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.
Mic-Nificent
Canibus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, sittin on chrome, sittin on low pro 20 inch firestones
Grippin the road with the wickedest flow, 'Bis is a pro
I zigzag throughout sly loam
Accelerate and decelerate in and out the cones
Poisonous poems travel through walkman headphones
Into your dome Osteoperosis your bones,
Who's the nicest nigga you know in the year two triple-oh
Drain your carcass dry rip out your heart bitch
I write rhymes using your blood for my ink cartridges
Paleoanthropologists, polish the bones
of rapper artist after I dip in my hydrochloric waters
Canibus, with the seams burstin, perfect
Everyday the earth spins I write verses
My soul purpose as a verbalist, is to make my words twist
and connect like letters when they're in cursive
Chorus: repeat 4X
I'll pray on them, spray on them
First nigga to violate I'll regulate without warning
[Canibus]
Yo, Yo, I'm faster than leopards running across the vast desert
In twenty-two yards per second to catch me to daily delicatessen
With thirty minutes to eat'em, forty minutes to digest 'em
And fifty minutes for it to pass through my intestines
So ask yourself a question - can the Canibus rhyme?
Is a fuckin porcupine half swine?
No time to make up your mind, you wanna run or die?
Clip you while you're running by, trip you up from behind
My rhymes, confuse niggas like somebody try to gang-bang
wearin a blue shirt and red pants,
throwin up signs with their left hand
Standin out on the corner of wetlands
with a confederate flag for a headband
God dam eggplants, niggas gettin me vexed man
Cause I'm surrounded by garbage like Fred Sav
and I can't seem to get away from it
I dreamed that I stabbed Leviathan through the stomach, and ate from it
In my past life I slayed hundreds, and in the life before that
I played trumpets, to warn you that I was comin
There's one billion ways to die, and I already tried
nine-hundred million nine hundred and ninety nine
When I aim and fire my rhymes, like a hundred cannon balls flying
Striking you one at a time, in a parallel line
Why the art of emceein is steady dyin
That nigga Canibus is still in his prime, bust a rhyme
Chorus: repeat 4X
I'll pray on them, spray on them
First nigga to violate I'll regulate without warning
[Canibus]
Club Dodge, I wrecked that
Limelight, cursed that
Envy, I murdered that
Club SoHo, never heard of that
Wetlands, dried it up
Cheaters, decided to club, fired up
looking for a chicken to tie up
Club New York, I heard it's hot there
beats be rocking there
Too many niggaz be getting stabbed and shot there
Speed, I slowed it down
The Tunnel, they hold it down
Home of the underground, why they always close it down
Century club, the hot shit
House of Blues, I rocked it
One twelve ATL, that's the Dirty South bomb shit
Synagogue, yeah I be there
Caribbean City, roll deep there
Lyricist Lounge, they be some real emcees there
there there {*fades out*}
In Canibus's song "Mic-Nificent," he boasts about his skills as a rapper while also addressing the decline of the art form itself. Canibus starts the first verse by describing his high-end car and his impeccable flow, which allows him to maneuver through difficult obstacles with ease. However, he doesn't just use his microphones to entertain the masses; he also uses them as a weapon, with lyrics as sharp as knives. He brags about being the best rapper in the world, while also challenging his listeners to name someone better in the year "two triple-oh." In the second verse, Canibus compares himself to a cheetah, claiming to be the fastest rapper out there. He also touches on the confusion caused by the proliferation of gang signs and the decline of the underground rap scene.
Canibus's use of figurative language in the song stands out. He compares his words to icicles that can cut through the air and slice your throat, and he uses the metaphor of using other rappers' blood for his ink. Also, he employs alliteration and rhyme schemes which are particularly language-intensive. Canibus shows his prowess in using complex vocabulary, which requires a degree of intelligence and education.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, sittin on chrome, sittin on low pro 20 inch firestones
I am sitting on flashy chrome rims and low profile tires that are 20 inches in diameter
Grippin the road with the wickedest flow, 'Bis is a pro
I have an amazing flow, and I stay completely in control and on top of my game
I zigzag throughout sly loam
I move around quickly and gracefully, like a skilled athlete maneuvering through a tricky obstacle course
Accelerate and decelerate in and out the cones
I can speed up and slow down easily and precisely, weaving in and out of whatever obstacles are in my way
Poisonous poems travel through walkman headphones
My lyrics are so potent that they resonate strongly even on a personal listening device like a Walkman
Into your dome Osteoperosis your bones,
My rhymes are so fierce that they can shake you to your very core and make you feel weak, like you have osteoporosis
Who's the nicest nigga you know in the year two triple-oh
I am the best rapper of the new millennium
Spit turn to icicles in the mid air and slit your throat
My quick and cutting lyrics are like sharp icicles that can even be deadly
Drain your carcass dry rip out your heart bitch
My rhymes are so strong that they can even drain the life out of my competition and show them no mercy
I write rhymes using your blood for my ink cartridges
My lyrics are fueled by the energy and competition of other rappers, and they inspire me to push even harder
Paleoanthropologists, polish the bones of rapper artist after I dip in my hydrochloric waters
Even after I destroy my competition, my legacy will continue to be analyzed and remembered by people who study history and culture
Canibus, with the seams burstin, perfect
I am always pushing myself to the limit with my lyrics, and I strive for nothing less than perfection
Everyday the earth spins I write verses
I am always working and creating, no matter what else is going on around me
My soul purpose as a verbalist, is to make my words twist and connect like letters when they're in cursive
I am dedicated to my craft of rapping and creating lyrics, and I strive to make every word flow together perfectly like a beautiful cursive script
I'll pray on them, spray on them
I will dominate and overpower anyone who challenges me, and I will not hesitate to strike them down with my rhymes
First nigga to violate I'll regulate without warning
I will not tolerate anyone who tries to mess with me or get in my way, and I will take them out decisively
Yo, Yo, I'm faster than leopards running across the vast desert
I am incredibly quick and agile, and I can move with the grace and speed of a leopard crossing the open desert
In twenty-two yards per second to catch me to daily delicatessen
I move so quickly that I could travel over 22 yards in just one second, and I'm always on the move like a hungry customer headed to a deli
With thirty minutes to eat'em, forty minutes to digest 'em
I am always working quickly and efficiently, and I can eat and process a full meal in just over an hour
And fifty minutes for it to pass through my intestines
My body also processes food quickly and efficiently, and it takes no more than an hour or so for me to fully digest a meal
So ask yourself a question - can the Canibus rhyme?
I am confident in my abilities, and I dare anyone to question whether or not I can rap and create amazing lyrics
Is a fuckin porcupine half swine?
The answer is obviously no - just like how I am a purebred rapper with no confusing or mixed elements
No time to make up your mind, you wanna run or die?
I am not giving anyone a chance to back down or change their mind - they can either face me head on or suffer the consequences
Clip you while you're running by, trip you up from behind
I am always ready and able to take out my competition, no matter how fast they try to move or how well they try to hide
My rhymes, confuse niggas like somebody try to gang-bang wearing a blue shirt and red pants, throwin up signs with their left hand
My lyrics are so clever and intricate that they can even throw off and confuse other seasoned rappers - it's like trying to discern a gang member's loyalty by the colors they wear and the signs they throw up
Standin out on the corner of wetlands with a confederate flag for a headband
People out in the world can sometimes be just as confusing and illogical as the situations I describe in my rhymes - like someone wearing a symbol of the Confederacy on their head in a place called 'wetlands'
God dam eggplants, niggas gettin me vexed man
Sometimes people can just be plain annoying and frustrating, like a room full of eggplants that seem to taunt and irritate me
Cause I'm surrounded by garbage like Fred Sav and I can't seem to get away from it
I feel like I'm stuck in a world full of trash and waste, like a room full of hoarded garbage that I can't escape
I dreamed that I stabbed Leviathan through the stomach, and ate from it
Sometimes my dreams are just as dark and violent as the themes in my rhymes - like an image of stabbing a giant sea monster and devouring it for sustenance
In my past life I slayed hundreds, and in the life before that I played trumpets, to warn you that I was comin
Even in my past lives, I was always skilled and formidable - either slaying hundreds of foes or playing music that foretold my arrival
There's one billion ways to die, and I already tried nine-hundred million nine hundred and ninety nine
I have lived a dangerous and exciting life, and I have almost tested out nearly every possible way to die
When I aim and fire my rhymes, like a hundred cannon balls flying
My rhymes are so powerful that they can do damage like a barrage of a hundred cannon balls
Striking you one at a time, in a parallel line
My rhymes are precise and calculated, and they hit with deadly accuracy one after the other
Why the art of emceein is steady dyin
Despite my incredible skills and dedication, the art of hip hop and rapping is gradually losing its prestige and influence
That nigga Canibus is still in his prime, bust a rhyme
Despite the decline of hip hop, I am still at the top of my game and always ready to deliver an amazing rap
Club Dodge, I wrecked that
I have dominated and shown my skills at the club Dodge
Limelight, cursed that
I have bad memories or experiences from the club Limelight
Envy, I murdered that
I have completely destroyed and crushed the competition at the club Envy
Club SoHo, never heard of that
I am not familiar with the club SoHo
Wetlands, dried it up
I have left the club Wetlands in awe after I performed there
Cheaters, decided to club, fired up looking for a chicken to tie up
I have a particular opinion of the club Cheaters and have vivid memories of my time there
Club New York, I heard it's hot there beats be rocking there
I have heard that the club New York has an amazing atmosphere with great music
Too many niggaz be getting stabbed and shot there
The club New York has a dangerous reputation, with many people suffering violent crimes there
Speed, I slowed it down
I am capable of both quick and slow tempos when rapping
The Tunnel, they hold it down
The club The Tunnel has a stronghold on the hip hop scene
Home of the underground, why they always close it down
Even though the club The Tunnel is an important part of the underground hip hop scene, it often faces the threat of closure
Century club, the hot shit
The Century club is one of the hottest spots on the hip hop scene
House of Blues, I rocked it
I have had a great performance at the House of Blues
One twelve ATL, that's the Dirty South bomb shit
The club One twelve in Atlanta is the epitome of Dirty South hip hop, and I am a huge fan
Synagogue, yeah I be there
I have performed at the Synagogue club before
Caribbean City, roll deep there
I have a large following and am deeply respected in the Caribbean City club scene
Lyricist Lounge, they be some real emcees there
The club Lyricist Lounge is known for having some of the most talented and genuine hip hop artists
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL PIERRE, GERMAINE WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cedrichamlover7937
Even Eminem and Royce were once huge fans of Canibus..
@essence4777
They still are just not publicly
@yogi30051972
@@essence4777 agreed.
Eminem said this in Bang. It was amazing.
@donsickario7921
Facts
@philapaul2389
Air strike
@o-datsingh7296
Man fuk Eminem
@flex78207
"I'm faster than leopards running across the vast desert
At 22 yards per second to catch me the daily delicatessen" 🔥🔥🔥😥
@bestforless7529
w 30 mins te eatem 40 mins to digest him AND 50 MINUTES FA IT TO PASS THU MY INTESTINES!!!! WTF
@forgetfulfunctor1
Look up his other shit, anything after 2003 is like this I feel
@bestdressedtrapper763
Its 2020 bro just to let u know this is heat til this day