After performing for some time in the Boston underground, the duo, known at the time as God Complex, released their first single in 1996 to critical acclaim. This lead to the release of the Rebel Alliance LP, a compilation of Boston talent that featured acts such as Virtuoso, Mr. Lif, Tony Infamous and Force Five. Also at this time the two dropped the God Complex moniker becoming simply 7L & Esoteric.
Play It Cool
7L & Esoteric Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a cool cat, 'I'm poison' like G Rap
My rap's too fat, it's overweight and out of shape
I devour fakes, spit em out like sour grapes
Break em with the rhyme and make em into wine
Like ( ? ) kids can tell that I'm rippin well
They sit and dwell while I spit in hell
My accent is game for dames from out of state
I'm the type of cat to hit a funeral an hour late
Carryin the same flowers from the wake
But make no mistake, I'm far from cheap and I got a little dough
A little low, a little hoe, I spit a flow
Hit you like Riddick Bowe, you didn't know?
My rap rank is so close to its pinnacle
You know the deal son, when you hand me your vinyl
You get your record broken like the homerun title
[ CHORUS ]
I'm a cool cat, 'I'm poison' like G Rap
My rap's too fat (you gotta play it cool) yo, true that
I'm cool (cause coolin is all that I'm about) --> Special Ed
'Just pullin all the girlies, yes, I'm bustin it out'
I'm a cool cat, 'I'm poison' like G Rap
My rap's too fat (you gotta represent) yo, true that
I'm cool (cause coolin is all that I'm about) --> Special Ed
'Just pullin all the girlies, yes, I'm bustin it out'
[ VERSE 2: Esoteric ]
I'll decapitate your men, take your pen, spit a sacred gem
People, play for them, I pull your card like an ATM
Throw you off the stage like a shitty mic, did it right
'We don't want no beef at all,' me, I want to pick a fight
I'll do anything to rattle you, swing a bat at you
Cause I'm mad at you, I'll do anything to battle you
Say you made a song just for you and your friends
And in one line diss somethin like suede Timbs
I make a suede Timb anthem, say it's from '93
Play yours and then mine and say, "I think you're dissin me"
And while you're thinkin up excuses I be diggin you a grave
Hit you with the flav, burnin you and stick you in a cave
You're dead broke and yes, I put money on it
The only ice you rock got Bugs Bunny on it
'Yo, I ain't ripped in a minute' No? Well, enter the stage
You'll be 'gone in 60 seconds' like Nicholas Cage
[ CHORUS ]
In the first verse of "Play It Cool," Esoteric introduces himself as a cool cat, comparing himself to legendary rapper G Rap, who was known for his smooth, poisonous rhymes. Esoteric's raps are also "too fat," indicating that they are heavy and packed with substance. He then proceeds to lyrically destroy his fake competition with his sharp rhymes, making them into wine. His accent is attractive to women from out of state, and he has no time for phonies, breaking their tapes. Esoteric has a unique sense of humor, and he jokes about showing up late to a funeral with the same flowers from the wake. However, he is far from cheap and has some money to spend. He delivers rhymes that hit like a boxing champion, such as Riddick Bowe, and is close to the pinnacle of rap rank.
In the second verse of the song, Esoteric's flow switches to a more aggressive tone, where he raps about decapitating men and taking their pens to spit a sacred gem, announcing he is going to pull your card like an ATM. He does not want "beef," but he wants to pick a fight to rattle and battle you. He explains his techniques for provocation, such as making a song dissing the fake competition, then playing his rhymes next to theirs to expose their true nature. He ends his verse by saying that he puts his money where his mouth is, and the only ice his competition wears is with Bugs Bunny on it. Esoteric warns his competition that once he enters the stage, they are gone in 60 seconds like Nicholas Cage.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a cool cat, 'I'm poison' like G Rap
I am a confident and skilled rapper, comparable to G Rap who was known for his deadly lyrics
My rap's too fat, it's overweight and out of shape
My rhymes are so dense and powerful that they are difficult to handle
I devour fakes, spit em out like sour grapes
I easily expose and dismiss fake rappers
Break em with the rhyme and make em into wine
Through my rhymes, I am able to turn fake rappers into something more valuable and palatable
Like ( ? ) kids can tell that I'm rippin well
Even young children can recognize my great rapping skills
They sit and dwell while I spit in hell
My rhymes are so intense and fiery that they make people stop and listen
My accent is game for dames from out of state
My unique style appeals to women from different locations
And about these fakes, yo, I break their tapes
I easily destroy the efforts of fake rappers
I'm the type of cat to hit a funeral an hour late
I am unpredictable and do things my own way, even if it seems unconventional
Carryin the same flowers from the wake
I am not afraid to use unconventional methods, in this case, reusing flowers from a recent funeral
But make no mistake, I'm far from cheap and I got a little dough
Despite my unconventional ways, I am still successful
A little low, a little hoe, I spit a flow
I may not have much, but I am still able to deliver great rhymes
Hit you like Riddick Bowe, you didn't know?
My rhymes have the power to hit hard, just like the professional boxer Riddick Bowe
My rap rank is so close to its pinnacle
My rapping skills are nearly at their highest level
You know the deal son, when you hand me your vinyl
When you give me your record to listen to, you are in for a treat
You get your record broken like the homerun title
When I listen to your record, I will break it down and expose any flaws
I'll decapitate your men, take your pen, spit a sacred gem
I will lyrically destroy your peers, take your notebook and write a gem of a rhyme
People, play for them, I pull your card like an ATM
I am able to expose and reveal your true personality as if I were using an ATM card
Throw you off the stage like a shitty mic, did it right
I will literally throw you off stage if your rhymes are not up to par
'We don't want no beef at all,' me, I want to pick a fight
While others may shy away from conflict, I am not afraid to engage in a rap battle
I'll do anything to rattle you, swing a bat at you
I will use any tactic to shake you and throw off your rhyme delivery
Cause I'm mad at you, I'll do anything to battle you
If I am provoked by a fake rapper, I will put all my energy into battling them
Say you made a song just for you and your friends
If you claim to have a song that is only for you and your friends, I will take it as an insult
And in one line diss somethin like suede Timbs
In retaliation, I will use a clever diss about suede Timbs as part of my rhyme
I make a suede Timb anthem, say it's from '93
I am able to turn a diss into a powerful anthem for suede Timbs, with lyrics that date back to 1993
Play yours and then mine and say, "I think you're dissin me"
I will take your song, compare it to mine and accuse you of dissing me through your rhymes
And while you're thinkin up excuses I be diggin you a grave
While you try to come up with excuses, I am already preparing to destroy you with my rhymes
Hit you with the flav, burnin you and stick you in a cave
My rhymes will hit you hard and leave you in a dark and isolated place
You're dead broke and yes, I put money on it
I am so confident in my rapping skills that I am willing to bet on my ability to destroy other rappers
The only ice you rock got Bugs Bunny on it
The only "bling" you have is a cheap piece of jewelry with a Bugs Bunny logo on it
'Yo, I ain't ripped in a minute' No? Well, enter the stage
If you claim to have not rapped in a while, don't worry, I will give you a chance to prove yourself on stage
You'll be 'gone in 60 seconds' like Nicholas Cage
However, I will quickly expose your lack of true rapping skills, leaving you embarrassed and defeated like Nicholas Cage in the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds"
I'm cool (cause coolin is all that I'm about)
I am a laid-back, confident rapper who is in control of the situation
'Just pullin all the girlies, yes, I'm bustin it out'
I am able to attract and impress women with my smooth style and superior rapping skills
My rap's too fat (you gotta play it cool) yo, true that
My rhymes are so powerful that you need to maintain your composure and stay cool when listening to them
I'm a cool cat, 'I'm poison' like G Rap
I am a confident and skilled rapper, similar to G Rap who was known for his deadly rhymes
My rap rank is so close to its pinnacle
My skills as a rapper are almost at their highest point
You know the deal son, when you hand me your vinyl
When you give me your record to listen to, I will break it down and critique it with my superior knowledge of rapping
You get your record broken like the homerun title
When I listen to your record, I will dissect it and expose flaws in the same way a homerun title can be lost due to a technicality
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FREDDY KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind