In addition to the release of Trial & Error, 2003 and 2004 were busy and evolutionary years for Classified. With the continuous support of VideoFACT, he was able to release two additional music videos for the singles "Just the Way It Is" and "Unexpected". Classified also continued to master his production skills and joined forces with some of Canada's most prominent emcees, including Choclair and Maestro Fresh Wes. He also teamed up with Shady Records recording artist, Royce Da 5'9" and opened for Ludacris, Snoop dogg, Busta Rhymes, The Game, Nelly, MC Grizzly, Captain Capota, Nas, The Black Eyed Peas and Black Moon.
Classified's tenth album, Boy-Cott-In the Industry, was a high point in his career. The album includes guest appearances by Choclair, Royce Da 5'9", Jay Bizzy, J-Bru, A-Wall, Spesh K, and Mic Boyd (Classified's younger brother and fellow MC). He has said he enjoys doing music with other people: "It keeps things exciting and there are tons of talented people in Halifax so you make connections 'cause it's not a huge scene." The album reached #46 on SoundScan's Canadian R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. The singles "The Maritimes", "5th Element", "No Mistakes", and "Find Out", which is the lead single of his 11th studio album, Hitch Hikin' Music, were all Top 20 hits on MuchMusic and MTV Canada that year. The music video for "No Mistakes" won him an MMVA for MuchVibe Best Rap Video. Boy-Cott-In the Industry also earned Classified a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year in 2006.
Riding high off of Boy-Cott-In the Industry, Classified released his eleventh album Hitch Hikin' Music. Produced like previous albums by Classified himself, it is arguably some of Classified's finest work. On "Fall From Paradise", Classified reflects on the difficulty of staying fresh and on top. In the hip-hop meets classic rock song "All About U", featuring singer Chad Hatcher, Classified shows the extent of his growth from his early releases. In "Hip Hop Star", he eschews the current bling-bling culture of popular hip hop to remind people that life is not about trying to impress others. The rest of the album includes guest appearances by Jay Bizzy, Mic Boyd, Jordan Croucher, Preacher K, White Mic and more. Four singles have been released off the album: "Find Out" (which won the 2007 East Coast Music Award for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Single), "Feelin' Fine Remix", "All About U", and "Hard to Be Hip Hop". Hitch Hikin' Music also received a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year in 2007.
Classified enlisted the help of fellow Nova Scotia native Joel Roy to beatbox during some of his songs. The actual singles that Roy beatboxed for are unknown but it is believed that he can be heard in the single "The Maritimes".
In early 2009, the hit single "Anybody Listening" brought Classified to mainstream success as it peaked at #52 on the Canadian Hot 100 and the music video received heavy rotation on MuchMusic. Classified's thirteenth studio album, Self Explanatory received highly positive reviews from the critics and debuted on the Canadian Albums Chart at #25 making it Classified's first album on that chart. At the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards on May 21, 2009, Classified won the MuchVibe "Best Hip-Hop Video of the Year" award for "Anybody Listening" directed by Harv Glazer and produced by Robert Wilson of TwoThreeFiveFilms. Off Self Explanatory, Classified would enjoy more mainstream success in early 2010 with another hit single, "Oh...Canada" peaking at #14 on the Canadian Hot 100 and was certified platinum in digital downloads by the CRIA. Also in early 2010, Classified received three Juno Award nominations, which was for Rap Recording of the Year, Single of the Year, and Video of the Year. In early 2011, "Oh...Canada" received a Juno nomination for "Single of the Year".
On March 22, 2011, Classified released his fourteenth album, though it was only his second major studio album, Handshakes and Middle Fingers. The first single off the album, "That Ain't Classy" reached #45 on the Canadian Hot 100. The album debuted at #7 on the Canadian Albums Chart, making it his highest charting album to date.
Got Luv
Classified Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I've got love for somethings that I gotta confess
Got a lot of small talk that I'm putting to rest
Gotta beat guaranteed that'll snap ya neck
I got love for my weed and my unemployment checks
(Yes) I'm still making my call
Love my girl , this world, but don't recycle at all
I got love for player haters, fuck it, I am one
I do this hands on
Still in progress.. Still ain't won, but I guess I never lost yet
I gotta give it up to Mc's who spit dope
(Why?) Cause you inspire me to double check what I wrote
Wack Mc's love it when they come out
Cause wack rappers, give me something to write about
Like right now, you bite, and I'll bite down
Cut you off, you out of sight now
Critics, gotta love them, put your flame up
Cause when you dissing, you make me step my game up
Check the change up, been I'll since I came up
Runnin' this on empty and still fill your brain up
[Chorus: x2]
Now let me get this off my brian
I got love for some things
That I never thought could happen
But anything could change
I got love for my people and everyone of my foes
And anyone in this game who keeps me fresh on my toes
Everyone's a rapper now, their ain't no Hip Hop fans
Everybody's on the mic, it's time to get off man
You ain't built for the game I hit like rock bands
Your fruity loops beats don't hit like "Ah Damn!"
Ex 9 to 5'er
Class, still building
And with a small studio
And doing shows at the pavilion
I use to love getting taxed by the government
Cause now I'm home, getting paid and I'm loving it
Yo ,I got laid off
Now I'm paid off
For the next year or so
So I got a year to blow
Understand? I always have a plan and I'll follow it
Spit this with pride, cause you'll never see me swallow it
plus
you gotta love a girl with class
And if you can't understand then go back and do the math
I ain't a conscious rapper but still state my views
I'm a kid at heart, watching sports entertainment pay per views
And I hating you, kid I got love
Go ahead and diss me spread my name through the club
I could use the marketing, huh I got the skill
I just gotta get my name out and continue to build
[Chorus: x2]
Now let me get this off my brain
I got love for some things
That I never thought could happen
But anything could change
I got love for my people and everyone of my foes
And anyone in this game who keeps me fresh on my toes
The song "Got Luv" by Classified is a reflection on the rapper's personal experiences and feelings towards various aspects of his life. The opening lines reveal Confess's love for certain things that he has been keeping to himself. He further discusses his love for his girlfriend, his unemployment checks, and even his weed. It is a raw and honest portrayal of an individual who is unafraid of sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings with their audience.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I've got love for somethings that I gotta confess
I have an affection towards things that I feel guilty about.
Got a lot of small talk that I'm putting to rest
Putting an end to insignificant conversations I don't want to have.
Gotta beat guaranteed that'll snap ya neck
I have a song that will definitely impress you.
I got love for my weed and my unemployment checks
I have an appreciation for smoking marijuana and receiving government assistance.
Love my girl , this world, but don't recycle at all
I care about my girlfriend and the world, but I don't actively recycle.
I got love for player haters, fuck it, I am one
I have an affinity towards people who are jealous of me, because I am one myself.
I'm jealous as hell, I'm waiting for my chance son
I feel envious of others and am impatiently waiting for my opportunity.
Still in progress.. Still ain't won, but I guess I never lost yet
I am still a work in progress, and although I haven't achieved my goals yet, I haven't failed either.
I gotta give it up to Mc's who spit dope
I have to give credit to other rappers who have great lyrics.
Cause wack rappers, give me something to write about
Bad rappers give me inspiration for my own music.
Critics, gotta love them, put your flame up
I appreciate critics because they motivate me to improve my skills.
Check the change up, been I'll since I came up
I've been successful since I started my career.
Everyone's a rapper now, their ain't no Hip Hop fans
Nowadays, everyone wants to be a rapper, but there are no longer as many true Hip Hop fans.
Your fruity loops beats don't hit like 'Ah Damn!'
Your beats created using a music production software called FL Studio are not impressive.
I use to love getting taxed by the government
I used to enjoy paying taxes because it meant I had a job and was making money.
Now I'm home, getting paid and I'm loving it
Since being laid off, I'm now earning money by pursuing my passion in music and loving it.
I always have a plan and I'll follow it
I always have a plan for my life and I will work hard to achieve it.
I ain't a conscious rapper but still state my views
I don't consider myself a politically or socially conscious rapper, but I still express my opinions in my music.
And I hating you, kid I got love
I may dislike you, but I still have an appreciation for you.
Go ahead and diss me spread my name through the club
If you want to talk badly about me, feel free to do so and help spread the word about me.
I just gotta get my name out and continue to build
I just need to increase my exposure and keep working hard to become more successful.
Now let me get this off my brian
Now let me express what's on my mind.
I got love for some things
There are a few things I feel positively towards.
That I never thought could happen
That I never expected to like or appreciate.
But anything could change
But my feelings could change over time.
I got love for my people and everyone of my foes
I have affection for both my friends and enemies.
And anyone in this game who keeps me fresh on my toes
I appreciate anyone in the music industry who inspires me to keep improving my skills.
Contributed by David Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Filip
Love the beat!!