He was booed off stage at a show celebrating the visit of Nelson Mandela. In 1993 at the very popular show Sting he accused fellow deejay Bounty Killer that the elder artist had stolen his catchphrase, "people dead". This triggered a lyrical battle which continued on the air with each artist counteracting the other's songs. Finally, in 1995, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer settled their differences on the air by actually signing a peace treaty and the two recorded an album together, Guns Out. This was followed by a single, "No Mama No Cry", a rehash of the Bob Marley classic "No Woman No Cry", speaking out against violence and inspired by the murder of Pan Head, another popular Deejay.
Partially as a result of prodding from his producers, Sly and Robbie, Beenie Man soon converted to the Rastafari movement.
In 1994, he was signed by Island Records and released the critically acclaimed album Blessed.
In 1995, Beenie Man released a remix of Barrington Levy's "Under Mi Sensi" in the United Kingdom, and collaborated with Dennis Brown and Triston Palma to release Three Against War and Lt. Stitchie on Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie & Beenie Man. He took another step up the ladder in 1996, releasing the seminal Maestro, produced by Patrick Roberts and shot him to UK fame. During the period from the mid to late '90s, Beenie Man dominated the Jamaican charts to the extent that he perhaps had a good claim to the crown of "Dancehall King", a title only bestowed previously on Yellowman in the early 1980s.
In 1998, Beenie Man signed to Virgin Records to release albums in the United States. His first American offering was The Doctor (1998). In 2000, Beenie Man teamed up with Arturo Sandoval and Wyclef Jean (The Fugees) to release The Art & Life. During the late 1990s, Beenie Man began his conquest of America with the hits, "Romie", "Who Am I" and "Girls Dem Sugar", which featured American R&B singer, Mya.
In 2002, he had a sizeable hit with a duet with Janet Jackson called "Feel It Boy", but his biggest break in America came in early 2004 with the release of a remix of "Dude", featuring guest vocals by fellow Jamaican Ms. Thing, as well as rhymes by Shawnna.
I'm Serious
Beenie Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey take a good look at me, now picture me unhappy
No cash and outta fashion, not flashing
Picture me doing bad even if I wasn't rapping
Picture me even breathe on the mic not snapping
I'm fire hot not lukewarm, my arms frozen
Picture me in a room full of hoes unchosen
Picture me with no P.O. and no 'dro
L.A. gone and I ain't gotta deal no mo' (Picture that)
A ghetto vision ain't real no mo' (Picture that)
Ah T.I.P. ain't work for MIA no mo'
He still so-so (picture that) he still po'
Nigga picture that, ah matter fact picture T.I.P.
Getting anything other than rich
Now can you picture this, young, pompus, African son of a bitch
Labeled as anything less than "the shit", I can't see it
[Chorus: Beenie Man]
Dis bad man you get shot, anyways
Bad man nuh tek back chat, no day
Jamaican bad bwoy seh dat zigga, zigga
We always gonna stay 'pon top always
Dis bad man you get shot, anyways
Bad man nuh tek back chat no day
Jamaican bad bwoy seh dat zigga, zigga
We always gonna stay 'pon top, always
[T.I.]
Pull up in a blue coupe that's damn near clear
And Polo gear that won't drop 'til next year
Be like this here, Cartier frames and Pierre Jouet wristwear
T.I.P. your majesty's right see'here
Notice when I came the dames disappeared, ya lames listen here
To play me, ba-by, hey he,
Gone need a track from God featuring Jesus or Jay-Z
Go on floss; ball where it cost
Smile for the cameras, take your shirts off
Y'all niggas acting, take ya skirts off
Hopping bomb-ass nigga and he ain't wanna work boss
I'm getting sick and tired off these phony renditions
Wonder why I don't consider them no competition
There's no vision, lil' ambition
How I feel about these niggas, and my word, are ya kidding?
[Chorus]
[T.I.]
Some niggas wonder what my goal is
They think it's going gold having hoes sweating me
Fuck that, I'm in it for the longevity
Picture me as one of the greatest that'll ever be
Compare me to, Tupac, B.I.G., and Jay-Z
Work with legends like, Organo, I.Z., and J.D.
Neptunes, they even flow on one of Dre's beats
Fly to Miami, chill with Luke and we can trade freaks
I freak shows, just peep hoes under shade trees
Huh, but KP say just keep it top-notch
And make sure that the club is jumpin like it's hop-scotch
Floss rocks and in the summer keep the top dropped
Ten thousand dolla work for clo', when I go shop
In the Apollo on them 'boes so the hoes jock
Especially when I rock that linen suit with no socks
In Polo skippers, they undo zippers,
And they shows cock, to show shot shit
Bitch, I'm serious
[Chorus]
[Beenie Man]
Well it's a Neptunes sound (ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)
Zagga-zagga-za, na-na-na-na-na (T.I.P.)
Whoa na-na-na-na (Beenie Man)
(Zagga-za-za-za, Oh we that shit)
An a ziggi-ziggi-zagga (Bad man sitting)
Straight from Jamaica (Alright lemme give this to ya)
Alright lemme tell them something (See it's going down)
The song "I'm Serious" by Beenie Man featuring T.I. and Neptunes is an anthem for being serious and determined to make a mark in the music industry. In the first verse, T.I. talks about how he cannot picture himself being unsuccessful and unappreciated. He claims that he is fire hot and not lukewarm, and he cannot see himself not snapping whenever he gets on the mic. He also mentions the challenges he faced prior to achieving success, such as being broke and struggling to make ends meet. T.I. goes on to say that he wants to be one of the greatest to ever do it and that he wants to leave a lasting impact on the music industry.
The chorus repeats the phrase "dis bad man you get shot, anyways," which is a reference to the dangerous lifestyle of a gangster or bad man in Jamaica. The chorus suggests that regardless of the risks and consequences, these bad men will always strive to be on top. The use of the Jamaican slang term "zigga, zigga" adds to the authenticity of the chorus.
In the second verse, T.I. talks about his luxurious lifestyle and his connections with other music legends such as Tupac, B.I.G., and Jay-Z. He mentions his collaboration with Neptunes, Dre, and Luke and how they helped him elevate his music. He also highlights his unique fashion sense and how he likes to stand out in a crowd. Through his lyrics, T.I. shows that he is serious about his music career and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve success.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey take a good look at me, now picture me unhappy
Imagine me without the wealth and success I have.
No cash and outta fashion, not flashing
Picture me poor, unfashionable, and not showing off my wealth.
Picture me doing bad even if I wasn't rapping
Imagine me doing poorly even if I wasn't a rapper.
Picture me even breathe on the mic not snapping
Imagine me failing to deliver my best performance on the mic.
I'm fire hot not lukewarm, my arms frozen
I am incredibly talented and successful, not average or mediocre.
Picture me in a room full of hoes unchosen
Imagine me in a room with many women, but none of them interested in me.
Picture me with no P.O. and no 'dro
Visualize me without probation officer and marijuana.
Picture pimps walk with some broads and ain't gettin no 'tho
Picture pimps walking with women, but not getting any sexual action.
L.A. gone and I ain't gotta deal no mo' (Picture that)
I am no longer dealing with Los Angeles and its issues.
A ghetto vision ain't real no mo' (Picture that)
The negative view of the ghetto is now gone and is no longer relevant.
Ah T.I.P. ain't work for MIA no mo'
I no longer have to work for Minimum Income Advance.
He still so-so (picture that) he still po'
But I am still average and not wealthy (as a result of that).
Nigga picture that, ah matter fact picture T.I.P.
Imagine me as T.I.P., with all my fame and success.
Getting anything other than rich
Anything less than being wealthy.
Now can you picture this, young, pompus, African son of a bitch
Imagine me: a young, arrogant, African male who has succeeded.
Labeled as anything less than "the shit", I can't see it
I can't see myself being considered anything other than great.
Dis bad man you get shot, anyways
This bad guy can hurt you regardless of what you do.
Bad man nuh tek back chat, no day
Bad guys do not take disrespect from anyone at any time.
Jamaican bad bwoy seh dat zigga, zigga
Jamaican bad guys say "zigga, zigga."
We always gonna stay 'pon top always
We will always be on top and successful.
Pull up in a blue coupe that's damn near clear
I arrive in a blue car that's almost transparent.
And Polo gear that won't drop 'til next year
I am wearing Polo clothes that are not yet available to the public.
Be like this here, Cartier frames and Pierre Jouet wristwear
I have Cartier glasses and Pierre Jouet watch.
T.I.P. your majesty's right see'here
I am T.I.P., your highness.
Notice when I came the dames disappeared, ya lames listen here
Women disappear when I arrive, listen up losers.
To play me, ba-by, hey he,
To oppose me, baby.
Gone need a track from God featuring Jesus or Jay-Z
You need God or very famous artists to beat me.
Go on floss; ball where it cost
Show off your wealth and spend where it costs.
Smile for the cameras, take your shirts off
Take your shirts off and pose for cameras.
Y'all niggas acting, take ya skirts off
You guys are acting feminine, so take off your skirts.
Hopping bomb-ass nigga and he ain't wanna work boss
I am a great rapper and don't have to take orders.
I'm getting sick and tired off these phony renditions
I am tired of fake and unoriginal creations.
Wonder why I don't consider them no competition
I don't see them as my competition.
There's no vision, lil' ambition
They have no vision and little ambition.
How I feel about these niggas, and my word, are ya kidding?
I don't have respect for them, and I'm not joking.
Some niggas wonder what my goal is
Some people are curious about my goals.
They think it's going gold having hoes sweating me
They think my goal is to sell many records and have women interested in me.
Fuck that, I'm in it for the longevity
My goal is long-term success, not just short-term popularity.
Picture me as one of the greatest that'll ever be
Imagine me as one of the all-time greats.
Compare me to, Tupac, B.I.G., and Jay-Z
Compare me to some of the greatest rappers ever: Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z.
Work with legends like, Organo, I.Z., and J.D.
Collaborate with legendary producers like Organized Noize, Jermaine Dupri, and Isley Brothers.
Neptunes, they even flow on one of Dre's beats
The Neptunes even produced a beat for Dr. Dre.
Fly to Miami, chill with Luke and we can trade freaks
Go to Miami, hang out with Luke, and exchange women with him.
I freak shows, just peep hoes under shade trees
I have sexual experiences with women, observe females in secluded locations.
Huh, but KP say just keep it top-notch
My manager says to keep everything at the highest quality.
And make sure that the club is jumpin like it's hop-scotch
Ensure the club has high energy and is very lively.
Floss rocks and in the summer keep the top dropped
Wear jewelry and keep the car's convertible roof down in the summer.
Ten thousand dolla work for clo', when I go shop
I spend $10,000 on clothes when I go shopping.
In the Apollo on them 'boes so the hoes jock
I wear Apollo sneakers so women are interested in me.
Especially when I rock that linen suit with no socks
Especially when I wear a linen suit without socks.
In Polo skippers, they undo zippers,
In Polo shoes, they undo their zippers (to indicate sexual interest).
And they shows cock, to show shot shit
They show their genitals to prove their virility.
Bitch, I'm serious
I am not joking or playing around.
Well it's a Neptunes sound (ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)
This song is produced by The Neptunes.
Zagga-zagga-za, na-na-na-na-na (T.I.P.)
Some non-sensical sounds.
Whoa na-na-na-na (Beenie Man)
Some more non-sensical sounds.
(Zagga-za-za-za, Oh we that shit)
A phrase to indicate their greatness.
An a ziggi-ziggi-zagga (Bad man sitting)
Another phrase with unclear meaning.
Straight from Jamaica (Alright lemme give this to ya)
They are Jamaican and will now perform for the listener.
Alright lemme tell them something (See it's going down)
They will have something important to say and it's a serious situation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLIFFORD JOSEPH HARRIS, CHAD HUGO, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, PHARRELL L WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wassupmeettheBrandNewGuy7
The Neptunes were killing shit in the early 2000's
@tochiRTA
yep!
@giantsfan8872
Yes sir...favorite beat from them is ...phillies most wanted “suckas pt2” check that shit out
@giantsfan8872
And clipse “chinese new year”
@skinnzthedon
and the late 90's!
@dmytrobashlyk5905
light ass like fire ft. Busta Rhymes from Neptunes’ album
https://youtu.be/pyLuh2wRBuM
@mysstteriousm6446
This song is 100% underrated! This is a suuuper underrated prod. of The Neptunes, AND a super underrated track of T.I. & Beenie Man too. Much love for this superb instru, sick flo' & nice hook.
@michaelbull4344
I remember this on rap city years before t.i really started to blow up
@jodeciluvah
Michael Bull me too
@mobilegamercapone
Lol underrated lol funny naw yaadman thing yute