1992 to 1996
Black Moon was the first to record, debuting in 1992 with their underground hit single "Who Got Da Props?". Their debut album Enta Da Stage followed in late 1993, featuring production from DJ Evil Dee and Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz, and featured appearances from Mobb Deep's Havoc, Smif-N-Wessun and Duck Down Records Co-head Dru-Ha. Smif-N-Wess' dropped their debut single "Bucktown" in 1994, followed by their full-length debut Dah Shinin' in early 1995. The album was produced by Beatminerz members DJ Evil Dee, Mr. Walt, Baby Paul and Rich Blak. The album featured appearances from the entire Boot Camp Clik. Later in 1995, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. teamed up to form The Fab 5, and released their debut single "Blah b/w Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka". "Leflah" was included on Heltah Skeltah's 1996 debut Nocturnal. The album featured a more expanded list of producers, including Brand Nubian's Lord Jamar, Tha Alkaholiks E-Swift, Shaleek, Shawn J. Period, as well as Boot Camp members such as DJ Evil Dee, Mr. Walt, Baby Paul, Buckshot, and Supreme. The album also featured debut appearances from Representativz and Illa Noyz. O.G.C. followed up later in 1996 with their debut Da Storm. Production was handled by Baby Paul, Shaleek, Mr. Walt, Supreme, DJ Evil Dee, DJ Ogee, Buckshot, Lord Jamar, E-Swift and Madlib. Guest appearances came from Brand Nubian's Sadat X, Representativz, M.S., Sean Black, and Rock of Heltah Skeltah. Furthermore, in 1996 Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun and others began collaborating on numerous songs with 2Pac. These were to be used on an upcomming compilation entitled "One Nation." Though various bootleg tracks surfaced, the album was never released in its entirety.
These four albums are now hailed by many as 1990s Hip-Hop classics.
1997 to 1999
In 1997, the whole Camp came together for their first group album For the People. They abandoned their Beatminerz production crew and left behind their signature, grimy, sample-heavy basement sound, instead choosing to rap over beats with live instrumentation. The album received lukewarm reviews and mediocre sales. Their work over the next two years was met with declining sales and interest. Smif-N-Wessun [Now the Cocoa Brovaz due to a lawsuit with Smith & Wesson firearms] were the first to return, with 1998's The Rude Awakening, which, compared to the other albums soon to come, did pretty well critically and commercially. Heltah Skeltah met some harsh reviews for their 1998 second album Magnum Force, accused of abandoning their grimy street work for a more commercial sound. Despite a hit single, "I Ain't Havin' That", they weren't producing the sales they hoped for, and soon split up. Black Moon returned, after a lengthy legal battle over their name, in early 1999 with War Zone. The album did pretty well critically, but couldn't match the sales of their debut. O.G.C.'s 1999 second album The M-Pire Shrikez Back almost completely missed the radar commercially, but received mostly good reviews. 1999 also saw the debut album from Boot Camp affiliates Representativz, with "Angels of Death", and a Duck Down Records compilation Duck Down Presents: The Album.
2000 to present
The Camp was largely missing from the Hip-Hop scene between 2000 and 2001, besides a Boot Camp Greatest Hits compilation titled Basic Training: Boot Camp Clik's Greatest Hits in 2000. The Camp (minus Heltah Skeltah's Rock) returned with another group album in 2002, titled The Chosen Few, their first on an independent label. Sales were pretty strong for an independent album, reaching around 60,000. The album received a 4 1/2 star rating from All Music, as well as other strong reviews from Hip Hop magazines. In early 2003, Duck Down Records released a compilation album entitled Collect Dis Edition, featuring a number of singles released during their MIA period. Black Moon returned in 2003 with Total Eclipse. The album was very well received, and featured the underground anthem "Stay Real". In 2005, Duck Down released their "Triple Threat" campaign, featuring the solo debut from Sean Price, Monkey Barz, a collaboration between Buckshot and Little Brother's 9th Wonder, Chemistry, and a new album from Smif-N-Wessun, Tek N Steele: Reloaded. In early 2006, Duck Down released a DVD titled Video Surveillance, featuring over thirty of the Camp's music videos. In July 2006, the Camp released their third group album, entitled The Last Stand, featuring the return of Heltah Skeltah. The first track and music video released from the project was "Trading Places", which was also featured as the B-Side to the first official single "Yeah". On January 30, 2007, Sean Price will release his second solo album, titled Jesus Price Supastar.
123
Boot Camp Clik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the Mac by my lap and they envy
The fact that they can't see me
Dippin' through the traffic, I'm relaxin'
Smokin' black with ease
Now my cell phone ringin', it's a breezy
Let me see, yep, it's this chick I just met
And won't let me breathe
Cause when your money stop
They get dumbfounded and do this
"Who this nigga next to me?"
Like you give checks to me, nigga
It's respect to me
Let them niggas step to me and
I'll handle my biz first
Then call up my team and
They'll handle they biz worse
This shirt that I wear on my back
Represent every vocalist you hear
On these tracks
Nigga, and everywhere that I steer my gat
I steer my whips and you hear where we at
Nigga
I said 1-2-3 (Uh huh, uh huh) Let me know
If you're ready for me, lawd
(And nowadays everybody murder
Bustin' they guns
The whole hood is corner boys
Gettin' they ones) i said 1-2-3
(Uh huh, uh huh) Let me know
If you're ready for me, lawd
(And now everybody got a sixteen
A beat and 'dro
The whole hood is gangsta, pimpin' they ho's)
Listen, kick drum, snare and hi hat
I pitch jums around here, pa, don't try that
Louis Satchmo, pull the tool
Let the gat blow
Melon pop, taco meat, extra tobasco
Little Rascal, buck heat at Buckwheat
For talkin' dumb
But they all love it when Ruck speak
Fuck freaks for free, fuck freaks on E
Probably fuck freaks that you've seen on BET
Been there, done that, no rubber, got clap
So it hurt when I piss
This verse is the shit sean is a beast
You can hear me holler at the full moon
Columbine High, settin' fire to school rooms
No way, Jose Canseco
Pop popular guys at the pop of the bank-o
Sean Price, big knife, ready to shank those
Niggas at the dice game
Frontin' with bankrolls
I said 1-2-3 (Uh huh, uh huh) Let me know
If you're ready for me, lawd
(And nowadays everybody murder
Bustin' they guns
The whole hood is corner boys
Gettin' they ones) i said 1-2-3
(Uh huh, uh huh) Let me know
If you're ready for me, lawd
(And now everybody got a sixteen
A beat and 'dro
The whole hood is gangsta, pimpin' they ho's)
Now everybody is a hustler
Grind to get money
Remember these same people broke and bummy
Askin' me for ones, being real hyphy
You spendin' all the Grant's and
Givin' Jackson's to wifey
Now I got haters wantin' to ice me
I gotta be careful 'fore
They secret indict me
And make me a Mountaineer like West VA boys
Can't do no crime since I tatted my face boy
I'll be dead in a lineup, givin' a time-up
Twenty five-to-life, where I sign up?
"But I'm straight, my flight leaves at 8
On the ground at nine
That's more time to grind"
I said 1-2-3 (Uh huh, uh huh) Let me know
If you're ready for me, lawd
(And nowadays everybody murder
Bustin' they guns
The whole hood is corner boys
Gettin' they ones) i said 1-2-3
(Uh huh, uh huh) Let me know
If you're ready for me, lawd
(And now everybody got a sixteen
A beat and 'dro
The whole hood is gangsta, pimpin' they ho's)
The lyrics to "123" by Boot Camp Clik depict a narrative from the perspective of the artist as he cruises down the avenue in his black AMG with a gun by his side, all while being envied by others. He effortlessly maneuvers through traffic, feeling at ease as he smokes, until he receives a call from a girl he just met who is demanding his attention. However, he prioritizes his own goals and movement, aware that when money stops flowing, people become dumbfounded. The lyrics emphasize the artist's determination to handle his business first, before calling on his team to handle their own. The artist also asserts his pride in representing his crew and their music, as well as the power and influence he wields wherever he goes.
Line by Line Meaning
Ridin' down the A-V-E in the black A-M-G
Driving down the avenue in my sleek black AMG car
With the Mac by my lap and they envy
Carrying a Mac (firearm) by my side, making others jealous
The fact that they can't see me
The fact that others can't match my level
Dippin' through the traffic, I'm relaxin'
Skillfully moving through traffic with ease and calmness
Smokin' black with ease
Casually smoking marijuana without any difficulty
Now my cell phone ringin', it's a breezy
Receiving a phone call from a woman I just met
Let me see, yep, it's this chick I just met
Confirming that the phone call is indeed from the woman I recently encountered
And won't let me breathe
She is constantly demanding my attention and time
Fuck that, my mind on my movement
Disregarding her demands, as I am focused on my own goals
Cause when your money stop
Because when your source of income ceases
They get dumbfounded and do this
Others become speechless and bewildered
"Who this nigga next to me?"
"Who is this person beside me?"
Like you give checks to me, nigga
As if you have any authority over me
It's respect to me
It is a sign of respect towards me
Let them niggas step to me and
Allow those individuals to approach me and
I'll handle my biz first
I will take care of my own business first
Then call up my team and
Then I will contact my team and
They'll handle they biz worse
They will handle their own business in a more severe manner
This shirt that I wear on my back
The clothing I wear represents
Represent every vocalist you hear
Symbolizes every rapper you listen to
On these tracks
In the songs you hear
Nigga, and everywhere that I steer my gat
And wherever I take my firearm
I steer my whips and you hear where we at
I control my cars and you can determine my location from the engine sounds
I said 1-2-3 (Uh huh, uh huh) Let me know
I am announcing my presence and asking for acknowledgement
If you're ready for me, lawd
If you are prepared for my arrival, oh Lord
(And nowadays everybody murder
In the current times, everyone claims to be ruthless
Bustin' they guns
Engaging in gun violence
The whole hood is corner boys
The entire neighborhood is filled with drug dealers
Gettin' they ones) i said 1-2-3
Earning their profits, I am repeating
(Uh huh, uh huh) Let me know
(confirming my previous statement) Inform me
And now everybody got a sixteen
And now everyone claims to have a verse
A beat and 'dro
A instrumental and marijuana
The whole hood is gangsta, pimpin' they ho's
The entire neighborhood is filled with individuals acting tough and exploiting prostitutes
Listen, kick drum, snare and hi hat
Pay attention to the sounds produced by the drums and cymbals
I pitch jums around here, pa, don't try that
I confuse and deceive people in this area, so don't attempt to challenge me
Louis Satchmo, pull the tool
Like Louis Armstrong, I pull out my firearm
Let the gat blow
Allow the gun to discharge
Melon pop, taco meat, extra tobasco
Shooting someone in the head, making a mess, like taco meat, and adding extra spice to the situation
Little Rascal, buck heat at Buckwheat
I, like a mischievous child, fire my weapon at my opponent named Buckwheat
For talkin' dumb
Because he was speaking foolishly
But they all love it when Ruck speak
However, they all enjoy it when I, Ruck (Sean Price), express myself
Fuck freaks for free, fuck freaks on E
Engaging in sexual activities with promiscuous individuals without charge, and also while under the influence of ecstasy
Probably fuck freaks that you've seen on BET
Most likely, I engage in sexual encounters with women you have witnessed on BET (Black Entertainment Television)
Been there, done that, no rubber, got clap
I have experienced it before, had unprotected sex, and contracted a sexually transmitted infection
So it hurt when I piss
As a result, I experience pain when urinating
This verse is the shit sean is a beast
This rap verse is exceptionally great, Sean Price is a highly skilled rapper
You can hear me holler at the full moon
You can listen to me loudly expressing myself, like howling at the full moon
Columbine High, settin' fire to school rooms
Referencing the tragic Columbine High School shooting, I metaphorically set ablaze the mic and destroy competition
No way, Jose Canseco
Absolutely not, I am not like Jose Canseco
Pop popular guys at the pop of the bank-o
I shoot and kill well-known individuals in a bank robbery
Sean Price, big knife, ready to shank those
I, Sean Price, carry a large knife and am prepared to stab my enemies
Niggas at the dice game
Men participating in a gambling session with dice
Frontin' with bankrolls
Showing off their wealth and pretending to have large amounts of money
Now everybody is a hustler
Currently, everyone claims to be a skilled entrepreneur
Grind to get money
Working hard to acquire financial resources
Remember these same people broke and bummy
Recall that these very same individuals were once poor and destitute
Askin' me for ones, being real hyphy
Previously begging me for money, acting excessively energetic
You spendin' all the Grant's and
You are using all your money and
Givin' Jackson's to wifey
Giving financial resources to your wife
Now I got haters wantin' to ice me
Now I have enemies who desire to harm or kill me
I gotta be careful 'fore
I have to be cautious before
They secret indict me
They secretly bring criminal charges against me
And make me a Mountaineer like West VA boys
And force me to become a prisoner, like inmates from West Virginia
Can't do no crime since I tatted my face boy
I cannot commit any criminal acts now that my face is covered in tattoos
I'll be dead in a lineup, givin' a time-up
I would be killed in a police lineup, receiving a life sentence
Twenty five-to-life, where I sign up?
Where can I enroll for a twenty-five years to life prison term?
"But I'm straight, my flight leaves at 8
"But I'm fine, my airplane departs at 8 o'clock
On the ground at nine
And I will arrive at my destination at nine
That's more time to grind"
That grants me additional time to work hard and achieve success
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind