In late 1997, Solesides became Quannum Projects and in 1999 Blackalicious released the A2G EP, which served as a precursor to their debut full length album, Nia, which was released the following year. This was followed by a major label contract with MCA Records and the release of the critically acclaimed album Blazing Arrow in 2002.
In May 2004 Gift of Gab released his first solo album, 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up, but he assured fans that Blackalicious was alive and well.
A third full length, entitled The Craft, was released on Epitaph Records imprint ANTI- on September 27, 2005.
Give It to You
Blackalicious Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rhyme for rhyme and line for line
The lyrics from the mind that's prime, arrive on time
and rip into you fine as wine, sublime the kind
of spitters who would shine divine
with rhymes and life, is what you make it
Rhyme for rhyme and line for line
The lyrics from the mind that's prime, arrive on time
Come inside the light, tonight's the night, we give it to ya
Comin' back to stay, when I rap this way
Blowin' minds wit' these lyrics out my fact-oray
That are practic-ally, on some maste-ray
Show you all how a funky record has to be
Not to toot my horn, I'm from Californ
It's the +cheese+, not the kind that's grown from cows in barns
But the kind that meets your needs in like a thousand forms
As we dance to the ever flowin' masquerade
Homey, pass the J, homies pass away
Over pride when another nigga blast a K
Evil thought hearts chilly, Dickie Dastard-lay
All his people mourned deeply as the pastor prayed
Come though from out of town, you wouldn't last a day
All they know is long money and assassination
Get it now, not tomorrow, don't procrastinate
This is my grind, verbal slangin', I'm a master fate
In a drastic way, this is class so pay
Close attention, write all night 'til I gasp and faint
Get my people out this struggle of that Section 8
If you want it, hey we got it, you don't have to wait because...
[Chorus]
Golden voice wit' style, spirit poised for power
Definition of a goddess, I'm a poster child
As I boast about, here's a dose fo' trail
Evil spirits don't concern me, tell the ghost be out!
Shine my light to dim, all the spite within
Competition, 'cause at times, I know we frighten them
All we really wanna do is give some sight to them
All my people, New York City to the coast of Cal
I'm the toast of towns, I'm the cat's meow
Movin' faster than your mind, come and catch me now
Niggaz see me on stage and wanna ask me out
I'm the true original never a hand-me-down
When I flash no doubt, know that ass is out
Nefertiti, Mama Zulu, try and pass the Nile
Take your breath away it's like you're catchin' asthma now
In this verbal marathon, you couldn't last a mile because...
[Chorus]
Lyrics Born to rap, I put it all on that
Twelve years deep, my foot ain't comin' off the gas
We walk the chosen path, close the culture gap
O.G. like the Figure-Four the Boston Crab
All across the map, beyond the almanac
You see the backstage posted lookin' so relaxed
Lady wit' me, open toe, lil' shoulder bag
Hat tipped just a bit, ooh she cold like that
Where my ballers at? If you can call it that
Potna' both you and me know that shit is boulderdash
We see right through yo phony ass like youse a holograph
We so real, when they see us, it's like they pause and gasp
Cat's lookin' like they see a flyin' saucer pass
Cross they arms, turn they heads like they was Ultraman
We gotcha whole clique surrounded in a cul-de-sac
So baby get ta jump-ropin' over a broken glass because...
[Chorus]
The chorus of Blackalicious Feat. Kween & Lyrics Born's song Give It To You is all about the power and strength of well-crafted lyrics. The lyrics from the mind that's prime, arrive on time and rip into you fine as wine, sublime the kind of spitters who shine divine with rhymes and life, it's what you make it. The song is all about how when music is done right, it can give something special to the listener, something that they weren't even aware they needed. The refrain reminds us that mastery is a process that must be prioritized over procrastination, and that the power of lyrics can ignite the atmosphere with life.
The first verse, by one of the two MCs, is an ode to his hometown of California, stating that he's not just talking about the cows and cheese. He explains how there's more to this place than just agriculture, citing the need for style, a sense of humor, as well as spiritual and physical athleticism. This verse also traverses themes that highlight real struggles for people living in particularly tough situations, using an unfair class system as a framework for a vivid description.
The second verse is dominated by Kween, as she spits verses showcasing her skills as a rapper. She boasts about her abilities, insisting that she's the toast of towns all along the map. Her lyrics are the kind that curtails competition, not intimidates other rappers. She believes everyone should be granted the same possibilities as they rise to the top, delivering a message of empowerment with her words. Ultimately, Lyrics Born picks up the baton, explaining what he's committed to with his artistic vision. In his mind, it's a twelve-year journey, and his foot will never leave the gas. He argues that he's helped to close the culture gap that people face. He’s incredible, and he’s not about to let anyone forget.
Line by Line Meaning
Rhyme for rhyme and line for line
We are matching each other's lyrical style
The lyrics from the mind that's prime, arrive on time
Our lyrics are top-notch and punctual
and rip into you fine as wine, sublime the kind
Our powerful lyrics will captivate you and take you to a higher level
of spitters who would shine divine
We are skilled rap artists who stand out in the industry
with rhymes and life, is what you make it
We believe that life should be lived with passion and creativity
They rip into ya night to night, recite the type, of written
Our versatile lyrics are meant to cut deep and be performed constantly
Come inside the light, tonight's the night, we give it to ya
Step into the spotlight and let us dazzle you with our artistic expression
Comin' back to stay, when I rap this way
We are determined to leave a lasting impact and keep making music
Blowin' minds wit' these lyrics out my fact-oray
Our lyrics are innovative and groundbreaking, leaving listeners in awe
That are practic-ally, on some maste-ray
Our lyrics are almost like we are masters of the art form
Show you all how a funky record has to be
We are demonstrating how to make a funky, successful record
Not to toot my horn, I'm from Californ
We're not bragging, but we hail from California
It's the +cheese+, not the kind that's grown from cows in barns
We're talking about a different type of 'cheese', something that satisfies your needs in any form
But the kind that meets your needs in like a thousand forms
We offer music that can meet a vast array of needs and preferences from listeners
As we dance to the ever flowin' masquerade
Our music is like a dance to the ever-changing, unpredictable masquerade of life
Homey, pass the J, homies pass away
Our music is sometimes used to cope with tragedy and loss
Over pride when another nigga blast a K
Some people are willing to risk their lives over senseless violence
Evil thought hearts chilly, Dickie Dastard-lay
People with cruel intentions have cold, sinister hearts
All his people mourned deeply as the pastor prayed
A pastor prayed at a funeral for someone who was killed by violence
Come though from out of town, you wouldn't last a day
In some neighborhoods, people from outside the community are not welcome or wouldn't survive
All they know is long money and assassination
Some people in certain communities are only familiar with illegal activities like making money through crime and violence
Get it now, not tomorrow, don't procrastinate
Take action now and don't wait until later
This is my grind, verbal slangin', I'm a master fate
We are experts at our craft and we are passionate about making music
In a drastic way, this is class so pay
Our artistry is significant and worth paying attention to
Close attention, write all night 'til I gasp and faint
We are devoted to our craft and will work tirelessly to perfect it
Get my people out this struggle of that Section 8
We want to help our community out of poverty and bad living conditions
Golden voice wit' style, spirit poised for power
Our music and personality are uplifting and powerful
Definition of a goddess, I'm a poster child
We are the epitome of excellence and positive representation
As I boast about, here's a dose fo' trail
We are continuing to share and promote our music to new audiences
Evil spirits don't concern me, tell the ghost be out!
We are resilient and not bothered by negativity or harm towards us
Shine my light to dim, all the spite within
Our positive energy and light can dissipate negative feelings from others
Competition, 'cause at times, I know we frighten them
We are aware that our skills can intimidate our rivals in the music industry
All we really wanna do is give some sight to them
Our purpose is to offer listeners new perspectives and insight
All my people, New York City to the coast of Cal
Our music and message is meant for people from all around the country
I'm the toast of towns, I'm the cat's meow
We are a popular and highly esteemed group in the music industry
Movin' faster than your mind, come and catch me now
Our music is constantly innovating and pushing boundaries, always ahead of the curve
Niggaz see me on stage and wanna ask me out
We have admirers and fans who are attracted to our music and presence
I'm the true original never a hand-me-down
Our music and artistry is unique and not influenced by others
When I flash no doubt, know that ass is out
When we perform, we are at the top of our game and nothing can stop us
Nefertiti, Mama Zulu, try and pass the Nile
We are powerful and influential, like legendary goddesses and queens of the past
Take your breath away it's like you're catchin' asthma now
Our lyrics can be so intense and powerful that they leave listeners breathless and gasping
In this verbal marathon, you couldn't last a mile
Our lyrical prowess is unmatched, it's like running a marathon and not being able to keep up
Lyrics Born to rap, I put it all on that
Our dedication and passion to music is evident in our lyrics
Twelve years deep, my foot ain't comin' off the gas
We have been in the music industry for many years and we are not slowing down
We walk the chosen path, close the culture gap
We are helping bridge different cultures and unite in the world of music
O.G. like the Figure-Four the Boston Crab
We are seasoned veterans and leaders in the music industry
All across the map, beyond the almanac
Our music has spread across the world and goes beyond what is traditionally predicted
You see the backstage posted lookin' so relaxed
We are chill and composed even behind the scenes of our performances
Lady wit' me, open toe, lil' shoulder bag
We have a confident and charming female companion with us on stage
Hat tipped just a bit, ooh she cold like that
Our companion is cool and stylish, adding to the overall aesthetic of our performances
Where my ballers at? If you can call it that
We are not interested in the empty type of materialism that some associates with being a 'baller'
Potna' both you and me know that shit is boulderdash
We know that this type of behavior or attitude is false and meaningless
We see right through yo phony ass like youse a holograph
We can tell when people are being fake or insincere, like a see-through holograph
We so real, when they see us, it's like they pause and gasp
Our authenticity and genuineness is striking and captivating to those who witness us
Cat's lookin' like they see a flyin' saucer pass
Our presence is so unexpected and out-of-this-world that people are surprised and perplexed
Cross they arms, turn they heads like they was Ultraman
People are so amazed and bewildered that they resemble characters from the TV show Ultraman
We gotcha whole clique surrounded in a cul-de-sac
We have captured the attention and admiration of a group of people
So baby get ta jump-ropin' over a broken glass because...
Our music is so high-energy and exciting that it can inspire people to do daring and difficult things
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TIMOTHY JEROME PARKER, TOM WILLIAM SHIMURA, XAVIER LORENZO MOSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind