Take It Back
Chino XL Lyrics

I'll take you back fifteen years, analyze
I will go back in time and examine things that happened fifteen years ago.

Every verse is cleaner than a surgeon's hands when they've been sanitized
Each of my verses is perfect in its own way, like the hands of a sanitized surgeon.

I'll take you back to the panic when rap was dangerous
I will bring you back to the time when rap was considered dangerous and instilled panic in people.

Blasting EPMD outta them classic Jeep Wrangler
Playing some old school hip-hop music from EPMD on a classic Jeep Wrangler and blasting it loud.

I'll take you back to a different time
I will take you back to another era.

Spazzing like River Phoenix outside of the Viper Room the night he died
Going crazy like River Phoenix did on the night he died outside of Viper Room.

Back to paying dues spitting Littelfuse
Going back to the time when I was struggling and paying my dues by performing at various venues.

With the mathematical, aeronautical cynic mind of Howard Hughes
Like Howard Hughes, I have a mathematical and aeronautical cynic mind that helps me analyze and understand things.

Abnormality, I'll take it back to originality
I want to go back to a time when things were unique and original instead of abnormal and the same.

If I'm insane then rap is my insanity
If I am considered insane, then the music I make, rap, is my form of insanity.

I'll take it back like an Indian giver
I will go back like a person who gives something and then takes it back (although this phrase is problematic and I would rather throw a 'White cowboy in the river' instead).

Performing How You Like Me Now with Kool Moe Dee right up on the same stage
Performing with Kool Moe Dee on the same stage while we both sing 'How You Like Me Now'.

Zookeepers need to put a diaper on Chino when he goes ape shit
I get really excited when performing and need to be controlled like a wild animal with a diaper.

Hip-hop is a great ship, let me steer it
I consider hip-hop as a big ship and I want to steer it with my music.

My skill level's so high that when I rhyme only dogs hear it
My skill level in rapping is so high that only dogs (who can hear things that humans cannot) can appreciate it.

The ghetto vampire that's walking in the sunlight
I am like a vampire that belongs in the ghetto even when walking in the sunlight.

The lyric Christ, I turn entire blocks to mass grave sites
I am really good at creating lyrics and when I perform they have so much impact that it is like creating a mass grave for blocks of people.

I will brolic Brock Lesnar your career
I have the power to crush someone's career like Brock Lesnar on wrestling.

Chino got more Seoul than the capital of Korea
I possess so much spirit that I have more Seoul than the actual capital of South Korea.

I'm bringing wind storms, rain, darkness and drear
I am arriving to create mayhem like a storm with wind, rain and darkness.

Punture heart valves, painting nightmares in blood smears
Using my lyrics and music, I have the power to create a nightmare-like environment and puncture people's hearts resulting in blood stains.

98, I'd like to take it back
I want to go back to the year 1998.

Still only attract women that think murder's an aphrodisiac
Even now, I only seem to attract women who find murder or violent situations arousing.

A lot of cats that just hopped into this artform
People who recently started doing rap music.

Like photographers that never stepped inside a darkroom
Comparing recent rappers to photographers who take pictures but never work on them inside a darkroom.

I'll take it back to when I wanted to be Tito from the Fearless Four
Revisiting a time when I aspired to be like Tito from the Fearless Four rap group.

The illest Puerto Rican I had ever saw
Tito was one of the best Puerto Rican rappers I had ever seen.

Studied Cool J, studied Kool G, studied Ice-T
I learned a lot from watching and studying older rappers like Cool J, Kool G, and Ice-T.

Now I meet little homies that say they study me
Currently, there are young people who look up to me and try to study my work.

I'll take it back but still tomorrow for you yesterday cats
Even though I am going back in time, it is still tomorrow for people who remember those days.

Matter fact, seldom took it back, I meant to say that
In actual fact, I rarely go back in time and correct myself.

Take it back to the original King of style, Kase 2
Bringing back the original King of style, Kase 2, from the past.

Two good letters with one arm and watch them biters waste you
Kase 2 was so good at graffiti that with just one arm he could create two perfect letters, which other copycats could not replicate.

Take it back to unity
Returning to a time when there was unity and people collaborated effectively.

Rest in peace Bigga B, Rob-One, Roc Raida, King Dream, SMD
Honoring and remembering some important members of the hip-hop community who have passed away.

Take it back to 1580 KDAY for the cuts
Returning to the time where KSAY was the station to listen to for good hip-hop tracks.

Take it back to only leaving Yo in the Toyota trucks
Harkening back to the days when you would hear hip-hop music playing only from Toyota trucks.

I take it back to fast break, Magic, Worthy, Laker raps
Going back to the time when much of the music was inspired by fast break basketball, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and the L.A. Lakers.

Some silently claim, but some violently bang on wax
Hip-hop has both non-violent and violent people who express themselves through music.

Croker sack house shoes, hats with the golf clubs
Referring to a specific style that existed in a particular timeperiod, for example, house shoes made from croker sacks, or hats with golf clubs.

Back to educated rap
Returning to an era when rap music had more of an educational bent.

Back before we all thugs
Returning to a time before the rap scene was dominated by thugs and violent individuals.

Take it back to dignity
Returning to a time when dignity was valued and sought after.

I bet it isn't, promise me
It may not be possible to go back to those days, but promise me you will try.

Traced 'em back and watch the crack spread Reganomically
Going back to the time when the spread of crack was done by the Reagan administration as a political move.

I'm a full time warrior
Continuously making music with the same fervor as a full-time warrior.

I'm a war time journalist
As a talented musician, I bring news and stories to the audience about the world as if I am a journaling during wartime.

Earning hazard pay, Rakka's live where the Inferno is
Being a popular musician can be dangerous and risky, just like working in a warzone. Rakka is alive and thriving even though it is sometimes dangerous.

Niggas who order gazelles had all the females
Men who wear gazelle sunglasses tend to attract more females.

Beat tell in the Benz, SCL
Cruising around in a Benz while having some great music playing causes the heart to beat in sync (SCL).

She smell like TCB gel
Referring to the hair styling product TCB gel which smells like a certain odor. This person smells like said product for an added effect in the story.

Treat a freak well
When you encounter someone with unconventional or quirky interest, don't judge them. Give them respect and treat them kindly.

Cause I pay attention to detail
This person pays close attention to little things that others might miss.

Pinky ring long fingernail to hit fish scale
Having long fingernails and a pinky ring is shorthand for being a person who can handle scales of drugs taken from fish and turning them into a profitable business.

But that ain't how we get down
Having long nails and a pinky ring isn't the only approach to living one's life.

I'd rather pull a heist, skip town
This person would prefer to rob a person or institution and flee with the possession than have to deal with drug peddling.

Up in your wig, I pump six rounds
This person will shoot someone right in their head with six bullets.

Big rope, Slick Rick style
Wearing a large rope-style necklace similar to how the famous rapper Slick Rick wears his.

Moet rep, '89 Rolex vets
Representing Moet, a French winery, while wearing a 1989 Rolex watch.

Poets, tecs
A reminder that poetry and technology, or Tec(nology), can exist in the same space.

I'm the Polo tech's sweats
Referring to wearing polo sport clothing and owning the ever-popular sweatpants.

Coke heads to Pro Keds steps
Cocaine users who own the classic high-top Pro Keds shoes.

While connects role in the LS with leather head rests
While the drug dealer is busy driving round in their LS, those who have made a living through this industry can enjoy the comfort of leather headrests.

My waves laying Indian hemp
Growing cannabis or weed that has strong waves when placed in the sun or wind. Also an allusion to the braiding style for black hair.

O.G. revolver like Billy The Kids
Similar to legendary cowboy and gunfighter Billy the Kid, I carry an original revolver.

Squeeze trigs in millennium skid
Firing guns nonchalantly.

The condominium was big
This person is living large and has bought a huge condominium.

That's that brilliant kid
It is me, the intelligent and pronounced individual who dons all of the items mentioned previously, and more, with style and grace.