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.
Rose
Andre Nickatina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said I'll stay a sec, you said, stay a while
You started sippin' wine, said I was on your mind
I said I'm thinking of you too girl, your hella fine
We hit the night time, for a late date
And everyday after that, for 8 months straight
We would roll tight, we had small fights
You shoulda seen how we argued under street lights
You shoulda seen my body shake, when she said my name
She said I'm not the same, Andre ya changed
I said baby its pain, from the rap game
We went our separate ways, man I was hurt for days
Man I didn't even call, I went through withdrawal
Flashbacks of her face hit me sometime
And I be wonderin' man does she think of mine
I think of Rose
[Chorus: ]
Love is down through the hardest times
Sometimes I put Al Green on and think of Rose
Being with you is just a state of mind
Girl, thinking about you all the time
I saw her at a club, she was with a thug
She thought I would say hi, but I didn't show no love
The homey blazin' bud, and now its getting live
But I knew that she knew, that I'd protect my pride
I see her watchful eye, from across the joint
And then she knew how I feel, if I heard her voice
And some ladies talked, and other ladies walked
But when it came to you girl, man there was a spark
Your whole anatomy, man, was like poetry
The very smell of your hair was like luxury
It was because of me, when the days was bright
I would come through with my silent nights
Man, I think of Rose
[Chorus: Repeat 2X]
The song "Rose" by Andre Nickatina is a heartfelt tribute to lost love, exploring the emotions and memories that resurface when old flames cross paths again. The first verse discusses the history of the relationship, with the singer reminiscing on how they used to enjoy each other's company. As the relationship progressed, things got more serious, but disagreements and the pressures of fame ultimately drove them apart. In the second verse, the singer expresses regret over the way things ended and how he didn't handle it well. When he sees her again in a club, he doesn't acknowledge her, instead focusing on his own pride. Despite this, he can't help but feel the same attraction he always did, recognizing her beauty and scent even from a distance. The chorus emphasizes the pain of lost love, with the singer holding onto the memories of Rose even years later.
What's interesting about this song is that it seemingly tells a personal story from Andre Nickatina's life. While he's typically known for his smooth flow and delivery, "Rose" showcases a more vulnerable, introspective side of his songwriting. Additionally, the song's production features a slow, soulful beat with a sample from Al Green's "I'm Glad You're Mine," highlighting the song's themes of love and heartbreak. Overall, "Rose" is a deeply personal and emotional track that showcases Nickatina's versatility as a rapper and storyteller.
Line by Line Meaning
You used to like my style, I used to like your smile
We used to enjoy each other's company and appearance.
I said I'll stay a sec, you said, stay a while
I initially planned on a short visit, but she encouraged me to stay longer.
You started sippin' wine, said I was on your mind
She had been thinking about me and wanted to spend more time with me.
I said I'm thinking of you too girl, your hella fine
I told her that I found her attractive and was also thinking about her.
We hit the night time, for a late date
We went out at night for a romantic rendezvous.
And everyday after that, for 8 months straight
We continued to see each other every day for eight months.
We would roll tight, we had small fights
We were close and intimate, but we also had minor arguments and disagreements.
You shoulda seen how we argued under street lights
Our fights were intense and sometimes public.
I couldn't see your tears, from the pouring rain
During one argument in the rain, I didn't realize she was crying.
You shoulda seen my body shake, when she said my name
I was deeply affected when she said my name during the argument.
She said I'm not the same, Andre ya changed
She believed I had changed as a result of my music career.
I said baby its pain, from the rap game
I explained that the change was due to the difficulties and hardships of the rap industry.
We went our separate ways, man I was hurt for days
We broke up and I was devastated for a while.
Man I didn't even call, I went through withdrawal
I missed her so much that I didn't even call her after the breakup.
Flashbacks of her face hit me sometime
I sometimes remembered her face from our time together.
And I be wonderin' man does she think of mine
I wondered if she also thought about me.
I think of Rose
I still have feelings for her and think about her often.
Love is down through the hardest times
Love is tested during difficult times.
Sometimes I put Al Green on and think of Rose
I listen to music and reminisce about our time together.
Being with you is just a state of mind
Thinking about being with her makes me feel happy and content.
Girl, thinking about you all the time
I can't stop thinking about her.
I saw her at a club, she was with a thug
I saw her at a club with a tough-looking guy.
She thought I would say hi, but I didn't show no love
She expected me to greet her, but I ignored her.
The homey blazin' bud, and now its getting live
My friends were smoking weed and the party was getting more lively.
But I knew that she knew, that I'd protect my pride
I knew that she knew I was trying to protect my ego.
I see her watchful eye, from across the joint
She was watching me from across the room.
And then she knew how I feel, if I heard her voice
If I heard her voice, she would know how strongly I still felt for her.
And some ladies talked, and other ladies walked
Other women were talking and leaving the club.
But when it came to you girl, man there was a spark
But when it came to her, there was still a strong connection.
Your whole anatomy, man, was like poetry
I found her entire body to be beautiful and poetic.
The very smell of your hair was like luxury
Even the scent of her hair was luxurious and appealing.
It was because of me, when the days was bright
I made her feel happy when things were going well.
I would come through with my silent nights
I would sometimes spend quiet, intimate moments with her.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PIXINGUINHA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Savage as Fuck
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