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.
Down By Law
Boot Camp Clik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey yo hey hey hey hey hey tell your momma to put wholes in panties
Yo no funky rollin allowed
Yo we know the rules fool
Jive turkies over there on the west side
Come on oh-oh (x5) hey yo yo check this out
I go by the name of Mr Starang
Get back gimme room let me do my thang
Representin from out the old school
Smoke straight from queens and my nigga Cesspool
(Tek)
Young la-ties young la-ties young ladies in the house tonight
I go by the name of Smokey-lah and i do just what i like
(What i like what i like)
(Ruck)
Yes yes y'all its movin on and on
I be that afro nigga by the name of Tawl Sean
Ha in the place to be
On my side is my man big are-O-see
(Rock)
Bum je-dab i rock the show
My zodiac sign is scorpio
Scorpioooo we in the house y'all
Check it out check it out y'all
(Steele)
ST be a sagitarrius
And you know I'm very into tearin it
I'm about to let you represent
Yo for my Boot Camp Clik and everybody
(???)
We come to see who in tha party
This is how we do
Everyday all day
Come on Come on yo yo
(Starang)
Hey yo throw your hands in the air
And wave em like ya just don't care
And if you make a lotta money
Got clean underwear somebody say oh yeah
Oh yeah
And you don't stop yo we ain't finished man lets continue on
(Tony Touch)
One time for your mind kid I'm rollin thick
It's Tony Touch comin through with the Boot Camp Clik
Yeah suckas get the dis
Cause the word on the street is that they ain't got skills
(Top Dog)
I be the T-O-P D-O-G
Represent the reign outta OGC
Like this like that yeah yeah yeah
(Dru Ha--yes, Dru Ha)
Yo what you hear is not a test
I do this shit with ease
I go by the name of the Big Cheese
And my sign is Pisces
(Buckshot)
I go by the name of the be -D-Buckshot
Here to rock the spot and show you what I got
Now let me see some hands way up in the air real quick
Cause you know be -D-Buck represent Boot Camp Clik
Now when I say I got the here 90-now solution
When I say Revo when I Revo you say lution
(Revo-lution 8X)
The lyrics to Boot Camp Clik's song Down By Law consist of each member introducing themselves while representing their respective zodiac sign. Each member establishes their authority with strong rhymes and an intense energy, a typical characteristic of a hip hop group. The introduction instill the sense of camaraderie with the listeners by introducing themselves confidently and establishing loyalty towards the Boot Camp Clik.
Additionally, the last section of the song is mainly performed by Buckshot, where he raps about his 90's-now (the 90s until present time) solution while the other members of the Boot Camp Clik repeat Revo-lution. This implies a sense of unity in their desire for change, revolution, and progression. The lyrics to Down By Law successfully establish the Boot Camp Clik as a group of musical powerhouses who are willing to establish change with their creative energy.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey yo hey hey hey hey hey tell your momma to put wholes in panties
The singer is taunting the audience and making them feel inferior by telling them to ask their mothers to put holes in their underwear.
Yo no funky rollin allowed
The singer is letting the audience know that certain behavior is not acceptable and they will be expected to follow the rules.
Yo we know the rules fool
The singer is asserting their authority and implying that the audience should also be aware of what is allowed and not allowed.
Jive turkies over there on the west side
The artist is using derogatory language to refer to people on the west side, suggesting that they are uncool.
Come on oh-oh (x5) hey yo yo check this out
The artist is trying to get the audience excited and hyped up in anticipation of what is to come.
I go by the name of Mr Starang
The singer introduces themselves by their stage name.
Get back gimme room let me do my thang
The singer is telling the audience to give them space to perform and do what they do best.
Representin from out the old school
The artist is indicating their roots and where they come from musically.
Smoke straight from queens and my nigga Cesspool
The artist is referencing a specific location where they and their friend Cesspool come from, and possibly indicating that they are involved in drug use.
Young la-ties young la-ties young ladies in the house tonight
The artist is addressing the female members of the audience and trying to get them excited.
I go by the name of Smokey-lah and i do just what i like
The singer is introducing themselves by their stage name and indicating that they do whatever they want, without concern for others.
(What i like what i like)
The artist emphasizes their desire to act solely on their own terms.
Yes yes y'all its movin on and on
The singer is energizing the audience and indicating that the show will keep going.
I be that afro nigga by the name of Tawl Sean
The singer is introducing themselves by their stage name and referencing a physical characteristic they have (an afro).
Ha in the place to be
The singer is excited to be performing and being present at the venue.
On my side is my man big are-O-see
The artist is referencing a friend they have with them at the venue.
Bum je-dab i rock the show
The artist is expressing confidence that they will perform well and impress the audience.
My zodiac sign is scorpio
The singer is sharing their astrological sign.
Scorpioooo we in the house y'all
The singer is hyping up the audience, possibly indicating that people born under the sign of Scorpio are particularly cool or powerful.
ST be a sagitarrius
The artist is sharing their astrological sign.
And you know I'm very into tearin it
The artist is referencing their enthusiasm for performing and giving it their all.
Yo for my Boot Camp Clik and everybody
The artist is shouting out their group and trying to get everyone excited about their performance.
We come to see who in tha party
The singer is indicating that they are there to perform and see who else is there, possibly implying that they are superior in some way.
This is how we do
The artist is indicating that their group has a specific way of performing or acting.
Everyday all day
The singer is emphasizing that their lifestyle and identity is present constantly, without interruption.
Hey yo throw your hands in the air
The singer is encouraging the audience to participate and show their excitement.
And wave em like ya just don't care
The singer is emphasizing that the audience should be free and uninhibited in their movements.
And if you make a lotta money
The artist is giving a hypothetical scenario and implying that if someone has a lot of money, they should be even more excited.
Got clean underwear somebody say oh yeah
The artist is implying that having clean underwear is an important thing, possibly making a humorous reference to good hygiene.
Oh yeah
The singer is getting the audience to repeat their previous phrase, emphasizing and amplifying their words.
Yeah suckas get the dis
The singer is mocking and belittling someone, possibly another musical group or rivals.
Cause the word on the street is that they ain't got skills
The artist is repeating a rumor that they have heard, indicating that the other musical group or rivals are not as talented or skilled as they are.
I be the T-O-P D-O-G
The artist is introducing themselves by their stage name, which is composed of the letters that spell 'top dog.'
Represent the reign outta OGC
The artist is referencing their group and indicating that they are representing them at the venue.
Like this like that yeah yeah yeah
The singer is emphasizing their performance and making sure that the audience is listening and participating.
Yo what you hear is not a test
The artist is starting a verse with a phrase often used by radio announcers to introduce content.
I do this shit with ease
The singer is indicating that performing and doing what they do comes naturally and effortlessly.
I go by the name of the Big Cheese
The singer is introducing themselves by their stage name, which is 'Big Cheese.'
And my sign is Pisces
The singer is sharing their astrological sign.
Here to rock the spot and show you what I got
The artist is indicating their intention to perform well and impress the audience.
Now let me see some hands way up in the air real quick
The artist is encouraging the audience to participate and show their excitement by raising their hands.
Cause you know be -D-Buck represent Boot Camp Clik
The singer is acknowledging their membership in Boot Camp Clik and implying that they are a powerful figure.
Now when I say I got the here 90-now solution
The singer is starting a rhyme with a nonsensical phrase that may be intended to show off their creativity and skill.
When I say Revo when I Revo you say lution
The artist is starting a chant that encourages the audience to repeat certain words or phrases.
(Revo-lution 8X)
The artist is leading the audience in a repeated chant.
Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED
Written by: ROBERT STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind