For those who know me well, know that Jay-Z is one of the most influential indivudals in my life.
He's brilliant.
He's brilliant.
It's a beautiful thing when lyrics can speak to you.
Jay's the philospher of our time.
I was just saying the other day: '"there should be a university class dedicated to this guy."
I swear this is Shawn's calling. Music is one thing. What this guy delivers is something else (let me show you, or as Hov would say, "come here, let me coach you"('On to the next one') )
I have had "Murder To Excellence" on repeat for sometime...
I do this thing were I play a song on repeat until I can figure out the lyrcis, word by word. I didn't realize how incredibly brilliant this song was until about three days ago.
I started doing some googling to get clarification on certain references and found this wicked website, rapgenius.com, which helped bring light to areas I was struggling with.
Tell me this isn't brillaint.
Enjoy.
TC.
Jay
Jay
Bloody Murder, murder murder
Kanye
The paper read "murder
Black-on-black murder"
Jay
Jay
This is to the memory of Danroy Henry
Too much enemy fire to catch a friendly
Danroy Henry, 20, had been waiting in his car in a fire lane outside a bar in New York when officer Aaron Hess knocked on the window...
Henry was killed in the shooting but his family are now furious that Hess has been named Officer of the Year by his union at Pleasantville Police Department...
'We simply asked for truth and honesty, and we've gotten arrogance,' said Danroy Henry Sr. 'Some people see themselves above the law and above simple human dignity.'...
The Police Benevolent Association of the Pleasantville Police Department said yesterday that it honoured Officer Aaron Hess for his dignity and professionalism since the October shooting and throughout his career...
The Henry family is seeking federal intervention, and the Department of Justice has said it will review the evidence to determine whether there were any civil rights crimes.
The Henrys are planning a $120 million lawsuit against Pleasantville and Mount Pleasant.
The PBA said the award wasn't meant to offend the Henry family.
But family lawyer Michael Sussman said: 'They're offended.'
Henry was killed in the shooting but his family are now furious that Hess has been named Officer of the Year by his union at Pleasantville Police Department...
'We simply asked for truth and honesty, and we've gotten arrogance,' said Danroy Henry Sr. 'Some people see themselves above the law and above simple human dignity.'...
The Police Benevolent Association of the Pleasantville Police Department said yesterday that it honoured Officer Aaron Hess for his dignity and professionalism since the October shooting and throughout his career...
The Henry family is seeking federal intervention, and the Department of Justice has said it will review the evidence to determine whether there were any civil rights crimes.
The Henrys are planning a $120 million lawsuit against Pleasantville and Mount Pleasant.
The PBA said the award wasn't meant to offend the Henry family.
But family lawyer Michael Sussman said: 'They're offended.'
Strays from the same shade
Nigga, we on the same team
Giving you respect, I expect the same thing
Explanation via: rapgenius.com
Friendly fire is a military term for someone shot by their own.
The rest of the world usually calls this 'blue-on-blue'
Jay plays up this term to point to the black-on-black violence in America.
"Jay points out that black America has more than enough problems with systematic racism and police violence" (Danroy Henry).
Black-on-black is another threat to his people- a threat that needs to be eliminated.
All-black everything, nigga you know my fresh code
Friendly fire is a military term for someone shot by their own.
The rest of the world usually calls this 'blue-on-blue'
Jay plays up this term to point to the black-on-black violence in America.
"Jay points out that black America has more than enough problems with systematic racism and police violence" (Danroy Henry).
Black-on-black is another threat to his people- a threat that needs to be eliminated.
All-black everything, nigga you know my fresh code
I'm out here fighting for you
Don't increase my stressload!
Niggas watching the throne, very happy to be you
Power to the people, when you see me, see you
Kanye
And I'm from the murder capitol
Where they murder for capital
Originally the opening lyrics to Jay-Z' s 'Lucifer'
Kanye here refering to his hometown, Chicago. Side note: Weezy disputes this claim, suggesting that the real murder capitol is New Orleans with a murder rate 3x that of Chicago.
[rapgenius.com]
This is where the song transitions. You think...what? Maybachs? Is it really necessary to reference luxury? I hate the whole Gucci, Prada and True Religion reference too, but these ones are placed with meaning. Apart from being lyrically appealing, Jay's tone in this part of the song is clever...
An under representation of Blacks in the American elite.
Kanye
Heard about at least 3 killings this afternoon
Looking at the news like "damn! I was just with him after school"
No shop class but half the school got a tool
Kanye's reference to a lack of educational funding.
Luckily America spends more on defense means than any other country in the world and neglects to focus their attention on the people of the future.
America's hoods get it the worst.
But half the school got a tool (guns)
Simple, yet powerful references.
Intresting, right?
Is Congress listening?
Kanye's reference to a lack of educational funding.
Luckily America spends more on defense means than any other country in the world and neglects to focus their attention on the people of the future.
America's hoods get it the worst.
But half the school got a tool (guns)
Simple, yet powerful references.
Intresting, right?
Is Congress listening?
And "I could die any day"-type attitude
Plus his little brother got shot repping his avenue
It's time for us to stop and redefine black power
41 souls murdered in fifty hours
"Between March 31st and April 2nd, 2010, 41 people were shot in Chicago. Only four of those people died, but what Kanye’s really getting at is the fact that the people who fired the guns have “murdered” their own souls by giving into violence." [rapgenius]
"Between March 31st and April 2nd, 2010, 41 people were shot in Chicago. Only four of those people died, but what Kanye’s really getting at is the fact that the people who fired the guns have “murdered” their own souls by giving into violence." [rapgenius]
Is it genocide? Cause I can still hear his mama cry
Know the family traumatized
Shots left holes in his face about pirranha-sized
The old pastor closed the cold casket
And said the church ain't got enough room for all the tombs
It's a war going on outside we ain't safe from
I feel the pain in my city wherever I go
I feel the pain in my city wherever I go
This is a Mobb Deep line off Survival Of The Fittest
Also used by Jay-Z on “Ballad of the Fallen Soldier”, Cam’s opener in Welcome to New York City (with Jay-Z) and Brother Ali in Slippin' Away [rapgenius]
Also used by Jay-Z on “Ballad of the Fallen Soldier”, Cam’s opener in Welcome to New York City (with Jay-Z) and Brother Ali in Slippin' Away [rapgenius]
314 soldiers died in Iraq, 509 died in Chicago
2008 Assocaited Press statistics. Yes, real statistics.
Jay
I arrived on the day Fred Hampton died
Fred Hampton, Chicago activist of the Black Panther movement, was shot and killed by Chicago police on December 4th, 1969, the same day Shawn Corey Carter entered the world.
[wikipedia]
December 4th lyrics.
"Shawn Carter was born December 4th
Weighing in at 10 pounds 8 ounces
He was the last of my 4 children
The only one who didn't give me any pain when i gave birth to him
And that's how i knew that he was a special child
Take a listen to this one too. Song speaks to his character.
Real niggas just multiply
Fred Hampton, Chicago activist of the Black Panther movement, was shot and killed by Chicago police on December 4th, 1969, the same day Shawn Corey Carter entered the world.
[wikipedia]
December 4th lyrics.
"Shawn Carter was born December 4th
Weighing in at 10 pounds 8 ounces
He was the last of my 4 children
The only one who didn't give me any pain when i gave birth to him
And that's how i knew that he was a special child
Take a listen to this one too. Song speaks to his character.
Real niggas just multiply
And they say by 21 I was supposed to die
An African-American's life expectancy.
So I'm out here celebrating my post-demise
If you put crabs in a barrel to insure your survival
You're gonna end up pulling down niggas that look just like you
What up blood? What up Cuz? It's all black, I love us
I needed more clarity on this one...
rapgenius has two very intresting explanations:
He’s saying that where he’s from the environment is like a barrel full of crabs in the sense that everybody’s scrapping to survive, and in trying to survive you might have to pull some of your fellow crabs down. The crabs are meant to symbolize Black men in the inner city
Jay uses the 50 Cent line “What up, Blood? What up, cuz?” to demonstrate that he is talking to all young black folks (“Blood” refers to the Bloods gang, and “cuz” is a common Crip salutation), and to remind them not to get caught up in gang violence, but rather to feel pride in their race. He may also be flipping 50’s line to take a shot at him for his recent attacks on Diddy and Rick Ross; Diddy called 50 a “crab” at the 2010 BET Awards "
rapgenius has two very intresting explanations:
The metaphor of crabs in a barrel could mean two things: "It may be used to mean people who are jealous of another’s success and thus try to pull him or her back down, the way that actual crabs in a barrel supposedly do when one crab climbs a little higher than the rest.
Jay uses the 50 Cent line “What up, Blood? What up, cuz?” to demonstrate that he is talking to all young black folks (“Blood” refers to the Bloods gang, and “cuz” is a common Crip salutation), and to remind them not to get caught up in gang violence, but rather to feel pride in their race. He may also be flipping 50’s line to take a shot at him for his recent attacks on Diddy and Rick Ross; Diddy called 50 a “crab” at the 2010 BET Awards "
Jay
This is where the song transitions. You think...what? Maybachs? Is it really necessary to reference luxury? I hate the whole Gucci, Prada and True Religion reference too, but these ones are placed with meaning. Apart from being lyrically appealing, Jay's tone in this part of the song is clever...
An under representation of Blacks in the American elite.
It's a celebration of black excellence
Black tie, black Maybachs
Black excellence, opulence, decadence
Tuxes next to the president, I'm present
I dress in Dries and other boutique stores in Paris
In sheepskin coats, I silence the lambs
Do you know who I am, Clarice?
This is one of those times where you're like WHAT?
How does someone even think of this verse?!
Told you- he's the philosopher of our time, well MY time.
Driessss
Parissss
Clariceee (main character on Silence of the Lambs)
WHAT?
Lyrical genius, that's what.
This is one of those times where you're like WHAT?
How does someone even think of this verse?!
Told you- he's the philosopher of our time, well MY time.
Driessss
Parissss
Clariceee (main character on Silence of the Lambs)
WHAT?
Lyrical genius, that's what.
No cheap cologne whenever I "shh-shh"
Success never smelled so sweet
I stink of success, the new black elite
They say my Black Card bears the mark of the beast
"Black Card: An invitation-only credit card issued by American Express; cardholders reportedly must have spent at least $200K in the calendar or fiscal year to qualify"[rapgenius]
"Black Card: An invitation-only credit card issued by American Express; cardholders reportedly must have spent at least $200K in the calendar or fiscal year to qualify"[rapgenius]
I repeat: my religion is the beat
My verse is like church, my Jesus piece
Now please, domino, domino
Only spot a few blacks the higher I go
Domino pieces as a metaphor to represent class and race hierarchy in America.
The higher he rises, the less of his own he sees, with the exception of Will Smith and Oprah which he highlights below.
Domino pieces as a metaphor to represent class and race hierarchy in America.
The higher he rises, the less of his own he sees, with the exception of Will Smith and Oprah which he highlights below.
What's up to Will? Shout out to O
That ain't enough we gonna need a million more
"Kick in the door" Biggie flow
I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go
Jay pays tribute to Christopher Wallace (Biggie Smalls), murdered March 9, 1997
"Kick in the door, wavin the four-four
All you heard was Poppa don't hit me no more"
"Kick in the door, wavin the four-four
All you heard was Poppa don't hit me no more"
Kanye
Yeah it's all messed up when it's nowhere to go
So we won't take the time out til we reach the T O P
From paroles to hold G's, sold keys, low keys
We like the promised land of the OG's
In the past if you picture events like a black tie
What the last thing you expect to see, black guys?
What's the life expectancy for black guys?
The system's working effectively, that's why!
"Black men in America have a much shorter life expectancy than white men. Yeezy makes the powerful point that this is not an aberration or a flaw in an otherwise healthy system, but is in fact the racist way the United States political economy was designed to work. This, rather than black-on-black crime, is arguably the real genocide." [rapgenius]
"Black men in America have a much shorter life expectancy than white men. Yeezy makes the powerful point that this is not an aberration or a flaw in an otherwise healthy system, but is in fact the racist way the United States political economy was designed to work. This, rather than black-on-black crime, is arguably the real genocide." [rapgenius]
I'll be a real man and take care of your son
Both Kanye and Shawn grew up without the presence of their fathers. The missing father figure has been noted to have a problematic effect on kids.
*63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) -- 5 times the average.
*90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes -- 32 times the average.
*85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes -- 20 times the average. (Center for Disease Control)
*80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes -- 14 times the average. (Justice and Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26)
*71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes -- 9 times the average. (National Principals Association Report)
*75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes – 10 times the average. (Rainbows for All God’s Children)
*70% of youths in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average. (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Sept. 1988)
*85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes -- 20 times the average. (Fulton Co. Dept. of Correction)
[children-ourinvestment.org]
Both Kanye and Shawn grew up without the presence of their fathers. The missing father figure has been noted to have a problematic effect on kids.
*63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) -- 5 times the average.
*90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes -- 32 times the average.
*85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes -- 20 times the average. (Center for Disease Control)
*80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes -- 14 times the average. (Justice and Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26)
*71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes -- 9 times the average. (National Principals Association Report)
*75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes – 10 times the average. (Rainbows for All God’s Children)
*70% of youths in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average. (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Sept. 1988)
*85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes -- 20 times the average. (Fulton Co. Dept. of Correction)
[children-ourinvestment.org]
Every problem you had before this day is now done
New crib, watch a movie cause ain't nothin on the news
But the blues... hit the mall, pick up some Gucci
Now ain't nothing new but your shoes
Sunday morning, praise the Lord
You're the girl that Jesus had been saving me for
So let's savor this moment
And take it to the floor
Black excellence, truly yours
