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No info for the DEA The Notorious B.I.G. (Ft. Diddy & Ma$e) – Mo' Money Mo' Problems
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In brief: Biggie is Big Poppa; he would never snitch to the D.E.A. (Drug Enforcement Agency)
Perhaps the leanest couplet in all rap
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“In the kitchen” refers to cooking up crack. Another word for crack is “flour”, and flour is the basis for pastry.
Vanessa and Angela Simmons, the twentysomething daughters of Reverend Run of Run-D.M.C., run Pastry, an apparel and shoe brand
“Kitchen” also could be a reference to the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood on Manhattan’s West side.
Also an umpteenth reference to Russell Simmons, the original Def Jam’s founder and hip hop pioneer, who Jay cites as a mentor, who sold fake crack to fiends before he got rich, as he said in his autobiography.
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Another callback to Sinatra’s “New York, New York”
Ambien is a powerful sleeping pill, essential for an outsider to get some rest in the city that never sleeps, if they aren’t used to the 24 hour nature of the environment.
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“MDMA” = 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (aka Ecstasy, the “party drug”)
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Afrika Bambaataa ’s 1982 single “Planet Rock” revolutionized New York hip-hop (Afrikaa!)
Kevin Donovan, also known as Afrika Bambaataa, is considered to be one of the originators and founding fathers of Hip Hop. Bambaataa is responsible for spreading and promoting the Hip-Hop culture. Jay-Z is paying homage to one the founders of Hip-Hop. Without Bambaataa, Hip-Hop may not be what it is today.
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As Frank Sinatra sang in “New York, New York”
If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere
And as Hova said in The Blueprint, he is
Just like Frank’s, Jay’s talent isn’t limited to New York City or the United States. He’s a worldwide star.
Also, Frank Sinatra was a son of Italian immigrants, an outsider to the establishment he made it in – just like Jay. Sinatra had alleged ties with the Italian mafia, thus remaining ‘hood forever’, regardless of him being a star. Again, just like Jay.
The genius thing: “New York, New York” was originally written for the Scorsese film New York, New York, a musical starring… Robert DeNiro.
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The Dodgers baseball franchise was located in Brooklyn from 1884 until 1957, when it was moved to Los Angeles.
Setats owt-ytfif yna ni eecme yna rof
Dnuorg eht ot tnemec, kciuq drah teg sciryl
Dnuora lla ti ssap, nwod taht pohc won
Llik eht rof mia eh dna, eeb rellik eno Ol' Dirty Bastard – Shimmy Shimmy Ya
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The Ol' Dirty Bastard, Brooklyn Zoo
Shame on you when you step through to
The Ol' Dirty Bastard, Brooklyn Zoo (Brooklyn Zoo, what?)
Shame on you when you step through to (My nigga)
The Ol' Dirty Bastard, Brooklyn Zoo
Shame on you when you step through to
The Ol' Dirty Bastard, Brooklyn Zoo
Shame on you when you step through to
The Ol' Dirty Bastard, Brooklyn Zoo Ol' Dirty Bastard – Brooklyn Zoo
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