A reoccurring line throughout hip hop; it has been used by dozens of artists. The line apparently was first said on record by The Kidd Creole of the Furious Five.

Madlib and Qaus are comparing themselves to surgeons in this line. This suggest that there lyrical ability is technical and precise, just like a surgery.

They also claim that they are coming from the dungeon. This is either to imply that they are dark and mysterious, or perhaps a reference to the opening to NY State of Mind by Nas.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a famous novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. In the story, Dr. Jekyll produces a potion that turns him into a large disfigurement man which is named Edward Hyde. They are opposites in everything from stature to appearance. While Jekyll is calm and reserved, Hyde is aggressive and insane.

This line is again touching on the rules of hip hop, and the way in which Lazaro does not abide by them. Rap has become cliche, with rappers not having the same grit or realness that was once seen. It is all done with the same basic formula now – loud drum kicks, and a revised sound after mixing and mastering.

Here many common techniques are mentioned, each being staples of classic literature. However, these are not what Recollections of the Wraith is composed of. This invokes the idea of differences from the usual or norm, and supports the idea that this song/album doesn’t follow the usual hip hop format or criteria.

The legends of the rap game make millions of dollars from their work. However this money is only temporary. As the grow old it will mean less and less, then when they die it will mean nothing. Money is not the only reason One Be Lo is in the game. The content of his music is more important than the money as he expresses here.

Lupe saying that he shoots straight from the hip. This has the literal meaning of shooting a gun side-armed, which is often seen in action movies, westerns or cartoons.

The other meaning of this line is the using it as the common phrase “shooting from the hip”. This often means that the person tells it like it is, the brutal truth. This is what Lupe believes he does in his lyrics

Lupe saying that he got a grip on things, or took a step back and thought things out. He uses a simile to express this idea, by saying he got a grip, like the floor of the shower. In many showers, especially those of older peoples there are either shower mats or coarse material to keep people from slipping. They allow your feet to grip, so you wont slip.

Here One Be Lo is making a reference to the childrens cartoon inspector gadget. The title character is cyborg humanoid who has his “Go Go Gadgets” hidden underneath his clothing.