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This is a metaphor comparing the phrase “life is a game”, to the video game, Contra.

Contra is a fast-paced, 2D side-scrolling run and gun game. Just like the video game, Demetrius lives his life at a fast pace, always on the run and ready to blast someone.

A screenshot of a typical area in Contra

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What is this?

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Ice Cube references the classic horror franchise, A Nightmare on Elm Street.

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A reference to the riots in 1992 in Los Angeles.

The riots started in April after a jury acquitted four Los Angeles Police Department officers of assault.

The mostly white officers were videotaped beating an African-American man named Rodney King following a high-speed police pursuit. After the announcement of the verdict, thousands of people in the metro area of LA began to riot over 6 days.

Rodney King

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Godzilla is a fictional giant reptile creature infamous for wreaking havoc in Japan. One of the most recognizable pop-culture icons of Japanese culture, Godzilla has been expanded into comic books and TV shows

Godzilla in his debut movie in 1954

He even has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

In this line, Ice Cube is comparing himself to Godzilla. Like Godzilla in Japan, he can wreak havoc in the hip-hop industry and has already established himself as an important hip-hop icon.

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Molly is a drug similar to ecstasy that is usually taken in powder form, thus being more pure.

LeBron singing a line from Trinidad James’s “All Gold Everything”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLXb9bYagIk

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Cheetahs are known for running incredibly fast; from 112 up to 120 km/h (70 to 75 mph) in short bursts covering distances up to 500 m (1,600 ft). They also have the ability to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in three seconds.

This is a metaphor for how Talib Kweli lives his life; fast-paced and always on the move.

Enjoy this video of a majestic cheetah obliterating a gazelle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt8c3iTpoY4

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His rhymes are aggressive and too much to handle; they figureatively run over emcees like these big boys:

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QBC = Queensbridge Crew. Referring to rappers or gangsters from Queensbridge. This group was probably the successor to Marley Marl’s group, The Juice Crew, which was composed of well known rappers like Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, and The Intelligent Hoodlum/Tragedy Khadafi (Havoc’s uncle).

The Juice Crew

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He is the ultimate ruler when it comes to his own thoughts and words, no one can tell him what to think or say.

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Milo’s rap game is multi-faceted unlike his opponents who only use one aspect of rap; they’re one-dimensional.

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