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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.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
This is a double entendre:
At the time, Arnold Schwarzenegger (notably known for his lead role in The Terminator) was the governor; his governorship ended in 2011.
However, this relates back to the previous few lines where Cube discusses the prison system. Billions of dollars have been spent to build new prison facilities and thousands of new prison beds. Many of these facilities are being transferred over to the private sector where one of, if not the primary objective/s is to make profits.
Schwarzenegger’s character in the Terminator seeks to exterminate what is left of the human race. Black people (a truly oppressed group) have been “exterminated” by the governor indirectly in this case, because he has signed off on plans in the past that would only seem to imprison more people (particularly people of color… and in Cube’s point of view: Blacks).
Soon as you do it here come the police
Invented and designed fo' us to fail
Where you gon' end up, dead or in jail Ice Cube – The Nigga Trapp
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What is this?
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Reference to the mountaintop where God told Moses his journey to take his people to the Promised Land would end.
“Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo… There the Lord showed him the whole land… Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob… I will let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”
—Deuteronomy 34:1-4
“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” was also MLK’s last speech, a prophetic vision of what would happen the next day.
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Also known as the LGM-118 Peacekeeper (talk about ironic names!), the MX missile was part of America’s nuclear arsenal in the 80’s. The last one was deactivated in 2005.
You'll fit inside my stomach with the eggs and grits between Craig Mack – Flava in Ya Ear
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Craig Mack is eating competition for breakfast. Sizzlean was a healthy bacon substitute popular in the 80’s.
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Archie Bunker from the 1970s sitcom All in the Family, played by Carroll O'Connor, is almost always seen with a cigar. This could also be a double entendre as Archie Bunker also made many “blunt” statements to his family and associates.
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“Grand Wizard Theodore” Livingstone is an old school DJ from New York, widely acknowledged as the inventor of the scratch.
Wanna kick rhymes off the top of they head KRS-One – MC's Act Like They Don't Know
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What is this?
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Bruce Jenner competed as a decathlete in the 1976 Olympics, eventually winning gold.
Like Bruce did, Craig Mack will best his competition; namely MCs.
Bruce Jenner is a trans woman, now Kaitlyn Jenner. This should be added so that he/she can be found easily in the future