Boldy James was born James Clay Jones III on August 9, 1982, in Atlanta, Georgia to his parents James Clay Jones Jr. and Toni K. Broadus. In 1983, Jones and Broadus returned to their original home of Detroit, MI with their son after Jones was wounded in the line of duty serving as a police officer. They resided on the Eastside of Detroit with James’ grandmother. In 1989, James’ parents separated and his mother sent him and his younger sister to live with their father to live on Detroit’s westside on Stahelin Hell Block near McNichols Rd and the Southfield Freeway. James’ love for music came to the forefront at the age of 12, when he performed in a middle school talent show and begun writing his first raps shortly after. He attended high school at Detroit Cooley, and dropped out after the 9th grade. He got the name Boldy James from his friend from his block, James Osely III, who people in the neighborhood called Boldy. He didn’t rap, he just sold cocaine, and “I liked the name because his name was James too,” says James. When his friend was murdered he decided to carry on the name using it to rap.
In 2009, Boldy James first big break on the national scene came in the form of 2 features on The Cool Kids and Don Cannon mixtape Merry Christmas, on the songs “BBQ Wings” and ”Tires”. That was followed up by his record “Gettin Flicked” appearing on The Cool Kids’ 2010 mixtape Tacklebox. Also in 2010 he was featured on the Chip tha Ripper song “Fat Raps” remix alongside Big Sean, Asher Roth, Dom Kennedy and Chuck Inglish. Boldy James and Cool Kid member/producer Chuck Inglish are cousins. On May 24, 2011, Boldy James released his solo debut mixtape Trappers Alley Pros and Cons. The project went on to be named by Pitchfork as one of 2011′s Most Overlooked Projects. On February 27, 2012, he released his follow up mixtape, Consignment. On March 5, 2013, he released an EP titled Grand Quarters. On October 15, 2013, he released his debut album, My 1st Chemistry Set entirely produced by The Alchemist.
He has released the mixtapes Trapper's Alley (Pro's & Cons) and Consignment: Favor For A Favor. He is known for his deep voice and effortless flow over beats with a heavy bass (ie Chuck Inglish produced songs). He is also known for his appearance on J Dilla's latest album, Rebirth Of Detroit.
Photographic Memories
Boldy James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I see or hear-
Yeah, where we at?
If I see you first
Let's get it, what else?
King of the oven mitt, know we run this bitch
A glutton for punishment, keep a submachine gun with a hundred clip
Ain't cop that shit for months, can't come around, niggas not allowed
Cashin' in, always gritted it out, never had a bid
Askin' God, "If this my last resort, how is that a sin?" (There is no sin)
'Cause if a nigga would've went with his first mind
Premeditated, out of all these killers, we the worst kind
Born convicted, braveheart, same armored defenses
Wraith parked in the trenches, same park on them benches
With ARs and extended, sat at the table with spics
He changed the label on my shit, that's trademark infringement
Never forget a face, photographic memory
First time I met JAY was at Novo with Black and Emory
Run my hood, so this shit proceed my reputation
You already know what's understood, don't need no explanation
Where we at wit' it
I never forget a face
You can picture it (uh)
Niggas winnin' Grammys now, five-star livin'
On the 5 South, jammin' out, Heisman magic
Stickin' out an arm and they standin' down, cram it in
Stamp and send the package out, Jackson style
Something wicked inbound, fast
Wind whippin' up disasters in the distant clouds
Hit the basement, the moon full of this roundness
Wolves howlin', cleared up a couple counts
New challenge inbound, blues from the interstate
Sorrowfulness and rule, feudal debates
The brook blew the game, never knew it was a place
Pourin' grapes on the dates, etched on the headstones over the grave
In any case, if I seem distanced and reserved, then give me space
Heavy pinch of herb send me on my way
Head of the herd, making' sure everyone got a plate
Left here disturbed with the look on my face
Bet, my spirit spur when I try to wake
I got on with no delay, gotta play from lessons learned
Got burned when my welcome got overstayed
I hold an old and faithful, I know the aim
And I know it say somethin' 'bout know your neighbor
Whatever happened to that old saying? (Yeah, boy)
Broke generational curses with my cursive (yup)
I understand the game and I know all of the inner workings (I do)
The pain run deep, you only see what it is on the surface
My bitch image squeaky-clean, but the work was sittin' in her cervix (boofed it)
For all the dirt, we might need detergent for cleanin' purpose
Bloody money in the machine circlin', the precursor
You might've even heard my sneakers chirpin' like Peewee Kirkland
Gotta watch where you keep them birds 'cause the people lurkin' (watch)
Feet first, I jump in the deepest current, I'm keepin' it current
Let off a hundred clip reoccurrin' and let 'em clean up the urine (brr)
Grip the steering wheel of the Urus, you malnourished (stop)
All this chicken, niggas came down with salmonella (woo)
Screw the compressor on the TEC, it ain't make a sound like a Tesla
This shit was loud as a whisper (shh), the stick spin you round like a Twister
The whip was messed up, plug you out like a cigarette butt right out the Fisker
(Marci)
In "Photographic Memories," Boldy James, The Alchemist, and Roc Marciano delve into their experiences with crime, violence, and the aftermath that follows. Boldy James and Roc Marciano both describe their tough reputations as gangsters, while The Alchemist explores getting out of the vicious cycle of violence. At the same time, all three artists touch on themes of reminiscing, with photographic memories serving as a metaphor for the lasting impact of trauma. They describe past and present criminal exploits, as well as their hopes for a better future.
Boldy James starts off the song by declaring himself "king of the oven mitt," referring to his experience with drug dealing. He claims to have a "photographic memory," which helps him keep track of people who owe him money or have wronged him in some way. Roc Marciano raps about the dangers of the streets and the necessity of staying on alert, even around those you trust. His bars are filled with evocative allusions to crime: "Bloody money in the machine circlin', the precursor / You might've even heard my sneakers chirpin' like Peewee Kirkland." The Alchemist adds a tone of regret to the song, as he acknowledges his participation in the cycle of violence and expresses his hopes for change.
Line by Line Meaning
If I see or hear-
If I encounter anyone or anything
Yeah, where we at?
Are we ready to start or proceed?
If I see you first
If I come across you before you come across me
Let's get it, what else?
Let's go, what other plans do we have?
King of the oven mitt, know we run this bitch
We have control and authority in this area, nobody else comes close.
A glutton for punishment, keep a submachine gun with a hundred clip
We are willing and able to put up with challenges and have access to deadly weapons with many bullets.
Volatile, don't want no problemo with a problem child
We are unpredictable and people should avoid trouble with us.
Ain't cop that shit for months, can't come around, niggas not allowed
We haven't purchased any illegal substances for months and therefore cannot allow certain individuals to be around us.
Cashin' in, always gritted it out, never had a bid
We have made a lot of money, but we have always had to endure difficult situations and have never been incarcerated.
Askin' God, "If this my last resort, how is that a sin?" (There is no sin)
We ask God, if we have no other option, how can it be considered a sin? It isn't.
'Cause if a nigga would've went with his first mind
If someone had followed their initial thoughts
Premeditated, out of all these killers, we the worst kind
Because we have planned and thought ahead, we are the most dangerous killers.
Born convicted, braveheart, same armored defenses
We were born with criminal records and have the same level of protection.
Wraith parked in the trenches, same park on them benches
We have expensive cars parked in dangerous areas, just like we hang out in dangerous areas.
With ARs and extended, sat at the table with spics
We are armed with assault rifles and we have sat at a table with Spanish-speaking individuals.
He changed the label on my shit, that's trademark infringement
Someone changed the label on my product, which is an infringement of my trademark.
Never forget a face, photographic memory
We never forget someone's face and can recall it with great detail.
First time I met JAY was at Novo with Black and Emory
The first time I met JAY was at Novo with Black and Emory.
Run my hood, so this shit proceed my reputation
I am in charge of my neighborhood, which determines my reputation.
You already know what's understood, don't need no explanation
You already know what to do or what I'm talking about, there's no need for me to explain further.
I never forget a face
I have an excellent memory and am able to recall faces easily.
You can picture it (uh)
You can visualize the memory with ease.
Niggas winnin' Grammys now, five-star livin'
Some people are winning Grammys and living luxurious lives.
On the 5 South, jammin' out, Heisman magic
Driving on the 5 South and listening to music, feeling like an MVP in sports
Stickin' out an arm and they standin' down, cram it in
We are able to intimidate someone by simply raising an arm, and they will back off and let us pass.
Stamp and send the package out, Jackson style
We are sending a package out in a very efficient and quick manner, like Michael Jackson's famous dance move.
Something wicked inbound, fast
Something bad is coming quickly and we need to prepare.
Wind whippin' up disasters in the distant clouds
The wind is picking up causing potential disasters in far away areas.
Hit the basement, the moon full of this roundness
We went to hide in the basement, as it is a full moon which might signal danger.
Wolves howlin', cleared up a couple counts
Wolves are howling, and we have settled a couple of our debts.
New challenge inbound, blues from the interstate
There is a new problem coming our way, it is related to the interstate and is causing us anxiety.
Sorrowfulness and rule, feudal debates
We are dealing with sadness and discord, which is causing conflict like in feudal times.
The brook blew the game, never knew it was a place
A small stream messed up the plan, even though we didn't think it was an important factor.
Pourin' grapes on the dates, etched on the headstones over the grave
We are enjoying the fruits of our labor, while being aware that our time will come to an end and we will be buried.
In any case, if I seem distanced and reserved, then give me space
If I appear to be distant or unapproachable, please don't crowd me and give me some space.
Heavy pinch of herb send me on my way
Smoking a lot of marijuana will help me relax and go about my day.
Head of the herd, making' sure everyone got a plate
I am the leader of the group, making sure everyone is taken care of.
Left here disturbed with the look on my face
I left here in a bad mood, and it was noticeable on my face.
Bet, my spirit spur when I try to wake
I feel energized when waking up in the morning.
I got on with no delay, gotta play from lessons learned
I took off and didn't waste any time, I learned from past experiences and took action quickly.
Got burned when my welcome got overstayed
I got into trouble and lost my place when I stayed too long in a situation.
I hold an old and faithful, I know the aim
I hold a reliable weapon and know how to use it with accuracy.
And I know it say somethin' 'bout know your neighbor
There is probably a saying about knowing your neighbors and being aware of your surroundings.
Whatever happened to that old saying? (Yeah, boy)
What happened to that saying? It seems less relevant now.
Broke generational curses with my cursive (yup)
I ended a pattern of negative habits and behavior with my words and writing.
I understand the game and I know all of the inner workings (I do)
I am fully aware of how things work and operate in this particular world or situation.
The pain run deep, you only see what it is on the surface
The pain is severe and profound, but it only appears to be surface-level and manageable.
My bitch image squeaky-clean, but the work was sittin' in her cervix (boofed it)
My girlfriend appeared to be perfectly fine on the outside, but she was actually hiding lots of drugs and she hid them in her body.
For all the dirt, we might need detergent for cleanin' purpose
We have accumulated a lot of dirt and wrongdoing, that we may require a lot of cleaning solutions to fix.
Bloody money in the machine circlin', the precursor
Illegal or unethical money being circulated through a machine, which implies that there may be more wrongdoing involved.
You might've even heard my sneakers chirpin' like Peewee Kirkland
My shoes made a sound while walking/running, similar to how Peewee Kirkland walked or ran.
Gotta watch where you keep them birds 'cause the people lurkin' (watch)
We must be cautious about where we keep our valuable or illegal objects as people may be observing us.
Feet first, I jump in the deepest current, I'm keepin' it current
I dive headfirst into the most difficult situations, and I am staying in touch with the present moment.
Let off a hundred clip reoccurrin' and let 'em clean up the urine (brr)
We use our weapon with a large amount of bullets, and let the people who are in trouble take care of the aftermath.
Grip the steering wheel of the Urus, you malnourished (stop)
I am driving a Lamborghini Urus and if you don't have one, you are physically weak and undernourished.
All this chicken, niggas came down with salmonella (woo)
All of this easy money and shady deals are causing people to get sick or infected.
Screw the compressor on the TEC, it ain't make a sound like a Tesla
We were able to silence our gun and make it quieter, similar to a Tesla car.
This shit was loud as a whisper (shh), the stick spin you round like a Twister
Even though we made the gun quieter, it was still loud but unexpected, it had a large amount of bullets.
The whip was messed up, plug you out like a cigarette butt right out the Fisker
The car was in bad shape, but we threw you out of it as easily as flicking a cigarette butt from a luxurious Fisker car.
(Marci)
The artist of this line is Roc Marciano.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: James Clay Jones II, Thebe Kgositsile, Rahkeim Calief Meyer, Daniel Alan Maman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Geeandrezzi
“Winning Grammys now?
5 star living
On the 5 south, jammin out Heisman magic
Stickin out an arm and they standin down
Cramming in, stampin sendin packages out
Jackson-style, sumthin wicked and bound fast
Wind whippin up disasters in a distant clouds
Hit the basement, the moon full at its roundest
….Wolves howling”
Earl is a GOAT for this shit
@mummyxenior305
"got burned when my welcome got overstayed" i feel you earl
@aldali724
This why he my favorite rapper
@nibblingconscience
love the champloo pfp
@johnmickens3804
"Head of da heard"
@RESPECTLAW_2
You gotta take it to the line before “ gotta play from lessons learned got burned when my welcome got overstayed
@claymanclutcher
@Al Dali favorite trash rapper.
@terrenceholden
Roc Marci murdered this. Damn. "Broke generational curses with my cursive"
@acaldwe1174
Yeah I could have stopped listening after that line. 🎤 drop moment.
@terrymiller5153
@Andre Caldwell I agree bro💯🔥 line
@ChrisJ85
Good grief