9,420 | https://genius.com/Hanambo | 25 | https://genius.com/11348763/Travis-scott-sweet-sweet/I-done-made-it-out-the-hood-through-all-the-hoops-hula-hoops | “Through the hoops” or “Jump through the hoops” is a phrase that describes doing a lot of difficult things before one is allowed to have or do something they want. Travis has gone through all of the hardships and struggles in order to become successful, and make it out of the hood.
Travis has definitely gone through some hoops in his music career as well, whether that be skipping classes and dropping out of a university, booking a one way flight to New York then LA, or almost being homeless before meeting artist T.I.
Yeah, it was crazy. Me and my homie Jason, we were both just trapping out of that whip. |
36,779 | 156 | Yasiin Bey | 72 | Kanye West (Ft. The Boys Choir of Harlem, Freeway & Yasiin Bey) | Two Words | 800 | Grammy nominated | Grammy nominated | When Ye released this song in November 2003, he had yet to receive any Grammy nominations. However, 24 days later, a song he produced for Ludacris called “Stand Up” was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance (ultimately losing to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.”) Even then, he did not formally receive a nomination, as producers did not qualify for this award (nor for its successor, the Grammy for Best Rap Performance).
Ultimately, West went on to receive 10 nominations at the following year’s Grammys (more than anyone else) and picked up three. | 319 | Eixo | 22,807 | https://genius.com/RapNSuch | 42 | https://genius.com/36779/Kanye-west-two-words/Grammy-nominated | When Ye released this song in November 2003, he had yet to receive any Grammy nominations. However, 24 days later, a song he produced for Ludacris called “Stand Up” was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance (ultimately losing to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.”) Even then, he did not formally receive a nomination, as producers did not qualify for this award (nor for its successor, the Grammy for Best Rap Performance).
Ultimately, West went on to receive 10 nominations at the following year’s Grammys (more than anyone else) and picked up three. |
91,754 | 186 | Ice Cube | 1,129 | The D.O.C. (Ft. Ice Cube, MC Ren, Six2, Snoop Dogg & Xzibit) | The Shit | 3,171 | Been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you
Let’s get loot like Snoop, nephew | Been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you Let’s get loot like Snoop, nephew | Closing the verse with another shout-out to a rap icon, Snoop references here Rakim’s famous line from “I Know You Got Soul”:
It’s been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to | 16 | SameOldShawn | 591,475 | https://genius.com/SameOldShawn | 1 | https://genius.com/91754/The-doc-the-shit/Been-a-long-time-i-shouldnt-have-left-you-lets-get-loot-like-snoop-nephew | Closing the verse with another shout-out to a rap icon, Snoop references here Rakim’s famous line from “I Know You Got Soul”:
It’s been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to |
14,947,563 | 396,531 | Ski Mask the Slump God | 186,576 | XXL (Ft. JID & Ski Mask the Slump God) | XXL Freshmen 2018 Cypher - Part 1 | 3,781,131 | Lame niggas, I gotta put it in layman’s terms? | Lame niggas, I gotta put it in layman’s terms? | To put something in layman’s terms means to describe a complex or complicated issue using words the average person can understand, so that the issue is comprehensible to some degree.
J.I.D is saying that he is so much more lyrically complex and so much smarter than most hip-hop artists that he feels he has to use less complex words so that they can understand what he is saying. | 5,680,096 | XEN1TH | 695 | https://genius.com/XEN1TH | 21 | https://genius.com/14947563/Xxl-xxl-freshmen-2018-cypher-part-1/Lame-niggas-i-gotta-put-it-in-laymans-terms | To put something in layman’s terms means to describe a complex or complicated issue using words the average person can understand, so that the issue is comprehensible to some degree.
J.I.D is saying that he is so much more lyrically complex and so much smarter than most hip-hop artists that he feels he has to use less complex words so that they can understand what he is saying. |
1,573,621 | 318 | Big Boi | 1,858 | 8Ball & MJG (Ft. OutKast) | Throw Your Hands Up | 18,742 | Y’all just might see the skunk guy, with a girl who chunked-thighed
Below the Mason-Dixon line, real niggas know what I’m talkin’ about | Y’all just might see the skunk guy, with a girl who chunked-thighed Below the Mason-Dixon line, real niggas know what I’m talkin’ about | The Mason-Dixon line is the northern border of what is considered the South in the US. So if you’re below the line, you’re in Southern territory.
In this case, a Southern gentleman smoking skunk weed after drinking alcohol might be seen in the presence of a girl who is thick below the waist/belt line – the Southern section of her body. | 168,105 | jobg | 3,464,481 | https://genius.com/SmashBeezy | 1 | https://genius.com/1573621/8ball-and-mjg-throw-your-hands-up/Yall-just-might-see-the-skunk-guy-with-a-girl-who-chunked-thighed-below-the-mason-dixon-line-real-niggas-know-what-im-talkin-about | The Mason-Dixon line is the northern border of what is considered the South in the US. So if you’re below the line, you’re in Southern territory.
In this case, a Southern gentleman smoking skunk weed after drinking alcohol might be seen in the presence of a girl who is thick below the waist/belt line – the Southern section of her body. |
24,789,784 | 42 | The Game | 42 | The Game (Ft. Dion Jenkins & Tony Yayo) | Runnin’ | 5,396 | Reebok giving niggas they own shoes | Reebok giving niggas they own shoes | Game’s reference to Rebook signing branding deals with Jay Z and 50 Cent, Jay Z would change the game with his 2003 signing opening the fashion scene for rappers, which 50 capitalised on with his brand G-Unit. | 15,561,521 | GeneralQuran | 213 | https://genius.com/GeneralQuran | 2 | https://genius.com/24789784/The-game-runnin/Reebok-giving-niggas-they-own-shoes | Game’s reference to Rebook signing branding deals with Jay Z and 50 Cent, Jay Z would change the game with his 2003 signing opening the fashion scene for rappers, which 50 capitalised on with his brand G-Unit. |
3,875,416 | 149 | Nate Dogg | 229 | Redman (Ft. Nate Dogg & Snoop Dogg) | Merry Jane | 39,958 | Joe Piscopo, I play too much | Joe Piscopo, I play too much | Joe Piscopo is a comedian and actor known for playing a number of famous characters as well as celebrity impersonations. Red is saying that he plays around like Piscopo, as his raps often incorporate humour.
Piscopo also played recurring characters on Saturday Night Live which is referred to in the next line. | 12,991 | AOTPsoldier | 7,740 | https://genius.com/AOTPsoldier | 0 | https://genius.com/3875416/Redman-merry-jane/Joe-piscopo-i-play-too-much | Joe Piscopo is a comedian and actor known for playing a number of famous characters as well as celebrity impersonations. Red is saying that he plays around like Piscopo, as his raps often incorporate humour.
Piscopo also played recurring characters on Saturday Night Live which is referred to in the next line. |
11,177,261 | 328,822 | J Hus | 328,822 | J Hus (Ft. Baseman) | Shawty Inda Bando | 2,312,527 | Plus she’s a Hus like me, Hus like me | Plus she’s a Hus like me, Hus like me | The “Hus” in J Hus stands for Hustle. He continues the theme that he wants a girl who is as devoted to the money as he is. | 4,190,192 | babesxx | 85,887 | https://genius.com/UnluckyProfessional | 0 | https://genius.com/11177261/J-hus-shawty-inda-bando/Plus-shes-a-hus-like-me-hus-like-me | The “Hus” in J Hus stands for Hustle. He continues the theme that he wants a girl who is as devoted to the money as he is. |
19,456,357 | 1,745 | Childish Gambino | 1,745 | Childish Gambino (Ft. Beck) | Silk Pillow | 75,973 | At least I was being relatively honest | At least I was being relatively honest | Beck has been referencing a downward spiral, losing control into a self-deprecating black hole.
And despite his prior line of “convict monotonous”, when he vocalizes this thought, it’s the complete opposite, sounding distorted presumably by the black hole. “Relativity honest” is referring to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, tying together his “centrifugal force” and black hole motif. | 10,581,678 | resare | 10 | https://genius.com/resare | 1 | https://genius.com/19456357/Childish-gambino-silk-pillow/At-least-i-was-being-relatively-honest | Beck has been referencing a downward spiral, losing control into a self-deprecating black hole.
And despite his prior line of “convict monotonous”, when he vocalizes this thought, it’s the complete opposite, sounding distorted presumably by the black hole. “Relativity honest” is referring to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, tying together his “centrifugal force” and black hole motif. |
12,463,575 | 186 | Ice Cube | 1,105 | Westside Connection (Ft. K-Dee) | Do You Like Criminals? | 47,652 | Because back in ’85 I’d been done gave your ass a black eye | Because back in ’85 I’d been done gave your ass a black eye | As said earlier, the 3 strikes law was only implemented in 1994 into the U.S Justice System, if it was back in 85 WC would’ve been outside beating your ass. | 5,019,643 | WestToDaEast | 127 | https://genius.com/WestToDaEast | 2 | https://genius.com/12463575/Westside-connection-do-you-like-criminals/Because-back-in-85-id-been-done-gave-your-ass-a-black-eye | As said earlier, the 3 strikes law was only implemented in 1994 into the U.S Justice System, if it was back in 85 WC would’ve been outside beating your ass. |
167,884 | 223 | Common | 223 | Common | Chi-City | 14,339 | You hardly scary
Holdin’ gats inside, you cats is Halle Berry | You hardly scary Holdin’ gats inside, you cats is Halle Berry | His competition is hardly a threat to him as he wields guns (a ‘gat’ is slang for a gun) in a physical and lyrical form.
Reference to the movie Catwoman. The movie was notable for Halle Berry’s horrible acting, and remember you can’t fake being a soldier. | 2,670 | Riptide | 51,154 | https://genius.com/Riptide | 6 | https://genius.com/167884/Common-chi-city/You-hardly-scary-holdin-gats-inside-you-cats-is-halle-berry | His competition is hardly a threat to him as he wields guns (a ‘gat’ is slang for a gun) in a physical and lyrical form.
Reference to the movie Catwoman. The movie was notable for Halle Berry’s horrible acting, and remember you can’t fake being a soldier. |
23,362,092 | 396,531 | Ski Mask the Slump God | 396,531 | Ski Mask the Slump God | The Matrix | 6,128,480 | Call me senpai, animatedly fucked the world, but no hentai | Call me senpai, animatedly fucked the world, but no hentai | Senpai is a japanese word used to address or describe an upperclassman, senior or someone with higher age
Hentai is another japanese word that means “pervert”, but is also know as a style of adult animation
Ski himself already wore clothes that show multiple hentai girls | 13,310,716 | DrayaReturn | 1,178 | https://genius.com/DrayaReturn | 16 | https://genius.com/23362092/Ski-mask-the-slump-god-the-matrix/Call-me-senpai-animatedly-fucked-the-world-but-no-hentai | Senpai is a japanese word used to address or describe an upperclassman, senior or someone with higher age
Hentai is another japanese word that means “pervert”, but is also know as a style of adult animation
Ski himself already wore clothes that show multiple hentai girls |
9,035,575 | 12,417 | A$AP Rocky | 15,369 | A$AP Ferg (Ft. A$AP Mob & Tatianna Paulino) | Yammy Gang | 2,457,846 | Yamborgini High | Yamborgini High | Twelvyy and the gang get high as A$AP Mob founder A$AP Yams, who also created BLACK OUT BOYZ. To “Black Out” means to get so high that you fade out (while awake) and forget everything that happened during that time.
Which occurs on high does of drugs like Xanax, opiate painkillers, alcohol and lean, sometimes mixed together for the potentiating effects.
A$AP Yams was last tweet was “Bodeine Brazy.”
This is a reference to A$AP MOB’s song of the same name “Yamborghini High.”
Boys get Yamborghini-high, Lambo by the crib
This is how it is, this is how we live | 1,091,826 | Astroworld | 280,058 | https://genius.com/Astroworld | 11 | https://genius.com/9035575/A-ap-ferg-yammy-gang/Yamborgini-high | Twelvyy and the gang get high as A$AP Mob founder A$AP Yams, who also created BLACK OUT BOYZ. To “Black Out” means to get so high that you fade out (while awake) and forget everything that happened during that time.
Which occurs on high does of drugs like Xanax, opiate painkillers, alcohol and lean, sometimes mixed together for the potentiating effects.
A$AP Yams was last tweet was “Bodeine Brazy.”
This is a reference to A$AP MOB’s song of the same name “Yamborghini High.”
Boys get Yamborghini-high, Lambo by the crib
This is how it is, this is how we live |
28,989,492 | 328,822 | J Hus | 328,822 | J Hus | Bim Bim | 6,463,448 | Bim, bim, bim, big Mbembe | Bim, bim, bim, big Mbembe | For the Kikuyu (also Agĩkũyũ/Gĩkũyũ), a Bantu ethnic group native to Central Kenya, the term “Mbembe” alludes to a corn or maize. In British slang, the term “corn” means ammunition – to which Hus claims he has for his enemies.
Hus could also be nodding to Achille Mbembe, a prolific Cameroonian politician and activist. He is known to be a large black rights activist and explore the power of postcolonialism within Africa. Shouting him out could align with Hus' well document beliefs in standing up for yourself and exuding power. | 6,500,289 | UnluckyProfessional | 85,887 | https://genius.com/UnluckyProfessional | 7 | https://genius.com/28989492/J-hus-bim-bim/Bim-bim-bim-big-mbembe | For the Kikuyu (also Agĩkũyũ/Gĩkũyũ), a Bantu ethnic group native to Central Kenya, the term “Mbembe” alludes to a corn or maize. In British slang, the term “corn” means ammunition – to which Hus claims he has for his enemies.
Hus could also be nodding to Achille Mbembe, a prolific Cameroonian politician and activist. He is known to be a large black rights activist and explore the power of postcolonialism within Africa. Shouting him out could align with Hus' well document beliefs in standing up for yourself and exuding power. |
4,725,937 | 18,047 | Joey Bada$$ | 18,047 | Joey Bada$$ | O.C.B. | 674,567 | I used to wanna be like ODB, ODB | I used to wanna be like ODB, ODB | Ol' Dirty Bastard, or ODB a rapper from New York who was one of the founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan. | 1,113,692 | LastGoodKnight | 5,008 | https://genius.com/LastGoodKnight | 44 | https://genius.com/4725937/Joey-bada-ocb/I-used-to-wanna-be-like-odb-odb | Ol' Dirty Bastard, or ODB a rapper from New York who was one of the founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan. |
17,507,551 | 20,185 | Travis Scott | 20,185 | Travis Scott (Ft. Frank Ocean) | CAROUSEL | 3,876,992 | New growth, new growth, all these fades I outgrew (Yeah) | New growth, new growth, all these fades I outgrew (Yeah) | Frank discusses the personal development he’s underwent throughout his career and in his relationships. Travis' subject matter and depth in his music seriously progressed from his debut mixtape nostalgia, ULTRA. to his second studio album Blonde.
This may also allude to Frank’s sexuality and the way he came out as bisexual. His personality changed throughout his career and he became more comfortable in being true to who he is. Blonde addressed the rumors of his bisexuality, indicating a new phase in his career.
Frank also directly alludes to the passing of time and how his hair grows along with him. The theme of hair in frank’s music is apparent as the image of Blonde hair is focused on in Blond, which he seemingly moves on from in this line. | 8,117,646 | TrappaChiNo | 490,553 | https://genius.com/TrappaChiNo | 45 | https://genius.com/17507551/Travis-scott-carousel/New-growth-new-growth-all-these-fades-i-outgrew-yeah | Frank discusses the personal development he’s underwent throughout his career and in his relationships. Travis' subject matter and depth in his music seriously progressed from his debut mixtape nostalgia, ULTRA. to his second studio album Blonde.
This may also allude to Frank’s sexuality and the way he came out as bisexual. His personality changed throughout his career and he became more comfortable in being true to who he is. Blonde addressed the rumors of his bisexuality, indicating a new phase in his career.
Frank also directly alludes to the passing of time and how his hair grows along with him. The theme of hair in frank’s music is apparent as the image of Blonde hair is focused on in Blond, which he seemingly moves on from in this line. |
12,464,366 | 110 | Pharrell Williams | 2,069 | Calvin Harris (Ft. Big Sean, Katy Perry & Pharrell Williams) | Feels | 3,120,234 | Ride drop top and chase thrills (Hey) | Ride drop top and chase thrills (Hey) | To “Ride drop top” means to ride around in a vehicle with no roof. The “top” of the car is “dropped” | 4,498,914 | KASPR | 283 | https://genius.com/KASPR | 48 | https://genius.com/12464366/Calvin-harris-feels/Ride-drop-top-and-chase-thrills-hey | To “Ride drop top” means to ride around in a vehicle with no roof. The “top” of the car is “dropped” |
2,273,070 | 1,432 | Kano | 1,432 | Kano | Lethal Weapon: Quickie | 61,643 | Lingerie and Jimmy Choos
My definition of Heaven | Lingerie and Jimmy Choos My definition of Heaven | Kano particularly enjoys his ladies wearing fine underwear and expensive designer shoes. | 295,068 | economichaircut | 25 | https://genius.com/economichaircut | 0 | https://genius.com/2273070/Kano-lethal-weapon-quickie/Lingerie-and-jimmy-choos-my-definition-of-heaven | Kano particularly enjoys his ladies wearing fine underwear and expensive designer shoes. |
12,905,980 | 70 | MF DOOM | 860 | Gorillaz (Ft. MF DOOM) | November Has Come | 3,860 | She wore a filled-in thong of Billabong | She wore a filled-in thong of Billabong | This lyric further develops the last line by making you doubt the innocence of the “Nun”. Nuns are supposed to remain celibate, but the fact that she is wearing a thong changes the meaning from her actually being a literal nun to being somebody who pretends to be holy but actually has a wilder personal life. In other words, she is a saint (Nun) during the day but becomes less innocent when it doesn’t affect her reputation. Additionally, Billabong is a clothing brand. | 4,578,032 | arlo_hatcher | 3,943 | https://genius.com/arlo_hatcher | 24 | https://genius.com/12905980/Gorillaz-november-has-come/She-wore-a-filled-in-thong-of-billabong | This lyric further develops the last line by making you doubt the innocence of the “Nun”. Nuns are supposed to remain celibate, but the fact that she is wearing a thong changes the meaning from her actually being a literal nun to being somebody who pretends to be holy but actually has a wilder personal life. In other words, she is a saint (Nun) during the day but becomes less innocent when it doesn’t affect her reputation. Additionally, Billabong is a clothing brand. |
13,483,245 | 65,109 | Rich The Kid | 1,041,767 | Jay Critch (Ft. Rich The Kid) | Fashion | 3,290,917 | Gotta flex up on these niggas ‘cause they doubtin’
I’ve been ballin’ on these niggas so they foulin’
She gon’ do it with no hands, she got talent | Gotta flex up on these niggas ‘cause they doubtin’ I’ve been ballin’ on these niggas so they foulin’ She gon’ do it with no hands, she got talent | You’re born, and you do your thing. Niggas gonna try to shoot you down, gonna try to do what they can to stop this shit. So, that’s the fouls. Niggas foulin'. You know, we scorin' at the free throw line, still ballin', Carmelo way. | 5,203,326 | GaryVolmar | 763 | https://genius.com/jaycritchofficial | 9 | https://genius.com/13483245/Jay-critch-fashion/Gotta-flex-up-on-these-niggas-cause-they-doubtin-ive-been-ballin-on-these-niggas-so-they-foulin-she-gon-do-it-with-no-hands-she-got-talent | You’re born, and you do your thing. Niggas gonna try to shoot you down, gonna try to do what they can to stop this shit. So, that’s the fouls. Niggas foulin'. You know, we scorin' at the free throw line, still ballin', Carmelo way. |
3,158,834 | 1,269 | KRS-One | 1,269 | KRS-One | Outta Here | 26,926 | These two albums set off consciousness in rap | These two albums set off consciousness in rap | By All Means Necessary and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back were the two albums that made it clear that hip-hop could be a very important tool to teach the young black youth knowledge of self. | 12,551 | TheSkyBlueBallyKid | 24,859 | https://genius.com/TheSkyBlueBallyKid | 6 | https://genius.com/3158834/Krs-one-outta-here/These-two-albums-set-off-consciousness-in-rap | By All Means Necessary and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back were the two albums that made it clear that hip-hop could be a very important tool to teach the young black youth knowledge of self. |
966,568 | 178 | Aesop Rock | 178 | Aesop Rock (Ft. Illogic) | One Brick | 7,522 | When Little Billy bought a tugboat | When Little Billy bought a tugboat | When asked by MVremix.com in a 2006 interview ‘What is a tugboat complex?’, Aesop responded with “My made up term for feeling that you are carrying a lot of shit on your back. The tugboat’s job is to bring a lot of shit around, a lot of shit on your shoulders.” | 108,004 | Cthulhu420 | 409 | https://genius.com/Cthulhu420 | 12 | https://genius.com/966568/Aesop-rock-one-brick/When-little-billy-bought-a-tugboat | When asked by MVremix.com in a 2006 interview ‘What is a tugboat complex?’, Aesop responded with “My made up term for feeling that you are carrying a lot of shit on your back. The tugboat’s job is to bring a lot of shit around, a lot of shit on your shoulders.” |
8,796,412 | 310 | Wiz Khalifa | 310 | Wiz Khalifa (Ft. Ty Dolla $ign) | Lit (Remix) | 2,023,686 | I’m lettin’ the top down, and countin’ them faces (countin’ them faces) | I’m lettin’ the top down, and countin’ them faces (countin’ them faces) | Wiz can be seen in convertibles with the top down and we know he’s no stranger to riding in Convertibles from one of his first hit Singles “Black and Yellow”.
Big ‘Faces’ are slang for larger denomination bills – he’s simply counting his money. | 2,970,936 | gone_1roe0_b3e8 | 29,578 | https://genius.com/gone_1roe0_b3e8 | 1 | https://genius.com/8796412/Wiz-khalifa-lit-remix/Im-lettin-the-top-down-and-countin-them-faces-countin-them-faces | Wiz can be seen in convertibles with the top down and we know he’s no stranger to riding in Convertibles from one of his first hit Singles “Black and Yellow”.
Big ‘Faces’ are slang for larger denomination bills – he’s simply counting his money. |
11,406,375 | 617,327 | NAV | 617,327 | NAV | Good for It | 2,999,179 | Ain’t talkin’ burgers when I say that we was hittin’ licks | Ain’t talkin’ burgers when I say that we was hittin’ licks | Lick’s is a burger chain in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
A lick refers to either someone who is easily capable of being robbed or the act itself of robbing them. When Nav says he was hitting licks, he didn’t mean he was visiting local burger restaurants. | 88,938 | BossHog | 2,065 | https://genius.com/BossHog | 28 | https://genius.com/11406375/Nav-good-for-it/Aint-talkin-burgers-when-i-say-that-we-was-hittin-licks | Lick’s is a burger chain in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
A lick refers to either someone who is easily capable of being robbed or the act itself of robbing them. When Nav says he was hitting licks, he didn’t mean he was visiting local burger restaurants. |
23,256,303 | 1,125,517 | Megan Thee Stallion | 1,125,517 | Megan Thee Stallion | Thot Shit | 6,889,898 | 2021, finna graduate college | 2021, finna graduate college | At the time of the release of “Thot Shit”, Meg was still attending Texas Southern University for her bachelor’s degree in Health Administration.
In early 2021, after someone on Twitter suggested it was good that Megan chose rapping over going into the health industry, Meg revealed that she would still be graduating from TSU in the fall of 2021 and opening an assisted living home.
https://twitter.com/theestallion/status/1361529409589551111 | 2,543,931 | realpastafarian | 25,169 | https://genius.com/realpastafarian | 48 | https://genius.com/23256303/Megan-thee-stallion-thot-shit/2021-finna-graduate-college | At the time of the release of “Thot Shit”, Meg was still attending Texas Southern University for her bachelor’s degree in Health Administration.
In early 2021, after someone on Twitter suggested it was good that Megan chose rapping over going into the health industry, Meg revealed that she would still be graduating from TSU in the fall of 2021 and opening an assisted living home.
https://twitter.com/theestallion/status/1361529409589551111 |
677,795 | 88 | Rick Ross | 92 | Nicki Minaj (Ft. Cam'ron & Rick Ross) | I Am Your Leader | 68,514 | Big fat pussy wit’ a icy watch | Big fat pussy wit’ a icy watch | This lyric interpolates Rick Ross’s verse on Lil Wayne’s 2011 track “John”:
Big black nigga in a icy watch | 84,843 | Mlewww | 282 | https://genius.com/wheelzay | 29 | https://genius.com/677795/Nicki-minaj-i-am-your-leader/Big-fat-pussy-wit-a-icy-watch | This lyric interpolates Rick Ross’s verse on Lil Wayne’s 2011 track “John”:
Big black nigga in a icy watch |
24,966,433 | 385 | Atmosphere | 385 | Atmosphere | Clay | 8,560 | I can’t bring it with so I’m a leave me here | I can’t bring it with so I’m a leave me here | When he dies and leaves this life he knows he can’t take the knowledge and lessons he’s learned with. So he chooses to leave it here for the rest of us still engulfed in the struggle called life. | 1,281,075 | Younker | 550 | https://genius.com/Younker | 0 | https://genius.com/24966433/Atmosphere-clay/I-cant-bring-it-with-so-im-a-leave-me-here | When he dies and leaves this life he knows he can’t take the knowledge and lessons he’s learned with. So he chooses to leave it here for the rest of us still engulfed in the struggle called life. |
17,527,944 | 69 | J. Cole | 1,876,481 | Dreamville & J. Cole (Ft. Young Nudy) | Sunset | 4,543,096 | Roses are red, my diamonds are blue
Pockets is green, a permanent hue | Roses are red, my diamonds are blue Pockets is green, a permanent hue | “Roses are Red” can refer to a number of poems such as but not limited to Edmund Spencer’s 1590 version in “The Faeirie Queen” or Gammer Gurton’s Garland, or, The Nursery Parnassus: a Choice Collection of Pretty Songs and Verses for the Amusement of all Little Good Children who can Neither Read nor Run, 1784.
Cole puts his own spin on the poem and replaces violets with diamonds to attribute the color of blue to. Cole then follows this up by speaking of the color of his pockets being permanently green essentially echoing his large net worth which was estimated to be $35.5 million as of July 2018 according to Forbes and which will only continue to grow. | 4,968,349 | r_kumar109 | 57,295 | https://genius.com/r_kumar109 | 29 | https://genius.com/17527944/Dreamville-and-j-cole-sunset/Roses-are-red-my-diamonds-are-blue-pockets-is-green-a-permanent-hue | “Roses are Red” can refer to a number of poems such as but not limited to Edmund Spencer’s 1590 version in “The Faeirie Queen” or Gammer Gurton’s Garland, or, The Nursery Parnassus: a Choice Collection of Pretty Songs and Verses for the Amusement of all Little Good Children who can Neither Read nor Run, 1784.
Cole puts his own spin on the poem and replaces violets with diamonds to attribute the color of blue to. Cole then follows this up by speaking of the color of his pockets being permanently green essentially echoing his large net worth which was estimated to be $35.5 million as of July 2018 according to Forbes and which will only continue to grow. |
82,829 | 108 | 50 Cent | 108 | 50 Cent | Back Down | 2,715 | You’s a Pop Tart, sweetheart, you soft in the middle (Haha)
I eat you for breakfast, | You’s a Pop Tart, sweetheart, you soft in the middle (Haha) I eat you for breakfast, | Ja is nothing to 50. He’ll eat him for breakfast like a Pop Tart (really tasty breakfast food!) This is because he is not significant enough to be lunch or dinner.
Ironically, there are studies showing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, giving Ja Rule a little more credit.
pictured: Ja being devoured | 4,095 | Anarchyburger | 9,074 | https://genius.com/AliSTACKS | 47 | https://genius.com/82829/50-cent-back-down/Yous-a-pop-tart-sweetheart-you-soft-in-the-middle-haha-i-eat-you-for-breakfast | Ja is nothing to 50. He’ll eat him for breakfast like a Pop Tart (really tasty breakfast food!) This is because he is not significant enough to be lunch or dinner.
Ironically, there are studies showing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, giving Ja Rule a little more credit.
pictured: Ja being devoured |
11,531,358 | 1,397 | Giggs | 130 | Drake (Ft. Giggs) | No Long Talk | 2,992,774 | Man gets duppied when we touch a button (Touch a button) | Man gets duppied when we touch a button (Touch a button) | “Duppied” is Jamaican slang for getting knocked out in a physical altercation. Giggs says that when his crew gets things rolling, you will get left down and out. To touch a button (recent reference Vybz Kartel – “Touch A Button”) is also slang in Jamaica and a wider part of the Caribbean meaning to perform an action/make a move.
“Duppy” is also a Jamaican term for “ghost”. Enemies of Giggs cease to exist when he presses the button. Drake referred to making Meek Mill a ghost in the first track on this playlist “Free Smoke”:
How you let the kid fightin'
Ghost-writin' rumors turn you to a ghost? | 3,932,691 | SkeptaTing | 1,815 | https://genius.com/SkeptaTing | 41 | https://genius.com/11531358/Drake-no-long-talk/Man-gets-duppied-when-we-touch-a-button-touch-a-button | “Duppied” is Jamaican slang for getting knocked out in a physical altercation. Giggs says that when his crew gets things rolling, you will get left down and out. To touch a button (recent reference Vybz Kartel – “Touch A Button”) is also slang in Jamaica and a wider part of the Caribbean meaning to perform an action/make a move.
“Duppy” is also a Jamaican term for “ghost”. Enemies of Giggs cease to exist when he presses the button. Drake referred to making Meek Mill a ghost in the first track on this playlist “Free Smoke”:
How you let the kid fightin'
Ghost-writin' rumors turn you to a ghost? |
7,197,464 | 1,319 | Meek Mill | 1,319 | Meek Mill (Ft. The Weeknd) | Pullin Up | 2,148,479 | And we kick shit, Liu Kang | And we kick shit, Liu Kang | Liu Kang is a fictional character from the Mortal Kombat Franchise. His signature fighting move is a flurry of rapid kicks in the air. In Meek’s case ‘kicking it’ refers to hanging out with his girl. | 202,011 | shy-ink | 47,640 | https://genius.com/shy-ink | 5 | https://genius.com/7197464/Meek-mill-pullin-up/And-we-kick-shit-liu-kang | Liu Kang is a fictional character from the Mortal Kombat Franchise. His signature fighting move is a flurry of rapid kicks in the air. In Meek’s case ‘kicking it’ refers to hanging out with his girl. |
3,381,762 | 1,256 | Ice-T | 385,596 | JAY-Z & Linkin Park | Points of Authority / 99 Problems / One Step Closer | 24,432 | Are you carryin’ a weapon on you? Know a lot of you are” | Are you carryin’ a weapon on you? Know a lot of you are” | Even more racial profiling. The cop is asking Jay if he has a weapon simply because he’s black and he is even telling him that.
The “you” here, means black folk. | 1,013,481 | iSpook | 1,391 | https://genius.com/iSpook | 3 | https://genius.com/3381762/Jay-z-and-linkin-park-points-of-authority-99-problems-one-step-closer/Are-you-carryin-a-weapon-on-you-know-a-lot-of-you-are | Even more racial profiling. The cop is asking Jay if he has a weapon simply because he’s black and he is even telling him that.
The “you” here, means black folk. |
7,208,983 | 328,822 | J Hus | 68,399 | GRM Daily | J Hus | 911,356 | Body looking like a brick of cocaína | Body looking like a brick of cocaína | Could have two meanings.
She is white, the same colour as cocaine.
Her body shape is thick the same as a brick of cocaine.
I suspect it’s the latter due to the next line were he states she is biracial. | 1,513,151 | FrankLorenzo | 1,856 | https://genius.com/FrankLorenzo | 1 | https://genius.com/7208983/Grm-daily-j-hus/Body-looking-like-a-brick-of-cocaina | Could have two meanings.
She is white, the same colour as cocaine.
Her body shape is thick the same as a brick of cocaine.
I suspect it’s the latter due to the next line were he states she is biracial. |
1,653,595 | 150 | Madvillain | 150 | Madvillain | The Illest Villains | 59,749 | “Get to work on these boys, anybody bring a gun for me?”
“Yeah, here’s one” | “Get to work on these boys, anybody bring a gun for me?” “Yeah, here’s one” | Yet another line of dialogue from the trailer for The Wild One:
https://youtu.be/s8LC9Oy9k7Q?t=79 | 205,171 | BigWormPrime | 33,352 | https://genius.com/calderbarlow | 26 | https://genius.com/1653595/Madvillain-the-illest-villains/Get-to-work-on-these-boys-anybody-bring-a-gun-for-me-yeah-heres-one | Yet another line of dialogue from the trailer for The Wild One:
https://youtu.be/s8LC9Oy9k7Q?t=79 |
7,604,760 | 110 | Pharrell Williams | 348,410 | Puff Daddy & the Family (Ft. Pharrell Williams) | Finna Get Loose | 2,157,964 | No ticking time like hand on the rope | No ticking time like hand on the rope | If you hold the rope that is hanging from a grandfather clock, time will not tick because the weight needs to swing back and fourth. Pharrell and diddy don’t ever need to know what time it is when they get loose | 1,886,300 | desertoasis | 188 | https://genius.com/desertoasis | 0 | https://genius.com/7604760/Puff-daddy-and-the-family-finna-get-loose/No-ticking-time-like-hand-on-the-rope | If you hold the rope that is hanging from a grandfather clock, time will not tick because the weight needs to swing back and fourth. Pharrell and diddy don’t ever need to know what time it is when they get loose |
10,498,087 | 88 | Rick Ross | 158 | DJ Khaled (Ft. Lil Wayne, Plies, Rick Ross & T-Pain) | Welcome to My Hood | 3,387 | They outside playing hopscotch | They outside playing hopscotch | Hopscotch is a hardcore drinking game involving mass consumption of Scotch. | 3,272,791 | Madkol | 151,324 | https://genius.com/Madkol | -9 | https://genius.com/10498087/Dj-khaled-welcome-to-my-hood/They-outside-playing-hopscotch | Hopscotch is a hardcore drinking game involving mass consumption of Scotch. |
27,052,012 | 430,404 | 21 Savage | 3,338,411 | Drake & 21 Savage | Rich Flex | 8,524,075 | I’m a savage (21)
Smack her booty in Magic (21, 21)
I’ll slap a pussy nigga with a ratchet (Pussy) | I’m a savage (21) Smack her booty in Magic (21, 21) I’ll slap a pussy nigga with a ratchet (Pussy) | As the beat pauses, with a similar cadence, 21 Savage interpolates the chorus from Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s March 2020 smash hit “Savage”:
I’m a savage (Yeah)
Classy, bougie, ratchet (Yeah)
Sassy, moody, nasty (Hey, hey, yeah) | 5,073,987 | peaker | 162,333 | https://genius.com/peaker | 184 | https://genius.com/27052012/Drake-and-21-savage-rich-flex/Im-a-savage-21-smack-her-booty-in-magic-21-21-ill-slap-a-pussy-nigga-with-a-ratchet-pussy | As the beat pauses, with a similar cadence, 21 Savage interpolates the chorus from Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s March 2020 smash hit “Savage”:
I’m a savage (Yeah)
Classy, bougie, ratchet (Yeah)
Sassy, moody, nasty (Hey, hey, yeah) |
18,160,530 | 685 | Tyler, The Creator | 685 | Tyler, The Creator (Ft. Hodgy) | Jamba | 133,407 | Camp Flog Gnaw, nigga, you can tell by the badge | Camp Flog Gnaw, nigga, you can tell by the badge | “Flog Gnaw” is Golf Wang spelled backwards. By “you can tell by the badge”, he’s talking about his logo on his hat. | 7,295,192 | Pinkblxxd | 2,101 | https://genius.com/Pinkblxxd | 12 | https://genius.com/18160530/Tyler-the-creator-jamba/Camp-flog-gnaw-nigga-you-can-tell-by-the-badge | “Flog Gnaw” is Golf Wang spelled backwards. By “you can tell by the badge”, he’s talking about his logo on his hat. |
4,060,698 | 3 | Fabolous | 197,731 | Bobby Shmurda (Ft. Busta Rhymes, Chris Brown, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Rowdy Rebel & Yo Gotti) | Hot Nigga (Remix) | 513,559 | Or thot niggas all summer, every weekend, ho (All summer) | Or thot niggas all summer, every weekend, ho (All summer) | In his song “Cuffin Season” he was calling out ‘thots’ for being whores in the summer, then looking for boyfriends to settle with in the winter. Apparently the same goes for dudes too. | 1,021,622 | richmoneybags | 204 | https://genius.com/richmoneybags | 3 | https://genius.com/4060698/Bobby-shmurda-hot-nigga-remix/Or-thot-niggas-all-summer-every-weekend-ho-all-summer | In his song “Cuffin Season” he was calling out ‘thots’ for being whores in the summer, then looking for boyfriends to settle with in the winter. Apparently the same goes for dudes too. |
23,191,146 | 21,964 | Lil Durk | 2,758,413 | Lil Baby, Lil Durk & Travis Scott | Hats Off | 6,868,378 | The Forgiatos twenty-four, this for Kobe | The Forgiatos twenty-four, this for Kobe | Forgiato’s are car tires. Here, Baby is saying he has invested in 24 inch rims Forgiato tires.
The number 24 also represents the jersey number of legendary hall of fame basketball player Kobe Braynt, who was tragically killed in an helicopter accident on January 26, 2020. | 11,715,451 | WheelsOnTheBus1 | 3,075 | https://genius.com/WheelsOnTheBus1 | 40 | https://genius.com/23191146/Lil-baby-lil-durk-and-travis-scott-hats-off/The-forgiatos-twenty-four-this-for-kobe | Forgiato’s are car tires. Here, Baby is saying he has invested in 24 inch rims Forgiato tires.
The number 24 also represents the jersey number of legendary hall of fame basketball player Kobe Braynt, who was tragically killed in an helicopter accident on January 26, 2020. |
22,667,133 | 2 | JAY-Z | 2 | JAY-Z | Encore | 816 | You want to bang, send Kanye change
Send Just some dust, send Hip a grip
Then you gotta spit, a little somethin’ like this | You want to bang, send Kanye change Send Just some dust, send Hip a grip Then you gotta spit, a little somethin’ like this | These bars are giving credit to Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Kyambo “Hip Hop” Joshua, respectively. Kanye and Just https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Album_(Jay-Z_album)#Track_listing, while Hip was an A&R at Roc-A-Fella records who signed some of the label’s most prominent artists, https://genius.com/Kanye-west-last-call-lyrics.
Jay is essentially saying you need to pay and cultivate talent. Since his first album, Reasonable Doubt, Jay has always employed a roster of some of the most talented producers in the industry. Paying for this top talent provided him with some of the best beats to lay his verses upon. | 3,577,822 | cyclohexaneb | 2,492 | https://genius.com/cyclohexaneb | 6 | https://genius.com/22667133/Jay-z-encore/You-want-to-bang-send-kanye-change-send-just-some-dust-send-hip-a-grip-then-you-gotta-spit-a-little-somethin-like-this | These bars are giving credit to Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Kyambo “Hip Hop” Joshua, respectively. Kanye and Just https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Album_(Jay-Z_album)#Track_listing, while Hip was an A&R at Roc-A-Fella records who signed some of the label’s most prominent artists, https://genius.com/Kanye-west-last-call-lyrics.
Jay is essentially saying you need to pay and cultivate talent. Since his first album, Reasonable Doubt, Jay has always employed a roster of some of the most talented producers in the industry. Paying for this top talent provided him with some of the best beats to lay his verses upon. |
15,921,784 | 324,667 | JID | 324,667 | JID | Off da Zoinkys | 4,084,882 | I, I am so grateful
I’m very, very, very grateful | I, I am so grateful I’m very, very, very grateful | The intro features a sample from Crowns of Glory’s 1976 song “I’m So Grateful (Keep In Touch).”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVB2mUXV-XE
This sample was also used by fellow producer Jake One on Rick Ross' “3 Kings,” a track off his fifth studio album God Forgives, I Don’t. | 7,473,132 | DannyThe201 | 829 | https://genius.com/DannyThe201 | 29 | https://genius.com/15921784/Jid-off-da-zoinkys/I-i-am-so-grateful-im-very-very-very-grateful | The intro features a sample from Crowns of Glory’s 1976 song “I’m So Grateful (Keep In Touch).”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVB2mUXV-XE
This sample was also used by fellow producer Jake One on Rick Ross' “3 Kings,” a track off his fifth studio album God Forgives, I Don’t. |
525,822 | 1,393 | Dizzee Rascal | 1,393 | Dizzee Rascal (Ft. God's Gift) | Hold Ya Mouf | 62,766 | Raskit, God’s Gift | Raskit, God’s Gift | Raskit is Dizzee’s nickname, God’s Gift is the other rapper on the track | 61,597 | Province | 28,482 | https://genius.com/Province | 0 | https://genius.com/525822/Dizzee-rascal-hold-ya-mouf/Raskit-gods-gift | Raskit is Dizzee’s nickname, God’s Gift is the other rapper on the track |
2,704,933 | 14,266 | Andre 3000 | 105 | OutKast | Pink & Blue | 36,312 | (Why don’t) Why don’t you teach me something new?
(We’re all) We’re all just babies in my view
So crawl, baby, crawl, baby | (Why don’t) Why don’t you teach me something new? (We’re all) We’re all just babies in my view So crawl, baby, crawl, baby | Andre telling her to crawl is both pertaining to the baby references and alluding to a sexual, seductive crawl. | 367,059 | Rebeezus | 11,309 | https://genius.com/myoblast | 6 | https://genius.com/2704933/Outkast-pink-and-blue/Why-dont-why-dont-you-teach-me-something-new-were-all-were-all-just-babies-in-my-view-so-crawl-baby-crawl-baby | Andre telling her to crawl is both pertaining to the baby references and alluding to a sexual, seductive crawl. |
9,088,986 | 2,197 | Future | 130 | Drake | Feel No Ways | 2,463,398 | World’s, world’s, world’s famous
World’s, world’s, world’s famous | World’s, world’s, world’s famous World’s, world’s, world’s famous | This sample is from the late Malcolm McLaren’s 1983 song, “Worlds Famous.”
https://youtu.be/4aA0vDAwQls?t=160
McLaren was a major player in the UK punk scene as manager of the Sex Pistols. He claimed to have orchestrated the aesthetic and commercial rise of the band, which is disputed by its members. Sometime in 1980, Afrika Bambataa took him to a South Bronx block party and introduced him to hip-hop. He immediately saw a parallel between punk and hip-hop: “I always thought hip-hop was the black punk rock. It had similar DIY aspects.” McClaren went on to release several hip-hop records and is credited as being one of the first proponents of the genre in the UK. | 1,860,528 | StubbsThePlayer | 43,788 | https://genius.com/JohnGanz | 62 | https://genius.com/9088986/Drake-feel-no-ways/Worlds-worlds-worlds-famous-worlds-worlds-worlds-famous | This sample is from the late Malcolm McLaren’s 1983 song, “Worlds Famous.”
https://youtu.be/4aA0vDAwQls?t=160
McLaren was a major player in the UK punk scene as manager of the Sex Pistols. He claimed to have orchestrated the aesthetic and commercial rise of the band, which is disputed by its members. Sometime in 1980, Afrika Bambataa took him to a South Bronx block party and introduced him to hip-hop. He immediately saw a parallel between punk and hip-hop: “I always thought hip-hop was the black punk rock. It had similar DIY aspects.” McClaren went on to release several hip-hop records and is credited as being one of the first proponents of the genre in the UK. |
4,264,288 | 686 | Earl Sweatshirt | 686 | Earl Sweatshirt | Rats | 556,349 | Tape it and take it to Ace’s so we can do this shit | Tape it and take it to Ace’s so we can do this shit | This line has two meanings:
Earl is telling Ace, The Creator, one of the many alter-egos of Tyler The Creator, that he just recorded himself killing or raping a girl (“tape it”) and will give the video to Ace for him to put it on the internet (“and take it to Ace’s so we can do this shit”).
Earl is saying that he captured a girl and put a tape in her mouth (“tape it”), so he will take her to Ace so both of them can rape or kill her at the same time (“and take it to Ace’s so we can do this shit”). | 448,336 | kiaoianyez | 18,704 | https://genius.com/kiaoianyez | 0 | https://genius.com/4264288/Earl-sweatshirt-rats/Tape-it-and-take-it-to-aces-so-we-can-do-this-shit | This line has two meanings:
Earl is telling Ace, The Creator, one of the many alter-egos of Tyler The Creator, that he just recorded himself killing or raping a girl (“tape it”) and will give the video to Ace for him to put it on the internet (“and take it to Ace’s so we can do this shit”).
Earl is saying that he captured a girl and put a tape in her mouth (“tape it”), so he will take her to Ace so both of them can rape or kill her at the same time (“and take it to Ace’s so we can do this shit”). |
16,652,688 | 59 | 2Pac | 778,477 | 2Pac & Outlawz (Ft. Big Syke) | Letter to the President | 6,715 | Plus the concepts I depict, so visual that you can kiss
Each and every trick or bitch, inside the shit I kick | Plus the concepts I depict, so visual that you can kiss Each and every trick or bitch, inside the shit I kick | Pac is saying he’s such a great storyteller and poet that you can literally have contact with anything he describes because his lyrics and the way he puts them together are so clear. | 820,831 | Deezy4922 | 11,776 | https://genius.com/Deezy4922 | 4 | https://genius.com/16652688/2pac-and-outlawz-letter-to-the-president/Plus-the-concepts-i-depict-so-visual-that-you-can-kiss-each-and-every-trick-or-bitch-inside-the-shit-i-kick | Pac is saying he’s such a great storyteller and poet that you can literally have contact with anything he describes because his lyrics and the way he puts them together are so clear. |
17,578,618 | 18,047 | Joey Bada$$ | 396,565 | XXXTENTACION (Ft. Joey Bada$$) | infinity (888) | 3,577,662 | I catch all diseases in the world
So the world don’t have no more diseases, you feel me? | I catch all diseases in the world So the world don’t have no more diseases, you feel me? | As shown in his “#THEHELPINGHANDCHALLENGE” video, X made his main goal in 2018 to get over his depressive feelings and help the mentally ill people listening to his songs. Joey has the same state of mind, and wants to cure all of the illnesses in the world. While it may appear that Joey is talking about physical diseases, he seems to get his focus a little more towards the evil and injustice within our world. Joey is saying that he would be willing to experience all the pain and evil in the world if it means keeping everyone else safe from it. Much of this is a result of him being emotionally numb from his life experiences, as expressed in the chorus:
I spent years at the crib, so I don’t feel the pain no more
I don’t feel the pain no more
As said in the introduction to this album, X wanted to bring some good vibes with these tracks, to give some good energy to his listeners:
[…] till my energy and mind be felt […] was the goal of this album | 8,909,217 | TraceSt | 488,144 | https://genius.com/Swono | 73 | https://genius.com/17578618/Xxxtentacion-infinity-888/I-catch-all-diseases-in-the-world-so-the-world-dont-have-no-more-diseases-you-feel-me | As shown in his “#THEHELPINGHANDCHALLENGE” video, X made his main goal in 2018 to get over his depressive feelings and help the mentally ill people listening to his songs. Joey has the same state of mind, and wants to cure all of the illnesses in the world. While it may appear that Joey is talking about physical diseases, he seems to get his focus a little more towards the evil and injustice within our world. Joey is saying that he would be willing to experience all the pain and evil in the world if it means keeping everyone else safe from it. Much of this is a result of him being emotionally numb from his life experiences, as expressed in the chorus:
I spent years at the crib, so I don’t feel the pain no more
I don’t feel the pain no more
As said in the introduction to this album, X wanted to bring some good vibes with these tracks, to give some good energy to his listeners:
[…] till my energy and mind be felt […] was the goal of this album |
4,526,840 | 4 | Lil Wayne | 92 | Nicki Minaj (Ft. Meek Mill) | Big Daddy | 601,822 | Pulled up in something that look like a million nigga put me up on | Pulled up in something that look like a million nigga put me up on | Nicki’s ballin' out in a car worth a million dollars! As seen in several videos and pictures, she drives luxury sports cars like Bentley and Lamborghini. | 433,686 | AndryX7 | 331 | https://genius.com/AndryX7 | 16 | https://genius.com/4526840/Nicki-minaj-big-daddy/Pulled-up-in-something-that-look-like-a-million-nigga-put-me-up-on | Nicki’s ballin' out in a car worth a million dollars! As seen in several videos and pictures, she drives luxury sports cars like Bentley and Lamborghini. |
28,677,977 | 610,968 | Lil Yachty | 2,781,379 | Lil Yachty & Juice WRLD | Trifling | 5,105,000 | Just sold your mom Methamphetamine (Yeah)
Just took a half of a Vicodin (Yeah)
Fucked her off the Perc’s she say I’m trifling (Yeah, yeah) | Just sold your mom Methamphetamine (Yeah) Just took a half of a Vicodin (Yeah) Fucked her off the Perc’s she say I’m trifling (Yeah, yeah) | Juice WRLD’s Drug Use
Juice had made it public that he had large issues with drug abuse, especially lean and Percocets, and said that if it caused him issues in his relationship with Ally Lotti, he was willing to let it go.
In the posthumously released track Wishing Well from the album Legends Never Die which honored Juice’s legacy, he touches more on his drug addiction, stating:
Let’s be for real
If it wasn’t for the pills, I wouldn’t be here
But if I keep taking these pills, I won’t be here, yeah
I just told y'all my secret, yeah
It’s tearing me to pieces
I really think I need them
I stopped taking the drugs and now the drugs take me
In another posthumously released track titled No Good Juice exclaims more on how he know the drugs ruin his image as a public figure:
Using opiates overly, openly fuckin' up my image, yeah
Methamphetamine, also called meth or crystal meth, is a highly addictive stimulant drug. It gives a temporary feeling of energy and happiness, but can have serious negative effects on physical and mental health.
Long-term use can cause dental problems, skin sores, weight loss, insomnia, paranoia, and other issues. It is illegal and considered dangerous due to its high potential for abuse and addiction.
Vicodin is a brand name for a prescription medication that contains two active ingredients: hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It belongs to a class of drugs called opioids, which are pain relievers.
Long-term or excessive use of Vicodin can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Abruptly stopping the medication after prolonged use may result in withdrawal symptoms. Common side effects include drowsiness and nausea.
Percocet is a strong prescription painkiller that contains two main ingredients: oxycodone, which is an opioid, and acetaminophen, a common pain reliever.
It is typically prescribed for moderate to severe pain relief, such as after surgery or for chronic pain conditions. However, Percocet carries a risk of addiction and misuse. It can cause side effects like drowsiness and constipation. | 19,752,423 | koravert | 6,751 | https://genius.com/koravert | 1 | https://genius.com/28677977/Lil-yachty-and-juice-wrld-trifling/Just-sold-your-mom-methamphetamine-yeah-just-took-a-half-of-a-vicodin-yeah-fucked-her-off-the-percs-she-say-im-trifling-yeah-yeah | Juice WRLD’s Drug Use
Juice had made it public that he had large issues with drug abuse, especially lean and Percocets, and said that if it caused him issues in his relationship with Ally Lotti, he was willing to let it go.
In the posthumously released track Wishing Well from the album Legends Never Die which honored Juice’s legacy, he touches more on his drug addiction, stating:
Let’s be for real
If it wasn’t for the pills, I wouldn’t be here
But if I keep taking these pills, I won’t be here, yeah
I just told y'all my secret, yeah
It’s tearing me to pieces
I really think I need them
I stopped taking the drugs and now the drugs take me
In another posthumously released track titled No Good Juice exclaims more on how he know the drugs ruin his image as a public figure:
Using opiates overly, openly fuckin' up my image, yeah
Methamphetamine, also called meth or crystal meth, is a highly addictive stimulant drug. It gives a temporary feeling of energy and happiness, but can have serious negative effects on physical and mental health.
Long-term use can cause dental problems, skin sores, weight loss, insomnia, paranoia, and other issues. It is illegal and considered dangerous due to its high potential for abuse and addiction.
Vicodin is a brand name for a prescription medication that contains two active ingredients: hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It belongs to a class of drugs called opioids, which are pain relievers.
Long-term or excessive use of Vicodin can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Abruptly stopping the medication after prolonged use may result in withdrawal symptoms. Common side effects include drowsiness and nausea.
Percocet is a strong prescription painkiller that contains two main ingredients: oxycodone, which is an opioid, and acetaminophen, a common pain reliever.
It is typically prescribed for moderate to severe pain relief, such as after surgery or for chronic pain conditions. However, Percocet carries a risk of addiction and misuse. It can cause side effects like drowsiness and constipation. |
3,272,192 | 396 | Wale | 158 | DJ Khaled (Ft. Ace Hood, Chris Brown, Wale & Wiz Khalifa) | I’m Still | 238,565 | Top floor suite, we goin’ up
D.A.F., I’m dope as fuck | Top floor suite, we goin’ up D.A.F., I’m dope as fuck | You can probably start betting that Wiz gets the top floor of a hotel.
He could also be referring to being high while he’s on the top floor. D.A.F. stands for dope as fuck. | 291,172 | eastsideloon | 1,962 | https://genius.com/eastsideloon | 1 | https://genius.com/3272192/Dj-khaled-im-still/Top-floor-suite-we-goin-up-daf-im-dope-as-fuck | You can probably start betting that Wiz gets the top floor of a hotel.
He could also be referring to being high while he’s on the top floor. D.A.F. stands for dope as fuck. |
12,874,357 | 506 | Tech N9ne | 14,963 | Dizzy Wright (Ft. Big K.R.I.T., Chellè & Tech N9ne) | God Bless America | 1,893,646 | Don’t forget, they said I sold my soul, that’s horse shit
’Cause I simply thought my way onto the Forbes List | Don’t forget, they said I sold my soul, that’s horse shit ’Cause I simply thought my way onto the Forbes List | Tech N9ne is the co-founder of the independent record label Strange Music and is the best selling independent hip-hop artist of all-time! Unlike most rappers, Tech doesn’t have a major label record deal and ensures his music is and will forever be 100% independent. As his popularity has increased over the years, he’s encountered many naysayers who claim he’s “sold out” though he’s done just the opposite – just look at the facts! While it’s no question that Tech has the talent, drive, and ability to make a ton more money than he already does, he strives to remain humble and there’s nothing that could stop him.
Most of the hip-hop industry’s current “big” money makers (JAY-Z, Diddy, Kanye West, Drake, et.c) are all affiliated with major record labels, while Tech N9ne runs his own label and was still able to appear amongst the game’s biggest ballers on the 2014 Forbes Hip-Hop Cash Kings list. | 3,956,132 | aroze | 39,592 | https://genius.com/aroze | 2 | https://genius.com/12874357/Dizzy-wright-god-bless-america/Dont-forget-they-said-i-sold-my-soul-thats-horse-shit-cause-i-simply-thought-my-way-onto-the-forbes-list | Tech N9ne is the co-founder of the independent record label Strange Music and is the best selling independent hip-hop artist of all-time! Unlike most rappers, Tech doesn’t have a major label record deal and ensures his music is and will forever be 100% independent. As his popularity has increased over the years, he’s encountered many naysayers who claim he’s “sold out” though he’s done just the opposite – just look at the facts! While it’s no question that Tech has the talent, drive, and ability to make a ton more money than he already does, he strives to remain humble and there’s nothing that could stop him.
Most of the hip-hop industry’s current “big” money makers (JAY-Z, Diddy, Kanye West, Drake, et.c) are all affiliated with major record labels, while Tech N9ne runs his own label and was still able to appear amongst the game’s biggest ballers on the 2014 Forbes Hip-Hop Cash Kings list. |
10,287,386 | 941 | Vince Staples | 941 | Vince Staples (Ft. Kilo Kish) | Loco | 2,844,671 | No time for conversations, cold shoulders | No time for conversations, cold shoulders | After Vince and this girl are done having sex. he gives her the “cold shoulder” meaning that he deliberately ignores her. Also, sex involves no clothes, resulting in bare, and thus cold, shoulders. | 1,148,985 | Twoseasons | 33,704 | https://genius.com/SanaSinha13 | 6 | https://genius.com/10287386/Vince-staples-loco/No-time-for-conversations-cold-shoulders | After Vince and this girl are done having sex. he gives her the “cold shoulder” meaning that he deliberately ignores her. Also, sex involves no clothes, resulting in bare, and thus cold, shoulders. |
13,083,167 | 685 | Tyler, The Creator | 12,232 | Jaden | L | 3,321,562 | I could put you on a wave
I just put you on a wave
You’re pretty as the ocean
I’m coming with the gang
So you need to get out our way
The ladies love it when I sing
The niggas love my abilities
When I make the fire on the beats
I’m about to make a mil’ a week
When I hit ’em with the melodies
I don’t care what you tellin’ me
Tryna stay away from felonies, oh | I could put you on a wave I just put you on a wave You’re pretty as the ocean I’m coming with the gang So you need to get out our way The ladies love it when I sing The niggas love my abilities When I make the fire on the beats I’m about to make a mil’ a week When I hit ’em with the melodies I don’t care what you tellin’ me Tryna stay away from felonies, oh | Continuing off of the outro from “B”, Jaden persuades the girl to follow him into his “ocean” of sadness by offering her a chance to ride a “wave”—a slang for hopping on a new trend. If she can sink to his level of despondency, he can show her a whole new world.
Jaden hints to being a victim of this in “Ninety”:
Sometimes I feel like a slave, sometime I’m ridin' a wave
(Note the word correlations here between “wave” and “ocean.”)
Jaden’s mentality switches to a somewhat reckless, misfit persona. After influencing her, Jaden warns the girl to “get out of the way” since his friends are coming with him. He also bluntly tells the girl that other “ladies love it when he sings.” | 3,251,272 | spillretro | 202,667 | https://genius.com/spillretro | 48 | https://genius.com/13083167/Jaden-l/I-could-put-you-on-a-wave-i-just-put-you-on-a-wave-youre-pretty-as-the-ocean-im-coming-with-the-gang-so-you-need-to-get-out-our-way-the-ladies-love-it-when-i-sing-the-niggas-love-my-abilities-when-i-make-the-fire-on-the-beats-im-about-to-make-a-mil-a-week-when-i-hit-em-with-the-melodies-i-dont-care-what-you-tellin-me-tryna-stay-away-from-felonies-oh | Continuing off of the outro from “B”, Jaden persuades the girl to follow him into his “ocean” of sadness by offering her a chance to ride a “wave”—a slang for hopping on a new trend. If she can sink to his level of despondency, he can show her a whole new world.
Jaden hints to being a victim of this in “Ninety”:
Sometimes I feel like a slave, sometime I’m ridin' a wave
(Note the word correlations here between “wave” and “ocean.”)
Jaden’s mentality switches to a somewhat reckless, misfit persona. After influencing her, Jaden warns the girl to “get out of the way” since his friends are coming with him. He also bluntly tells the girl that other “ladies love it when he sings.” |
14,095,315 | 396,565 | XXXTENTACION | 396,565 | XXXTENTACION | going down! | 3,577,663 | He don’t want no smoke, he don’t want no cancer | He don’t want no smoke, he don’t want no cancer | The term “smoke,” which is slang for killing someone with a gun, although in this case, it’s a metaphor for lyrical murder. X is warning anyone thinking of testing him that if they do, he’ll crush them.
X uses the cigarette smoke as a pun, as cigarettes are known to cause cancer.
A similar line was used by Chief Keef on Morgan Tracy too. | 5,392,803 | RyanMarchetti | 121,556 | https://genius.com/3-3-3 | 83 | https://genius.com/14095315/Xxxtentacion-going-down/He-dont-want-no-smoke-he-dont-want-no-cancer | The term “smoke,” which is slang for killing someone with a gun, although in this case, it’s a metaphor for lyrical murder. X is warning anyone thinking of testing him that if they do, he’ll crush them.
X uses the cigarette smoke as a pun, as cigarettes are known to cause cancer.
A similar line was used by Chief Keef on Morgan Tracy too. |
2,506,369 | 1,745 | Childish Gambino | 1,745 | Childish Gambino (Ft. kai & Mystikal) | I. Crawl | 249,733 | (Who am I?) | (Who am I?) | This is an interesting way to start to the album as he has struggled separating Donald Glover from Childish Gambino at times. Check his open letter on Instagram for more:
At the end of the story nothing has changed. He still doesn’t know who he is by the last song. | 94,567 | Smeddy | 381 | https://genius.com/Smeddy | 71 | https://genius.com/2506369/Childish-gambino-i-crawl/Who-am-i | This is an interesting way to start to the album as he has struggled separating Donald Glover from Childish Gambino at times. Check his open letter on Instagram for more:
At the end of the story nothing has changed. He still doesn’t know who he is by the last song. |
11,946,786 | 186 | Ice Cube | 186 | Ice Cube | Only One Me | 3,108,843 | I’m a artist that’ll paint your rigor mortis
You silly rabbit, nigga, here come the tortoise
Fast is smooth and smooth is slow
And that’s how you get it twenty years in a row
Advance how you get twenty years in a hole | I’m a artist that’ll paint your rigor mortis You silly rabbit, nigga, here come the tortoise Fast is smooth and smooth is slow And that’s how you get it twenty years in a row Advance how you get twenty years in a hole | Cube uses these lines to explain why his career has lasted so long while most other rappers' fall apart after just a few years. He does so by referencing “The Tortoise and the Hare”, a fable in which a tortoise and a rabbit compete in a footrace. The rabbit is so cocky and far ahead that he takes a nap in the middle of the race, allowing the much-slower tortoise to win.
Many rappers embody the rabbit; their flame of success burns incredibly brightly at first, but once they’re on top, they get lazy, and eventually, their careers die (hence the reference to rigor mortis, the third stage of death). Cube favors the approach of the tortoise: slow but steady.
Additionally, “silly rabbit” and Cube’s voice when delivering the words seem to allude to Trix cereal’s iconic advertising tagline: “Silly rabbit! Trix are for kids!” | 3,059,268 | butterscotch-pie | 270,305 | https://genius.com/butterscotch-pie | 30 | https://genius.com/11946786/Ice-cube-only-one-me/Im-a-artist-thatll-paint-your-rigor-mortis-you-silly-rabbit-nigga-here-come-the-tortoise-fast-is-smooth-and-smooth-is-slow-and-thats-how-you-get-it-twenty-years-in-a-row-advance-how-you-get-twenty-years-in-a-hole | Cube uses these lines to explain why his career has lasted so long while most other rappers' fall apart after just a few years. He does so by referencing “The Tortoise and the Hare”, a fable in which a tortoise and a rabbit compete in a footrace. The rabbit is so cocky and far ahead that he takes a nap in the middle of the race, allowing the much-slower tortoise to win.
Many rappers embody the rabbit; their flame of success burns incredibly brightly at first, but once they’re on top, they get lazy, and eventually, their careers die (hence the reference to rigor mortis, the third stage of death). Cube favors the approach of the tortoise: slow but steady.
Additionally, “silly rabbit” and Cube’s voice when delivering the words seem to allude to Trix cereal’s iconic advertising tagline: “Silly rabbit! Trix are for kids!” |
2,084,272 | 388 | Talib Kweli | 388 | Talib Kweli (Ft. DJ Quik) | Put It in the Air | 44,488 | Caught a plane to Cali linked with my nigga Quik | Caught a plane to Cali linked with my nigga Quik | DJ Quik lives in Compton, California and produced for artists like E-40, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Janet Jackson, Luniz, Xzibit, Shaquille O´Neal etc. | 131,450 | Dillinger | 14,110 | https://genius.com/Dillinger | 0 | https://genius.com/2084272/Talib-kweli-put-it-in-the-air/Caught-a-plane-to-cali-linked-with-my-nigga-quik | DJ Quik lives in Compton, California and produced for artists like E-40, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Janet Jackson, Luniz, Xzibit, Shaquille O´Neal etc. |
15,289,310 | 45 | Eminem | 45 | Eminem (Ft. Joyner Lucas) | Lucky You | 3,930,558 | That they say as a writer might’ve fell off
I’m back on that bull like the cowboys | That they say as a writer might’ve fell off I’m back on that bull like the cowboys | “Bull riding” is a rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on a bucking bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal tries to buck off the rider.
Notice the wordplay between homophones “writer” and “rider.”
Also, a callback to the “back on that bullshit” line Lucas kicked off his verse with. | 1,350,865 | ItzKDoubleU | 15,640 | https://genius.com/ItzKDoubleU | 162 | https://genius.com/15289310/Eminem-lucky-you/That-they-say-as-a-writer-mightve-fell-off-im-back-on-that-bull-like-the-cowboys | “Bull riding” is a rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on a bucking bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal tries to buck off the rider.
Notice the wordplay between homophones “writer” and “rider.”
Also, a callback to the “back on that bullshit” line Lucas kicked off his verse with. |
21,444,966 | 1,125,517 | Megan Thee Stallion | 1,125,517 | Megan Thee Stallion | Shots Fired | 6,180,678 | I thought a bitch that got her chain snatched, caught a loss had something to say, ayy | I thought a bitch that got her chain snatched, caught a loss had something to say, ayy | This was a shot at Toronto female rapper Chromazz, who has been vocal about the Megan/Tory Lanez incident, and called out Megan as a “snitch”. She recently dropped a Megan diss song called “Marcuss Thee Stallion”. Back in 2019, Chromazz got her chain snatched. | 302,233 | ERA88 | 10,313 | https://genius.com/ERA88 | 11 | https://genius.com/21444966/Megan-thee-stallion-shots-fired/I-thought-a-bitch-that-got-her-chain-snatched-caught-a-loss-had-something-to-say-ayy | This was a shot at Toronto female rapper Chromazz, who has been vocal about the Megan/Tory Lanez incident, and called out Megan as a “snitch”. She recently dropped a Megan diss song called “Marcuss Thee Stallion”. Back in 2019, Chromazz got her chain snatched. |
24,308,945 | 820 | Mac Miller | 820 | Mac Miller | Grand Finale | 426,768 | The most hated | The most hated | Although Mac had lots of fans, and well recieved albums, this could be referring to his infamous Blue Slide Park review from pitchfork | 7,734,960 | bnl0505 | 1,877 | https://genius.com/bnl0505 | 5 | https://genius.com/24308945/Mac-miller-grand-finale/The-most-hated | Although Mac had lots of fans, and well recieved albums, this could be referring to his infamous Blue Slide Park review from pitchfork |
Subsets and Splits