Elzhi spent years paying dues, writing songs, entering battles, and recording demos until he finally made his international debut on "Come and Get It", a standout track from J Dilla's album, Welcome 2 Detroit. The acclaimed song drew massive attention to the mysterious artist, and made his unfinished EP, Out of Focus, a highly sought after recording.
In 2001, Slum Village asked Elzhi to be a part of the group to elevate their reputation, and allowing him to reach new levels of lyricism. He recorded multiple albums with his former group, sold hundreds of thousands of records, and toured the world performing his hit singles "Tainted", (featuring Dwele)” and "Selfish", (featuring Kanye West and John Legend)” in cities as distant as Tokyo and Amsterdam.
In 2004, Elzhi released Witness My Growth, a 2-disc mixtape featuring many of his lost or unfinished solo songs, which has come to be considered an underground classic by hip hop fans all over the world. Embarking on his first European solo tour in 2008, Elzhi released Europass as a merch-table exclusive. Upon his return to the United States, he promptly released the The Preface, his solo debut on Fat Beats Records. The album helped to solidify his reputation as one of the most respected and inventive lyricists in the world, earning acclaim from legendary artists and fans alike. In 2009, responding to the demands of his passionate fan base, Elzhi released The Leftovers Unmixedtape, mixtape, a collection of rare tracks and unreleased exclusives featuring the hit single "Deep".
In 2010, due to complications with his former label and no longer content with being “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper,” Elzhi signed with Jae Barber and The JAE.B Group, an Artist Relations and Management firm, drafting them to help launch his career to the next level. Moving past the relationship with his former group, Elzhi has reinvented himself as a solo artist and reignited his buzz.
In 2011 Elzhi released Elmatic, an homage to Nas' classic debut, Illmatic. A labor of love for Elzhi, the project finds the Detroit emcee creating new songs out of Nas’s original titles while rapping over the Will Sessions Band’s interpretation of the original beats.
After the overwhelming success of Elmatic, Elzhi is in the beginning stages of writing his new album using beats provided by an exciting roster of producers, and is embarking on a tour to reintroduce himself to the world. More than 12 years after he finished recording the legendary collection of songs, he has finally released the Out of Focus EP exclusively through www.elzhi.com.
Hands
Elzhi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alright El
Get it together nigga
Take a deep breath [sighing]
Okay it's simple now
All you got to do man is just go in there
Get the money, get out, in and out
You know what I'm sayin?
Uh, let's do this [gunshot]
[Childrens' voices behind the Intro]
Put 'em up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
Put 'em up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
Hands up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
Hands up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
[Verse 1: Elzhi (Store Employee) {Children's voice}]
Yo, gramps empty the drawer, (oh, please don't shoot)
(Tell me everything you want), you know I'm out for the loot
Put your hands where I can see 'em, so they look like 12 PM
On the dot, see this glock? Don't make me give these shells freedom
I got, nothin to lose, I've been cut and abused {hands up! }
My slut is confused, my bro can't even strut in his shoes
I'm on the edge, so I suggest you get cooperatin
If I find out you pushed the button and the cops is waitin
I'm a put stains from your brain on all of your remains
(Don't explain, take from in and out the lanes)
(Here's my chain and what I stock in the drawer)
Get to lockin the door and hear me cockin the four, cause you not gonna score
By goin apes and bananas, now, where's the tapes and the cameras
As soon as I escape then I vanish
A clean getaway, no witnesses
And sentences, you know what type of hit this is
Put your hands up
[Chorus: Childrens' voices (Elzhi)]
Hands up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
Hands up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
(Put 'em up!)
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
Put 'em up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
[Verse 2: Elzhi (Store Employee) {Children's voice}]
Hey hurry up, get to closin the store
I want the money in your pockets and everything you post in the drawer
Now where's your safe? (Umm, well...), oh you gonna stop actin dumb pops
Oh, I think I will steal this soda and these gumdrops
See I ain't got all day {hands up! }, time is wastin
Crack the combination, I'm a need all accommodations
Better withdraw from the largest to the small
You tryin to stall? (I can't recall)
Sssh, I think I hear, AW FUCK! somebody saw us, try to pull this off, followed us
Now they jaw's on the ground, can't be around when the law gets
Close, do what you suppose and you can catch a dose
Anybody you consider as close, is adios
Where's your car at? (I parked it very far), that's not what I asked
You 'bout to make me shoot shots in the mask
(Alright, alright, it's in a lot that's just right outside of the back door)
Let's go there (I will, but why is this gun in my back for?)
[Chorus: Childrens' voices (Elzhi)]
Hands up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
Hands up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
(G-g-g-g-get your motherfuckin hands up! I need to see 'em)
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
Put 'em up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
[Verse 3: Elzhi (Store Employee) {Children's voice}]
Now any sudden moves, you will feel the effects of the buck
Where did you park inside the lot? (it's right next to the truck)
I got to think fast and decide, you slide into the passenger side
And you better have some gas in your ride
Hurry up, hand me the keys so I can start up this piece of shit {hands up! }
It ain't work and I ain't waitin for the police to get
Closer, so I can be inside a Wanted poster
No sir, we hoppin out, like everything is kosher
Hold up wait [engine revving], I can't believe that it just started
You taste some me be weed, what are you retarded?
I ought to (why did you hit me?), cause you a dumb ass
And here they come fast, from a far, I'm seein some flash
It's time to bail, I'm not for doin jail time
Sittin in the cell cause of a failed crime
And why the fuck you up? I know we ain't just run out of gas
Now should I run out of gas, put my gun out and blast
[Break: Elzhi - talking (Cop) {Children's voice}]
(Okay buddy, the gig is up, and now we got you surrounded) {hands up! }
(All your plans are goin down with), I ain't like the way that sounded
(Drop the gun, be smart and step away from the car)
Alright I will! (nice and slow, this ain't your day is it, huh?)
(Put your hands up)
[Chorus: Childrens' voices]
Hands up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
Hands up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
Put 'em up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
Put 'em up!
Freeze!, freeze!, freeze!, freeze!
Hands up!
The lyrics to Elzhi's song "Hands Up" describe a robbery from the perspective of the robber, who demands that the store employee give him all the money and valuables in the store. The lyrics also address the fear and desperation of the robber, who is willing to use violence to get what he wants. Throughout the song, children's voices can be heard repeating "hands up" and "freeze," which adds an eerie quality to the song and emphasizes the violent nature of the situation.
The song touches on themes of poverty, desperation, and the consequences of violence. The robber is willing to do whatever it takes to get some money, even if that means harming others. Through this, Elzhi comments on how poverty and economic hardship can lead people to make desperate decisions and turn to violence as a solution.
At the end of the song, the robber is caught by the police and forced to surrender. The children's voices chanting "hands up" and "freeze" take on a more sinister quality as they are now directed towards the robber, reminding him that he is at the mercy of the law.
Overall, "Hands Up" is a haunting and powerful commentary on the desperation that can drive people to violence and the consequences that follow.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, gramps empty the drawer, (oh, please don't shoot)
The singer is demanding that the elder person empty the drawer without causing trouble or violence.
(Tell me everything you want), you know I'm out for the loot
The singer is pressuring the elder person to reveal everything that he has because the singer is desperate for money.
Put your hands where I can see 'em, so they look like 12 PM
The singer wants the elder person to put his hands up high where the singer can see them easily and make sure that he is not hiding anything.
On the dot, see this glock? Don't make me give these shells freedom
The artist is threatening to shoot the elder person if he does not cooperate.
I'm on the edge, so I suggest you get cooperatin
The artist is extremely nervous and anxious, so he is urging the elder person to cooperate quickly.
If I find out you pushed the button and the cops is waitin
The singer is suspicious that the elder person may have pressed an alarm button that may have notified the police, which could jeopardize their escape plan.
I'm a put stains from your brain on all of your remains
The singer is threatening to kill the elder person if he does not comply.
(Don't explain, take from in and out the lanes)
The artist is urging the elder person not to try to explain himself, and instead quickly hand over everything in the drawer without wasting time.
Here's my chain and what I stock in the drawer
The artist is handing over everything that he stole to the elder person.
Get to lockin the door and hear me cockin the four, cause you not gonna score
The artist is urging the elder person to lock the door quickly while the artist is preparing his gun, as he does not want the elder person to try to stop him.
Hey hurry up, get to closin the store
The singer is urging the employee to hurry and close the store so that they can rob it without anyone entering or exiting the establishment.
I want the money in your pockets and everything you post in the drawer
The artist wants all the money in the store, including the employee's personal money.
Crack the combination, I'm a need all accommodations
The singer wants the employee to give him the combination to the safe, and he wants all money possible at any cost.
Tryin to pull this off, followed us
The singer realizes that they have been followed and knows that their plan may not succeed.
And sentences, you know what type of hit this is
The singer is aware that he may receive a long jail sentence for his actions.
Where did you park inside the lot? (it's right next to the truck)
The artist is asking the employee where he parked, as they need to leave the scene quickly.
I got to think fast and decide, you slide into the passenger side
The artist is making quick decisions and telling the employee to get into the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Hurry up, hand me the keys so I can start up this piece of shit
The singer needs the keys to the car to make their getaway as fast as possible.
No sir, we hoppin out, like everything is kosher
The singer is realizing that the car is not working, and they need to get out quickly and make it look like they are not involved in the robbery.
Sittin in the cell cause of a failed crime
The artist is thinking about the consequences of his actions and how he could end up in jail due to failing to rob the store successfully.
Now should I run out of gas, put my gun out and blast
The artist is preparing to use his gun if necessary, as he is not sure if they have enough gas to make it out on time.
(Okay buddy, the gig is up, and now we got you surrounded)
The police have arrived, and the artist is no longer in control of the situation.
(Drop the gun, be smart and step away from the car)
The police are ordering the singer to drop his gun and step away from the vehicle.
Contributed by Ava J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BigPlus
I always thought this beat was incredibly super sick. . .is it only me
Uriamu del Toro
No.....
freowbud
Classic song on a classic album. Can't wait for Ellmatic to drop
Djay
Classic album
Japhala Gwangwa
Lemme Find Out (feat. Pete Rock) brought me back here. The drums pattern is incredibly similar. Just that this one is a lot more hype and Lemme Find Out is a lot more smoooth in vintage Pete Rock style.
I was just jamming that joint then I was like "whoa, hold up."
Harnoor Singh
the beat alone is aight.. but the way elzhi spits on it makes it a sick ass song regardless
Alex Ford
5,205 hits!!!!!!!!!! Are you kidding me!!! The world is missing out...
elitenig4
yo!well put 2gether track!
BigPlus
Quick question. . .who's ur favorite producer? or some of ur favorite beats
Klipworthy
Black Milk production isn't your typical shit, it grows on you for sure though