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What is this?
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In the hood with hot goods, we got those Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Deep
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Finna post up at your place so don't worry Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Deep
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Let a bitch sniff your pack, you got burnt Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Deep
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Tried to rob a man to feed his habit, he got blasted Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Thuggin'
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What is this?
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“Piano in the Dark” is a song released in 1988 by Soul singer Brenda Russell. The hook goes:
This song is probably more familiar to a younger generation as the root sample for Flo Rida’s song “I Cry” (the Flo Rida song sampled Bingo Players' “Cry (Just A Little)”, which in turn sampled “Piano in the Dark”).
Additionally, OutKast’s last album, Idlewild featured André on the cover playing piano in a dark setting.
It’s interesting to note that piano is also a musical term for the section being soft. It may be a stretch to suggest that he may have also used the line as the black keys on a piano can be softer, but it is possible
It also echoes Shakespeare: who uses the adverb to mean “go carefully, we are in a tight spot.”
“Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not // Hear a foot fall:” -Caliban, slave from Tempest
“Go softly on.” -Fortinbras, Hamlet
“With a thief to the gallows; for though he go as softly // as foot can fall, he thinks himself too soon there.” -Rosalind, As you like it (same play quoted later)
“Softly, softly catchee monkey” is also a racially charged proverb attributed to the Chinese, something along the lines of “Confucius say”.
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Also interesting to note that to accompany the line, the drums drop out, as if in response to Andre calling for quiet.