9th Wonder is a hip hop producer from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.. He began his career as the main producer for the hip-hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Murs, and Destiny's Child. As part of Little Brother he gained widespread recognition and critical acclaim. He has since left Little Brother. 9th Wonder stated that as long as both Phonte and Big Pooh welcomed a reunion somewhere down the line, he would be completely open to the idea.
The duo released two albums. The first one, Chemistry in 2005 and the sophomore album titled The Formula in 2008.
SAM
9th Wonder & Buckshot Lyrics
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Twenty four hours a day
Focus your attention, not to mention the fact
Yeah, I’m high off the liquor plus a bench and a fat L
HIgh as hell, no YSL
Strictly LRG for the BD emcee
Let’s see who could follow me on the journey
If not, this might be your last shot
Cause you’re falling off fast in hip-hop
Drip-drop in your money fountain
No more in front of your honey counting chill
My skills pay bills, why you don’t?
You cry, who gon’ cry for me? You won’t
Stop stressing, my impression
I’m never impressed by the rest, so stop guessing
What’s next on my agenda
Cause you might be gone til November
Chill, Sam
Everybody got they own Sam
Sam sells drugs by the fruit stand, ducking blue vans
Every day, he got at least two grand
I’m like, damn Sam, can I get a part of your plan?
He said no problo, no job, no stress
We can get it off consignment, yeah, I know Bless
Who’s Bless? He worked for your older brother
When he had that crack spot open to the public
So lovely, now you want a piece of the action
When these streets see you cracking and they wonder what happened
Asking, how can I be just like you?
When I get dressed, I’ll dress just like you
I said two things every hustle got a hassle
Watch the money on the lasso, it come with a string
Yo Sam, this is who I am
Hip-hop, you in the trap, we both the same, man
On the block
Listening to Buckshot in the trap
Twenty four hours a day
On the clock
Nah mean?
In “Sam”, 9th Wonder an Buckshot showcase the daily life on the streets. The lyrics describe a specific character, Sam, who sells drugs but is also willing to offer the main protagonist a piece of the trade as long as he agrees to play by his rules. The song features a relaxed and confident flow that captures the essence of hip-hop culture on the streets. The main protagonist seems to be searching for his own identity and place in life, just as the genre of hip-hop music at large struggles to find its footing in the ever-changing music industry. He is high off of liquor and weed and expresses a nonchalant attitude towards his own direction in life. The song concludes with the singer revealing a connection to Sam by stating, “Hip-hop, you in the trap, we both the same, man.”
One interesting fact about the song “Sam” is that it is a tribute to the late Sean Price, former member of the hip-hop group, Boot Camp Clik. The song is featured on 9th Wonder and Buckshot’s collaborative album, “The Solution”, which was created as a tribute to Price’s musical legacy. Additionally, the main loop in the track is taken from Nina Simone’s “Be My Husband”. Additionally, the song showcases the ability of 9th Wonder to use quirky sound effects in his production style, with sounds such as a record scratch and a door knock interrupting the verses. The song was also released on vinyl, which helped to bring attention to the resurgence of vinyl records in the late 2010s. In the music video for the song, Buckshot is seen playing chess with another man, which could be a metaphor for the strategic thinking required for survival in the streets. Finally, the song features a drum sample from Run-DMC’s “Jam Master Jay” and a bassline from Al Green’s “I’m Still In Love With You."
Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for this song are not readily available.
Line by Line Meaning
On the block, listening to Buckshot in the trap
I'm always in the neighborhood listening to Buckshot's music; my surroundings are rough, and I'm caught up in the trap.
Twenty four hours a day
My life is consumed by this reality 24/7.
Focus your attention, not to mention the fact
Pay attention because what follows is important.
Yeah, I’m high off the liquor plus a bench and a fat L
I'm under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, feeling a little too relaxed.
HIgh as hell, no YSL
I'm highly intoxicated, but I'm not wearing any Yves Saint Laurent apparel.
Strictly LRG for the BD emcee
As a BD emcee, I only wear Clothing made by LRG.
Let’s see who could follow me on the journey
I dare someone to try and keep up with me on this path I'm on.
I burn trees like third degrees, you heard of me
I consume a lot of marijuana, and you're probably familiar with my name because of it.
If not, this might be your last shot
If you don't know who I am, this could be your only chance to learn.
Cause you’re falling off fast in hip-hop
You're not keeping up with the latest trends in hip-hop, so you're already getting left behind.
Drip-drop in your money fountain
Money is flowing for you right now, but it could end just as quickly.
No more in front of your honey counting chill
You need to stop being so relaxed about your money and start being more careful about who sees it.
My skills pay bills, why you don’t?
I use my talents to earn money; why aren't you doing the same?
You cry, who gon’ cry for me? You won’t
If something happens to me, nobody will feel sorry for me, so I need to take care of myself.
Stop stressing, my impression
Stop worrying so much about what others think; focus on yourself and the impression you leave behind.
I’m never impressed by the rest, so stop guessing
I'm not impressed with other people's success, so don't try to guess what I'm thinking.
What’s next on my agenda
What's next on my list of priorities?
Cause you might be gone til November
You might not be around for much longer, so make the most of your life now.
Chill, Sam
Relax, take a break and calm down, Sam.
Everybody got they own Sam
Everybody has their own way of doing things.
Sam sells drugs by the fruit stand, ducking blue vans
This particular Sam I know sells drugs illegally and tries to avoid getting caught.
Every day, he got at least two grand
He earns at least $2,000 a day from selling drugs.
I’m like, damn Sam, can I get a part of your plan?
I'm interested in making the same kind of money as Sam; can he show me how he does it?
He said no problo, no job, no stress
Sam tells me it's easy to make money without a job and without worrying.
We can get it off consignment, yeah, I know Bless
We can sell the drugs on a consignment basis and I know someone, Bless, who can help us do it.
Who’s Bless? He worked for your older brother
Bless is someone who used to work for my older brother in his illegal drug business.
When he had that crack spot open to the public
When my brother had that drug selling operation openly available to anyone.
So lovely, now you want a piece of the action
That was so lucrative that you now want to be a part of it.
When these streets see you cracking and they wonder what happened
If you start selling drugs, people will notice and wonder how you got involved in that kind of business.
Asking, how can I be just like you?
People who see me selling drugs might ask how they can do it too.
When I get dressed, I’ll dress just like you
People might even try to dress like me, to look the part of a drug dealer.
I said two things every hustle got a hassle
I warn people that every illegal business has its own risks and problems.
Watch the money on the lasso, it come with a string
Be careful with your money because it's always tied to something or someone.
Yo Sam, this is who I am
I'm saying that my goal is to be just like Sam, selling drugs and making money illegally.
Hip-hop, you in the trap, we both the same, man
Hip-hop and the trap represent the same kind of lifestyle; we are both living in it and being influenced by it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind