Their debut album One For All is one of the more popular and acclaimed alternative hip hop albums of the 1990s, known for socially conscious and politically charged content inspired by the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths.
1989-1992
Brand Nubian formed in 1986 after Grand Puba's original group, Masters of Ceremony, split up. Its first single, "Brand Nubian," was released in 1986. Signed to Elektra Records by A&R man Dante Ross, its debut album, One For All, was released in 1990. Generally acclaimed, the album drew fire for militant Five-Percenter rhetoric on tracks such as "Drop the Bomb" and "Wake Up." The controversy helped sales, though the album was still not a great commercial success. To date, the album has sold 350,000 units. A version of the Fab Five Freddy-directed video for the single "Wake Up," featuring a Black man in white-face makeup, was also banned from MTV. On MTV and from official WEA sources, this image was replaced by a Baptist preacher. The singles "Slow Down," "All for One," and "Wake Up" all became hits on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1991.
Shortly after its debut release, Sadat X and Lord Jamar began having problems with Grand Puba, which caused him to leave the group, along with DJ Alamo, to pursue a solo career. Lord Jamar and Sadat X enlisted DJ Sincere to join the group in 1992. The same year, Puba released his solo debut, Reel to Reel, which featured the hit single "360° (What Goes Around)".
Later in 1992, the Puba-less Brand Nubian released a hit single of its own, "Punks Jump up to Get Beat Down". The track was met with controversy over alleged homophobic content, referencing the Sadat X line "I can freak, fly, flow, fuck up a faggot/I don't understand their ways, I ain't down with gays." Despite the controversy, the single charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 77. Later versions omitted the line, including the version on the greatest hits compilation The Very Best of Brand Nubian.
1992-1996
In late 1992, the crew released its second album, In God We Trust. "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down" was included on this release, as well as the number-92 Hot-100 single, "Love Me or Leave Me Alone." The effort sold moderately well, fueled by the crew's continuing controversy. Also in 1993, the group contributed a track for the Menace II Society soundtrack, titled "Lick Dem..........."
The group’s next release, Everything is Everything, was issued in November 1994. The controversy kept growing, with further accusations of the group’s music being analogous to hate speech. The album received very mixed reviews and mediocre sales, despite the top-40 Hot Rap Tracks singles "Word is Bond" and "Hold On (feat. Starr)." In 1995, the group broke up, left Elektra, and launched solo careers in music and television. That year, Puba released his second solo effort, 2000, featuring another Billboard Hot 100 single, "I Like It (I Wanna Be Where You Are)." Sadat X released his first solo effort, titled Wild Cowboys (Loud/RCA/BMG Records), in 1996.
1997-2000
The original members reunited in 1997, contributing a song to the Soul In The Hole soundtrack, titled "A Child is Born". Another song, "Keep It Bubblin'," appeared on the 1997 Money Talks soundtrack. In 1998, the four original members returned with the album Foundation on a new label, Arista/BMG Records. The album received wide acclaim and featured contributions from a larger group of producers, including DJ Premier, Buckwild, Lord Finesse, and Diamond D. The lead single "Don't Let it Go to Your Head" became, at number 54, the group's highest-charting single on the Hot 100. In 2000, the crew once again teamed up with Buckwild of D.I.T.C. and released the underground single "Rockin' It," before the members continued their individual pursuits. Sadat X released a solo EP in 2000, The State of New York vs. Derek Murphy, on Loud/Relativity Records.
2001-present
Puba released his third solo effort, Understand This, in 2001, which received little attention despite featuring his fellow Brand Nubian members. The original members reunited once again in 2004 for the release of its fifth album, Fire in the Hole, their first release on an independent label, Babygrande Records. The album received mixed reviews and sold below expectations. Sadat X released another solo effort in 2005, titled Experience and Education, receiving mostly positive reviews. Jamar also furthered his acting career, recently appearing on an episode of The Sopranos, as well as episodes of Oz, Third Watch, and Law & Order. Lord Jamar released his first solo album, The 5% Album, June 27, 2006, on Babygrande Records. Sadat X's third full length album, titled Black October, was released October 2006. In 2007 the group released an album titled Time's Runnin' Out.
Dedication
Brand Nubian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before I get this wreck, I like to take a sec
To say this jam here is dedicated to some of my favorites
I like to dedicate this to PE, I like to dedicate this to BDP
I like to dedicate this to the X-Clan, I like to dedicate this to Heavy D
Kiss my mother bye 'fore I hit the road of stardom
Put away my rhymes, make sure the pimps got 'em
My favorite, Rakim, Big Daddy, Kool G and
LL who always keep the girls jingling
C'mon honey dip, you can jingle on my (Yo, cool chill)
When it comes to female rappers, bust it, here's a few
MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and Linque
What more could I say, I wouldn't be here today
If the old school didn't pave the way
Hats off and I'll never forget
'Cause if it wasn't for them, there wouldn't be no rap shit
Back to the track of the new
For short you can call me MC Grand Pu
I made this splendid 'cause that's what I intended
Don't try to break it 'cause you just can't bend it
I got a bad habit, see I live hitting skinz
Well if hitting skinz is wrong then forgive me for my sins
C'mon Ock, I'm straighter than 6 o'clock
So what you oughta do is flow wit the flock
My sign is the fish, yo, also loving on my disc
In school, I got dismiss 'cause I hated liverwurst
But here I am, a rapper, my best friend Pos the dapper
Tony X who I grew up wit in a 'jects, so
Shake the motion if you got the notion
Puba rubs off on ya just like lotion
I'm not conceited, girls say that I'm attractive
They describe my love and that's being hyperactive
I'm just a brother who likes to romance alot
Look at me as the black Sir Lancelot
That's right, your knight in shining armor
If I went to college, then my major would be drama
Or theatrics is more like my tactics
If you want the proof then lay down on the mattress
Swing wit the swinger, I can be a singer
Alamo controls the beat wit just one finger
If you wanna swing to this, you better take precaution
Alamo, when you hook it, make sure there's no distortion
Here comes the two, better known as the Babalu bad boys
Who makes much noise
Two Express, no local stops
It's time to get fat and collect our props
Kamikaze like Japs, you roll a 7 in craps
And if you think that this is booty, yo, it ain't no half
Met Lisa Simms, she bought her gear from Vin's
The knucklehead got her pregnant, now she got twins
The type of brother to stand out, always keep my hand out
To help another brother, what is taught by my mother
Good to the drip drop and I won't flip flop
Straight to the tip top in this here hip-hop
My style varies and my vocal carries
To El Segundo where I seen Q-Tip
Sipping on Colada wit his honey dip
So. c'mon baby, spend the money, don't save it
'Cause this jam here I dedicate to some of my favorites
(Some of my favorites, some of my favorites)
Hey yo, check this out
I like to dedicate this to Chuck Chillout
I like to dedicate this to the Awesome Two
I like to dedicate this to Red Alert
And I dedicate this one to Biz Mark
I like to dedicate this to De La Soul
And this one goes to the JB's
I like to dedicate this to EPMD
I like to dedicate this to Kid Capri
I like to dedicate this to Andre
I like to dedicate this to Puffy
I like to dedicate this to the SD's
In the song Dedication by Brand Nubian, the singer takes a moment to dedicate the song to some of his favorite musicians and rappers. He starts by dedicating the song to Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, X-Clan, and Heavy D. He then continues on to talk about his favorite female rappers, such as MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and Linque. He also mentions his favorite male rappers, like Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G, and LL Cool J. The singer pays homage to the old school rappers and acknowledges that he wouldn't be where he is today without them paving the way for him.
The song then shifts towards the singer talking about himself and his experiences. He mentions that he got kicked out of school for not liking liverwurst and that he has a bad habit of hitting skins. He also talks about his love for romancing and that he sees himself as the black Sir Lancelot. He concludes by dedicating the song to a list of other musicians and DJs, such as Chuck Chillout, Red Alert, Biz Mark, De La Soul, and many others.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the singer's favorite musicians and rappers as well as an acknowledgement of his own experiences and influences. It speaks to the importance of paying homage to those who paved the way and recognizing how they have influenced one's own art.
Line by Line Meaning
C'mon Alamo, let's swing it
Let's start the song
Before I get this wreck, I like to take a sec
Before I start rapping, I want to take a moment
To say this jam here is dedicated to some of my favorites
This song is dedicated to some of my favorite musicians
I like to dedicate this to PE, I like to dedicate this to BDP
I want to dedicate this song to Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions
I like to dedicate this to the X-Clan, I like to dedicate this to Heavy D
I want to dedicate this song to X-Clan and Heavy D
Kiss my mother bye 'fore I hit the road of stardom
I said goodbye to my mother before I went on tour
Put away my rhymes, make sure the pimps got 'em
I stored my lyrics and made sure that the pimps could access them
Just 'cause I'm a rapper, doesn't mean I'm not a fan
Even though I'm a rapper, I'm still a fan of other musicians
My favorite, Rakim, Big Daddy, Kool G and
My favorite musicians are Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, and LL Cool J
LL who always keep the girls jingling
LL Cool J has a way with the ladies
C'mon honey dip, you can jingle on my (Yo, cool chill)
Hey beautiful woman, you can dance with me (but let's take it easy)
When it comes to female rappers, bust it, here's a few
Let me list some of my favorite female rappers
MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and Linque
My favorite female rappers are MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and Linque
What more could I say, I wouldn't be here today
I owe my success to the musicians who came before me
If the old school didn't pave the way
If it weren't for the musicians who came before me
Hats off and I'll never forget
I have a lot of respect for those who came before me and I won't forget them
'Cause if it wasn't for them, there wouldn't be no rap shit
If it weren't for those who came before me, there would be no rap music
Back to the track of the new
Now back to our new track
For short you can call me MC Grand Pu
My nickname is MC Grand Pu
I made this splendid 'cause that's what I intended
I made this song great because that's what I wanted to do
Don't try to break it 'cause you just can't bend it
You can't change this song, so don't try to mess with it
I got a bad habit, see I live hitting skinz
I have a bad habit of hitting the ladies
Well if hitting skinz is wrong then forgive me for my sins
If there's something wrong with my lifestyle, I apologize
C'mon Ock, I'm straighter than 6 o'clock
I'm reliable and trustworthy
So what you oughta do is flow wit the flock
You should go along with us and have a good time
My sign is the fish, yo, also loving on my disc
My astrological sign is Pisces and I love my music collection
In school, I got dismiss 'cause I hated liverwurst
I was kicked out of school because I didn't like liverwurst
But here I am, a rapper, my best friend Pos the dapper
Despite my struggles in school, I became a rapper and my best friend is named Pos
Tony X who I grew up wit in a 'jects, so
I grew up with Tony X in the projects
Shake the motion if you got the notion
If you feel like dancing, go for it
Puba rubs off on ya just like lotion
I have a positive influence on those around me
I'm not conceited, girls say that I'm attractive
I don't have a big ego, but girls tell me that I'm good-looking
They describe my love and that's being hyperactive
They say I'm passionate and energetic in bed
I'm just a brother who likes to romance alot
I'm just a man who enjoys being romantic
Look at me as the black Sir Lancelot
Think of me as a modern-day Sir Lancelot
That's right, your knight in shining armor
I'm here to protect and defend you
If I went to college, then my major would be drama
If I had gone to college, I would have studied acting
Or theatrics is more like my tactics
I have a theatrical approach to life
If you want the proof then lay down on the mattress
If you don't believe me, let me show you
Swing wit the swinger, I can be a singer
If you want to dance, dance with me. I can also sing
Alamo controls the beat wit just one finger
Alamo is so skilled that he can make the beat with just one finger
If you wanna swing to this, you better take precaution
If you want to dance to this song, be careful
Alamo, when you hook it, make sure there's no distortion
Alamo, make sure the song sounds good and there's no technical issues
Here comes the two, better known as the Babalu bad boys
Now it's time for the duo known as the Babalu bad boys
Who makes much noise
We're loud and proud
Two Express, no local stops
We're making moves and not slowing down
It's time to get fat and collect our props
It's time to get rich and famous
Kamikaze like Japs, you roll a 7 in craps
We're going all out and taking risks, like kamikaze pilots. We're also lucky
And if you think that this is booty, yo, it ain't no half
If you think this song isn't good, you're wrong
Met Lisa Simms, she bought her gear from Vin's
I met a woman named Lisa Simms who bought her clothes from a store called Vin's
The knucklehead got her pregnant, now she got twins
Unfortunately, Lisa got pregnant by a foolish guy and now has twins
The type of brother to stand out, always keep my hand out
I'm the type of person who stands out and always helps others
To help another brother, what is taught by my mother
Helping others is a value that my mother instilled in me
Good to the drip drop and I won't flip flop
I'm consistent and won't change my mind easily
Straight to the tip top in this here hip-hop
I'm striving to be the best in the world of hip-hop
My style varies and my vocal carries
My style is versatile and my voice is powerful
To El Segundo where I seen Q-Tip
I once saw Q-Tip in El Segundo
Sipping on Colada wit his honey dip
He was drinking a pina colada with his girlfriend
So. c'mon baby, spend the money, don't save it
Live in the moment and enjoy life
'Cause this jam here I dedicate to some of my favorites
This song is dedicated to some of my favorite musicians
Hey yo, check this out
Listen to this
I like to dedicate this to Chuck Chillout
I want to dedicate this song to Chuck Chillout
I like to dedicate this to the Awesome Two
I want to dedicate this song to the Awesome Two
I like to dedicate this to Red Alert
I want to dedicate this song to Red Alert
And I dedicate this one to Biz Mark
I want to dedicate this song to Biz Markie
I like to dedicate this to De La Soul
I want to dedicate this song to De La Soul
And this one goes to the JB's
I want to dedicate this song to The JB's
I like to dedicate this to EPMD
I want to dedicate this song to EPMD
I like to dedicate this to Kid Capri
I want to dedicate this song to Kid Capri
I like to dedicate this to Andre
I want to dedicate this song to Andre
I like to dedicate this to Puffy
I want to dedicate this song to Puff Daddy (now known as Diddy)
I like to dedicate this to the SD's
I want to dedicate this song to the SD's
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MAXWELL DIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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”What more could I say, I wouldn’t be here today if the Old School didn’t pave the way!” - Grand Puba
Love that line! And 2Pac did too (listen to 2Pac’s song ”Old School” if you don’t believe me).
Ain’t nothin’ like the Old School! - 2Pac 1995
Aidan Fox
I heard that song on the Me against the world album when he was supporting his brothers and sisters from NYC such as Mr Magic, Rakim, LL, and many other rappers from the 1980s.
William Strong
The single most underappreciated, most style stole, multi rap genre icon, the father of so many styles and present day MC's... The early originator of singing hooks, and influential genre producer, Grand Puba!!
saul berg
One of the few Mcs that has a great Reggae flow........bless up
Abdullah Patterson
He is part yardie
Janet Wedrosky
I Love this song 💕 💕💙 💜💙 💜. Tommy 💕💜 💙💜 💙
bingrim
Me too!!!
Lefty southpaw 336 * 631
🔥🔥🔥THIS is why I can't respect the new shhht
William Strong
Gramd Puba, linguistically, style, influence and production so under appreciated...seminal...W5X
William Strong
@Jarrel Ely Lastly pertaining to Pos K and Puba they were good friends, early linguistic party music kindred spirits...But Pos K never had the deep historical knowledge and passion for our people consciousness...But iconic stylistically in his own right..."No body can be you but you" off of Brand Nubians first album with Pos and Puba is a broad all over the place playful classic...W5X