2Pac most likely pulled up to Quad Recording Studios in a nice car before being shot and robbed in November 1994.

Eerily, ‘Pac foreshadows his own death. On the night of September 7, 1996, leaving the Bruce Seldon vs. Mike Tyson boxing match, he was riding in Suge Knight’s BMW 7 Series when he was shot and killed in a drive-by.

There are many benefits to being a rap star, including money, fame, respect, etc., but all of this means nothing if you can’t guard yourself. This sentiment was cemented as 2Pac was shot and subsequently passed away.

This track’s handwritten lyrics by ‘Pac himself can be seen here, eliminating once-popular doubt that he says “guard.”

Cube throws a quick shot at N.W.A’s DJ Yella, implying that he’s such a loser that he’s bringing the group down just by being around. And as far as the financials, Yella was likely getting an equal split with Dr. Dre and MC Ren, who were both more integral to the group’s success, thus causing Dre and Ren specifically to lose money from shows and record sales.

While Cube devotes a full verse each to dissing Dr. Dre, MC Ren, and Eazy-E, he only spends half a bar on N.W.A’s often forgotten member—a sign of how insignificant Cube thinks the DJ/producer is.

“Yella Boy” is a nickname that was used as far back as 1985, when DJ Yella was a member of the World Class Wreckin' Crew. The name was also used frequently on 1988’s Eazy-Duz-It and Straight Outta Compton.

But by 1991, when this song was released, N.W.A had stopped using the name “Yella Boy” to refer to DJ Yella—Cube is using an old nickname as a way to undermine his new, more grown up persona.

Ross boasts of owning a “choppa” (i.e. an “assault weapon”), even though Congress outlawed their sale in 1994.

By 2009, when Rick Ross released these rhymes, the Federal Assault Weapons Ban had expired. Ross implies that he (in contrast with noted non-gangsta, M.C. Hammer) was hard enough to keep his semi-autos in defiance of the law.

This is a reference to the quote: “those live by the sword shall die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52)

Willie is scared that his paranoia and gangster lifestyle will ultimately lead to his death. This also refers back to the fear he felt going into what he thought was a gunfight.

Oh, Willie, if only you knew…

Willie D conned someone out of 5 grand with a scam coke deal, selling them flour instead of cocaine. Maybe they’re out for revenge.

He feels like the walls are closing in on him, like he is physically trapped. The line also draws on the despair of the Third Ward housing from where Scarface is spitting these rhymes. Four walls making one feel claustrophobic.

It strains credulity that Bushwick Bill, standing less than 4 feet tall, but if you watch the music video you’ll see that Bushwick Bill is in fact able to hit the nigga in his mouth. Although he did need a run up to do it.

This song was initially only to be a Scarface feature, but they added Willie D’s verse and Bushwick Bill raps Scarface’s final verse, hence why the line seems odd in Bill’s mouth whereas it would have fit without problem coming from Scarface.