With that album, he became an official member of the Wu-Tang Killa Beez, and from there on out, he frequently appeared on Wu records. In 1996, he played a large role on Ghostface Killah's Ironman.
During 1997, his Wu affiliation continued, as he rapped on the Clan's second album, Wu-Tang Forever.
Cappadonna's solo debut, The Pillage, finally appeared in March 1998. Like any Wu project, the record featured RZA as the executive producer and cameos from a number of other Wu members, including Method Man, U-God, Ghostface Killah, and Raekwon. As the sixth Wu solo project, the album was an instant success upon its release, debuting at number three on the charts.
A sophomore effort, The Yin and the Yang, followed in early 2001. His third and latest album, The Struggle, was released on Code:Red in 2003.
The MC remained active in the following years releasing mix-CDs, doing tours and joining Ghostface Killah’s Theodore Unit. But his official comeback came at the end of 2007 on the Wu-Tang Clan’s fifth studio album 8 Diagrams. Cappa blessed the opening cut with an extraordinary verse and showed up on two other songs.
Cappadonna inked a deal with new indie label Chambermusik Records/Koch in 2008. Old and new fans have been asking for new Cappadonna ever since and on January 27, 2009, their wait will be over with the release of Slang Prostitution.
Can't Stop The Pain
Cappadonna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's always a struggle, yeah
Don't care how you look at
P.J.'s, you know how it get, dirty, dirty
Straight up and down, whole Staten Island (uh-huh)
Slums, still the same, dude... word
(Cappadonna)
Don't get killed, chicks can't run in them heals
Niggas whippin' out guns, payin' them bills
Life is a bitch, you best not snitch
Muthafucka, this the real, always
The dope fiends, the crack stashed in the hallways
Style hold it down, tell Polite call Kane
Don't never test this, we try'nna make all aids
Just niggas down when we blaze, crime pays
Survival in the P.J.'s, or graffiti experts, M.C.'s and the D.J.'s
Better watch your back when flippin' them pies
Real niggas be goin' down right in front of your eyes
If you on the block gettin' it, or a straight nine to five
Still real, Homicide Hill, police circlin'
NARCs got pictures of your grill, street turbulance
(Chorus: Cappadonna)
Cuz everytime I close my eyes, I could feel the rain
And everywhere I seem to go girl, can't stop the pain
No... can't stop the pain, no.
(Cappadonna)
Uh... this one's for mamma
Niggas be gettin' slumped in my projects, it's real violent
Crackheads be on the steps, young bloods'll pop somethin'
Just to get that rep, everyday it's like this
Don't even come outside, if you ain't try'nna get no rich
Niggas murk each other for a small amount of chips
Bloods fightin' other Bloods, there's no Crips where I live
Somethin' gotta give, niggas bust one another
Turn around and watch other kids, my hood's straight 7: 30'in
It get buckwild and the blocks is still dirty
Cameras in the hall, bulletholes left in the wall
Laundromats locked up, floods in the building
The front drain is stopped up, I've been in the hood
Ever since my pain popped up, but just in case
One of ya'll niggas forgot, look at your head nigga
What's that little red dot? Got ya!
(Chorus 2X)
(Outro: Cappadonna)
Give me the bread, heavy on the cheese
Uh... straight like that
Population Click! What's the deal
FMF, PGL, Osama Island
All my niggas in Crimestock, Sing-Sing, what's the deal?
Far Rock' posse, Queens, Brooklyn, P-Lon
That's my word... dance with this!
Get your guns together... takin' pictures.
The song "Can't Stop The Pain" by Cappadonna is a vivid depiction of life in the slums of Staten Island, New York City, where violent crimes, drug addiction, poverty, and gang warfare are rampant. The opening lines of the intro set the tone for the rest of the song, which describes the struggles and hardships that residents of these neighborhoods face on a daily basis. The lyricist uses graphic imagery to paint a picture of the gritty reality of life in these rough areas, where residents must constantly be alert to the dangers around them. The chorus of the song speaks to the sense of hopelessness that can sometimes come with living in such an environment, where the pain never seems to stop.
The first verse references specific neighborhoods in Staten Island, such as Park Hill and Jungle Nil', and compares the fighting spirit of the residents to Navy SEALs. The verse also touches on the prevalence of guns and drug addiction in these areas, as well as the importance of loyalty among those who live there. The second verse continues this theme, with the lyricist lamenting the violence and bloodshed that happens all too frequently in his community. The outro of the song serves as a shout-out to various New York neighborhoods, acknowledging the struggles that residents of all these areas face.
Line by Line Meaning
It's always a struggle, yeah
Life in the projects is never easy or free from challenges.
Don't care how you look at
Regardless of your opinion or perspective.
P.J.'s, you know how it get, dirty, dirty
Life in the projects can be gritty, with violence, drugs, and poverty.
Straight up and down, whole Staten Island (uh-huh)
This is the reality of Staten Island, straightforward, without sugarcoating.
From Park Hill to Jungle Nil', we fight like Navy SEAL
Residents of these neighborhoods have to fight for survival, like soldiers in war.
Don't get killed, chicks can't run in them heals
Danger is always lurking, and even women have to be wary and ready to run.
Niggas whippin' out guns, payin' them bills
Some people resort to violence and crime to make ends meet.
Life is a bitch, you best not snitch
The harsh realities of life in the projects can be unforgiving, and being a traitor can have deadly consequences.
Muthafucka, this the real, always
This is the tough reality that one has to face every day.
The dope fiends, the crack stashed in the hallways
Drug addiction is rampant, and those who profit from it leave drugs in common areas.
Style hold it down, tell Polite call Kane
Keep things under control, and use the phone to communicate discreetly.
Don't never test this, we try'nna make all aids
Don't provoke or challenge the situation, and strive to succeed and thrive despite these hardships.
Just niggas down when we blaze, crime pays
People get killed or arrested when they join or face criminal activities.
Survival in the P.J.'s, or graffiti experts, M.C.'s and the D.J.'s
People have to survive their environment, and some escape through creative outlets like music and art.
Better watch your back when flippin' them pies
Be cautious when dealing with drugs since it's high risk and can attract violence.
Real niggas be goin' down right in front of your eyes
People don't live to see old age, and death is commonplace and witnessed regularly.
If you on the block gettin' it, or a straight nine to five
Whether you are hustling on the streets or working a regular job, danger is an ever-present possibility.
Still real, Homicide Hill, police circlin'
The reality of life in this neighborhood is authentic, with murders and police investigations.
NARCs got pictures of your grill, street turbulance
Undercover agents have photographic evidence to catch criminals, and the streets are full of turmoil and unrest.
Cuz everytime I close my eyes, I could feel the rain
The pain and hardship of life in the projects is an ever-present and inescapable reality.
And everywhere I seem to go girl, can't stop the pain
No matter where one goes, the pain and challenges of life in the projects follow them.
Uh... this one's for mamma
This part is a personal message for his mother.
Niggas be gettin' slumped in my projects, it's real violent
Violence and death are common in the projects.
Crackheads be on the steps, young bloods'll pop somethin'
Drug addiction is prevalent, and young men trying to prove their toughness resort to violence.
Just to get that rep, everyday it's like this
People will do whatever is necessary, including violence, to establish their reputation or status.
Don't even come outside, if you ain't try'nna get no rich
People don't go outside unless they have a specific purpose, such as making money through illegal activities.
Niggas murk each other for a small amount of chips
People kill one another for meager amounts of money.
Bloods fightin' other Bloods, there's no Crips where I live
Gang warfare is ongoing and deadly, without rival gangs to balance it out.
Somethin' gotta give, niggas bust one another
Something has to give since people are turning on each other.
Turn around and watch other kids, my hood's straight 7: 30'in
Young people have to watch each other's backs, and things are always dangerous.
It get buckwild and the blocks is still dirty
People lose control, and the streets continue to deteriorate.
Cameras in the hall, bulletholes left in the wall
Security measures are in place to monitor potential criminal activities, and shootings have left marks on the walls.
Laundromats locked up, floods in the building
Even essential services like laundromats get locked up, and the regular consequences of living in a lower-income area are ongoing.
The front drain is stopped up, I've been in the hood
Poor infrastructure is the norm, and the artist has grown up and lived his entire life in the projects.
Ever since my pain popped up, but just in case
Living with hardship has been a way of life for a long time, and the singer is still vigilant.
One of ya'll niggas forgot, look at your head nigga
Someone who has forgotten the danger and struggles of their environment is foolish, as indicated by a laser sight on their head.
What's that little red dot? Got ya!
The danger and threat is real, with an unseen sniper taking aim with deadly intentions.
Give me the bread, heavy on the cheese
In a more lighthearted moment, the singer is just asking for the money he is owed, and added a slang reference to a type of pizza.
Population Click! What's the deal
A reference to his crew, highlighting the importance of loyalty and kinship in this challenging environment.
FMF, PGL, Osama Island
More shoutouts to various crews and neighborhoods.
All my niggas in Crimestock, Sing-Sing, what's the deal?
Another reference to specific groups and locales and their shared struggles.
Far Rock' posse, Queens, Brooklyn, P-Lon
Further establishing community and loyalty with those in particular neighborhoods.
That's my word... dance with this!
Ending with a call to action, urging people to persevere and confront their problems head on.
Get your guns together... takin' pictures.
Perhaps more tongue-in-cheek, the artist is preparing for danger, but also poking fun at the presence of undercover agents.
Contributed by Kennedy V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Baltimore Z-Wad
Cap be droppin' fire all the time, shame his albums get overlooked, all them shits bangin' (at least the 7 I have all are hard as hell)
As-if If-as
This is old almost 20yrs i bet.