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.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Nas is using hollow ‘tips’ or Hollow Point bullets, which were designed with a tip that expands or ‘mushroom’ on impact, causing greater damage to the person receiving. The fact he’s writing the names of his victims on them shows how methodical and thought out his actions are. Essentially, he is saying that the whole situation going on was planned, with specific targets and methods thought of beforehand.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

This was a natural song for Wayne to pick for a mixtape remix, since in Gucci Mane’s original, he is using the word “Wasted” to imitate white people (“let’s get wasted braugh!”)

Well, Lil Wayne loves playfully imitating white people! He even put out an indie rock album..

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

The final track on Eminem’s 2009 comeback album, Relapse. The main point of this song is to explain where he’s been for the past few years, which subliminally could refer to Hell, while showing that his lyrical ability hasn’t fallen either. After Encore did not meet many fan’s expectations, and a five-year hiatus, many see this as Slim Shady at one of his best. It overviews the drug addiction Eminem went through during his hiatus from music, showing that Slim Shady is still very prevalent on this record. An overall amazing track.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

It pisses him off that haters want him dead; not necessarily because he will be dead, but because it will make his friends and family grieve

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

There is a saying, “He who pays the piper, picks the tunes,” which effectively means that the guy with the cash calls the shots.

It comes from the story of the Pied Piper, who was promised money to lure the rats away from a city with his magic pipe but wasn’t paid for his services. This led him to use the same pipe on all the children in town, so by not “paying the pied piper,” everyone had to suffer.

Em makes a good “Pied Piper” figure because of how often he addresses youth in songs like “My Name Is” and “White America”:

White America, I could be one of your kids
White America, little Eric looks just like this
White America, Erica loves my shit
I go to TRL, look how many hugs I get

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

“Nine to five” is slang for work, as most jobs have working hours between 9 AM and 5 PM. In 8 Mile, Jimmy has a very hard time keeping his job at the factory, always arriving late, and his boss keeps pushing him to be better. Plus, his job isn’t enough for him to pay bills, raise his sister, and realize his dream of moving out of the trailer park.

In the real life parallel, Eminem had the same problems: a dead-end job, an infant daughter to raise, a shitty mom and shitty baby-momma.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

This is another time when he is rapping as Eminem. He is referring to his real life child, saying that he wants to grow and nurture her to be the best she can be.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

These lines represent the voices in Kanye’s head when he goes to sleep at night. He tells this in VH1’s Storytellers series.

In these first few lines, Kanye follows very subtly the entonation for the first couple of lines of Stevie Wonder’s “Part Time Lover”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Ll6LLGePYwM#t=54s
Wouldn’t be the first time Kanye has paid homage to SW.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

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.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Jalen Rose is a retired NBA player who played for 6 teams (the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, and the Phoenix Suns) during his 13-year career

He’s also said to be “Hip-Hops favourite DJ/basketball player”

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.