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.
Unusual
Classified Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's raining inside
But that's not unusual
But the way I'm feel it
Become unusual
I guess you can say, the clouds moving away
(Joe Budden)
Put it in a figure 4 into a tap out
Still there some rather see me in a crack house
(???)
Newsflash if you thinking I'm a (???)
Probably not a fan nigga that ain't what I rap bout
I'm on tent I'm gonna try and achieve it
I'm such a (???) but they don't bother to read it
The teacher said I will never get ahead
All I can do is laugh, but (???) all funny
According to her I'll be dead before twenty
Ms. Cole I've been mislead before hunny, I'm checking for more money
You will be disorganized, use to stand in tortures eyes from my walk of life
Want to let her know I got a lot left to give, It's difficult to understand what you never lived
(Chorus)
The song "Unusual" by Classified featuring Joe Budden starts with the chorus, which sets the tone of the song. The chorus talks about how it's raining inside, which is not unusual but the emotions and feelings that the singer is experiencing become unusual. The clouds moving away symbolize the singer's emotions clearing up and feeling better. Joe Budden's verse talks about his struggles and how he has mapped out his life, but people still doubt him and want to see him end up in a bad place. He talks about how he wants to achieve success, but even when he does, some people don't bother to read about it. He also mentions how his teacher didn't believe in him and thought he would end up dead before twenty but now he is checking for more money.
The song talks about the struggles that people go through in life and how they overcome them to become successful. It also talks about how people doubt your potential and want to see you end up in a bad place but you can always overcome that.
Line by Line Meaning
It's raining inside
I feel emotional pain and turmoil.
But that's not unusual
I've experienced negative emotions before.
But the way I'm feel it
My emotions are particularly intense and overwhelming right now.
Become unusual
This intensity is unusual for me.
I guess you can say, the clouds moving away
I'm starting to feel better and my negative emotions are dissipating.
No more running from the black cloud got it all mapped out
I'm no longer avoiding my problems and have a plan to deal with them.
Put it in a figure 4 into a tap out
I'm taking control of my problems and am going to defeat them.
Still there some rather see me in a crack house
There are people who wish me harm and want to see me fail.
(???)
This line is difficult to understand and interpret.
Newsflash if you thinking I'm a (???)
If you believe I'm weak or powerless, you're mistaken.
Probably not a fan nigga that ain't what I rap bout
I don't make music to please everyone and not everyone will like me.
I'm on tent I'm gonna try and achieve it
I have goals and aspirations that I'm working towards.
I'm such a (???) but they don't bother to read it
I have something important to say but many people don't take the time to listen.
The teacher said I will never get ahead
I've been told that I won't be successful or achieve my goals.
All I can do is laugh, but (???) all funny
I'm trying to stay positive but the situation is still serious and difficult.
According to her I'll be dead before twenty
I've been given a bleak outlook on my future.
Ms. Cole I've been mislead before hunny, I'm checking for more money
I don't trust authority figures and I'm focused on financial success.
You will be disorganized, use to stand in tortures eyes from my walk of life
I've struggled with chaos and difficulty due to my upbringing and background.
Want to let her know I got a lot left to give, It's difficult to understand what you never lived
I have a lot of potential and want to prove my doubters wrong.
Contributed by Emily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Broxty
People need to listen to real tunes like this, stay classy.
@Pais4090
classified represents canadian artists his flow is unbelievable
@NYC420OZONE
its difficult to understand what you never lived! props to the team for this one!
@addurobi6776
how is this not blowing up on radio?
@delightfuldeli5272
Who came to revisit this in 2021? Still a dope song and a sick beat!
@timhortons7757
he's the eminem of his own record company, half life records
@mx48
Sleeper Hit... So Need Joey To Get Recognized For His Worth... Def One Of The Best!
@MagicDust231
I remember listening to Joe Budden when he was on Def Jam, I'm glad he stuck around in the rap game. He's still a good lyricist
@jolob
Had to log in to like this, but then I realized that I love this.
@raneanubis
jeez whoever produced this... I salute you.