Soldier
Big Remo Lyrics

In hip hop the nigga is still living
Hip hop still represents the same communities it always has.

The nigga that does all the dirt is still living so
The problems in the community and the violent realities of living in undesirable areas still exist.

It's real nigga shit
The realities that Big Remo is discussing are genuine and resonate with the experiences of people in his community.

That might be that hero shit
The ability to tell stories that others can relate to can make someone a hero in their community.

That goes back to Africans telling stories and shit
The tradition of storytelling goes back generations and is an important cultural tradition.

You know, we're just passing that hero
By telling these stories, they are keeping the tradition of heroes in their community alive.

Like a soldier though
They are doing this just like soldiers fighting for their community.

I had a dream
Big Remo had a vision for himself and his music.

Something like Martin Luther the King
Similar to MLK's famous speech, Big Remo's vision was big and empowering.

And I could see it
He had a clear idea of what he wanted to accomplish.

Right before my eyes, and it was wild
His vision was exciting and unattainable at the time.

I could be it
Despite the seemingly impossible nature of his dream, he believed he could do it.

Only if I tried a little meaner
He knew he had to push himself harder than ever before to achieve his vision.

Make my momma a believer
He wanted to prove to his loved ones that he could make his dream a reality.

We were riding out to Phoenix
He was on a journey to pursue his dream.

In a little limo lease
He didn't have much, but what he had, he used to accomplish his goals.

Nah, it was a rental car from Big Homie
The car he used wasn't glamorous, but it got him to where he needed to go.

For a vacay, but I had my demo on me
Despite going on a vacation, he was also using the opportunity to further his music career.

Now pause, this was 1994
He is reflecting on a past experience that has stayed with him over time.

I'm living on the west side, Tre-Fo
He is giving some context to his past experiences by sharing where he was living at the time.

In Phoenix met a nigga, he was from the Tre-Fo
He met someone from his home community even while traveling.

He said he never heard such words
Big Remo's music stood out to someone who was familiar with his home community's musical style.

And I'm from home
He is proud of where he comes from and how that informs his music.

And my voice was strong, had spunk like Stallone
His voice and music had a powerful energy to it.

I was wet behind the ears
He was young and inexperienced in the music industry.

Headlights to a deer
He was navigating unfamiliar territory like a deer in headlights.

Buckshots to a nigga with a gauge with the pen
He felt like he was fighting against others with more resources and power in the music industry.

So I figured I'd roll with him
He teamed up with someone he met in Phoenix to further his music career.

[?] weekend
It's unclear what he's referring to here since the line is garbled.

Would be mom be the purpose of the ride to Phoenix?
It's unclear what this line means as it's phrased like a question.

All the gas in this motherfucking rental we spent
He had to put all his resources toward achieving his goal.

In a four cylinder, a horse could beat if he sprint nigga
The car he rented wasn't the best option, but it was all he could afford.

But I was born to feel like God touched a nigga's spirit
He believes he has a special talent and calling that makes him feel connected to something greater.

I remember it like a dream
The whole experience felt surreal and dreamlike.

We could never take the stance, which was our true stance
Before hip hop, they couldn't fully advocate for themselves and their community.

To be straight soldiers, straight warriors
But hip hop gave them a platform to act like soldiers and warriors for their community.

Until hip hop came
Hip hop changed the game for their community by giving them a voice.

It was alright for a nigga to say fuck y'all
Hip hop gave them the freedom to express themselves in any way they wanted.

We'll do what the fuck we want
And they have used that freedom to speak honestly and tell their stories.

Words of a daily scribe
HaLo is describing how he is constantly writing and creating music.

Palestinian thoughts through Israeli eyes
He is expressing thoughts and emotions that are normally not shared by his community.

Most complaints from those who have barely tried
He's pointing out that many people don't even try to understand where he's coming from before judging him.

I dream this everyday before my daily rise
He is driven by a constant vision for his music and career.

Fried from fuchsia colored buds
He is describing how cannabis use has influenced his work (fuchsia is often associated with femininity).

That loosen up the lugs, gave brews a couple chugs
Cannabis use helps him relax and focus on his music.

(mumbles the next rhyme scheme)
This line is unintelligible and difficult to understand.

And Boo is a buttercup
A reference to a woman he is close to, and how they have a playful relationship.

We cool and cuddle up
He enjoys spending time with Boo and being close to her.

The roundest bubble butt
He is admiring her body in a playful, sexual way.

We clown and cut it up
They are playful and comedic with each other.

The sounds of summer yep, yep, yep
He is referencing the cheerful, carefree feeling of summertime.

Old rules, no rules when you run it but
He's pointing out that, despite the relaxed feeling of summer, there's a certain lawlessness about his lifestyle.

Got to sell the dream, sell the fame
He knows that, to succeed in the music industry, he has to cultivate a certain image and reputation.

Wrapped in cellophane
This line could be interpreted in different ways, but it may refer to the idea that image is everything, and that everything we see is essentially a product.

Send them all back from where the hell you came
He is rejecting the idea that people aren't welcome in certain places or that they somehow don't belong.

Propeller plane fly, plotting on towns to gain
He is referring to how he has to travel and work hard to get his music out there.

It's easy when the whole world sounds the same
He's pointing out that many people don't listen to or appreciate new styles or sounds of music.

Strange, I can't get out this rain
This line could mean that he feels trapped, or that he is struggling to make progress in his career and life.

Sun showers are a sign of the power
Despite the rain, he sees hope and potential in the world around him.

This expedition the trim is Eddie Bauer
This may be a reference to a car they are driving, which is rugged and suited for difficult terrain.

Now or never got to get it together
He is acknowledging that he needs to put in the work and focus to achieve his goals.

For better or worse, Velveeta this cheddar
He is referencing how he has to be resourceful and creative with the resources he has to make things work.

Yes sir
This is an expression of confidence and assertiveness.

Collected and clever
He knows he has to be calm, smart, and patient to make it in the music industry.

When communicating this criteria all together
He is thinking carefully and strategically about how he presents himself and his music.

No, you would never navigate a nautical knot
He is using a metaphor to express how complex and difficult navigating the music industry can be.

Without your crew's Capitan calling the shots
He is acknowledging the role of others in his life and career who help guide him and provide support.

Now who's hot?
He is confident in his ability to make it as a successful artist.

And Boo is a buttercup
He repeats this line as a callback to an earlier point in the song.

We cool and cuddle up
Another callback to his relationship with Boo.

The roundest bubble butt
He continues to describe her body in admiring terms.

Now who's hot?
He repeats this line again, affirming his own belief in his ability to succeed.