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.

Loading...

The focus of this song is the business aspect of the music industry. Most artists of any genre go into the industry without knowing how damning it can be and how it can screw people out of money and the bullshit artists deal with, so Luda is here to break down how to keep your head in such a tricky and often costly business.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

Loading...

Weezy basically built his name up in the mid-2000’s by slaying any song he was either directly featured on or straight up spitting his own verses over. The takes of Wayne on songs are so popular that it feels like he made a sequel to it.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

Loading...

The central premise of this story— Common’s grandmother has been robbed.

This is the central conceit that Common uses to turn crime-rap narratives on their head with humor and pathos throughout this track

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

Loading...

Word play!

Being on a whole different plain means that Jay-Z’s game and mic skills are on a higher level, so don’t bother challenging him.

Tying in with the plane and “flyness” references, competitors want to hijack/steal Hov’s swagger/style to further themselves and their own image.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

Loading...

The Cool Kids reunite once again on Chuck Inglish’s debut album. Mikey uses the same verse he put on a Lap of Lux 1.5 track.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

Loading...

Ryan Dombal’s review of the highly acclaimed LP by Kanye West. This review and album made history as it was the first original album in nearly a decade to receive a perfect 10/10 score from Pitchfork, and was chosen as Album of the Year, the first album by a hip hop artist to be chosen for the honor.

#10/10

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

Loading...

A common thought and notion by musicians is that their fans or people they are around think that they can understand or truly “feel” an artist just because they listen to their music. Though you can draw parallels between your life and certain experiences with those described in Jay’s (or others') music, you’ll never really understand the life that they have lived, no matter how badly you try to convince yourself that you do.

This is particularly true of Jay Elec, who has traveled the world, and was at one point homeless

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

Loading...

Though this is an interpolation of “Two Occasions” by The Deele, the drunk and high spin on this lyric is most likely inspired by “One Night” by The Game.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

Loading...

Kendrick explaining the meaning of the song:

“Backseat Freestyle is being in the mind state of being 16 years old, and not having no cares in the world. Not giving a damn about nothing, but life and money and what you see in front of you. It’s not me talking now, it’s me talking then.”

Breakdown of the track here.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

Loading...

Jayson Greene’s review of the modern day masterpiece by Kendrick Lamar. The album was named Pitchfork’s “Album of the Year” in 2012, the second hip hop album reviewed by the publication to achieve this.

Rating:
#9.5/10

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.