Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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This is not a line in which Redford is stuntin and saying how nice he is. It is talking about being ill (sick) with leprosy for his entire life, meaning he will never be able to escape the hood.

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Unreviewed Annotation 3 Contributors ?

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A play on words with right/write, referencing the “writing on the wall,” but also “right on the wall,” as in either correct or right there in words.

Considering that Redford is looking at rooftop graffiti in the second verse, his story being “right on the wall” could suggest that the graffiti tells his story.

As part of hip hop culture more broadly, graffiti did tell the same stories as many young MCs rapping about the problems and possibilities of inner-city experience.

(The original “writing on the wall” came from Daniel 5:1-30, where a cryptic message appeared on the wall, predicting a king’s downfall.)

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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Mocking the current trend of wooden rosaries that so many guys (and rappers) are wearing

vs.

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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He used to be addicted to percocet pills (a painkiller), he is making it clear that he hasn’t relapsed

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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NZT is the drug from the movie Limitless that allowed Eddie to access all of his brain power as opposed to the “normal” 20 percent

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A play on Bruce’s appearance (balled/bald) and the title of the movie. .

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Omar and Brother Mouzone are two characters from the HBO drama series The Wire. During the second season, Omar shoots Brother Mouzone.

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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Popeye the Sailor is a fictional character from comic strips. He famously gets bigger and stronger after eating a can of spinach.

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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Maybe a play on the phrase “real recognize real” saying that dope (Andre 3000) knows dope (Skyzoo)

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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3 stacks is another nickname for Andre 3000. He is most famous for being ½ of the musical duo Outcast, a continuation from the previous two lines.

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