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Vibe Magazine were big supporters of Tupac and ran an unusually large number of features on him (so many that they were able to compile them into a book after his death). There was speculation that his relationship with the daughter of Vibe’s founder Quincy Jones may have contributed to this extensive coverage.
Tupac famously spoke to Vibe about the New York robbery and shooting that indirectly led to this track.
The April 1995 issue of Vibe magazine is what Havoc is talking about, where 2Pac said
You used to see rappers talking all that hard shit, and then you see them in suits and shit at the American Music Awards. I didn’t want to be that type of nigga. I wanted to keep it real, and that’s what I thought I was doing. But now that shit is dead. That Thug Life shit…I did it, I put in my work, I laid it down. But now that shit is dead.
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Another example of Sean P using old school musicians to illustrate his modern day behaviour. David Ruffin was a troubled singer who led The Temptations from 1964-68 and embodied some of the themes in this song.
He died from a cocaine overdose after doing ten crack rocks in thirty minutes and collapsing in a crack house. (doing too much drugs, straight Jimi Hendrix'in)
He was involved in an abusive relationship with Motown singer Tammi Terrell. Some suspect that his beatings caused the brain tumour that led to her death. (Ike Turner when rocking the wife-beater)
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Prince Po had to kick his old girl to the curb. He uses a reference to the old school cartoon Stop The Pigeon, building on the “woman as bird” theme (note the use of chick and dove in the preceding and following lines).
The gibberish at the start of the line is an imitation of Klunk, one of the characters in the cartoon. He has a speech impediment and talks in unintelligible chirps and whistles.
Klunk’s the one on the right rocking the orange jacket.
And then through the door came the Cracker Jacks Leaders of the New School – The International Zone Coaster
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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.
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.
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.
Yamak-ka (pronounced to rhyme with Jamaica) was a short-lived indie label run by Funky President Melquan. Divine Force released three singles on the label (of which this was by far the best).
What is this?
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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.
A reference to legendary producer Hank Shocklee from The Bomb Squad and his studios at 510 South Franklin in Hempstead, Long Island.
Along with Chuck D, Hank was responsible for putting Leaders together.
What is this?
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A creative way to say that he’ll shower you in bullets, a recurring theme in Prodigy’s lyrics.
Jamaican clothes are the string vests that are popular with Jamaicans worldwide (the holes provide good ventilation apparently). Step to P and the holes in your shirt will be bullet holes, dun.
Eight years after this song’s release, Harlem rapper Cam'ron used a suspiciously similar line in his song “Family Ties”. Rap Genius founder Maboo has said on more than one occasion that this lyric was the inspiration for the website.
not just Jamaica, but the whole Caribbean uses the string vest (the west indies at least).
543,450
never knew that before – fuckin dope