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.
Bonus Track
Canibus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Canibus is the lyrical version of German engineering
Raw metaphors keep you high for months
Fly around the earth twice without refueling once
Ain't too many categories I could fit in
When it come to spittin
Cuz I'm overqualified for tha position
The lazer guided lyrical hybrid
I gotta arm wrestle my pen to write it
Don't get excited
Cuz if I ever catch one of you motherfuckers biting
We're going to be fist fighting
So m**********are what you want?
I have the shotgun pumped
You feel like a frog n***a, then jump.
I posess the lyrical ammo to battle
And rip any one of you warm blooded mammals to shambles.
I'll make examples of you and eat a mouth full of your crew
The type of emcee you can't outdo
I'll battle you on the net
I'll battle you in the flesh
I'll battle you over the phone you can call me collect
I'll battle you for the respect
I'll battle you over the (pause)
I'll battle you over a blank check
I'll battle you with a gun to my neck
I'll battle you standing over the toilet with my d**k out
I'll battle you juggling a hand grenade with the pin out
In a stolen car with the fin number ripped out
Drinking a Guiness Stout
Doing a 360 spinout.
Yo yo
In this song "Bonus Track" by Canibus, the lyrics describe his immense skill as a rapper and his confidence in his ability to battle any other rapper who dares to come up against him. Canibus starts off by boasting about his ability to reach frequencies that are beyond the comprehension of dogs, likening himself to German engineering - a nod to Germany's reputation for world-class engineering. He goes on to describe how his raw metaphors keep listeners high for months and that he is overqualified for the position of simply being a rapper. Canibus compares himself to a laser-guided lyrical hybrid, capable of creating scripts that are so sick that he has to arm-wrestle his pen to write them, showing his dedication to his craft.
The song's lyrics also depict Canibus's willingness to take on any challenger or imitator. He is always ready to defend his skills, and he encourages anyone daring enough to bite his lyrics to prepare for a fistfight. Canibus boasts that he's the type of emcee you can't outdo, and he challenges anyone to come against him in various battle formats - on the net, over the phone, in the flesh, with a gun to his neck, or even while juggling a hand grenade. His words show that he is confident in his abilities and always ready to prove his worth.
Line by Line Meaning
I speak at frequencies dogs would have trouble hearing
My rhymes are so advanced they can't even be heard by some animals.
Canibus is the lyrical version of German engineering
I am the epitome of lyrical greatness, comparable to the engineering mastery of Germany.
Raw metaphors keep you high for months
The vivid imagery and wordplay I utilize in my rhymes have a long-lasting impact on listeners.
Fly around the earth twice without refueling once
My rhymes are so potent that they can take you on a long journey without needing a break.
Ain't too many categories I could fit in
I am unique and hard to classify.
When it come to spittin
In terms of rapping
Cuz I'm overqualified for tha position
I am so good at rapping that standard titles don't do my skill justice.
The lazer guided lyrical hybrid
My rhymes are precise and impactful like a guided laser missile.
Creatin scripts so sick,
My rhymes are so good that they can be considered a form of artistic writing.
I gotta arm wrestle my pen to write it
My writing process takes a lot of effort and energy, like arm wrestling my pen.
Don't get excited
Do not become too enthusiastic.
Cuz if I ever catch one of you motherfuckers biting
If I ever find someone stealing or copying my lyrics,
We're going to be fist fighting
I'll resort to physical violence.
So m**********are what you want?
What is it that you want from me?
I have the shotgun pumped
I am fully prepared to take action.
You feel like a frog n***a, then jump.
If you're feeling froggy (i.e. brave), then go ahead and try me.
I posess the lyrical ammo to battle
I have the arsenal of rhymes to engage in a rap battle.
And rip any one of you warm blooded mammals to shambles.
I can easily destroy any human opponent in a rap battle.
I'll make examples of you and eat a mouth full of your crew
I will defeat you and your entire crew with ease.
The type of emcee you can't outdo
I am the type of rapper that no one can surpass.
I'll battle you on the net
I will challenge you to a rap battle online.
I'll battle you in the flesh
I will challenge you to a rap battle in person.
I'll battle you over the phone you can call me collect
I am so confident in my rapping skills that I am willing to take on any opponent over the phone, even if they don't have the means to pay for the call.
I'll battle you for the respect
I will engage in a rap battle solely for the purpose of earning respect.
I'll battle you over the (pause)
I am so willing to battle that I will even do it over nothing (indicated by the pause in the lyrics).
I'll battle you over a blank check
I am so confident in my abilities that I'm willing to battle for an undefined amount of money.
I'll battle you with a gun to my neck
I am so confident in my rhymes that I am willing to perform under extreme pressure.
I'll battle you standing over the toilet with my d**k out
I will take on any challenger regardless of the circumstances or location.
I'll battle you juggling a hand grenade with the pin out
I am unafraid of taking risks and engaging in high stakes situations.
In a stolen car with the fin number ripped out
I am willing to take on a challenge even if it means breaking the law.
Drinking a Guiness Stout
I am cool and relaxed, enjoying a drink while remaining ready to fight.
Doing a 360 spinout.
I am confident in my ability to remain cool and calm in any situation.
Contributed by Riley A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.