http://9thprince.com/
Albums
* Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars (as part of the group Killarmy) (August 5, 1997)
* Dirty Weaponry (as part of the group Killarmy) (August 11, 1998)
* Fear, Love & War (as part of the group Killarmy) (August 7, 2001)
* Granddaddy Flow (May 28, 2003)
* Prince of New York (November 11, 2008)
* Revenge of the 9th Prince (April 20, 2010)
* One Man Army (October 12, 2010)
* Shaolin Prince (Upcoming 2011)
Burn Bridges
9th Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[RZA]
Wigs splat, get jacked, Zig-Zag
Bob Dig' back, migs act fool
Wiz jack jewel, kids act cool, in school
When they hit up walkman they catch the jewel
9th Prince, projects surrounded by a picket fence
Should we yack 'em? Should we attack 'em?
Should we gunsmack 'em or carjack 'em?
Slap 'em, computer hack 'em
Bypasses the school, I failed 5 classes
Had my eyes on the fat thighs and fat asses
Big tits, I used to rock the Gucci knits
And thick Polo sweaters with the horsey on the stitch
Now I rock the W-U W-E-A-R, boy be a star
No matter who you are, A-B Allah, B-C Allah
I was born in the wilderness with the urge of fullfillin' this
Rotten hip-hop that you crabs forgot
Wu what? Wu tucks, Wu cuts, Wu new chucks
You could suck dew nuts
[Chorus: RZA (both)]
Some of y'all niggaz hold mic like bitches
Some of y'all bitches hold mics like niggaz
Hard for seeds to figure which is which is
Now you wonder why your seed switches
Burn the Bridges!
(See some of y'all niggaz hold mic like bitches
Some of y'all bitches hold mics like niggaz)
Hard for seeds to figure which is which is
Make you wonder why your seed switches
Burn the Bridges!
[9th Prince]
Aiyo I spit lead, the aim strike for ya head
9th Prince, sometimes I'm braindead
Six foot four, kick down ya front door
Breakin' all laws, verbal prostitute
Ya life is my whore, me and The RZA is like Twin Towers
Smack you with the culture power, sweet and sour
Rain acid showers, so grab ya umbrella
Poetry spoken accapella, the bad fellas
You can't feel us or smell us, or even rebel against us
So run for ya life par, fuck bein' a superstar
Give life like Allah U Akbar
Stay in ya lane with ya Go Kart, we too smart
Hollow point darts that'll stop ya heart
Beware of the dark, we teeth like tiger sharks
Or Noah's Ark, head shock reveals the worst part
[Chorus]
The lyrics in 9th Prince's song "Burn Bridges" featuring RZA takes a critical look at the state of hip-hop at the time and the behavior of its participants. The lyrics highlight the differences in how some people hold microphones and the impact it has on their career. RZA starts off with a line that emphasizes his frustration with some rappers who are too intent on getting rich and famous, and they forget the essence of hip-hop. He goes on to talk about how he failed five classes in school and went after girls with big butts and tits instead of focusing on his studies. Nevertheless, he quickly tosses this aside to remind listeners that he is now one of the biggest stars in the industry, with Wu-Tang being known across the globe.
9th Prince takes over on a similar note, talking about how he'll break down any laws and cause violence to achieve success in hip-hop. He goes on to pin a metaphor of him and RZA to Twin Towers, of which the impact of their presence could not be ignored by the public. He refers to himself and RZA as the bad fellas, who cannot be stopped by anyone who attempts to rebel against them. He advises others to avoid the negative aspects of fame, such as pursuing superstardom and always being in the limelight, keeping with a sustainable pace when it comes to their own lives. In the chorus, RZA is once again critical of the young and upcoming rappers who cannot differentiate between the right and wrong path.
Overall, Burn Bridges by 9th Prince and RZA is a song highlighting the positive and negative outcomes of making it in the hip-hop industry. Through storytelling, the artists show the struggles they faced on their way to success, calling on the younger generation to reflect on their actions and make sound decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
Wigs splat, get jacked, Zig-Zag
I witness crazy situations replete with reckless action.
Bob Dig' back, migs act fool
I sit back bobbing my head, as those around me act foolishly.
Wiz jack jewel, kids act cool, in school
I see people in the projects stealing from each other, while kids pretend to act cool in school.
When they hit up walkman they catch the jewel
I notice that when people steal a walkman from someone, they believe they have obtained a valuable possession.
9th Prince, projects surrounded by a picket fence
I am 9th Prince in the projects, surrounded by a fence meant to keep people out, though the fence represents something else entirely.
Yo it must be the work of the wicked gent
I suspect that something malicious is the cause of this fence, likely the result of someone with a sinister character.
Should we yack 'em? Should we attack 'em?
I wonder if it is proper to yell or even physically harm someone who is bothering me or others.
Should we gunsmack 'em or carjack 'em?
I consider assaulting someone with a gun or car, stealing their property.
Slap 'em, computer hack 'em
I think about having someone else physically hurt or steal from someone or using technology to harm someone.
Bypasses the school, I failed 5 classes
I am smart but did not do well in school, choosing instead to do things my way.
Had my eyes on the fat thighs and fat asses
I was drawn to women with curvy bodies and good looks.
Big tits, I used to rock the Gucci knits
I wore designer clothing and enjoyed women with large breasts.
And thick Polo sweaters with the horsey on the stitch
I also wore expensive Polo sweaters with the company's distinct horse logo stitched on them.
Now I rock the W-U W-E-A-R, boy be a star
I presently wear Wu-Tang Clan branded clothing and aim to be a famous artist.
No matter who you are, A-B Allah, B-C Allah
Everyone, regardless of their faith, can find something in Wu-Tang Clan's music that speaks to them.
I was born in the wilderness with the urge of fullfillin' this
My roots are in the rough and wild areas where I was born and I have a drive to fulfill my ambitions.
Rotten hip-hop that you crabs forgot
I see people forgetting the essence of hip-hop in the garbage music they listen to.
Wu what? Wu tucks, Wu cuts, Wu new chucks
I question people who doubt the quality and success of Wu-Tang Clan, while promoting their unique style and merchandise.
You could suck dew nuts
I am dismissive of anyone who disagrees with me or the Wu-Tang Clan.
(Chorus)
The chorus uses a simile to describe how some rappers sound like women and some women sound like rappers, which causes confusion among listeners, leading them to lose touch with their roots.
Aiyo I spit lead, the aim strike for ya head
I am a skilled rapper whose lyrics are aimed at hitting listeners in the head with force and clarity.
9th Prince, sometimes I'm braindead
I am not always inspired to create or use my mental ability to its fullest potential.
Six foot four, kick down ya front door
I am a tall, physically imposing person who has the ability to break down doors when necessary.
Breakin' all laws, verbal prostitute
I am unafraid of breaking the law and would use my gift of speech to persuade others to take action, even if I did not believe in it.
Ya life is my whore, me and The RZA is like Twin Towers
I believe that my fans' lives are dependent on me and my music, similar to the Twin Towers standing tall and impregnable in New York City.
Smack you with the culture power, sweet and sour
I will use my musical influence to inspire deeper thought in those around me, sometimes combining harsh truths with soft, gentler messages.
Rain acid showers, so grab ya umbrella
My lyrics can be difficult to hear, similar to rain showers of strong acid, so I advise listeners to be wary of its impact and protect themselves.
Poetry spoken accapella, the bad fellas
My poetry and lyrics are spoken with vocal clarity, as if I am free-styling, while also acknowledging how I and other rappers aren't perfect people.
You can't feel us or smell us, or even rebel against us
My music is so impactful and dense that you cannot ignore it or avoid its influence, nor will it inspire you to challenge us.
So run for ya life par, fuck bein' a superstar
I encourage listeners to act in their own best interest and be aware of the consequences of the music industry's pressure to be a famous person.
Give life like Allah U Akbar
My music offers a reminder to live life to the fullest, as the phrase 'Allah U Akbar' means 'Allah is the greatest.'
Stay in ya lane with ya Go Kart, we too smart
I advise listeners to stick to their niche and not try to outsmart others when it comes to creating art, as I am very intelligent and will not be easily fooled.
Hollow point darts that'll stop ya heart
My words and lyrics are so sharp and powerful that they could metaphorically kill someone or stop their heart.
Beware of the dark, we teeth like tiger sharks
I warn those around me to be cautious of me and the Wu-Tang Clan's strong characteristics, using the metaphor of high teeth and predators.
Or Noah's Ark, head shock reveals the worst part
Just as in the Biblical story of Noah, my words and music can also expose the truth and reveal the worst parts of people's lives and experiences, causing shock and awe.
(Chorus)
The chorus in this song repeats.
Contributed by Joshua V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.