Jam
A Tribe Called Quest Lyrics


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It was Friday afternoon in the middle of June
Heineken bottle caps and the aroma of boom
Around the time everybody had just got home from class
Shootin dice, talkin shit, hopin the cash would last
Yo, this was around the time when I didn't know no better
Juney moved around in a tinted out Jetta

Then he introduced me to that hydro smoke
Then I took one toke, yo, I almost choked
See I never smoked before so my nerves got shot
Then he told me about the party at the spot jam rock
It was guaranteed on but I said "son, chill"
There's a joint around the way that's supposed to be real
Word

He said we got all day, so we gonna do it right
Hit your man's joint first, then jam rock at one night
Then I said "aight", then I hopped inside the jetty
Let me take a shower, I'm sweaty, and then I'll be ready
Tonight is the night I get my groove on steady
And get my drink on with that Ford named Betty
I went upstairs to get fly, broke my tie
On some liquor, to meet my high quicker
Now, I'm tight, them know, the party is the M.O
Me and my crew, we get it started like a demo
Eleven in the evenin, I'm feelin like a heathen
This thing is goin down and I highly doubt I'm leavin
Booty cheeks start to motion and the kids is drinkin potion
Word is bond, that Black Moon joint got me open
(Don't front)

Yo, the DJ flipped the script
Threw on the good shit that made the kid lose his grip
Blendin Risin to the Top and got these shorties hoppin
Nuthin but coppin, ain't no stoppin me now
Yo, I'm bound to win until that thing kicked in
The Alize had me stuck, I don't know where to begin

Now I'm feelin kinda jaded, wildly coherent
Me and the fellas started acting irreverent
Butt grabbin, mad laughin just assin

When that chick caught up, the shorty lookin fed up
They say you drug one with this one, gibbin with that one

A yo, I'm just doin my thing, yo I'm just havin fun
You don't see me in here wylin pullin out no gun
Yo, I see some of that thing girl and I want some
So let's step inside this corner so that we can rap on
Over this bumpin ass song plus some Dom Perignon

I hit ya with the good lovin plus fillet mignon
(Yeah, yeah scrammy scrams, yo, that's that same old song)
(A yo, tell me why the hell your breath smells so strong)

Yo, put some brakes on your yappin or you won't live long
(Please nigga, push on)
Alright scrams, see you later (scrams)
Can't mess with these street sharks or these alligators

I can't take it no more, yo it's damn near four
I've been partyin and drinkin since I came out my door

Look at these kids about to mix it, damn, where's the exit?
(Son, jetted to the ride and got the burner out the Lexus)
Yo, he cocked his joint back like he's about to let him have it
(Kid, I kept it movin like the Energizer rabbit)




A yo yo, it's time to skate, ain't no time to contemplate
(Whoops, looka there, there's Jake)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of A Tribe Called Quest's "Jam" detail a Friday night in June, during which the singer is introduced to marijuana and the possibility of a party happening at “Jam Rock”. The song explores the nightlife of young adults in the 90s and their search for excitement, romance, and a good time, all while evading the police. The singer recounts the events of his night, from shooting dice with his friends, to going to a party and getting drunk with a girl, to running from the police when they crash the party. The lyrics capture the gritty but exciting mood of nightlife, exploring the anxieties of youth in a corrupt system and the desperate need to escape from it, even if just for one night.


One interesting fact about the song "Jam" is that it samples the classic jazz-funk song “Mystic Brew” by Ronnie Foster, which was actually already sampled by other popular hip-hop artists like DJ Premier and De La Soul. "Jam" also samples "Risin' to the Top" by Keni Burke and "Hot Pants Road" by The JB's. Another interesting fact is that the lyrics mention the drink Alize, which was a popular alcoholic beverage at the time the song was released in 1996. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Q-Tip explained that Alize was "the drink of the moment back then". The song's lyrics also reference Black Moon's "Who Got da Props" and EPMD's "Head Banger".


"Jam" is part of A Tribe Called Quest's fourth studio album, "Beats, Rhyme and Life", which was released in 1996. The album received mixed reviews at the time of its release but has since been regarded as one of the group's best works. The album was produced by J Dilla, the acclaimed Detroit producer who passed away in 2006. The song was written by all four members of the group: Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Consequence.


The chords for the song are not available as it samples multiple songs and has original production from J Dilla.


Line by Line Meaning

It was Friday afternoon in the middle of June
The time and date the story takes place.


Heineken bottle caps and the aroma of boom
The singer is setting the scene of the location.


Around the time everybody had just got home from class
A reference to the time of day in the afternoon.


Shootin dice, talkin shit, hopin the cash would last
Everyone is hanging out, being social, and enjoying each other's company.


Yo, this was around the time when I didn't know no better
The artist acknowledges his lack of knowledge and experience at the time.


Juney moved around in a tinted out Jetta
A reference to a character named Juney and the kind of car he drove.


Then he introduced me to that hydro smoke
Juney introduces the singer to marijuana.


Then I took one toke, yo, I almost choked
The artist tries marijuana for the first time and has a tough time with it.


See I never smoked before so my nerves got shot
The artist admits to never having smoked marijuana before.


Then he told me about the party at the spot jam rock
Juney invites the artist to a party.


It was guaranteed on but I said 'son, chill'
The singer is hesitant to go to the party as they have a better option.


There's a joint around the way that's supposed to be real
The artist suggests an alternative location for a good time.


He said we got all day, so we gonna do it right
Juney convinces the singer to have a good time all day and into the night.


Hit your man's joint first, then jam rock at one night
Juney suggests hitting up the alternate location first, then going to the party later.


Then I said 'aight', then I hopped inside the jetty
The singer agrees to the plan and gets in Juney's car.


Let me take a shower, I'm sweaty, and then I'll be ready
The artist wants to freshen up before continuing with the day's activities.


Tonight is the night I get my groove on steady
The artist is excited to have a good time and dance at the party.


And get my drink on with that Ford named Betty
The singer plans to drink alcohol with his friends.


I went upstairs to get fly, broke my tie
The singer freshens up and changes his clothes.


On some liquor, to meet my high quicker
The artist drinks to relax and enjoy himself.


Now, I'm tight, them know, the party is the M.O
The artist is feeling good and ready to party.


Me and my crew, we get it started like a demo
The artist and his friends start the party and get everyone dancing.


Eleven in the evenin, I'm feelin like a heathen
The singer continues to drink and have a good time.


This thing is goin down and I highly doubt I'm leavin
The artist is enjoying himself and doesn't want to leave the party.


Booty cheeks start to motion and the kids is drinkin potion
People are dancing and drinking at the party.


Word is bond, that Black Moon joint got me open
The singer is enjoying the music being played by the DJ.


(Don't front)
An interjection urging someone not to pretend.


Yo, the DJ flipped the script
The DJ changes the music and starts playing another song.


Threw on the good shit that made the kid lose his grip
The music being played is causing people to dance wildly.


Blendin Risin to the Top and got these shorties hoppin
The DJ mixes songs together and the girls are dancing.


Nuthin but coppin, ain't no stoppin me now
The singer is dancing and having a good time.


Yo, I'm bound to win until that thing kicked in
The artist was having a good time until something happened to change his mood.


The Alize had me stuck, I don't know where to begin
The artist is under the influence of a drink called Alize and feeling overwhelmed.


Now I'm feelin kinda jaded, wildly coherent
The artist is feeling tired and disoriented while still being aware of his surroundings.


Me and the fellas started acting irreverent
The singer and his friends are acting out of character.


Butt grabbin, mad laughin just assin
The artist and his friends are acting inappropriately and creeping on women.


When that chick caught up, the shorty lookin fed up
One of the women catches the singer and his friends acting inappropriately.


They say you drug one with this one, gibbin with that one
Rumors begin to spread about the singer and his friends' behavior.


A yo, I'm just doin my thing, yo I'm just havin fun
The singer brushes off the accusations and tries to justify what he was doing.


You don't see me in here wylin pullin out no gun
The artist is comparing his behavior to that of a more dangerous person.


Yo, I see some of that thing girl and I want some
The artist is attracted to one of the women at the party.


So let's step inside this corner so that we can rap on
The singer wants to talk to the woman in private.


Over this bumpin ass song plus some Dom Perignon
The singer and the woman continue talking and drinking alcohol.


I hit ya with the good lovin plus fillet mignon
The artist is confident in his ability to please the woman he's talking to.


(Yeah, yeah scrammy scrams, yo, that's that same old song)
An interjection from the woman, telling the artist that he's not the first person to say these things to her.


(A yo, tell me why the hell your breath smells so strong)
The woman asks the artist about his breath, possibly indicating that he is drunk or under the influence of another substance.


Yo, put some brakes on your yappin or you won't live long
The singer responds aggressively to the woman's question.


(Please nigga, push on)
The woman tries to end the conversation and get away from the artist.


Alright scrams, see you later (scrams)
The singer is dismissive of the woman and refers to her as 'scrams'.


Can't mess with these street sharks or these alligators
The singer is comparing himself and his friends to dangerous animals.


I can't take it no more, yo it's damn near four
The singer is getting tired and wants to leave the party.


I've been partyin and drinkin since I came out my door
The artist has been having a good time all day and into the night.


Look at these kids about to mix it, damn, where's the exit?
The artist is getting uncomfortable at the party and wants to leave.


(Son, jetted to the ride and got the burner out the Lexus)
Another character at the party gets a gun out of his car.


Yo, he cocked his joint back like he's about to let him have it
The character with the gun threatens someone at the party.


(Kid, I kept it movin like the Energizer rabbit)
Another character avoids the situation and keeps moving.


A yo yo, it's time to skate, ain't no time to contemplate
The artist and his friends leave the party quickly and without further incident.


(Whoops, looka there, there's Jake)
The cops show up as the artist and his friends are leaving the party.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALI SHAHEED JONES-MUHAMMAD, DEXTER RAYMOND JR. MILLS, JACK MARSHALL, KAMAAL IBN JOHN FAREED, MALIK IZAAK TAYLOR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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