Camp Lo is an American Hip Hop duo, formed in 1995, which hails from The Br… Read Full Bio ↴Camp Lo is an American Hip Hop duo, formed in 1995, which hails from The Bronx, New York. The duo consists of rappers Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede, who are most notable for their flair towards blaxploitation in their style of dress and in their lyrics.

Camp Lo made their first appearance in 1996 on The Great White Hype soundtrack, with their single "Coolie High". The smooth party song was a minor hit, peaking at #25 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart. Their first major exposure came with the release of their second single, the upbeat, horn driven "Luchini AKA This Is It". The song became a crossover hit in 1997, breaking into the top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100, and reaching the top 5 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. The duo released their debut album Uptown Saturday Night in January 1997. The effort was widely acclaimed, praised for their light accessible content and their smooth, Funk and Jazz inspired production.

The majority of the album was produced by Ski, famous for his work with Jay-Z. Guest appearances were provided by De La Soul's Trugoy and Digable Planets' Butterfly. The album's 70's-style content was influential on a number of artists within the next few years after its release, like Will Smith, who enlisted Camp Lo for an appearance on his top-selling Big Willie Style album. Also in 1997, they appeared on Oran "Juice" Jones' single "Poppin' That Fly". They collaborated with Hip Hop legends De La Soul in 2000, on the song "So Good" from the Hip Hop 101 Compilation. They finally returned with another album in 2002, titled Let's Do It Again. This effort was not nearly as revered as their debut, and was met with mediocre reviews and sales. Shortly after the album's release, Aesop Rock enlisted them to appear on his album Bazooka Tooth, exposing them to fans of the underground Definitive Jux label. The duo has recently been in negotiations with Blacksmith Records, a label headed by rapper Talib Kweli. Kweli has expressed interest in signing Camp Lo to his label. In 2006, Camp Lo recorded the song "I Wanna Be" for Midway's NBA Ballers: Phenom Soundtrack. Also in 2006, "Bed Rock", the first single from the Fort Apache Mixtape was released exclusively through on-line sources.

Swing
Camp Lo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Featuring Ish)

Ish:

Don't give me your swing

I got mines and that's the thing

Blahzay blahzay blahzay who name bell rings

Geechie:

Don't give me your swing

I got mine and that's the thing

Blahzay blahzay blahzay who names bell ring

Verse One: Geechie Suede

Now for the grab the stash(?)

To the alley Varner(?) any splash

Tryin not to crash

Swervin got the la la on the dash

Getting bent up in the armored truck

stuck him for his glam

shit is candy yams

Now we movin on the ancient mans(?)

They using psycho vision

For the Valentino Gorabani(?)

Fuck Armani Butter

We above these climbs

Hiest the harbours

Word to godfathers getting bleed

Chasing on (?) down to Venice

Tellin sire bout my alley runnin ways

that's how it was cus

Now they got us blammin at the fuzz

Its all gun and poses

on a bed of roses gettin shugged

wrap him in a rug

leave him on the roof till he stink

Hit the pool-hall

Fled the calico and watch him blink

Movin on Picaso

Painting my portraits and condos

'cause when the Lo blows

Only the Lo knows who doe knows (hey hey)

Ish:

Don't give me your swing

I got mines and that's the thing

Blahzay blahzay blahzay who name bell ring

Geechie:

Don't give me your swing

I got mine and that's the thing

Blahzay blahzay blahzay who name bell ring

Verse Two: Ish

(check this)

I don't hate players, I'm from the crown rhyme sayers

Whatever kid- sayers get down with no delaying

I play my cards shark style, kings and aces

Welcome to New York the illest of all places

I never bleed even through this plaza of greed

You got the rarest, true ain't game in yo world

Not them Forrest Gump niggas with shades and S-curls (uh)

I tilt my crown fly I'm trying to angle you girl

The me and you alliance, is no doubt the fly science

We'll prosecute the phony star picks with our style

The million dollar necks word go head crack a smile

My name is Ish and that's something even in this tish

Of pimps, players, hustlers, and killahs and they wish

Your pretty to me, put in me in your frame

your complex attitude intrigue me...stronger than blow

you know, we can play the scenes like Pacino and Pfieffer

My queen'll shine on brinks three karats and brighter

Finesse in foreign fabrics crit seers(?) tighter

Them clown kids you dealt never belt

I came around swift and got felt

That champagne brand name style got melt

My man Killah Jules put me close to these jewels

that's dropped in the lesson sent to crush fools (crush em..peace)

Yo yo, don't give me your swing

I got mines and that's the thing

Its not your swing

Its mines and that's the thing

So all that blahzay blahzay blahzay who name bell rings

All that blahzay blahzay blahzay who name bell rings

Overall Meaning

The song "Swing" by Camp Lo featuring Ish is quite complex and demands close attention to decipher its meaning. The song is structured as a conversation between two people, where the first speaker tells the other not to give them their "swing," indicating that they have already established their own style and sound. They then go on to use a lot of jargon and slang that can be difficult to understand, but it alludes to the world of the singers and the struggles they face.

The first verse, spoken by Geechie Suede, talks about grabbing the stash, possibly referring to stealing money, and driving through the streets, attempting not to crash while under the influence. The singer then brags about stealing glam, referring to expensive clothing or jewelry, before moving on to discuss their expertise in criminal activities. They talk about being pursued by the police and seeking refuge in Venice, where they discuss their love for art and their desire to be wealthy and powerful. The verse ends with the singer mocking their enemies and asserting their confidence in their skills.

The second verse, spoken by Ish, is more abstract and poetic. The singer references playing cards and describes themselves as a "crown rhyme sayer," indicating their prowess as a rapper. They then tout their value and sophistication, contrasting themselves with those they consider foolish or inferior. The singer brags about their expensive jewelry and their ability to attract women, describing their partnership with another person, likely the listener. The verse ends with the singer boasting of their connections and influence and rejecting any attempts to imitate them.

Overall, the song "Swing" is a showcase of the unique style and slang associated with the rap world. The song speaks to the experiences and feelings of those who struggle for success in a world dominated by wealth and power. It is a celebration of individuality and confidence, and the use of poetic language and clever wordplay adds depth to the song's meaning.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't give me your swing
I don't need your help, I've got my own way of doing things

I got mines and that's the thing
I already have what I need to succeed

Blahzay blahzay blahzay who name bell rings
I don't care about what others are saying or who is calling out names

Now for the grab the stash
We're going to take the valuable items we came for

To the alley Varner any splash
We'll make our way down the alley without being noticed

Tryin not to crash
We're driving fast and recklessly, but trying to avoid an accident

Swervin got the la la on the dash
We're driving under the influence of drugs, which is making us swerve

Getting bent up in the armored truck
We're getting high inside an armored truck

stuck him for his glam
We robbed someone for their valuable possessions

shit is candy yams
The loot we got was sweet and good

Now we movin on the ancient mans
We're moving on to rob more valuable targets

They using psycho vision
Our targets are using high-tech security to deter robbers

Fuck Armani Butter
We don't care about designer brands and labels

We above these climbs
We're above petty concerns and materialistic desires

Hiest the harbors
We're robbing valuable goods from the harbor

Word to godfathers getting bleed
We're making money by taking from those who have not earned it, like the mafia

Chasing on (?) down to Venice
We're continuing our criminal activities in Venice, California

Tellin sire bout my alley runnin ways
We're bragging to the police about how we've been able to evade them

that's how it was cus
That's just the way things were

Now they got us blammin at the fuzz
Now the police have caught up with us and we're shooting at them

Its all gun and poses
We're pretending to be tough and showing off with our guns

on a bed of roses gettin shugged
We're enjoying the thrill of our dangerous lifestyle and not thinking about the consequences

wrap him in a rug
We're disposing of a dead body by wrapping it in a rug

leave him on the roof till he stink
We're leaving the body on the roof to rot and smell

Hit the pool-hall
We're going to a pool hall to relax and have fun after a hard day of crime

Fled the calico and watch him blink
We ran away with a gun and watched our enemies panic

Movin on Picaso
We're moving on to bigger and better things, like Picasso paintings

Painting my portraits and condos
We're enjoying our success by spending our money on paintings and luxury condos

'cause when the Lo blows
When Camp Lo becomes successful and famous

Only the Lo knows who doe knows (hey hey)
Only Camp Lo knows what other secrets and conspiracies are going on behind the scenes

I don't hate players, I'm from the crown rhyme sayers
I respect other rappers who are successful in the hip-hop industry, and I come from a group of talented rappers

Whatever kid- sayers get down with no delaying
We're ready to compete with other rappers without hesitation

I play my cards shark style, kings and aces
I'm very skilled and strategic, like a card shark with the best hand

Welcome to New York the illest of all places
New York is the toughest and most competitive place to make it in the hip-hop industry

I never bleed even through this plaza of greed
I remain strong and unmoved by the greed and corruption in the industry

You got the rarest, true ain't game in yo world
I have a unique and authentic style that can't be replicated

Not them Forrest Gump niggas with shades and S-curls (uh)
I'm not like those rappers who are followers and imitate others

I tilt my crown fly I'm trying to angle you girl
I wear my crown with style and confidence, and I'm trying to impress a woman

The me and you alliance, is no doubt the fly science
If we work together, we'll make a powerful and successful team

We'll prosecute the phony star picks with our style
We'll remove the fake and unauthentic rappers from the industry with our genuine style and talent

The million dollar necks word go head crack a smile
We're making so much money in the industry that it's making us smile

My name is Ish and that's something even in this tish
My name stands out and is important, even in this crazy world

Of pimps, players, hustlers, and killahs and they wish
In the hip-hop industry, there are many people who want to be successful like us

Your pretty to me, put in me in your frame
I find you attractive and want to be with you

your complex attitude intrigue me...stronger than blow
Your unique and complicated personality interests me more than drugs

you know, we can play the scenes like Pacino and Pfieffer
We can be like famous actors and have a passionate, exciting romance

My queen'll shine on brinks three karats and brighter
My partner will have a beautiful and valuable diamond necklace that shines even brighter than the Brinks logo

Finesse in foreign fabrics crit seers(?) tighter
We dress well in expensive and high-quality foreign clothing

Them clown kids you dealt never belt
We've dealt with weaker and less successful rappers

I came around swift and got felt
I quickly gained recognition and success in the industry

That champagne brand name style got melt
We don't care about expensive champagne and materialistic things

My man Killah Jules put me close to these jewels
My friend Killah Jules helped me get in touch with valuable connections and opportunities

that's dropped in the lesson sent to crush fools (crush em..peace)
We learned from our past experiences and are now using our knowledge to outsmart our enemies

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Anthony Willis, Saladine T. Wallace, Ishmael Reginald Butler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS