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Asaad is using the flower from the previous line to describe himself. Nobody knows what a flower that is yet to bloom looks like on the inside, all they know that its ugly on the outside. One look at Asaad will make you think he is a normal kid, but one listen to his music will make you realise that he is not.
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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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Ab-Soul always wears his glasses because of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a disease that makes him sensitive to any light. Due to wearing the glasses at night, people might think he is up to something bad, such as robbing them, hoping to conceal his identity.
http://youtu.be/ED3QwL4dWSE?t=32s
There is also wordplay with “shades in the night,” referring to how shades assist in one’s visibility. But if shades are used to dim the light in the daytime, imagine the darkness it shows at night, a “scary sight,” indeed…
Also a reference to Lil Reese’s classic line on “I Don’t Like,” Fredo in the cut, that’s a scary sight
An interesting understanding of this is to think the line as a reference to the biblical phrase “I walk in the shadow of the valley of death”. That would be a “scary sight”. Also note “shade(s)” and shadow.
This could also be a reference to the cult movie, They Live, where a drifter finds a pair of sunglasses allowing him to see the world for the crazy alien at night. Through the sunglasses he sees how much of a crazy controlled world it has become. Similarly, Ab-soul sees the reality through these black shades.
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Double Entendre
Dirty Sanchez is saying that now Pro Era is getting Proceeds, which means money, they are reigning.In other words they are now one of the big names in Hip Hop.
This also means
That their PRO Seeds are now growing, by means of popularity and fame. This recognition gives them the chance to run the rap game.
Wordplay on the word reigning is also evident, which means they are making it rain.
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Once again, YC is trying to show the listeners that streets of The Bronx are perilous. No one will be there to help you if something happens to you. Taking into consideration that there is a constant struggle for survival, you can’t put another person before you.
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Radiation in large doses is fatal, but in small doses it can cause cells to become cancer cells.
YC being a radiation emitter makes him extremely dangerous around people. Not only that, but anything he leaves behind will contain radiation particles (his music). YC is using this as a metaphor to show the sheer power of his force.
You can never limit what you cannot see
No limit. No game. No gimmick YC the Cynic – Halftime (Butcher's Remix)
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You cannot judge a person’s potential because the will of one man can change the world. Others cannot see what YC has inside of him, so they cannot know. YC is both limitless and keeping it real, so his music has infinite potential.
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This bar has two meanings:
After people listen to YC and his music, their standards will be sky high. Which make them feel that all rappers, other than YC The Cynic, are bad.
This could also be a continuation of the previous line. After people realize that they can be whatever they want to be, they become Cynics, which results in making them take their own decisions and becoming immune from outside criticism.
A Cynic is a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions
Been running rampant. Opponents panic YC the Cynic – Halftime (Butcher's Remix)
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A pamphlet is a small paper containing information about a subject, it could be about how you can prevent germs.
YC won’t go easy on other rappers, he raps recklessly and will body anyone who tries to mess or attack him. This will make rappers panic as if YC is a warning pamphlet, containing information about a dangerous disease.
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He would do anything to prove his love, such as cutting off his right ear. Action is referencing the famous Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh, who actually cut off his right ear to show his love for a prostitute he thought he was in love with.
Vincent painted pears too, such as Still Life with Quince Pears, 1887:
Could also be a reference (playing along with the Jesus and New Testament theme) to John 18:10, when Simon Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s slave during Judas' betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter professed his love for Jesus and his mission by outwardly attacking a betrayer of Jesus. However Jesus responded: “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
The prevalent theme in this song alludes to the crucifixion of Jesus. One of the events that occured during the final hours of Jesus' death was the confrontation with the Pharisees where one of his disciples chopped off the ear of one of the high priests.
John 18:10
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
Action Bronson though claims he’ll chop his own ear to create a paradox that he’s both a disciple and a betrayer and therefore only human.
22
To Action Bronson’s line…Van Gogh cut off his left ear, not right. Let’s take this two ways: either Bronson was just trying to make a nice rhyme, with ripe pear, right ear. Or: This is pure brilliance, saying he’d cut off both ears, not just his left for love.