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Seen it over a dollar, got him under a flower Wale – DC or Nothing
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The “over”/“under” pun here is used to describe people being killed because of financial disputes, presumably because of illicit dealings

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10 years

Also, when people are buried, they place flowers on the casket.

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But he push them whites in the hood like Ray Edmond was there Wale – DC or Nothing
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Rayful Edmond (a favorite of rappers like The Clipse) is the man credited with introducing crack cocaine into the Washington, D.C. area. He is now serving life plus 30 years, despite becoming a government informant while behind bars

With gentrification and a lot of whites moving in and displacing blacks that were already living there, it’s comparable to Ray pushing “whites” in. Even more likely is the reference to pushing in crack/cocaine (since coke is white in color).

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Kick him out of the city, force them whites who can pay up Wale – DC or Nothing
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Washington is now undergoing rapid gentrification, and the city is not coincidentally becoming more white, losing its black majority status in 2011 for the first time in half a century

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48006b2f194ea39c90995cd4f7c1def8

273

8 years

Following line is “still different neighborhoods are killing over what isn’t there’s”

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Alan
10 years

for some whites who can pay up

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Default_avatar_100

-2

11 years

Georgetown is an example of the changing DC environment. In the 80’s used to be a lot worse. It is now the nicest neighborhood in DC.

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I done seen embalming fluid ruin a nigga promise Wale – DC or Nothing
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This is a double entendre:
“Embalming fluid” is the stuff used to perserve bodies for viewing after death, like in a post mortem. Wale is saying a promising youth is stopped short by death, presumably from being killed.

It’s also a drug, meaning a life’s ‘promise’ could be ruined by drugs.

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7 years

embalming fluid could also represent death. there is no progress after death

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Lil Black 410
12 years

In the DC Area the popular drug among the youth is “PCP” which is referred to as Embalming Fluid, Love Boat or Boat. It was the most popular drug in DC.

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Jake
12 years

I done seen embalming fluid ruin a nigga progress

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If you a G, then grow and develop GD Immortal Technique (Ft. Brother Ali, Chuck D & Killer Mike) – Civil War
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GD is the abbreviation for “Gangster Disciples,” a Chicago-based gang that is part of Folk Nation. In the 1990’s, the gang, along with other city gangs, entered legitimate politics under the banner of the “Growth and Development” movement

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Politicians fucking hookers, why you mad at my ganja? Wale – DC or Nothing
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Wale points out that politicians break the law all the time, yet the criminal justice system reserves its real punishment for poor people of color who violate antiquated drug laws

D.C. is particularly harsh towards marijuana users, especially black ones – a recent article tells us that “African Americans are eight times as likely to be arrested for weed as white smokers are”

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Illest Bitch Wale – Illest Bitch
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Wale pays tribute to black women, similar to what Lupe did in Coming Up, or Black Star in Brown Skin Lady – except with more oral sex..

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Inspired by women, niggas say that I treat em different
Niggas be bitches, hoes be bitches, I don't see no difference Wale – Don't Hold Your Applause
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Both men and women can be bitches in Wale’s estimation. This is similar to how Ludacris uses the word “ho”. He is quoted in Roni Sarig’s awesome book about Southern rap:

People just really need to understand where I’m coming from. If they really listened to the first song I had out called ‘Ho’, they would understand I wasn’t trying to degrade women. I was desexualizing the word. I call myself a ho in the damn song. So if it can go for men and women, then what is anybody upset about? These are just words.

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Yeah, that my sister and I'm so proud the way she hold it down
Illest bitch alive, realest bitch around
Pray you richer in confidence when I'm paying you mind, look
The illest bitch alive, realest bitch alive, yeah
One time for the illest bitch alive, illest bitch alive, hold up Wale – Illest Bitch
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Wale pays tribute to his figurative, not biological, “sista"s here. He hopes that they are "confident” despite such ever-present obstacles as racist beauty standards, job discrimination, and generally having to deal with racism and sexism simultaneously in a country that has institutionalized them both

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Bc78595e90e899839d02131253d63a29

105

5 years

Wale plays on the word “richer” and “paying” to describe that the support he is ready to provide is not financial but rather emotional.

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I remember a nigga demo just sit in a room
Made some moves, now I'm known to spit December in June Wale – Legendary
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Wale’s first recordings were in 2006, and it was a long stretch until his proper debut album was released in 2009. Now he’s so “cold” as a rapper that he can make any month feel like wintertime

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8 years

The Door Christian Fellowship
San Antonio, TX
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10 years

“now I’m known to spit December in June” (could possibly also mean) Wale spitting December – his flow is cold, untouchable.

Something similar to what kanye stated in his song ‘Diamonds from Sierra Leone’
“Yeah, the beat cold but the flow is anemic”

and when Wale says he’s doing this in June, he’s also reflecting on how unusual his flow is. When do you recall it ever being cold in June?

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jdh93
12 years

He could also be saying “Known to spit December & June” meaning he spits hot and cold bars

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1358289610_71654_220px-lil_wayne_-_tha_carter_iv

435

12 years

“I remember a nigga demo just sit in a room” meaning he recalls a time when his work was never shown to anyone, “made some moves” means he did something about getting his work heard, it could mean he wasnt sure of the quality of his work

this is confirmed by “now I’m known to spit December in June”

“now I’m known” – recognition

“December in June” means he is ahead of his time, chronologically December is later than June, not only is he the latest but he’s fresher than his peers, or also as mentioned “cold” anytime

the “sit in a room”, and “made some moves” tie in with each

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