Beanie Sigel's name derives from the street in Philadelphia where he was raised, "Sigel Street," and "Beans" is what people used to call him as a child. Beanie also founded the group and label State Property as well as the clothing company.
Sigel's debut LP, The Truth, was released February 28, 2000 on Roc-A-Fella Records. The album received a gold plaque for hits like "The Truth" and "Remember The Days" featuring Eve. His second album The Reason was released in mid-2001. The Reason was lighter material compared to his debut album and introduced the world to his own rap group State Property. Beanie Sigel helped launch the careers of fellow Philly rappers Freeway, Peedi Crakk and the Young Gunz.
Around 2001, Beanie Sigel and Jadakiss of the Ruff Ryders were involved in a beef that stemmed from Jada claiming rappers from Beans' home city of Philly were simply signed because they were a hot fashion among major labels, which to some extent was true at the time. Sigel took offense to this, and they sent several tracks back and forth. Eventually Styles P. (D-Block} and Jay-Z got involved, and Beans even called out DMX, who never responded.
The beef went on even after Russell Simmons, owner at the time of Def Jam (the label which Roc-A-Fella was under and Ruff Ryders was affiliated with through DMX) made the two declare a brief truce and Jay-Z apologized to Jadakiss and bowed out. Disses finally stopped flying after Sigel released a scathing diss track over Jada's "Put Ya Hands Up" beat, recalling when the LOX wore shiny suits in a Bad Boy video, among other things.
Sigel also was involved in directing his first movie State Property, the popular direct-to-video film produced by Roc-A-Films. The State Property clothing line was also created by Sigel.
The third album The B. Coming was released on March 28, 2005 under Dame Dash Music Group and features production from The Neptunes, Just Blaze, and Bink!, among others, with guest appearances by State Property, Redman, Snoop Dogg and usual suspects Cam'ron and Jay-Z. The album was recorded in the weeks between his sentencing and imprisonment and was released after he was locked up; he was released a few months ago.
While he was in jail, it is said none of the State Property members except for Oschino Vazquez came to visit him. He told Dame to pass the word on that State Property was no longer in effect, until after he was released. When the split between Roc-A-Fella owners occured, Dame made it clear that Beanie's intentions were to move State Property to his new Dame Dash Music Group.
However, all members except for, again, Oschino, chose to go with Jay-Z. When questioned, they claimed they were signed by Jay and never needed State Property or Beanie Sigel to make them popular. When he was released from jail, Beans had a few choice words for his friends, claiming "I still love them like brothers...I just don't know if we can make music again."
It was thought that Beans had chosen to sign with Dame; however, this is unclear, as he was present at Jay-Z's I Declare War concert in 2005, and has said he now has his own State Property Records under Jay-Z's Def Jam.
In September, 2005, a jury acquitted him of charges that he nearly shot to death a man on a crowded city street two years ago. In August, Sigel left federal prison after serving nearly a year on a federal weapons charge that stemmed from a 2002 traffic stop in Philadelphia.
Sigel also has fallen behind in child-support payments. He was briefly jailed in November until he paid $27,000 in child support and $2,000 in fines, but seems to be paying off his debts.
With the case behind him, Sigel now plans to "make music, make movies and work on his clothing line," said his attorney, Fortunato N. Perri Jr. The case was the last in a series of criminal charges against Sigel, who has a long arrest record dating back to his days growing up in South Philadelphia.
On Tuesday, January 10, 2006, Sigel was convicted of assault for a fight in 2003. He agreed with the prosecutor's version of events, and was convicted of misdemeanor simple assault. He was immediately sentenced to two years probation plus $180 in court costs.
The charges stem from an argument between Sigel and a man who said the rapper punched him in both eyes, breaking his left eye socket, during a January 2003 argument outside a Chinese restaurant.
Beanie Sigel is the co-creator of "The Playpen", a new animated series with writer/producers, Brian Ash and Myles Reiff. The show follows the misadventures of a group of hard-headed tykes in a maximum security daycare center called, The State Nursery.
Life
Beanie Sigel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flow tight like I was born Jewish
Used the streets as a conduit, I kept arms
38 longs inside my mom's buick
At any given moment shawn could lose it, be on the news
Iron cuffs, arms through it, or stuffed with embalmin fluid
Shit, I'm going through it, mom dukes too
Tears streamin down her pretty face, she got her palms to it
I need to bring some sort kinda calm to it
Bout to lose it voices screaming "don't do it!"
It's like '93, '94, bout the year
That big and mag dropped; and "illmatic" rocked
Outta every rag drop, and the west had it locked
Everybody doing 'em, I'm still scratchin on the block
Like "damn, I'ma be a failure"
Surrounded by thugs, drugs, and drug, paraphernalia
Cops courts, and their thoughts is to derail us
Three time felons in shorts with jealous thoughts
Tryin figure where your mail is, guesstimate the weight you sellin
So they can send shots straight to your melon wait!
It gets worse, baby momma water burst
Baby came out stillborn, still I gotta move on
Though my heart still torn, life gone from her womb
Don't worry, if it was meant to be, it'll be, soon
This can't be life, this can't be love
This can't be right, there's gotta be more, this can't be us
This can't be life, this can't be love
This can't be right, there's gotta be more, this can't be us
Chill dog
Second oldest born, from Michelle brown my mother
Hell bound, grew with two sisters and one brother
Pop wasn't around, so many stories that's another
I'm thinking damn, how my older sister gon' make me tougher
When steel sharpens steel, I'ma keep it real
I'm tired of trying to hide my pain behind the syrups and pills
Dead to the world, stretched out like a corpse for real
Y'all niggaz thinking what y'all reading in the source is real
What my life like, you looking at the source, it's real
What your life like? mine dog, of course it's real
Passin judgment, you niggaz second-guessin beans
Cause you don't eat swine don't make you amin
Dog you know a couple suras, out the qur'an
I guess you all on your deen and I ain't on mine
Stop that akki, 'fore I send shots though your body
Make 'em feel feel hell on earth before allah drop thee
I feel the line's drawn here, nuttin more can stop me
Till them feds pick me up, or them boys pop me
There's only three things that make mac not act like beans
Amatullah tisha, po aldin, samir amin
My seeds dog, gotta teach 'em that before I leave dog
Shit I know that I'ma see 'em when I leave dog
I come back in the afterlife
Like fuck it I done touched hell twice what's the meanin?
This can't be life, this can't be love
This can't be right, there's gotta be more, this can't be us
This can't be life, this can't be love
This can't be right, there's gotta be more, this can't be us
Now as I walk into the studio, to do this with jig'
I got a phone call from one of my nigs
Said my homeboy reek, he just lost one of his kids
And when I heard that I just broke into tears
And see in the second hand you don't really know how this is
But when it hits that close to home you feel the pain at the crib
So I called mine, and saddened my wife with the bad news
Now we both depressed, countin our blessings cause brad's two
Prayin for young souls to laugh at life through the stars
Lovin your kids just like you was ours
And I'm hurtin for you dog, but ain't nobody pain is like yours
I just know that heaven'll open these doors
And ain't no bright side to losin life but you can view it like this
God's got open hands homey, he in the midst, of good company
Who loves all and hates not one
And one day you gon' be wit your son
I could've rapped about my hard times on this song
But heaven knows I woulda been wrong
I wouldn'ta been right, it wouldn'ta been love
It wouldn'ta been life, it wouldn'ta been us
This can't be life
This can't be life, this can't be love
This can't be right, there's gotta be more, this can't be us
This can't be life, this can't be love
This can't be right, there's gotta be more, this can't be us
This can't be life
In "This Can't Be Life," Beanie Sigel, Jay-Z, and Scarface tell their stories of hardship and pain, using raw, honest lyrics to convey the struggles they have faced. The song delves into the harsh realities of life in poverty-stricken neighborhoods, where drugs, crime, and violence are commonplace. Beanie Sigel opens the track by describing his upbringing in poverty and the constant danger he faced on the streets, all while using music as a means of escape. He then reflects on the deaths of prominent rappers and the rise of drug culture in the early '90s, using the loss of his daughter to drive home the message that life is unpredictable and often cruel.
Jay-Z takes up the mantle in the middle of the song, using his verses to tell his own story of struggle and pain. He speaks about growing up without a father, relying on drugs to numb the pain of his life on the streets, and the stigma attached to being black and success-minded. He then acknowledges the pain that his friend is going through, reaching out to offer comfort and support.
Scarface closes the song by reflecting on the importance of love and family in the face of hardship. He reminds us that while life can be difficult, we must always hold onto what matters most and cherish the time we have with our loved ones. The song ends with the refrain, "This can't be life, this can't be love; this can't be right, there's gotta be more, this can't be us," a powerful expression of the pain and confusion that come when life deals us a bad hand.
Line by Line Meaning
See I was, born in sewage, born to make bomb music
I come from a rough background, but I have a talent for making great music
Flow tight like I was born Jewish
I am very skilled at rapping and my flow is effortless
Used the streets as a conduit, I kept arms
I grew up in a tough neighborhood and had to carry weapons for protection
38 longs inside my mom's Buick
I kept a gun in my mom's car at all times
At any given moment Shawn could lose it, be on the news
One of my friends could snap and do something terrible, and it would make the headlines
Iron cuffs, arms through it, or stuffed with embalming fluid
If Shawn gets arrested or killed, he could end up in handcuffs or even end up dead and embalmed
Shit, I'm going through it, mom dukes too
I'm struggling with my life, and my mom is struggling with her son's troubles
Tears streaming down her pretty face, she got her palms to it
My mother is crying and holding her face in despair
My life is getting too wild, I need to bring some sort kinda calm to it
My life is spiraling out of control, and I need to find a way to calm down
Bout to lose it, voices screaming 'Don't do it!'
I'm about to snap, and people are telling me not to do something terrible
It's like '93, '94, bout the year that big and Mag dropped; and 'Illmatic' rocked outta every rag drop, and the west had it locked, everybody doing 'em, I'm still scratchin on the block
In the 90s, The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac were huge, and Nas' album 'Illmatic' was a classic. Everyone was doing well in the industry, but I was still struggling to get by.
Like 'damn, I'ma be a failure', surrounded by thugs, drugs, and drug paraphernalia
I'm worried that I won't succeed, and I'm constantly surrounded by dangerous people and substances.
Cops courts, and their thoughts is to derail us, three-time felons in shorts with jealous thoughts tryin' figure where your mail is, guesstimate the weight you sellin so they can send shots straight to your melon wait!
The legal system is against us, and police are always looking for ways to arrest us. There are also other criminals jealous of our success and trying to figure out how much money we're making from selling drugs, so they can kill us and take our earnings.
It gets worse, baby momma water burst, baby came out stillborn, still, I gotta move on
My child's mother had a stillborn baby, which is incredibly sad, but I have to try and continue on with life.
Though my heart still torn, life gone from her womb, don't worry, if it was meant to be, it'll be, soon
I'm still grieving over the loss of my unborn child, but I'm trying to remain optimistic that if it's meant to be, I'll have a child soon.
This can't be life, this can't be love, this can't be right, there's gotta be more, this can't be us, chill dog
This can't be all there is to life and love. Something has to change, and we need to calm down and figure it out.
Second oldest born, from Michelle Brown my mother, Hell-bound, grew with two sisters and one brother, Pop wasn't around, so many stories that's another
I'm the second oldest in my family, and my mother's name is Michelle Brown. My father wasn't present in my life, and there are many stories about why that is.
I'm thinking damn, how my older sister gon' make me tougher, when steel sharpens steel, I'ma keep it real
I'm wondering how my older sister is going to make me stronger, but I know that difficult experiences can make us stronger and sharpen our character.
I'm tired of trying to hide my pain behind the syrups and pills, dead to the world, stretched out like a corpse for real
I am tired of using drugs to numb my pain, and I feel like a zombie when I'm high
Y'all niggas thinking what y'all reading in the source is real, what my life like, you looking at the source, it's real
People think that what they read in magazines is the truth, but my real life experiences are what define me
What your life like? Mine dog, of course it's real, passing judgment, you niggas second-guessin beans
My life is just as real as yours, so don't judge me. People are always criticizing me and doubting my abilities.
Cause you don't eat swine don't make you amin, dog you know a couple Surahs, out the Qur'an
Just because you don't eat pork or follow the same religion as me doesn't make you better than me. You might know a few verses from the Quran, but that doesn't make you more knowledgeable or holy.
I guess you all on your deen, and I ain't on mine, stop that akki, 'fore I send shots though your body, Make 'em feel hell on earth before Allah drop thee
You're all about religion and I'm not, so stop trying to act like you're better than me. If you keep it up, I might have to harm you and make you feel the consequences of your actions.
I feel the line's drawn here, nuttin' more can stop me, till them feds pick me up, or them boys pop me
I've drawn a line in the sand, and nothing can stop me from doing what I want. The only things that can stop me are getting arrested by the feds or killed by my enemies.
There's only three things that make mac not act like Beans, Amatullah Tisha, Po Aldin, Samir Amin
There are only three things that prevent me from acting like a gangster: my three children, whose names are Amatullah Tisha, Po Aldin, and Samir Amin
My seeds dog, gotta teach 'em that before I leave dog, shit I know that I'ma see 'em when I leave dog
I need to teach my children everything I know before I die, but I'm confident that I'll see them again in the afterlife.
I come back in the afterlife, Like fuck it I done touched hell twice what's the meaning?
I'm not afraid to die because I believe I'll come back in the afterlife. I'm not sure what it all means yet, but I know I've been through a lot.
Now as I walk into the studio, to do this with Jig', I got a phone call from one of my nigs
As I'm about to record music with Jay-Z, I receive a phone call from one of my friends
Said my homeboy reek, he just lost one of his kids, and when I heard that I just broke into tears
My friend Reek just lost one of his children, and the news is so devastating that I start crying
And see in the second hand you don't really know how this is, but when it hits that close to home you feel the pain at the crib
You don't really know how tragic something is until it happens to you or someone close to you
So I called mine, and saddened my wife with the bad news, now we both depressed, countin' our blessings 'cause Brad's two
I call my wife and tell her the bad news, and we both feel depressed. However, we're grateful that our own two children are still alive.
Prayin' for young souls to laugh at life through the stars, lovin' your kids just like you was ours
We pray that Reek's child and all young souls who have passed away can find happiness in the afterlife. We also love Reek's children as if they were our own.
And I'm hurtin' for you dog, but ain't nobody pain is like yours, I just know that heaven'll open these doors
I feel your pain, but I know that nobody can truly understand it except for you. However, I believe that heaven will open its doors and bring you comfort.
And ain't no bright side to losin' life but you can view it like this, God's got open hands homey, he in the midst, of good company who loves all and hates not one
There's no bright side to losing a life, but you can view it as being in God's hands and amongst good company in the afterlife, where love is unconditional.
And one day you gon' be wit your son, I could've rapped about my hard times on this song, but heaven knows I woulda been wrong
Someday you will be reunited with your son in the afterlife. I could have rapped about my own struggles, but that would have been inappropriate given the seriousness of your situation.
I wouldn'ta been right, it wouldn'ta been love, it wouldn'ta been life, it wouldn'ta been us
It wouldn't be right to talk about my own struggles in the midst of your tragedy. Love, life, and our friendship would have suffered as a result.
This can't be life
This situation, the pain we are feeling, cannot be the true essence of life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Shawn C. Carter, Kenneth Gamble, Dwight Grant, Leon A. Huff, Brad Jordan, Kanye Omari West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Melvin R
No prison documentary, show, or movie captured the jail experience like Beans did on this track. He painted one hell of a picture.
Roberto Davila
Wat ur life like,10 yrs in Huntingdon state correctional institutions...from the 215..
missblak00
@Roberto Davila q
gods child
facts
Macadamienutz
16 on Death Row-Pac 1st, this is 2nd
Satoru Gojo
The Show "OZ" did. It was crazy
R LI
One of the REALEST songs I’ve ever heard! 🔥🔥🔥
Geno 757
I remember being 15 listening to this song it influenced me not to go to prison 20 years later at 35 im blessed to say i never been in that hell hole too many of my homies doin football numbers im the only one that made it thank you lord for real💯🙌
sean coonery
Geno 757 you sound like tekashi 69 🐀🤫
Derrick
Same here, heard this song and said fuck that.