This group consisted also of his partner Webb. Following a fallout with his partner, Canibus pursued a solo career and began infiltrating the mix-tape circuit. By 1997, he had approached the brink of the major-label rap game, guesting regularly on high-profile releases: He contributed to "Uni-4-orm," an inclusion on the Rhyme & Reason soundtrack also featuring Heltah Skeltah and Rass Kass; "Love, Peace & Nappiness," an inclusion on the Lost Boyz's Love, Peace & Nappiness also featuring Redman and A+; "Making a Name for Ourselves," an inclusion on Common's One Day It'll All Make Sense; the non-album remix of Wyclef Jean's "Gone Till November."
And most famously, "4, 3, 2, 1," an inclusion on LL Cool J's Phenomenon also featuring Redman, DMX, and Method Man.
Of the several guest appearances, "4, 3, 2, 1" certainly meant the most, as it brought together many of New York's preeminent hardcore rappers and thus ushered Canibus into that same elite class. At the same time, however, Canibus lashed out shortly afterward with the Mike Tyson-featuring "Second Round K.O.," where he rhymed, "So I'ma let the world know the truth, you don't want me to shine/You studied my rhyme, then you laid your vocals after mine."
In fact, the entirety of the song directed barbed rhymes at LL: "You walk around showin' off your body cause it sells/Plus to avoid the fact that you ain't got skills/Mad at me 'cause I kick that sh*t real niggaz feel/While 99 percent of your fans wear high heels," and so on. Shortly thereafter, LL sought his revenge, releasing "The Ripper Strikes Back" on the Survival of the Illest soundtrack (1998) and thus channeling even more attention toward Canibus.
From the track's chorus ("Can-I-bus? Yes you can!") to practically every line of the verses ("You soft as a newborn baby takin' a nap/Make my dick hard with that bitch-ass track/Where you at? smokin' in some one-room flat/Suckin' on Clef's dick hopin' to come back"), LL unleashed a fury of insults and threats. The media, of course, elevated the battle to grand heights, as even MTV gave the story headlines. In the aftermath of 2Pac's and Biggie's deaths, such confrontations fascinated the rap community, and Canibus certainly capitalized on his newfound publicity.
As for his debut full-length, Can-i-bus (1998), though, the response was sobering. Critics expressed little support, and sales quickly dropped as listeners also felt genuinely disappointed. Executive produced by Wyclef, the album suffered on many levels, both production-wise and rhetorically as well (critics targeting Canibus' delivery more than his lyrics or themes). The momentum that "Second Round K.O." had generated simmered almost immediately, and it didn't help that LL's "Ripper Strikes Back" found substantial acceptance at the time as well.
In the two years following the release of Can-i-bus, the rapper maintained an extremely low profile, much in contrast to the regular guest appearances he had made leading up to his debut. As a result, when he finally did return with his follow-up album, 2000 B.C. (2000), few noticed, it came and went generally unheard, and Canibus returned to the underground after parting ways with Universal. He continued to record albums and release them on the independent circuit (including 2002's Mic Club, 2003's Rip the Jacker, and 2005's Mind Control); furthermore, he retained a small base of fans as well, yet his days as the next-big-thing had clearly come and gone, as they similarly had for so many other talented rappers.
Behind Enemy Rhymes
Canibus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Behind enemy rhymes, when the curriculum storms
It's like this yo, check it out, uh, yo
When the curriculum storms
Modern rap history is re-born on cd code in the form of a poem
Anyone who study Canibus past
Knows he has to answer the questions
Super advanced, faculty man, chairman of curriculum class
85% never pass, 10% smile and 5% don't even laugh
When the chalks in my hand and I'm drawin up graphs
I present the contingency plan to the top grads
They probably think I'm on speed I'm talkin so fast
The body of the rhyme is smooth, like body in bath
The Submary is more explosive than a meth lab blast
My symmetrical shockwave shatter glass
As my you 2 35 rhyme hits critical mass
Apocalypse now, lyrical raps blow everything off the map
From green grass to African Bayobats
Spike with electro mats, aircrafts crash
CDC's in the streets passin out gas masks
Gorgeous women thank me for the oxygen tank
Baby, the sherrons on my arms will tell you I reign
Maybe I'll become another casualty in the field
They'll ingrave my tombstone with the master steel
The best beats in the world couldn't rival my skill
It's like pourin a couple water on a million beach whales
The french is speakin basics, I should re-interate this
We rise to great heights by winding staircases
Lines spiral and a french curve design
When the curriculum storms, Behind enemy rhymes
When the curriculum storms, this is lyrical law
Computer programmed bars come out of digital jaws
This is the toughest course in hip hop so far
Behind enemy rhymes, when the curriculum storms, (x2)
The lines "Behind enemy rhymes, when the curriculum storms" from Canibus's song Behind Enemy Rhymes suggest that it is in times of intellectual challenge and complexity that true creativity and innovation can emerge. The rapper reflects on his own advanced knowledge and skill in the art of rap, questioning whether his listeners possess the same level of understanding.
Canibus sets himself apart from his peers, depicting himself as a "super advanced, faculty man, chairman of curriculum class" who presents a "contingency plan to the top grads." He describes his rhymes as explosive and capable of shattering glass, and he asserts that even the best beats in the world couldn't rival his skill.
The imagery in the lyrics is intense and apocalyptic, with references to aircraft crashes and the CDC passing out gas masks. Overall, the song suggests that behind the bravado of rap lies a deep intellectual capacity and a desire to push the boundaries of the form.
Line by Line Meaning
Behind enemy rhymes, when the curriculum storms
When the toughest course in hip hop emerges, this is lyrical law, and computer-programmed bars come out of digital jaws. This is Canibus at his highest level.
Modern rap history is re-born on cd code in the form of a poem
Canibus's rhymes are so groundbreaking that they redefine the history of rap, as if he's encoding his story onto disc.
Anyone who study Canibus past
Anyone familiar with Canibus's legacy
Knows he has to answer the questions
Understands that there's a certain level to his lyricism that requires an explanation or answer.
Your probably not advanced enough to ask
For most people, they are not at the level where they could even think to ask.
Super advanced, faculty man, chairman of curriculum class
Canibus is at the highest level of his craft, the most advanced lyricist, teaching those in the industry, and running the game.
85% never pass, 10% smile and 5% don't even laugh
Most people don't understand the complexity of his rhymes, only a small percent even laugh or smile at his wit and punchlines.
When the chalks in my hand and I'm drawin up graphs
When he's penning lyrics, it's like he's crafting a compex mathematical formula on a chalkboard.
I present the contingency plan to the top grads
He's presenting his plan to the top hip hop artists, and showing them how it's done.
They probably think I'm on speed I'm talkin so fast
To most people, it would seem like he's talking at rapid-fire speed, because of the complexity of his rhymes.
The body of the rhyme is smooth, like body in bath
The lyrics flow so smoothly, like the feeling of bathing in a tub.
The Submary is more explosive than a meth lab blast
His rhymes are more explosive than a meth lab, and they leave the listener stunned.
My symmetrical shockwave shatter glass
The sheer force of his rhymes can shatter glass, and leave a lasting impression on the listener.
As my you 2 35 rhyme hits critical mass
Once his rhymes hit their peak, they reach critical mass and explode with energy, intensity, and complexity.
Apocalypse now, lyrical raps blow everything off the map
His rhymes are so powerful that they devastate everything in their path, as if it's the end of the world.
From green grass to African Bayobats
From the tranquil scenery of green grass, to the exotic African Bayobats, his rhymes transcend boundaries and evoke images of different parts of the world.
Spike with electro mats, aircrafts crash
Like an electrified spike mat, the power of his rhymes can bring airplanes crashing down.
CDC's in the streets passin out gas masks
His rhymes are so toxic to the unprepared listener, that specialists must intervene with gas masks to protect themselves.
Gorgeous women thank me for the oxygen tank
Even good-looking women need a breath of fresh air after hearing his rhymes.
Baby, the sherrons on my arms will tell you I reign
Even his tattoos declare his dominance as the best rapper.
Maybe I'll become another casualty in the field
There's always the chance of him being defeated by another rapper in a battle.
They'll ingrave my tombstone with the master steel
Even if he dies in battle, his tombstone will be engraved with the word 'master', because he'll be considered one of the all-time greats.
The best beats in the world couldn't rival my skill
Even the best beats in the world can't compare to the complexity and skill of his rhymes.
It's like pourin a couple water on a million beach whales
Even trying to compare the immense scale of his rhymes to anything else is impossible, because it's like pouring a couple of water on a million beach whales.
The french is speakin basics, I should re-interate this
Compared to him, even the most advanced rappers are using basic rhymes, so he has to emphasize this fact.
We rise to great heights by winding staircases
His rhymes are like taking the winding staircase to greatness, because they require effort, skill, and complexity.
Lines spiral and a french curve design
His rhymes spiral and curve like a French design, unique and intricate at the same time.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheGoodWay -182
Lyrics:
Behind enemy rhymes, when the curriculum storms
Behind enemy rhymes, when the curriculum storms
It's like this yo, check it out, uh, yo
[Verse 1]
When the curriculum storms, modern rap history is reborn
On CD code in the form of a poem
Anyone that studies Canibus' past knows he has the answers
To questions you're probably not advanced enough to ask
Super advanced faculty man, chairman of curriculum class
85% never pass, 10% smile and 5% don't even laugh
When the chalks in my hand and I'm drawing up graphs
I present the contingency plan to the top brass
They probably think I'm on speed I'm talking so fast
The body of the rhyme is smooth like body and bath
The summary is more explosive than a meth lab blast
My symmetrical shockwave shatter glasses
My U-235 rhyme hits critical mass
Apocalypse Now, lyrical raps blow everything off the map
From green grass to African Baobabs
Spike with an electro-mag, aircrafts crash
CDC's in the streets passing out gas masks
Gorgeous women thank me for the oxygen tank
Baby, the chevrons on my arm will tell you my rank
Maybe I'll become another casualty in the field
They'll engrave my tombstone with the master steel
The best beats in the world couldn't rival my skill
That's like throwing a cup of water on a million beached whales
Ran eloquence on an unprecedented scale
Close your eyes, feel the rhymes cause I'm better in Braille
The Francis Bacon basics, I should reiterate this
We rise to great heights by winding staircases
The line spiral in a French curve design
When the curriculum storms, Behind enemy rhymes
[Chorus]
When the curriculum storms, this is lyrical law
Computer programmed bars come out of digital jaws
This is the toughest course in hip hop so far
Behind enemy rhymes, when the curriculum storms
When the curriculum storms, this is lyrical law
Computer programmed bars come out of digital jaws
This is the toughest course in hip hop so far
Behind enemy rhymes, when the curriculum storms
[Verse 2]
Written addendum, curriculum - attention deficit disorder
Magician flipping them with serotonin re-uptake inhibitors
That inhibit them from the seeing the vision when
They spit against Bis and them they must want to get dissed again
I'm sicker than your sixth sense inhale breaths
Through the luffa in my chest bigger than wind tunnel vents
Please believe the ammo is live
My fusillade of rhymes fly through your ride and go stream fuselage
Blistering speed fools eyes with fast rhymes
Setting world records for Nürburgring's fastest lap times
Get chequered flags for 48 tracks of rhymes
A hundred times for vocal signatures too complex to sign
Human by design, a mental monster of the mind
Rhetoric versus reality the reason I rhyme
Eternally inclined to shine
Principles a plenitude, I spit at you, injure you if you step out of line
A transcendental intellectual
A marvel to the medical professionals that claim they have more tests to do
Before they understand what I'm equipped to do
Visual psychoanalytical living proof that I rip you
I rip the roof off like cyclones do
When the curriculum storms I rip a microphone too
A molecular miracle in the physical
My lyrical has always been something different for you to listen to
Difficult but legible, forever memorable
Enough to remain in the membrane of your mental pool
I train your brain muscles and take you to school
Hard rocks become gentle jewels, these are the rules
When you in the Mic Club mood you never get booed
Aptitude and attitude are your battling tools
Stay calm and spit those bars
If you find yourself behind enemy rhymes you got to weather the storm
[Chorus]
When the curriculum storms, this is lyrical law
Computer programmed bars come out of digital jaws
This is the toughest course in hip hop so far
Behind enemy rhymes, when the curriculum storms
When the curriculum storms, this is lyrical law
Computer programmed bars come out of digital jaws
This is the toughest course in hip hop so far
Behind enemy rhymes, when the curriculum storms
J Spore
Criminally, ridiculously and unreasonably underrated
Nel Manelo
Exactly
ShadyVilleAllDay X
This is one of the illest songs I heard from the ripper it just reminds me how much of a legend he is I love you bis
Olgierd OLO
One of Canibus' finest projects, this album is pure brilliance, a hip hop classic. Gotta give the credit where it's due.
g g
Insane production on this album
Isaac
This whole album is amazing he deserves to be in goat debates
Dr. Inkwell
Im feelin this.
"When you in the mic club mood, you never get "boo"ed.
Aptitude and attitude are your battling tools.
Stay calm, and spit those bars."
Just Me
In the physical, my lyrical, has always been something different for you to listen to!!!👍
Death rager
how come people say canibus picked bad beats? they just blackballin on him . sad haters dude. canibus the goat
Olgierd OLO
True, artists have just been always afraid of him and trying to discredit his persona in some foolish, pathetic ways. Unfortunately, part of the public bought the propaganda.