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.
Sibling Rivalry
Classified Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rivalries...
Oh, here we go again
Mike's pissed off
Rhyme for a year,
Think he's all hip hop
Mr. Ten-year-veteran
It looks like the fame
Might be goin' to your head again
Look, I've had it up to here
Always talkin' me down,
Bossin' me around
Scared I'm takin' your crown?
Not even in the slightest.
Yeah, we'll see.
Man you wouldn't write shit,
If it wasn't for me.
You would have no CDs,
No free beats,
No trips
You ain't grateful,
For none of that shit.
Wait, run it back, kid
You ain't paid me a buck
Why you think i never ever
Had money for that stuff?
Cause you can't keep a job!
Man, neither can you!
I left home in '98,
Ma and Pa still your crew.
Fuck it,
I'll get personal,
Put it in perspective.
You grew up with a silver spoon,
Never learned a lesson,
Everything was handed to you.
That wasn't my choice,
Mom and dad only had enough money to put in one boy.
And that's me,
More skill, more sick, more ill, more spit, more flow, lets go, no joke.
No bro,
Let me tell em how it really is,
I'm more ill, more balanced, more real and more talent.
We constantly have these rivalries... (rivalries)
We constantly have these rivalries...
We constantly have these rivalries... (rivalries)
We constantly have these rivalries...
K, enough with the singin' man
I thought you were an MC...
Yeah I spit raw,
And sing a smooth melody!
I'm multi-talented,
You stick with the basics,
You find what you're good at
And never, ever change it.
Yeah I found what I'm good at,
I say I got a formula,
Still keep it fresh,
Not the same old boring stuff,
Every day you call though...
“Bro, you're the sickest man, just give me a beat man, come on I'll fuckin' rip it!
Some things never change.
Yeah, I'm still gettin' hand outs
Just got my first pair of hammer pants now
You a second-rate rapper
What? Getting fed up?
Cause I rhyme for a year,
And your boys think I'm better?
Oh, I'll give you credit,
You can rhyme,
But you've only just started and already in your prime.
You only goin' down,
While I'm slowly goin' up.
Gettin' higher in this game,
While you only smokin' up.
Fuck you!
Fuck you, bitch
I had it with your attitude
Yeah, well I'm your brother,
So really what can you do?
You're still gonna give me beats for free
Yeah, you're right,
I hope you blow up,
Just get signed to HalfLife.
And that's me,
More smart, more sick, more art, more spit, more flows, lets go, no joke.
Nah, bro
Let me tell ‘em how it really is
I'm more ill, more balanced, more real, and more talent.
We constantly have these rivalries (rivalries)...
We constantly have these rivalries...
We constantly have these rivalries (rivalries)...
We constantly have these rivalries...
The lyrics of "Sibling Rivalry" by Classified Featuring Mic Boyd depict a heated back-and-forth exchange between two brothers, highlighting the competitive nature of their relationship. The song begins with one brother expressing frustration towards the other, accusing him of letting fame get to his head and belittling his own achievements. However, the other brother retaliates by claiming that he has been instrumental in the first brother's success, providing beats and support throughout their careers.
As the verses continue, the siblings delve deeper into personal matters, touching on topics such as their upbringing, financial struggles, and contrasting attitudes towards their respective talents. They both recognize each other's skills as rappers, but tension remains, fueled by their desire to prove themselves the better artist.
The chorus, repeated throughout the song, emphasizes the consistent presence of these rivalries, suggesting that their competitive bond is an ongoing part of their relationship. Through their confrontations, the song explores themes of sibling dynamics, artistic identity, and the complexity of familial relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, here we go again
This is a recurring issue between us
Mike's pissed off
Mic Boyd is angry
Rhyme for a year,
Mic Boyd has been rapping for a year
Think he's all hip hop
He believes he embodies the essence of hip hop
Well excuse me, please
Please forgive me
Mr. Ten-year-veteran
You've been in the game for ten years
It looks like the fame
It seems like the fame
Might be goin' to your head again
It may be inflating your ego once more
Look, I've had it up to here
I'm tired of this situation
Always talkin' me down,
You're constantly belittling me
Bossin' me around
You try to control me
Scared I'm takin' your crown?
Are you afraid I'll surpass you?
Not even in the slightest.
Not even a little bit.
Yeah, we'll see.
Let's wait and see
Man you wouldn't write shit,
You wouldn't write anything significant
If it wasn't for me.
Without my contribution
You would have no CDs,
You wouldn't have any albums
No free beats,
No complimentary instrumentals
No trips
No travel opportunities
You ain't grateful,
You don't appreciate it
For none of that shit.
For any of those things.
Wait, run it back, kid
Repeat what you just said
You ain't paid me a buck
You haven't given me any money
Why you think I never ever
That's why I never
Had money for that stuff?
Had money to afford those things?
Cause you can't keep a job!
Because you're unable to hold down a job!
Man, neither can you!
Well, neither can you!
I left home in '98,
I moved out in 1998
Ma and Pa still your crew.
Our parents still support you.
Fuck it,
Forget it
I'll get personal,
I'll bring up personal matters
Put it in perspective.
Let me give you some context
You grew up with a silver spoon,
You had a privileged upbringing
Never learned a lesson,
You never gained any wisdom
Everything was handed to you.
Everything was given to you without effort
That wasn't my choice,
I didn't have a say in it
Mom and dad only had enough money to put in one boy.
Our parents could only financially support one child
And that's me,
And I'm the one they chose
More skill, more sick, more ill, more spit, more flow, lets go, no joke.
I possess greater talent, creativity, and lyrical ability
No bro,
No, my friend
Let me tell em how it really is,
Allow me to explain the true reality
I'm more ill, more balanced, more real and more talent.
I possess greater skill, versatility, authenticity, and talent
K, enough with the singin' man
Okay, stop all this singing, man
I thought you were an MC...
I thought you were a true emcee
Yeah I spit raw,
Yes, I rap with raw intensity
And sing a smooth melody!
And also deliver smooth melodies
I'm multi-talented,
I have multiple skills
You stick with the basics,
You stick to the fundamentals
You find what you're good at
You focus on your strengths
And never, ever change it.
And you never deviate from it
Yeah I found what I'm good at,
Yes, I discovered my strengths
I say I got a formula,
I claim to have a winning formula
Still keep it fresh,
Yet I still maintain freshness
Not the same old boring stuff,
Not repetitive or monotonous
Every day you call though...
Every day you keep calling me...
“Bro, you're the sickest man, just give me a beat man, come on I'll fuckin' rip it!
Brother, you're incredibly talented, please give me an instrumental to showcase my skills!
Some things never change.
Some things remain constant.
Yeah, I'm still gettin' handouts
Yes, I'm still receiving assistance
Just got my first pair of hammer pants now
I just acquired my first pair of oversized pants
You a second-rate rapper
You're a less skilled rapper
What? Getting fed up?
What? Growing tired of this?
Cause I rhyme for a year,
Because I've been rapping for a year
And your boys think I'm better?
And your friends believe I'm superior?
Oh, I'll give you credit,
Oh, I'll acknowledge your skills
You can rhyme,
You can rap
But you've only just started
But you've only recently begun
And already in your prime.
And already at your peak.
You only goin' down,
You're only declining
While I'm slowly goin' up.
While I'm gradually making progress
Gettin' higher in this game,
Advancing further in this industry
While you only smokin' up.
While you're just wasting time on drugs
Fuck you!
Screw you!
Fuck you, bitch
Screw you, female dog
I had it with your attitude
I'm fed up with your behavior
Yeah, well I'm your brother,
Yes, but I'm still your sibling
So really what can you do?
So what action can you take?
You're still gonna give me beats for free
You'll still provide me with free instrumentals
Yeah, you're right,
Yes, you're correct
I hope you blow up,
I hope you become successful
Just get signed to HalfLife.
Just secure a record deal with HalfLife.
And that's me,
And that's who I am
More smart, more sick, more art, more spit, more flows, lets go, no joke.
I possess greater intelligence, talent, creativity, and lyrical ability
Nah, bro
No, my friend
Let me tell ‘em how it really is
Allow me to explain the true reality
I'm more ill, more balanced, more real, and more talent.
I possess greater skill, versatility, authenticity, and talent
We constantly have these rivalries (rivalries)...
We always find ourselves in these competitions
We constantly have these rivalries...
We always have these conflicts
We constantly have these rivalries (rivalries)...
We always engage in these rivalries
We constantly have these rivalries...
We always have these conflicts
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Layla Williams
I'm writing one on this topic and my brothers say I got to include expolsions to show how epic our sibling rivalry was and is
David Eveleigh
all these compliments to class but not one to mic, hes killin it just as hard but not as noticed as class. listen to the whole half life family, canadian hip hop forever, 902
erin cracknell
Love it!! haha. Really love to see a video for this track..?!
Benjamin Eff
Yeah Mike is killing it just as hard, if not more in this song, he's the reason it's my favorite.
Jp Stoner
has anyone else realized that alot of the best hip hop music comes from canada??
Colin Foster
so dope !!
IntoMotionBC
if me and my brother made a track this is what it would be like.
casey michaud
werd, canada is where the hiphop lives
BK0571-Blacklight
oh yeah love this song
Derrick Deck
reminds me of me n my bro fighting, but we dont rap, we kick each others ass, talking shit like this to each other