Say something (I dare you), say something Talib Kweli (Ft. Jean Grae) – Say Something
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Diamond D is a hip hop producer and MC from the Bronx, New York City, and one of the founding members of the Diggin' in the Crates Crew.
Diamond D also produced this track together with Fugees and Jerry Duplessis.
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In 2004, Jadakiss and Fat Joe were featured in Ja Rule’s New York single. In this song, Ja Rule took obvious shots at 50 Cent. In turn, 50 Cent made a song titled Piggy Bank in which he disses Fat Joe, Nas, and Jadakiss. This caused Jadakiss to release Checkmate, Problem Child, Shots Fired and I’m Sorry Ms. Jackson. 50 Cent along with his G-Unit crew responded with songs such as I Run New York, Window Shopper, and Death Wish by Lloyd Banks. Jadakiss challenged 50 Cent to an onstage battle in Madison Square Garden for 1 million dollars, but 50 Cent declined. The feud was later resolved, with the respective parties performing together at 50 Cent’s ThisIs50 Festival on
October 3, 2009.
And when I get back
They wanna act like they knowin' something
Tellin' me, "Why can't niggas eat like you do?" Swifty McVay – All About You
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After people acknowledge the success of Swifty, by meanings of Fame, as he was touring with his group D12 back then, people ask him these questions like they even know how much money Swifty earns, he might be still hungry at the end of the day and people act like he’s rich.
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Track 2 off the Hip Hop For Respect EP released in 2000. The track was made in response to police brutality and killings of black people that go unpunished (Amadou Diallo being a prime example)
And pump blood through my vein, my skin get hot Talib Kweli (Ft. Res) – Where Do We Go
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Some people search for inspiration as they try to get away from their hard lives; Talib found Hip Hop as his inspiration.
His body gets hot as soon as he starts rapping.
(Yeah yeah, I think so)
(Alright great, let's sign him!) Proof (Ft. Nate Dogg & Swifty McVay) – Sammy Da Bull
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All on TV vest up and Glocks go flashin
It's all actin - y'all just
Don't see the director behind the camera that yells out "Action" (take one!) Proof (Ft. Nate Dogg & Swifty McVay) – Sammy Da Bull
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Another shot fired at Rappers that bring their weapons with them to let the media see, claiming they’re just fake thugs. When Proof says “you don’t see the director”, he’s referring to the rappers themselves, they’re the directors, they want to have an image of a criminal.
I drop you off and get lost, come back the same day
Witcho' tongue cut off nigga, it's cursed anyway Proof (Ft. Nate Dogg & Swifty McVay) – Sammy Da Bull
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Afeni Shakur is the mother of 2Pac.
Afeni is known for her being a member of the Black Panthers, a black revolutionary socialist organization active in the United States from 1966 until 1982.
Other than that, she’s a music businesswoman, philanthropist and former political activist.
The reason for mentioning Afeni is because her son was the probably the most famous ‘thug’. Even with all the resources that she and Tupac had he still became another thug looking for a way out and killed by the ghetto.
Nas is recognizing the struggle that she had to go through. Not only to live through it all but to still lose your son when you gave everything to save him from having the same end as every other.
Although Nas' directly talking about Afeni, I think that he is using her as an allegory to tell the larger story of the thugs themselves and the people around them; Mother, Brother, Friend, Girlfriend.
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RIP Afeni…