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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The introductory track to Lupe Fiasco’s debut album Food & Liquor details his overall goal: To deliver “real”, as opposed to “fake” and label-driven, music

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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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A major allusion simultaneously to both Talib Kweli, of Black Star fame, and Jay Z, of whom Quay is a self-admitted stan

On Jay-Z’s “Moment of Clarity”, Hov raps:

If skills sold, truth be told, I’d probably be
Lyrically Talib Kweli

To which Kweli later replied on his own song “Ghetto Show”:

If lyrics sold, then truth be told
I’d be as rich and famous as Jay-Z

Jay-Z himself recently explained the rationale behind his own lyric in his book Decoded:

Kweli is a great MC — as is Common — and they’ve both carved out impressive careers without big records. They’re great technical MCs, but there is a difference between being a great technician and a great songwriter. I deeply respect their craft, but even the most dazzling lyrical display won’t translate to a wide audience unless it’s matched with a big song.

Quay seems to acknowledge this as well, and ends the track by expressing this problem of dichotomy. He admits that he feels lyrically as strong as Kweli, but also worries if the depth and technical proficiency of his own lyrics sometimes interferes with the accessibility of his music by bogging the listener down too deeply

For more discussion from Quay himself on these feelings of his own artistry, check out this revealing and introspective post on his blog

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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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MCSmith joined Rap Genius in its earlier days, when its characteristic exegesis of lyrics was very much in an infancy state. In 2010 and 2011, MCSmith was a driving force behind explaining many Lupe Fiasco songs for the site, and his expansive annotations were instrumental in ensuring Lupe earned the title King of Lyrical Trickiness

By 2012, however, MCSmith’s activities here were fewer in number, as he increasingly began to focus on his own songwriting and supporting his own music clique. He still freelances here occasionally, but his time now is largely consumed with managing the Oklahoman hip hop collective Publish or Perish

He now goes by the name of “Black Smith” and has since released his own debut rap project, the “Shadow of Death” EP

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What is this?

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A Mood Muzik 4 era song from Joe Budden, flipped over a sample of theme music from the Inception trailer, called “Mind Heist” by Zack Hemsey.

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What is this?

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Initially leaked during the early pre-Lasers era, this braggadocio flex eventually ended up on the DJ Absolute-presented mixtape Vintage Fiasco

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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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It only takes one second &madash; even less — for life to completely change; in this case, for you to lose yours.

It’s also a subtle allusion on Royce’s part to how Nate Dogg was paralyzed and could only communicate through blinking his eye.

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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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The Kid with a Green Backpack, XV’s long-waited major label debut, has been suffered numerous release date delays, forcing XV to drop album-worthy mixtapes frequently in order to maintain buzz

This is also a good pun off the now familiar image of “making it” and gaining one’s time in the limelight juxtaposed with the literal image of stage props, objects used by actors during a theatrical production. “Props” has also evolved into slang for “accolades” and “congratulations.” So essentially, what XV is asking here is “Will the album finally drop but I not get any recognition for it?” A serious question indeed!

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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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This is a bonus track from Kendrick Lamar’s major label debut good kid, mA.A.d city.

As the introduction reveals, this song and “Cartoon & Cereal” were most likely going to be the opener to the album itself, before being cut from the project’s main narrative.

It provides glimpses into GKMC’s plot points and various settings—for instance, the Compton Swap Meet, the burger stand from “m.A.A.d city” and the county building.

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What is this?

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The introductory track to the second installment of Budden’s trademark Mood Muzik mixtape series

This dark melancholic confessional has gone on to be considered one of Joey’s signature songs

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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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Chamillionaire’s brilliant remix of Dirty Money’s “Angels”

The moral dilemma contained within some of this remix’s imagery recalls that of a similarly-themed interpretation of the same song by fellow rapper Lupe Fiasco

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