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Interpretation of art is often more restricted in its scope than the art, by the often academic nature of the interpretation.

Know what else is really formulaic? Lists.

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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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Trying to make a counterculture movement accessible to society undermines the movement (in this case hip hop). An ironic criticism given Complex is famous for making lists to act as a an easy way for people outside hip hop culture to familiarize themselves with it.

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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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With three words, Jay dismisses all the critics who’ve told him he’s too old to rap. Hov was 35 when he delivered this verse. And in case these three words didn’t cut it for you, Jay even has a song where he states that he’s forever young.

Likewise, his nickname is Young Hov – as well as giving a middle finger to his critics, he’s signing off his verse. This also marks the first and only expletive throughout the entire song.

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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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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People always causing drama with rumors and stuff.

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A reference to the Iron Sheik, a former professional wrestler. Ross has “muscle” or a firemarm on his side.

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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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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Closed curtains = end of a theater show. Like Shakespeare said, All the world’s a stage. So the end of the show (closed curtains) is the end of a person’s play, or life.

Basically, fuck with Jay and he’ll kill you. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to test that assertion.

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Confederate is a term for Southerners derived from the Civil War, where the Southern States, separated from the North by the Mason Dixon Line, wanted to form a confederacy. Cole’s showing his Southern Pride here, appropriate in a song made for one of the men who put the South on the rap map.

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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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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What do we have here? Three multi-sylabic rhymes (in-vin-ci-ble, lyr-i-cal, mir-a-cal) and assonance (miracle man) all in four words? I’d say that constitutes a lyrical miracle.

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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Here, Whitman flips his previous use of solution to now refer to the mixing of people and their experiences.

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Unreviewed Annotation 1 Contributor ?

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The use of the crossing is an interesting metaphor. Obviously, it refers to crossing the Brooklyn River, but it also refers to moving on to new experiences.

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