Hip hop was on the rise, and many people were getting into the culture.

Note that this was one of the best years ever for hip-hop, known as the Golden Age of Hip Hop. The music was diversified and has innovated drastically since it’s humble beginnings. Looking back at it, we revel at the relics of ingenuity that immersed within all corners of early 90s hip hop. At that time, you had artists like Wu Tang Clan, Naughty by Nature of course, Tupac, Tribe, the G funk era, KRS One, Souls of Mischief, Masta Ace, The Roots, Scarface, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, LL Cool J, etc. bless the mic.

“Clout” Typically means fame and influence. So when Nas speaks of a ‘perpendicular angle’, hes speaking from perspective. The line that the perpendicular angle meets, embodies the inner need of money and fame and the straight (i.e. not illegal) paths taken: entrepreneur, famous musician, famous actor, CEO, etc. The perpendicular line or angle is a different means to attain the same goals of those on the straight line. In essence, the perpendicular angle is the perspective of the illegal kingpins: drug dealers, the mafia, corrupt Wall-Street executives, cartels, etc.

The Bally Shoe company:

Note the contradicting nature of the line: Dressing expensively – the symbol of a high life and prosperity. And doing the drug deal in a dark alley – a morbid, illegal and dangerous business that mainly relies on the impoverished. This is perhaps what living a “fast life” really entails.

I believe this to be a very good double entendre:

1) “G”, referring to himself (Kool G Rap) is better when it comes to “X”, referring to sex. Also a G-rated movie contains no nudity or sexual conversation whereas X-rated movies (now NC-17) have explicit sexual content.

and

2) “G” in the second interpretation can also mean the G-spot; the orgasmic location of the vagina

Canibus is alluding to industry punishment for his words in the previous lines. Examples are: “I want to speak but im stuck”; “they want to beat me up”; “really unbelievable stuff”.

In this mid-song-soliloquy, Canibus expresses his deep thoughts to whether he should just forget about the industry and even go as far as to stop making records just to keep his rhymes to himself so therefore no one can stigmatize and express skewed judgement.