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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.
“This Love Starved Heart of Mine (It’s Killing Me)” is one of many Marvin Gaye songs to speak on a woman who’s left Marvin, and his subsequent love-deprived life.
“This Love…” is the only released Marvin Gaye song to have been written by the Lewis sisters. According to writer Graham Betts' Motown Encyclopedia, the duo originally wrote the song with Al Wilson in mind—and he even recorded it!—but Motown was unable to secure a deal with the “Show and Tell” singer.
The single first featured on the eponymous posthumous 1994 compilation, and a year later on The Master. Oddly enough, even though the single releases list Harvey Fuqua as a co-producer, compilation albums have credited Johnny Bristol as the sole producer of the song. The record has also sometimes featured the incorrect subtitle “Is Killing Me.”
Original basic tracks for the song were recorded in Los Angeles on May 11 and June 22 and 23, 1967. This dates it to the “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” era.
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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Jay and Kanye sometimes collaborate together under the pseudonym The Throne—which is exactly how they’re credited on “Pop Style.” The name stems from the duo’s album Watch the Throne, which featured singles such as “Niggas in Paris” and “Otis.”
Since the release of their collaboration album, the two have recorded together again, but not since 2014’s “Drunk In Love (Remix).” However, since Watch The Throne, they haven’t released a song under their duo name.
Adding to the mix of mutual admiration and rivalry between the rappers on this track, Drake said he was coming for the throne the year they dropped that album—2011.
Their “The Throne” credit may suggest a sequel—a dream announced years ago—is closer than previously thought.
Letters and numbers on the Coupe like it's Roman Royce Da 5'9" (Ft. Pusha T & Rick Ross) – Layers
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Continuing the bird talk, Pusha T turns to his cocaine — also called birds or keys — and explains he’s got a large number of kilos in the trunk of his car.
King Push then plays on the number with the Roman numeric system, which consists of letters from the Latin alphabet. With this system, MMXVI, for example, would equal 2016.
What is this?
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“Drop jewels” is a typical hip-hop term meaning to educate someone — which is exactly what Push does with his lyrics. The phrase owes its origins to the Five-Percent Nation, an organization that believes in the Twelve Jewels.
Further illustrating his lyrical wisdom, Pusha references The Maltese Falcon, a 1929 novel by Dashiell Hammett. The stories center around a falcon statue encrusted with several gems worth a lot a money – even off screen!
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