Erick Sermon is an American rapper and producer. He also goes by the names … Read Full Bio ↴Erick Sermon is an American rapper and producer. He also goes by the names "E-Double" and "The Green Eyed Bandit".

Sermon is best known as one half of the late-1980s/1990s hip-hop group EPMD. He began recording solo albums for Def Jam in 1993.
In 1997, he rejoined EPMD. The following year, Sermon, Keith Murray and Redman recorded a cover version of "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang, the first hit hip-hop record. EPMD disbanded a second time in 1998. In 2000, Sermon moved over to J Records, and released the album Music the following year. The title track (a Top 40 pop hit that also made it to #2 on the R&B music charts), featured guest vocals from late soul music legend Marvin Gaye, culled from unreleased recordings which Sermon reportedly found in a small record shop in London. React was released in 2002.
In 2003, J Records dropped Erick Sermon due to poor record sales. However, he still went on to establish his Def Squad imprint with Motown Records. At this time, he recorded an album, Chilltown, N.Y., which was released a year later in 2004. The album was powered by the single "Feel It" (which contained a sample of Reggae/R&B Singer Sean Paul), a song which became a moderate success in the United States. In an interview, he stated that he was going to step aside and try to get upcoming artists in the spotlight.
However, Sermon hasn't stopped doing music altogether, as he has produced the song "Goldmine" on Busta Rhymes' album, The Big Bang in 2006. Very soon after, Sermon recorded "Don't Make No Sense" with Def Squad.

Sermon joined up again for a special EPMD worldwide tour in 2006, were he was being held company by Keith Murray among others.

Like Me
Erick Sermon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You can't rap like me
Uhh, Sy Scott, Def Squad
Listen, ain't playin' no games man
Yeah, whattup

Give or receive and give or take, I'm an Indian giver
I take back what's given to the getter from the giver
Nigga give way, give up, you never get a glimpse

Of the glimmer man, glimmer glitter when I trek your body shiver

Rhythm I'm rippin' whatever I can get a grip of
Just to get a giggle, this literature's ishkabibble
And damn, dun-uh, dun-uh, dun-uh, the shark is in the water
Dun-uh, dun-uh, dun-uh got him right where I want him

Now I'ma get him, Scott crack leg bones like a wishbone
Snap your nose bone witcha chin bone
Break your legs and snap your shinbone
Put your skull bone, jawbone right next to your gall stones
'Til y'all all know

I got the hypothalamus of a hippopotamus
Squashin' the retardapuss when (Incomprehensible) rush
Too good to be true like fairy tales come true again
You wish you was me but woke up and you was you again

Sy Scott, you can't rap like me
You can't murder a rhyme or kill a track like me
You can't bust aim or hold a gat like me
Flow hundred percent perfect, you can't rap like me, no

This here's somethin' stupid for the eardrum
You wanna hear somethin' slick, son, here it come
You can ask Dr. Phil, I'm ill
I'ma kill you, then kill them, then 'Kill Bill'

Yeah, word to Vivica, I hemorrhage a pile
Drop the temperature, 'til the coroner start zippin' ya
Be-ball player, I shoot from the perimeter
Two shot, three shot, all into ya

On mics I does my thing
Agua, I flow like Poland Spring
Not from Maine, I'm from New York, mayne
I'm the bandit, in the black Maybach in transit

300 pound nigga, hold weight, stop, hold, wait
E-Dub the great there's no mistake, yeah
The untakeable, unshakable, you uncapable
I'm Bruce Willis, I'm 'Unbreakable'

You can't replace the unplaceable
You can't face off, with the unfaceable
Even the matador can't face the bull
I'm the raging bull, you wanna shoot, pull

M E, you can't rap like me
The boy with the slow flow you can't rap like me
Bang, bang, you can't shoot a gat like me
My Squad is Def and you can't rap like Khari

I throw three like Bobby Jackson at 'em
I'm O.G. like Bobby Johnson stomp 'em
Hold G like Bumpy Jonson on 'em
Read flip and beat kids like Joe Jackson

My flow jackin', clack, clack, I'm sharp like the claws
Of Hugh Jack, hands packin', make you an 'X-man'
Time for some action and matter of fact
Go exercise or be ordained to explore pain

And explain, why you puttin' extras on
In this excess I throw a hex through your headset
Settle down 'fore I set it off on your set
Let's say Santiago is the best you heard yet

I know, my flow, oh my God, get so heated
That MC's stay away like I gotta heebie jeebies
Ask G's if I G, hit the G spot on your queen
Kings get they heart or crown ripped apart now

Yeah, you can't rap like me
You snap back, get back, smack a wack MC

Santiago, you ain't got the stats like me
To get busy and tap dance on tracks like me

Overall Meaning

The song "Like Me" by Erick Sermon is a boastful track that highlights the emcee's skills in the rap game. The opening line, "You can't rap like me," sets the tone for the rest of the song, as Erick Sermon goes on to liken himself to an Indian giver, taking back what's given just as easily as he gave it. He boasts about his ability to make bodies shiver with his rhythm and effortlessly rip apart any literary text just for a giggle.

The second verse sees Sermon warning his opponents that they can't face him in a battle, even if they're the likes of Dr. Phil or the rage-filled protagonist of "Kill Bill." He effortlessly flows through various sports references, from shooting like Bobby Jackson to being unbreakable like Bruce Willis.

Ultimately, the song is a challenge to any potential opponents to step up and try to match Sermon's impeccable abilities on the mic. The upbeat and lively production only adds to the energy of the song, making it a classic example of late 90s/early 2000s hip hop.

Line by Line Meaning

Give or receive and give or take, I'm an Indian giver
I take back what I give, and take what is given to me - I am an Indian giver

I take back what's given to the getter from the giver
I take back what has been given to the receiver, from the giver

Nigga give way, give up, you never get a glimpse
Step aside, give up - you'll never see my true shine

Of the glimmer man, glimmer glitter when I trek your body shiver
I'm the glimmer man, shining bright and making your body shiver when I cross your path

Rhythm I'm rippin' whatever I can get a grip of
I'm ripping any rhythm I can hold onto and making it my own

Just to get a giggle, this literature's ishkabibble
I'm having fun and making you laugh with my nonsense verses

And damn, dun-uh, dun-uh, dun-uh, the shark is in the water
Watch out - I'm coming for you like a shark in the water

Dun-uh, dun-uh, dun-uh, got him right where I want him
I've got my prey right where I want them, waiting to strike

Now I'ma get him, Scott crack leg bones like a wishbone
I'm going to take him down, cracking his bones like a wishbone - Sy Scott is on my team

Snap your nose bone witcha chin bone
I'll snap your nose bone with your chin bone

Break your legs and snap your shinbone
I'll break your legs and snap your shinbone

Put your skull bone, jawbone right next to your gall stones
I'll put your skull bone and jawbone next to your gallstones - you'll be totally defeated

'Til y'all all know
Until everyone knows that I'm the best

I got the hypothalamus of a hippopotamus
I have the aggressive and territorial nature of a hippopotamus

Squashin' the retardapuss when (Incomprehensible) rush
I'm squashing the weak competition when the others rush in

Too good to be true like fairy tales come true again
My skills are beyond belief, and it's like fairy tales coming true again

You wish you was me but woke up and you was you again
You wish you were me, but when you wake up, you're still you

This here's somethin' stupid for the eardrum
Get ready for something crazy to hit your eardrums

You wanna hear somethin' slick, son, here it come
If you want to hear something smooth and cool, listen up

You can ask Dr. Phil, I'm ill
Dr. Phil will tell you, I'm sick with my skills

I'ma kill you, then kill them, then 'Kill Bill'
I'm going to take out everyone, just like the movie 'Kill Bill'

Yeah, word to Vivica, I hemorrhage a pile
Just like Vivica Fox in 'Kill Bill', I'll leave a pile of bodies behind me

Drop the temperature, 'til the coroner start zippin' ya
I'll drop the temperature until the coroner starts putting your body in a body bag

Be-ball player, I shoot from the perimeter
I'm like a basketball player - I shoot from long range

Two shot, three shot, all into ya
I'll hit you with two or three shots to take you down

On mics I does my thing
I'm doing my thing on the mic

Agua, I flow like Poland Spring
My flow is refreshing and clean, like Poland Spring water

Not from Maine, I'm from New York, mayne
I'm from the best city in the world - New York

I'm the bandit, in the black Maybach in transit
I'm the outlaw, riding in my black Maybach, always on the move

300 pound nigga, hold weight, stop, hold, wait
I'm a big, powerful man - hold on and wait for what I have in store

E-Dub the great there's no mistake, yeah
I am great, there's no mistaking it - I'm Erick Sermon

The untakeable, unshakable, you uncapable
I'm untouchable and unbreakable, you're not capable of taking me down

I'm Bruce Willis, I'm 'Unbreakable'
I'm like Bruce Willis in the movie 'Unbreakable' - unstoppable and unbreakable

You can't replace the unplaceable
You can't replace someone who can't be replaced - that's me

You can't face off, with the unfaceable
You can't face off against someone who can't be faced - that's me

Even the matador can't face the bull
Even a skilled matador can't overcome me, the raging bull

I'm the raging bull, you wanna shoot, pull
I'm the powerful and unstoppable raging bull - if you want to shoot, go ahead and try

I throw three like Bobby Jackson at 'em
I'll throw three punches at you like NBA player Bobby Jackson

I'm O.G. like Bobby Johnson stomp 'em
I'm an original gangster like Bobby Johnson - I'll take you down

Hold G like Bumpy Jonson on 'em
I'm holding my ground like Bumpy Jonson, a famous criminal from the Harlem underworld

Read flip and beat kids like Joe Jackson
Just like Joe Jackson taught his sons, I'll discipline and beat those who need it

My flow jackin', clack, clack, I'm sharp like the claws
My flow is commandeering and sharp, like the claws of an animal

Of Hugh Jack, hands packin', make you an 'X-man'
My hands are powerful like the actor Hugh Jackman who played Wolverine in 'X-Men'

Time for some action and matter of fact
It's time for action and it's a fact

Go exercise or be ordained to explore pain
Either start exercising, or be prepared to suffer pain

And explain, why you puttin' extras on
Tell me why you're trying to add extra details, you can't compete with me

In this excess I throw a hex through your headset
I'm casting a spell through your headphones with my excessive skills

Settle down 'fore I set it off on your set
Calm down, or I'll cause chaos in your crew

Let's say Santiago is the best you heard yet
Let's just agree that I'm the best you've ever heard - Santiago is my nickname

I know, my flow, oh my God, get so heated
My flow is so intense and powerful, it can make you sweat

That MC's stay away like I gotta heebie jeebies
Other MC's stay away from me, like I have some kind of disease

Ask G's if I G, hit the G spot on your queen
Ask any gangster, I'm the real deal - I hit the spot on your woman that makes her feel good

Kings get they heart or crown ripped apart now
Even the most powerful people will have their hearts or their authority taken away by me

You snap back, get back, smack a wack MC
You better step back and prepare to be smacked down if you're a weak MC

Santiago, you ain't got the stats like me
Even Santiago can't match my skills and achievements

To get busy and tap dance on tracks like me
To be as skilled as me, and dance on tracks with my flow

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Khari J Santiago, Syheed Scott, Erick Sermon, Todd Anthony Shaw

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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