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N Sync was already super popular in Germany because of this single in 1996. Two years later, it gained some traction in the U.S. and led to the phenomenon of this boyband.

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What is this?

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The opening to Greenburg’s business biography of MJ, which you can (and should) purchase here

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What is this?

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These were the lines that convinced John Lennon that this tune really was about him, as many people speculated:

The last line of “4th Time Around” (“I never asked for your crutch / Now don’t ask for mine.”) played into Lennon’s apparent paranoia about Dylan in 1966-67, when he interpreted this line as a warning not to use Dylan’s songs as a “crutch” for Lennon’s songwriting

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Dylan begging his fans to ignore what he has to say and find their own answers – a plea his biggest supporters have been ignoring since about 1965

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This is a reference to John Hawkins, an actual pioneer of the British slave trade who looms large in Nation of Islam and NGE lore. They claim that he helped develop, along with Queen Elizabeth, a hundred year plan to enslave blacks in America

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The NGE flag, what Digable Planets called “seven and a crescent”

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What is this?

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The “girly”/“curly” rhyme up front makes the listener suspect that they’re in for a nursery rhyme. The sex talk that follows makes it more of a dirty limerick

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Audio here

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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 duo’s tribute to a brilliant comedian and his unique dance stylings

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What is this?

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The great vocalist’s first, and possibly biggest, hit, this 1950 rendition with Lionel Hampton became his signature song

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