Adams released two albums under the stage name Dre Dog: The New Jim Jones in 1993 and I Hate You With a Passion in 1995. I Hate You With a Passion peaked at #79 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. In 1998, Adams changed his then current stage name to Andre Nickatina, and released the albums Cocaine Raps and Raven in My Eyes, which were released independently under Dogday Records. Unlike his albums released under the name Dre Dog, Cocaine Raps had deeper production values. Raven in My Eyes was noted for emphasizing "sequencers and keyboards that buzz and whine" over live instrumentation, as reviewed by Todd S. Inoue of the news magazine Metroactive. That year, he founded his own record label, Fillmoe Coleman. Nickatina explained in an interview with Strivin magazine that his name change was "for the better" and that he raps because he feels that he is talented enough to do so but not for the sake of popularity.
Soon afterwards, his following three albums, Tears of a Clown (1999), Daiquiri Factory: Cocaine Raps, Vol. 2 and These R the Tales (both 2000) made him more well-known in the West Coast underground rap scene. Mosi Reeves of the San Francisco Bay Guardian noted Nickatina's popularity at a CD release party for another underground Bay Area rapper, Smoov-E; Reeves called Nickatina "a quick-witted rapper who spits as hard as Kurupt does". A combo CD/movie project, Conversation with a Devil, followed in 2003. Charlie Amter, a music critic for SF Weekly, regarded the film as a knockoff of the classic gangster movie Scarface. Nate Denver for the SF Bay Guardian praised the album, though. Another album, The Gift followed in 2005, when the newspaper SF Weekly named Nickatina the "Best Local Hip Hop Legend" of that year. In 2008, he released A Tale of Two Andres with Mac Dre. Although they released only two songs together, they were close friends and the album was a tribute to his memory.
Raven
Andre Nickatina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
well yes, watch out for those buster
busters and you never can trust them
sooner or later gotta me a hafta dump them in the ocean
and them them girls around them we gonna get rid of them, second
Watch that four blown, gage on time (tragic, tragic, tragic, tragic)
And you know that cinnnomon bread that you didnt want to give me?
and make them shake that thang
The raven in my eyes got me going against the grain
If you purple like the rain
Feel me nigga now check the grip, Get rich quick or die
Some can't get rich so god damn quick, so they suffer and get high
God fearin niggas, who sin and make they ends
Corner store ballas who cant think without they gin
Mandadory consequence if you spit this busnuiss splittin rocks
Bullets connect with red dots, shit this ghetto red hot
A vision like twelve monkeys, split the blunt and fill her up
We ready to cuss and dump on niggas who wanna buss
Spittin 45 and newer nines mindstate on barrcudda
nigga watch the heat cuz the heat will seek and the heat will go right through ya
My mouth a make an attitude and hall game
Street chemist ghetto star dealin with the pain
They say "Andre Nickatina keep it comin"
the game done got so thick that I cant even have a woman
Let me look into your eyes, witness all the lies,
somewhere down the line you made a grown man cry, why?
Raven in my eyes put a man to test
Man not bullet proof, man be made of flesh
You know me keep on singing
The raven in my eyes put a man to test
And I say
Man not bullet proof, man be made of flesh
You know me keep on sayin
A raven in my life put a man to test
And you know me sayin
man not bullet proof, man be made of flesh
B. Adams do ya still love me?
Cuz your first born is struggeling (tragic tragic tragic)
and its hard to stay drug free, mama do you love me?
x2
The lyrics of the song "Raven" by Andre Nickatina carry strong themes of betrayal, mistrust, and the struggle for survival in a cutthroat world. The song starts off with a cautionary warning against those who pretend to be friends but are truly just busters, and the need to dispose of them before they do harm. The singer shows his frustration with someone who didn't share their cinnamon bread and plans to bring his rotweiler around to get it back. He then goes on to reference the raven in his eyes, which seems to symbolize his growing cynicism and mistrust towards the people around him. He reflects on the struggles of trying to get rich quick in a world where some suffer and turn to drugs, and the consequences of involvement in the criminal lifestyle. The song ends with a poignant plea to his mother for love and support amidst these hardships.
The lyrics of "Raven" speak to the realities of life on the streets, where trust is hard to come by and survival is a constant struggle. The imagery of the raven in the singer's eyes adds an eerie and ominous tone to the song, suggesting a growing darkness within him. The song also raises questions about the consequences of choosing the criminal lifestyle, and the psychological toll it can take on those involved. The plea to the mother at the end of the song brings it full circle, reminding us of the humanity behind the street bravado and the need for love and care amidst the hardships of life.
Line by Line Meaning
You know god, the devil is acting a mother fucking fool
Be wary of those who pretend to be something they're not
Watch out for those buster, busters and you never can trust them
Be cautious of the people around you
Sooner or later gotta me a hafta dump them in the ocean
Sometimes you just have to let go of toxic people in your life
And them them girls around them we gonna get rid of them, second
Surround yourself with positive people in order to succeed
Watch that four blown, gage on time (tragic, tragic, tragic, tragic)
Be aware of danger and the consequences of your actions
And you know that cinnnomon bread that you didnt want to give me?
Don't let anyone hold you back or take advantage of you
So when me get down, me bring my rotwilder round
When things get tough, sometimes you need to be tough too
and make them shake that thang
Assert your authority and take control of the situation
The raven in my eyes got me going against the grain
I'm a rebel, going against the norms of society
If you purple like the rain
If you can be yourself and embrace your uniqueness, like Prince did
Feel me nigga now check the grip, Get rich quick or die
Life is tough, you either make it quickly or you don't make it at all
Some can't get rich so god damn quick, so they suffer and get high
Some people can't handle the pressures of life and turn to drugs for a temporary escape
God fearin niggas, who sin and make they ends
People who believe in God can still make mistakes and do wrong things to make ends meet
Corner store ballas who cant think without they gin
Some people turn to alcohol to cope with their problems, even if it's not healthy
Mandadory consequence if you spit this busnuiss splittin rocks
If you're involved in the drug trade, there are serious consequences that come with it
Bullets connect with red dots, shit this ghetto red hot
The streets are dangerous, and violence is always a possibility
A vision like twelve monkeys, split the blunt and fill her up
Sometimes you need to escape reality for a little while to stay sane
We ready to cuss and dump on niggas who wanna buss
We're not afraid to defend ourselves against those who threaten us
Spittin 45 and newer nines mindstate on barrcudda
We're always prepared for a fight, and willing to use firearms if necessary
nigga watch the heat cuz the heat will seek and the heat will go right through ya
Be careful, violence can come out of nowhere and hurt you
My mouth a make an attitude and hall game
I have a lot of confidence and swagger when I speak
Street chemist ghetto star dealin with the pain
I'm used to the struggles of the streets, and I've learned to deal with them
They say "Andre Nickatina keep it comin"
People enjoy my music, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon
the game done got so thick that I cant even have a woman
The music industry is a tough business, and it makes it difficult to form relationships
Let me look into your eyes, witness all the lies, somewhere down the line you made a grown man cry, why?
I can see through your lies and deceit, and I'm hurt by your actions
Raven in my eyes put a man to test, Man not bullet proof, man be made of flesh
Life is tough, and we need to be strong to get through it
You know me keep on singing
I'll keep going, no matter what obstacles I face
And I say Man not bullet proof, man be made of flesh
No one is invincible, we're all human and susceptible to harm
A raven in my life put a man to test
We face challenges and hardships, and it's up to us to persevere
And you know me sayin
I'm always speaking the truth, and I won't back down
B. Adams do ya still love me?
I wonder if the people I love still care about me, despite the struggles I face
Cuz your first born is struggeling (tragic tragic tragic) and its hard to stay drug free, mama do you love me?
It's hard to stay on the right path when faced with difficulties, but I hope my loved ones still support me
Contributed by Matthew K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MrLOgan1314
Most underrated rapper of all time, easily, thumbs up????
renoxfit 1
Easily. Unbelievable talent
thecheesburgler
I remember listening to this song when I was failing out of college bc I was smoking and drinking too much. Please keep the faith if you're struggling. "B Adams do ya still love me?Cause your first born is strugglin', and its hard to stay drug-free. Momma do ya love me?"
iKitchenRich
Thank you @thecheeseburglar
Chris Woolever
This is my favorite andre song by far man.
Heidi
Nicky shoulda blown up way more than he did. Fuck yeah still in 2020🔥
Mary Michel
'b.Adams do you still love me..cuz your first born is struggling.and it's hard to stay drug free mama do you love me' guess that line hits hard for more then a few of us.....
Yelkie Bill
B-attle street's lady not b Adams hahaha Seattle Be-attle he's from the bay area spent year's in the northwest never mind sheesh
Mary Michel
@Yelkie Bill I'm confused what your sayin ? He's talking bout his mom..and the shame..well in one verse
Mary Michel
@Yelkie Bill I know he from the bay..so am I. I still don't hear it. Can you explain?