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’s all good until you fall out of fashion and your album release date gets pushed back (which Ab compares to date rape). Labels often imprison artists like this, and metaphorically speaking play judge – their artist’s work ends up like a prisoner who appeals to be released but is denied. Note the appeal/a pill wordplay as well- pills are used to spike drinks which can lead to date rape.

Ab-Soul also used the date rape line during a Fader interview. While clowning with fellow Black Hippy ScHoolboy Q he said:

Fuck you bitch! Get you a date, get you a release date. Your release date got date raped.

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...

Born Power represents 95 in Supreme Mathematics. 1995 is the year that this song was recorded (and first released, on a promo 12").

The second part of the line builds on what Born and Power mean in relation to Cappa’s rhymes. His lyrics are powerful and manifested (or born) physically on the mic.

Breaking numbers down into their Supreme Mathematics components and then building on their meaning is a common practice among Five Percenters. For example, the question “What’s today’s math?” might lead to a discussion on the meaning of that day’s date in Supreme Mathematics.

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...

Produced by the alleged “hipmo,” Young Chop; “I Don’t Like” is indeed a track oriented around factors Keef holds in a negligible regard.

The song itself has achieved international acclaim; even featured within the French 2016 film Nocturama; a feature that hones in upon domestic terrorism and its repercussions.

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 Catalina Wine Mixer was a sales party thrown by the helicopter rental company in the Will Ferrell movie Step Brothers. What better way to disrupt the machine than to ambush a collective of corporate executives at their most prestigious event?

And of course the end of this line and the start of the next line form a reference to CNN journalist Wolf Blitzer

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...

Grills are associated more with the Dirty South these days but the trend started in the East. Slick Rick was one of the very first rappers to rock gold teeth, closely followed by Just Ice.

Like furry Kangols, gold teeth were popular with Jamaican reggae artists around that time. Slick Rick and Just Ice both have Jamaican parents. Coincidence?

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...

A call to action from the Left Reverend Eugene McDaniels. Sure, you can keep your head down and stay out of trouble but as Gil said, the revolution will not be televised.

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 infamous Mick Jagger dis from Eugene McDaniels' Headless Heroes album, a record that bombed on its release but is now revered by crate diggers and funk heads. The song first resurfaced in the 90s after being sampled for the interlude on People’s Instinctive Travels by A Tribe Called Quest.

The lyrics paint Jagger as a man in cahoots with the devil. The reason for this is anyone’s guess but the title and many of the lyrics point to Altamont, the 1969 concert at which a black teen was stabbed to death by Hell’s Angels while the Stones were playing.

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...

People often think Ab-Soul’s black lips were caused by smoking but he revealed in an interview that they are actually the result of a childhood skin disorder.

He suffered from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome at 10 years old and lost all of the skin on his lips. When the skin grew back it was dark.

So I just call myself the Black Lip Bastard because ever since then, “Eww look at yo lips. Eww your lips, eww”. I didn’t even start smoking weed til after I graduated from high school

He speaks on this in more detail in The Book Of Soul

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...

De nada is a Spanish phrase meaning “you’re welcome”, “don’t mention it”, “no problem” etc.

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...

In the fickle rap music biz, owning your publishing can mean the difference between having a steady income at 40 and being broke. Many rappers overlook publishing in favour of short term rewards like cars and cash advances.

Also a reference to celebrated African-American author Richard Wright who wrote American Hunger, Native Son, and Black Boy.

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