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DJ Premier made the beat and Joey wrote the rhymes during the studio session for the song. He was inspired by looking at all the plaques of Jay-Z and Nas on the walls as he started writing.

http://www.complex.com/tv/shows/combat-jack/joey-badass-on-the-combat-jack-show-ep-3#ooid=trcWJ0YzqKKOSd_GgIIIczjUdzKfsKA7

ACCEPTED COMMENT: Based on the music video, this first line is definitely a nod to the colored faces of African American Civil Right’s leaders, such as MLK and Malcolm X (pictured in the beginning of the Unorthodox video). That being said, this line is impressive because of its dual meaning to the popular colored faces on American currency (Lincoln and Franklin, etc.) since they’re green/colored. Perhaps Joey BADA$$ is pondering when President Barack Obama’s face will be placed on some form of US currency in recognition of his accomplishments.

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It’s been said that this album was inspired in part by N.W.A’s Straight Outta Compton – one of the first and most influential gangsta rap albums out there. Tip was a huge fan of the album but decided to put his own twist on it, and strayed away from SOC’s violent lyrics in favor of laid back rhymes promoting peace and unity.

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Posdnuos kicks off De La Soul’s 1989 “Me, Myself & I” B-side “Ain’t Hip to be Labelled a Hippie” with this same line as a nod to his fellow Native Tongues crew members Q-Tip and the Jungle Brothers.

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Now that he’s getting more famous, he’s getting booked to more shows and is way busier.

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Two meanings here.

  1. He has groupies all over his “family jewels” trying to fuck him, which he isn’t used to from before blowing up.

  2. The same groupies are tryna stick him for his paper so to speak, meaning they want his money and jewelry.

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People around Kembe tell him to take a risk to blow up, but the chances of anyone making it are slim. Also, could be a reference to Chance The Rapper, his friend and fellow Chicago rapper.

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Kembe doesn’t listen to anything but his crew (The Village) and people they roll with.

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Kembe dropped out of high school, then got into music and now he’s schooling everyone in the rap game.

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Kembe is living the classic dream of a rapper’s life

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When you sip lean (codeine and sprite), everything moves slowly so Kembe isn’t going fast.

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