He has steadily toured with the Roots and been a frequent guest on their albums as pretty much an informal member of the band. Although way more prevalent than Malik B.
He's also dropped at least ONE solo album from around 1999/2000, entitled "Reclaiming the Dead".
other such songs he's featured on would be: Clones, Adrenaline, Love of my Life....
Dice Raw is also the head MC of the innovative Philly group Nouveau Riche.
LAVA
Dice Raw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The whole goddamn world's on fire, and it's burinin' like a stack of logs
Beware if your pockets resemble a catalog
That's fat, down here niggas got cattle prods
What's that? Fuck it man, it's all gone to the dogs
In fact, it's like a fuckin' sauna, it gets so hot
Sometimes you just want to, you know, ka-ka-KLOCK
Ka-ka-KLOCK KLOCK for no reason
It's lava, clips, revolvers, there's eruptions
Everytime niggas be like "Whassup then?"
And you can feel the tension vibratin' off a brick
Babies hangin' like cell phones (?)
Fuck the feds, when you see the CIA on your strip
You MIA out this bitch, you can't play with these pigs
Niggas are trippin' and I'm flippin', straight stick the clip in
Back me up against the wall, Raw starts spittin'
[Chorus 2x]
Yo, it's so much drama, who do we shoot at first?
As time goes on, the fire burns, it gets worse
It's a million degrees, and the street's about to burst
Because the ghetto's the hottest show on Earth
[Verse 2]
Shit be gettin' wilder and crazier by the millisecond
Walk around protected, or walk around naked
'Cause nothing's sacred, not even Granny's tennis bracelet
She gave you on her deathbed, niggas'll still take it
Man, I was raised on a constitution written by thugs
Niggas that G, kill, lie like prayer rugs
It's deranged, pocket full of shells like loose change
It's fucked up when your bull start actin' strange
I seen people give up lifelong dreams for gravy
Get snitched on by their team, or set up by their lady
Who gives a fuck? Not even us, 'cause God (?) all I trust
But, my first thought is to bust, can you dig it
[Chorus]
Yo, it's a million degrees outside
And we're burnin' up, we're burnin' up
Yeah, it's a million degrees outside
And we're burnin' up, we're burnin' up
Yeah, it's a million degrees outside
And we're burnin' up, we're burnin' up
Yeah, it's a million degrees outside
And we're burnin' up, we're burnin' up
[Chorus]
Dice Raw's "Lava" is a reflection of the intense and heated climate of a city, likely Philadelphia, where the rapper is from. The world is "on fire" and the heat is so high that people are carrying cattle prods and tension is exploding between people, erupting like lava. The imagery of the city is harsh and grimy, with people facing an uncertain future and relying on base instincts to survive. Dice Raw reflects on the corruption and violence he faces every day, with grudges and betrayals causing him to feel on edge all the time. The chorus sums it up: the drama is overwhelming and confusing, and everyone is struggling to survive in a city that is like an inferno.
Line by Line Meaning
The whole goddamn world's on fire, and it's burinin' like a stack of logs
The world is in a state of chaos and destruction, with fires spreading rapidly like logs on a bonfire.
Beware if your pockets resemble a catalog
Be cautious if you have a lot of money, as it makes you a target for theft and violence.
That's fat, down here niggas got cattle prods
People in this neighborhood use cattle prods as weapons to protect themselves.
What's that? Fuck it man, it's all gone to the dogs
The situation is so bad that it's beyond hope or repair.
In fact, it's like a fuckin' sauna, it gets so hot
The heat and tension of the situation is almost unbearable.
Sometimes you just want to, you know, ka-ka-KLOCK
Sometimes you feel the need to release tension by doing something nonsensical or irrational.
Ka-ka-KLOCK KLOCK for no reason
This nonsensical action doesn't have any particular meaning or purpose.
That's why you breathin', fuck do y'all niggas believe in?
The situation is so dire that it makes you question the meaning and purpose of life.
It's lava, clips, revolvers, there's eruptions
The imagery and language used to describe the situation is violent and explosive.
Everytime niggas be like "Whassup then?"
People are constantly on guard and confrontational, asking for trouble.
And you can feel the tension vibratin' off a brick
The atmosphere is so tense that even inanimate objects like bricks seem to vibrate with it.
Babies hangin' like cell phones (?)
The situation is dangerous and violent even for the most vulnerable members of society, like babies.
Fuck the feds, when you see the CIA on your strip
People in this neighborhood don't trust or respect the government or law enforcement.
You MIA out this bitch, you can't play with these pigs
If you get caught up in legal trouble, you won't be able to escape or fight back against law enforcement.
Niggas are trippin' and I'm flippin', straight stick the clip in
The situation is causing people to lose their minds and react impulsively, even violently.
Back me up against the wall, Raw starts spittin'
Under pressure and danger, Dice Raw is ready to fight and defend himself with his words and music.
Yo, it's so much drama, who do we shoot at first?
The situation is so chaotic and violent that people have to make split-second decisions about who to trust and who to attack.
As time goes on, the fire burns, it gets worse
The situation is escalating and becoming more dangerous over time.
It's a million degrees, and the street's about to burst
The tension and heat of the situation is almost at its breaking point.
Because the ghetto's the hottest show on Earth
The chaos and violence of ghetto life make it a spectacle that's both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
Shit be gettin' wilder and crazier by the millisecond
The situation is constantly changing and becoming more intense, with no end in sight.
Walk around protected, or walk around naked
People have to choose between arming themselves and being vulnerable to attack.
'Cause nothing's sacred, not even Granny's tennis bracelet
In this violent and chaotic environment, even sentimental and personal items can be taken or destroyed.
She gave you on her deathbed, niggas'll still take it
People in this neighborhood are willing to steal and harm even their own family members for personal gain.
Man, I was raised on a constitution written by thugs
The social norms and codes of this neighborhood are based on violence and aggression, rather than legal or moral authority.
Niggas that G, kill, lie like prayer rugs
People in this neighborhood are willing to do anything to survive and achieve their goals, including killing and lying with religious conviction.
It's deranged, pocket full of shells like loose change
The situation is so chaotic and violent that people carry weapons with them as casually as loose change.
It's fucked up when your bull start actin' strange
Even people you thought you could trust and rely on may turn on you in this environment.
I seen people give up lifelong dreams for gravy
The desperate circumstances of the neighborhood force people to prioritize survival over their personal aspirations.
Get snitched on by their team, or set up by their lady
Even the people closest to you may betray or set you up in this violent world.
Who gives a fuck? Not even us, 'cause God (?) all I trust
People in this neighborhood have lost trust in each other and the government, and only rely on their own survival instincts or the higher power of God.
But, my first thought is to bust, can you dig it
Even in the midst of chaos and violence, the artist's first instinct is to defend himself with violence if necessary.
Yo, it's a million degrees outside
The heat and tension of this world is almost unbearable and all-encompassing.
And we're burnin' up, we're burnin' up
The situation is causing people to feel like they're on the brink of breaking, both mentally and physically.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICHARD EMLYN BINGHAM LEWIS, ROBERT MILTON LOCKE, TIM NORFOLK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind