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To make (or alternatively gain) ground is a popular idiom referring to the process of working towards a goal. If one is making ground, they are inching closer towards achieving something.
Cena has achieved a lot in the world of pro wrestling, but he is still working towards new goals – possibly in rap. Regardless, he is making headway while competitors are taking a break (in line with the theme of the song).
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Bringing some of that wordplay from Rap.Genius for my SG buddies!
I doubt this one needs much explanation, the beard and hat are almost instantly recognizable these days.
Hi-Res version can be provided on request. Hope you like it, might have one more design coming.
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Wale is comparing himself to Dolph Ziggler, a WWE superstar whose gimmick revolves around his ego and tendency to show off, his mantra is “It isn’t showing off, if you can back it up”. Wale has also made it known that he is a fan of Ziggler’s in the past:
https://twitter.com/Wale/status/473821668738363392
The second half of this line is a play on words, referencing WWE’s weekly wrestling show – Monday Night Raw. Women not up to standard cannot hang around Wale, they have to go… One way or another:
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These lyrics have been dedicated to the people of Chicago (also known as the Windy City), which also happens to be Lupe’s home town. The word “bars” is a reference back to the jail references earlier in the verse.
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The phrase “look alive” means stay aware or get ready. Skee lo is telling the group he is rolling with to keep on the look out for trouble.
Good advice, being a low income suburb in LA, it has one of the higher crime rate to population ratios, he is trying to make sure they don’t get jumped or attacked, because simply walking through the area, you are at risk.
It’s also a great play on words. He is telling his homies to look alive, but then follows that line up by saying it’s tough to stay alive in the area anyway.
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The Mac 11 seems to be the weapon of choice for Nipsey. He has named this gun specifically in tracks before this, even naming his remix of Kanye West’s Runaway “Mac 11 On The Dresser”.
In that same track, Nipsey elaborates on the idea of hiding drugs, weapons and money in the floor.
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Nipsey was once signed to Epic Records, before leaving and going the independent route. Regardless of his time at the label however, he states he had already achieved some financial success from his body of work, enough to justify the purchase of rolex watches and other luxury items, before he even received a check from Epic Records.
All the niggas like myself is controlling everything Nipsey Hussle – Crenshaw and Slauson (True Story)
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Nipsey, like many other artists in his generation (The notable examples being Macklemore, Mac Miller, Dom Kenedy) has decided that the traditional release of music under a label just isn’t right for them, and have decided to cut out the middleman. Nipsey has been extremely outspoken regarding record labels and how their ways of selecting talent and distrubuing music is being challenged by artists.
Many artists now choose to go it alone, without a label, and release their music independently, and it’s proving to be quite successful, especially since they get to control every aspect of their music.
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Canada is known to be a typically cold place, with temperatures that can occasionally drop to a chilly fifty or sixty below zero in some parts.
Promise’s plays on Canadas connotation with cold and flips it into a double entendre implying that his part Canadian heritage makes him chilled, laid back and cool or that he may just be physically cold, especially since in the next line he goes on to mention he is part caribbean, where temperatures are generally on the warmer side.
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