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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
I want it now
I'm talkin' straight sex
Stop fuckin' around The-Dream – IV Play
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The-Dream is getting impatient – he’s not one for trying to set the mood. Also, note the wordplay with “‘straight’ sex” and “fucking ‘around’.”
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The first verse concerns the perception that blacks lust for expensive products (clothes, cars, jewelry, etc.), regardless of how unlikely it is they’ll ever see or own them. The concept of materialism isn’t exactly new to Kanye, as he explored this topic more in depth with Top 10 hit “All Falls Down”
The style of music and delivery in this song bears great resemblance to the work of Saul Williams – see his song “1987” (from 2001) for example.
Williams' fans (including some famous ones) noticed the similarity:
http://twitter.com/wkamaubell/status/336295999209340929
http://twitter.com/BShariseMoore/status/336154477646209025
http://twitter.com/mapthoughts/status/335984755642359808
The poet’s response:
http://twitter.com/SaulWilliams/status/336300804665384960
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What is this?
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C.R.E.A.M., get the money
Dollar, dollar bill, y'all
Cash rules everything around me
C.R.E.A.M., get the money
Dollar, dollar bill, y'all Wu-Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M.
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One of the most referenced and quoted hooks in the history of hip hop (perhaps THE most referenced), and in music history in general.
Method Man is not glorifying money and excess; rather, he’s saying that money holds power, and is a factor of major decisions made in the world he lives in. Those who have it, have power and those who don’t, won’t get up anywhere; sort of a way of saying the “love of money is the root of all evil” phrase from 1 Timothy 6:10 in the Bible, if you will.
From Akon to Method Man’s friend Biggie, as well as countless others, this line has been heard just about everywhere, albeit sometimes misinterpreted.
The “dollar, dollar bill y'all” verse might have been taken from a 1983 Jimmy Spicer’s song “Money (Dollar Bill Ya’ll)”.
In a 2017 interview on Power 106, RZA spoke about the hook:
What is this?
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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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Reference to a Jay Z line from “I Love the Dough”“ by The Notorious B.I.G.:
The wordplay here is between hearing “make sense” and “make cents” – the first matching with the line before, the second matching the line after