rebelwithoutapause

Nice wordplay here: Dreams occur in the subconscious. When you are dreaming, you are not out living in the real world, hence you’re “sleeping”.

A deeper interpretation for this line could be using the world sleep to mean death. Trying to live a fantasy world where everything is ideal (dreamer) could end up getting you killed out on the streets. The line essentially parallel’s the quote “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”.

Contemplates life without cocaine (“D” for dope), but then his mind goes back to the reality where he’s selling drugs because he can’t afford to chase a dream that’s too good to be true

Old lifestyle consisted of selling crack on the streets. Like many young men who live in the projects/ghetto, the feeling is that there is no other way to survive and provide for one’s family other than a life of crime and violence.

If I Die 2Nite is used in two ways here.

-Pimp C is a fan of West Coast rap, and, in this case, raps that he enjoys Tupac’s music, one of the songs being If I Die 2Nite

-Second usage is the literal meaning of the song’s title bringing up the hypothetical situation where Pimp C dies tragically due to his violent lifestyle. This possibility is always looming, so Pimp C takes consolation in the fact that he’s made something of himself, and his mother could be proud that he didn’t die after not accomplishing anything

James Prince Sr. is the founder of the Houston-based rap label Rap-a-Lot. The label has played a significant part in the Southern rap scene by being home to iconic groups such as the Geto Boys and Do or Die, as well as the solo acts of rappers Scarface, Devin the Dude, Z-Ro, Trae, Pimp C, and Bun B.

James Prince Sr. has done more than enough to represent the Houston rap scene.

GPS — Global Positioning System

Bun B’s been in the rap spotlight for quite a while, if you’re not able to figure out what he’s been up to, you probably haven’t been looking.

Houston is home to the iconic Chopped and Screwed mixing technique created by DJ Screw. The unique sound has deep roots in the Houston rap scene, so it will continue to be a major part of Houston-based production.

Trae the Truth, Paul Wall, Z-Ro, Chamillionaire (Koopa), and Slim Thug are all Houston based rappers and associated with DJ Screw and the Screwed Up Click

These rappers have made significant contributions to the Houston rap scene and have also made names for themselves throughout the rest of the country.

The usual line is “Lights, Camera, Action” when referring to some type of acting. In this case, action is replaced by “cock back the hammer)”, which is a phrase that refers to firearms. Instead of the action being some type of acting, Redman is preparing is gun to shoot someone.

Redman used his fists in a knife fight and hit the guy in the head so hard that he put him in a daze. The “BING!” sound effect that he gives as part of the song can be attributed to either the sound that the bell in a boxing match makes (since Redman delivered a boxing move), or it could be reflective of the type of sound that rings in your ears when you suffer a concussion from getting hit so hard in the head.