Born Germaine Williams in 1974 in Jamaica, Canibus moved to the United Stat… Read Full Bio ↴Born Germaine Williams in 1974 in Jamaica, Canibus moved to the United States with his mother at a young age. Because his mother's career required constant relocation, the family moved frequently and the soon-to-be rapper found solace within himself. His rhetorical abilities blossomed later, once hip-hop became the guiding force in his life. He began rhyming and in the mid-'90s joined a group called T.H.E.M. (The Heralds of Extreme Metaphors.)

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 Club Intro
Canibus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ha ha ha ha
Enter the Miclub this is where it all starts
Emcees defend they honor at all costs
Cycle of winners, this ain't for beginners
I'm the sinner; state your name rank and business
When I pass you the mic, you better burn it
Don't be squirmish, you want respect, you gotta earn it
This is where we define purpose, how much heart lies beneath the surface

What's hidden behind the curtain?
Besides tight verses, nothing in life is certain
If you live as long as your words, you make life worth it

Writing rhymes gives me a buzz, I do this for the love
Welcome to the M I see Club......

Overall Meaning

In these lyrics by Canibus, he introduces the Miclub, which is a place for emcees to defend their honor at all costs. Canibus sets the tone by saying that this is not for beginners and that it is a cycle of winners. He refers to himself as the sinner and demands that anyone who wants to pick up the mic to burn it when they are finished. He reminds the emcees that they must earn respect and that purpose and heart are what will make them stand out in this industry.

Canibus then raises the question of what lies behind the curtain besides tight verses. The answer is that nothing in life is certain, which is why it is important to make life worth it by living as long as your words. He admits that writing rhymes gives him a buzz and declares that he does this for love. The Miclub is a place where emcees can hone their skills, push themselves to be better, and find their own purpose in life.

Overall, Canibus's Miclub Intro is a testament to the artistry, competitiveness, and camaraderie that define the world of emceeing.

Line by Line Meaning

Ha ha ha ha
Canibus starts with a chuckle, probably because he knows what it takes to be a real emcee and how difficult it is to survive in the game.

Enter the Miclub this is where it all starts
Miclub is the platform for the upcoming and the established emcees, who start their journey to become successful rappers.

Emcees defend they honor at all costs
Emcees protect their reputation and pride with everything they've got because it takes years to establish a name in the rap game.

Cycle of winners, this ain't for beginners
Only the hard-working and skillful emcees, who have proven themselves capable of winning, can survive in this game.

I'm the sinner; state your name rank and business
Canibus refers to himself as a sinner but wants to know more about the other emcees, their name, rank, and what they're trying to achieve.

When I pass you the mic, you better burn it
Canibus challenges the emcees to be at their best when he passes them the mic. They should kill it and destroy the competition.

Don't be squirmish, you want respect, you gotta earn it
Canibus reminds the emcees that they have to earn the respect in the rap game. They should be confident and not afraid to speak their truth.

This is where we define purpose, how much heart lies beneath the surface
Miclub is where emcees elaborate on their purpose and struggles to reveal their true intentions for the game.

What's hidden behind the curtain?
Canibus wonders what's hidden behind the curtain, other than tight verses. He challenges the emcees to go deep and reveal their darkest fears and aspirations.

Besides tight verses, nothing in life is certain
Canibus reminds the emcees that no matter how good they are, nothing is guaranteed in life, and they have to keep working hard.

If you live as long as your words, you make life worth it
Canibus believes that if the emcees' words and legacy live on even after they're gone, then they have accomplished something great in their life.

Writing rhymes gives me a buzz, I do this for the love
Canibus explains that he writes rhymes for the sheer joy of doing it, and he does it because he loves it.

Welcome to the M I see Club......
Canibus welcomes the emcees to Miclub, the hub for raw and authentic rap music.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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