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.
The_Ill_Shit
Erick Sermon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Chorus Ice Cube]
With tha boom and ping!
(repeats 4 times)
[Erick Sermon]
What's the 411?
Erick Sermon Ice Cube and Kam are here to get the job done
So back the fuck up! I have an attitude dude I'm 'bout ta get rude
I'm buckin' out shots during my interlude
Right about now I'm 'bout ta get corageous like the cat
Got the gat in the corner of my back so get the bozack
The American Dream, the people choice pick
I flip more vowels than Pat Sajak's white bitch
I'm bad ask Michael Jackson's dad about E-Double
The mack fram, the black superman made of steel
The mic I'm holdin' is a Samson
E-D the Green Eyed Bandit in raw fashion
I'm lettin' niggaz know my territory
My ground is rugged. I kill a million niggaz so fuck it!
Nick knack paddy whack give a dog a bone
Once again it's on with the brand new song, yeah boy!
[Chorus]
[Kam]
God damn, not Kam!
But I'm afraid so, I lay low like a brick
Quick to make a cameo, so hand me your eardrum 'cause here comes the 411
Little devils don't go to heaven, 187 on a saltine cracker
Smack a, paranoid busta so don't make me have to act a fool
What's up? Now you can determine
The West Coast niggaz is down with Erick Sermon on the G tip
We trips hard on the opposition
Three niggaz on a mission so listen to the Ill Shit
'cause we'll get wrecked!
What you expect! Fuck a rain nigga take a chin check!
[Chorus]
[Ice Cube]
Well here I go again, throwin' up the W
Ice Cube and I'm down wit' E-Double crew
Pullin' up in my homie's black 6-4
Hittin' switches but mine's a convertible
Matched to the West side, still got the 2-2
'cause some niggaz don't believe in a gang truce
Personal shit what is this??? EPMD, goin' out of business?
God damnit! Can't leave my dog stranded...the green eyed bandit
Picked up Kam cause my nigga need a ride. Fuck a peace treaty
But still have the 4-5...glock cocked for the clown
Yeah we down pulled up and echoed sound
Don't ya know that we can drop 10 of these, dope tracks
So fuck all our enemies!
[Chorus]
The Ill Shit by Erick Sermon featuring Kam and Ice Cube is a song that talks about the rappers' prowess in the industry in a bold and unapologetic manner. The chorus features Ice Cube saying, "Listen to the ill shit that I bring bring!" which serves to set the tone for the rest of the song, where each verse is a testament to the rappers' abilities. Erick Sermon starts the first verse by establishing that he is ready to be confrontational, as he has a gun with him and is not afraid to use it. He then goes on to say that he flips "more vowels than Pat Sajak's white bitch," which implies that he is better at manipulating words and sounds than even the host of Wheel of Fortune. The following verse by Kam is just as bold, with the rapper proclaiming that he is all-powerful and capable of taking down anyone who comes in his way, with no mercy. Finally, Ice Cube wraps up the song, talking about his affiliation with E-Double crew, his run-ins with personal conflicts in the industry, and his continued dedication to producing "dope tracks."
Overall, the song represents a bold statement by the rappers as they declare their dominance in the hip-hop scene. The Ill Shit is a song that is full of punchy and fierce lyrics, delivered in a confident manner by the rappers involved. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, serves as a reminder of the prowess of the rappers and the quality of the music they produce.
Line by Line Meaning
With tha boom and ping!
Listen to the sick beats that we're bringing!
Listen to the ill shit that I bring bring!
Listen to the amazing music that we've created.
What's the 411?
What's the important news or information?
Erick Sermon, Ice Cube, and Kam are here to get the job done
We're here to create some great music and show off our skills.
So back the fuck up! I have an attitude dude, I'm 'bout ta get rude
Don't mess with me, I'm in the zone and ready to kill it.
I'm buckin' out shots during my interlude
I'm making some amazing music during my breaks.
Right about now I'm 'bout ta get corageous like the cat
I'm about to take some risks, just like a brave cat.
Got the gat in the corner of my back so get the bozack
I'm carrying a gun, so don't mess with me.
The American Dream, the people choice pick
I'm living the American dream and people love what I do.
I flip more vowels than Pat Sajak's white bitch
I'm using more vowel sounds in my raps than Pat Sajak's white lover.
I'm bad ask Michael Jackson's dad about E-Double
I'm so good, even Michael Jackson's dad knows about me.
The mack fram, the black superman made of steel
I'm a tough rapper, and nothing can bring me down.
The mic I'm holdin' is a Samson
The microphone I'm using is a Samson brand, known for high quality.
E-D the Green Eyed Bandit in raw fashion
I'm E-D, the Green Eyed Bandit, and I'm rapping with style and intensity.
I'm lettin' niggaz know my territory
I'm claiming my space as a rapper and asserting my dominance.
My ground is rugged. I kill a million niggaz so fuck it!
I'm from a rough area and I've faced a lot of challenges, but I won't back down.
Nick knack paddy whack give a dog a bone
I'm starting a new song, so let's get going.
Once again it's on with the brand new song, yeah boy!
We're starting a new song and it's going to be amazing!
God damn, not Kam!
Oh no, it's Kam, and he's ready to rap!
But I'm afraid so, I lay low like a brick
I'm here to rap, but I'm also cautious and careful.
Quick to make a cameo, so hand me your eardrum 'cause here comes the 411
I'm making a brief appearance, but it's going to be amazing, so listen up.
Little devils don't go to heaven, 187 on a saltine cracker
Bad people don't go to heaven, and I'm ready to take them out.
Smack a, paranoid busta so don't make me have to act a fool
I'll fight back against anyone who messes with me or gets in my way.
What's up? Now you can determine
What's happening? You can decide for yourself.
The West Coast niggaz is down with Erick Sermon on the G tip
West Coast rappers are supporting Erick Sermon and his style of rap.
We trips hard on the opposition
We're fighting hard against our rivals in the rap game.
Three niggaz on a mission so listen to the Ill Shit
We're on a mission to create amazing music, so listen to what we're producing.
'Cause we'll get wrecked! What you expect! Fuck a rain, nigga take a chin check!
We're ready to take on anyone who tries to bring us down, so don't mess with us.
Well here I go again, throwin' up the W
I'm back and ready to rap, and I'm throwing up the W to represent my hometown.
Ice Cube and I'm down wit' E-Double crew
I'm Ice Cube, and I'm working with Erick Sermon's crew.
Pullin' up in my homie's black 6-4
I'm arriving in my friend's black 6-4 car.
Hittin' switches but mine's a convertible
I'm playing with my car's hydraulics, but my car is a convertible.
Matched to the West side, still got the 2-2
I'm representing the West Coast, and I'm still carrying my gun.
'Cause some niggaz don't believe in a gang truce
Some people don't want to stop fighting and make peace.
Personal shit, what is this??? EPMD, goin' out of business?
Is this a personal issue? Is EPMD breaking up?
God damnit! Can't leave my dog stranded...the green eyed bandit
I won't abandon my friends, especially E-D, the Green Eyed Bandit.
Picked up Kam cause my nigga need a ride. Fuck a peace treaty
I'm giving Kam a ride because he needs it, and I'm not concerned about making peace with rivals.
But still have the 4-5...glock cocked for the clown
But I'm still carrying my gun, ready to take out any enemy who crosses me.
Yeah we down pulled up and echoed sound
We've arrived and we're creating a lot of excitement and noise.
Don't ya know that we can drop 10 of these dope tracks
We're talented enough to create 10 amazing songs like this one.
So fuck all our enemies!
We don't care about our rivals, they're not important.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind