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.
We Don't Care
Erick Sermon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ha, com-bust-ya-ble, huh
It's Erick, I'm back again, full fledged
American flag in here so y'all pledge
A few of y'all sold some albums, yeah congrats
The game in trouble, I must rescue rap
Yo, I'm a hero! Sometimes
I feel the same way like the folks involved with Ground Zero
This year my Squad better blow to oblivious
Yo, did you lose weight? Yeah, I got stamina
Profile me like this and hold the camera
I'm alone, so what y'all want do?
Take over your facility like I'm +John Q+
I rock mics, I Chris Rock, I Kid Rock
I rock the house, like I'm RUN!!
Rap conniseur, I rock Sean John velour
B-boy stance and that's hardcore
E-Dub, real name, no gimmicks
Your style is over, finito, finished!
You a parasite, type lyrical germ
You a sucker MC in layman terms, and
[Chorus: x2]
We don't care nuttin' bout you!
Yeah, we don't care, we come up in the spot sayin' oh yeah
Oh yeah, throw your hands in the air
Oh yeah, cause
Yeah, I got a track record, I spit fouls
E don't stop, keep it grinding (grinding!) puts it down fo' sho'
My figgedy flow is sick siggedy yo
Watch me biggedy blow, and y'all niggedy know
It's Def Squeezy, thirteen years in rap
And now it's easy, I do things to please me
YO - I come through so crazy
I'm a "Stun'na," like M. Fresh and Baby
Got more toys than Kay*Bee, me and my yung'uns
"Slow Down," before you receive a summons
And get hit for speeding; I break a switch off a tree
You catch a beating for y'all misleading (yeah!)
Shame on you, when you step to, huh
The Green Eyed Bandit, smile you on candid
Rob J. Timberlake, I got Janet
I'm "In Control" now oh wow!
Yeah cause that's how it is, and that's how I'm livin'
I bring turmoil like Mike and Robin Givens
And watch me go off a-go off
A yes yes y'all, and show off and show off, and yes
[Chorus]
Sermon, the word I preach to ya
Control the airwaves so it can reach to ya
The underground of rap ring, I'm David Tua
The one round knockout, your eyeballs pop out
High school dropout, I'm not gon' cop out
I did the rhymin thing and now a truck I hop out
"Fiesta," I'm down with R. Kelly shit
I'm "Supa Dupa Fly," Missy Elliott
I stay focused, keep the same cycle
Do me, proceed to rock the world like Michael
Without Chris Tucker, with no Marlon Brando
Just give enough for J-Lo to handle
So scream at me, holla, smoke signals
Morse code, try a 2-way, or telephone
And I give it to ya, all day in street
Two turntables a mic and breakbeat, cause
[Chorus]
You got about five seconds to get to the dance floor!
You got about, two more seconds to get to the dance floor
In "We Don't Care" Erick Sermon asserts himself as a hero of rap music who must rescue rap because the game is in trouble. He compares himself to the heroes involved in the 9/11 Ground Zero tragedy and insists that his rap squad must blow this year to elevate their status. With his hardcore b-boy stance, he confidently claims his position as a rap connoisseur who rocks Sean John velour while other rappers' styles are over and finished. He declares that he doesn't care about anyone else; he will do things to please himself, grind non-stop, and control the airwaves to reach his followers.
Throughout the song, Erick Sermon uses his rhyming skills to flip metaphors and wordplay while also blending some pop cultural references, which reveals his confidence in his ability to rap. The chorus repeats the phrase "We don't care nuttin' bout you!" with an infectious and catchy beat, creating a sing-along moment that unites his followers with his confident and braggadocious style. Finally, he encourages his listeners to get to the dance floor and enjoy the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Def Squad, J. Bleezy!
The Def Squad and J. Bleezy are here, ready to go.
Ha, com-bust-ya-ble, huh
I am a fiery force to be reckoned with.
It's Erick, I'm back again, full fledged
I'm Erick Sermon and I'm back with full force.
American flag in here so y'all pledge
I'm proud of my country and I want everyone to pledge allegiance.
A few of y'all sold some albums, yeah congrats
Some of you have sold albums and that's great, but that's not what's important.
The game in trouble, I must rescue rap
The rap game is in trouble and I need to rescue it.
Yo, I'm a hero! Sometimes
Sometimes I feel like a hero.
I feel the same way like the folks involved with Ground Zero
I feel the same way as those who were involved with the 9/11 attacks.
And somebody owe me boy, I'm dead serious
Someone owes me and I'm serious about it.
This year my Squad better blow to oblivious
This year, my squad needs to be the best and make everyone else oblivious.
Yo, did you lose weight? Yeah, I got stamina
I lost weight and I'm feeling great with lots of energy.
Profile me like this and hold the camera
Take a picture of me and make me look good.
I'm alone, so what y'all want do?
I'm by myself, so what do you want to do?
Take over your facility like I'm +John Q+
I'm going to take over your facility like John Q did in the movie.
I rock mics, I Chris Rock, I Kid Rock
I'm great on the mic, like Chris Rock and Kid Rock.
I rock the house, like I'm RUN!!
I rock the house, like the legendary group RUN DMC.
Rap conniseur, I rock Sean John velour
I'm a connoisseur of rap and I wear Sean John velour.
B-boy stance and that's hardcore
I have a classic B-boy stance, which is hardcore.
E-Dub, real name, no gimmicks
My real name is E-Dub and I don't need any gimmicks.
Your style is over, finito, finished!
Your style is done and finished!
You a parasite, type lyrical germ
You're a parasite and a lyrical germ.
You a sucker MC in layman terms, and
You're a sucker MC, put simply.
[Chorus: x2]
Chorus repeats: We don't care nuttin' bout you!
Yeah, we don't care, we come up in the spot sayin' oh yeah
We don't care and we come into the spot confidently.
Oh yeah, throw your hands in the air
Throw your hands in the air.
Yeah, cause
Because we don't care!
Yeah, I got a track record, I spit fouls
I have a track record of spitting sick rhymes.
E don't stop, keep it grinding (grinding!) puts it down fo' sho'
Erick Sermon doesn't stop and keeps working hard.
My figgedy flow is sick siggedy yo
My flow is sick.
Watch me biggedy blow, and y'all niggedy know
Watch me blow up and you already know it.
It's Def Squeezy, thirteen years in rap
It's Def Squad and we've been in the rap game for thirteen years.
And now it's easy, I do things to please me
Now, it's easy for me to do things that please myself.
YO - I come through so crazy
I come through with lots of energy and excitement.
I'm a "Stun'na," like M. Fresh and Baby
I'm a stunna, like the rappers Mannie Fresh and Birdman.
Got more toys than Kay*Bee, me and my yung'uns
I have more toys than Kay*Bee and me and my kids.
"Slow Down," before you receive a summons
Slow down, or you'll get a ticket.
And get hit for speeding; I break a switch off a tree
If you speed, you'll get in trouble and I'll break a switch off a tree.
You catch a beating for y'all misleading (yeah!)
You'll get in trouble for trying to deceive us.
Shame on you, when you step to, huh
Shame on you if you try to step to us.
The Green Eyed Bandit, smile you on candid
I'm the Green Eyed Bandit and I'm smiling for the camera.
Rob J. Timberlake, I got Janet
I got Janet Jackson, like Justin Timberlake.
I'm "In Control" now oh wow!
I'm in control now and it's amazing.
[Chorus]
Chorus repeats: We don't care nuttin' bout you!
Sermon, the word I preach to ya
My last name is Sermon and I'm preaching to you.
Control the airwaves so it can reach to ya
I'm controlling the airwaves so my message can reach you.
The underground of rap ring, I'm David Tua
I'm in the underground of rap like David Tua in boxing.
The one round knockout, your eyeballs pop out
I am a one round knockout and I'll leave you in awe.
High school dropout, I'm not gon' cop out
I dropped out of high school, but I'm not giving up on my dreams.
I did the rhymin thing and now a truck I hop out
I did what I needed to do with rap and now I can buy a truck to show for it.
"Fiesta," I'm down with R. Kelly shit
I'm down with R. Kelly and his music.
I'm "Supa Dupa Fly," Missy Elliott
I'm super fly, like Missy Elliott.
I stay focused, keep the same cycle
I stay focused and keep doing what's been successful.
Do me, proceed to rock the world like Michael
I just do me and keep rocking the world, like Michael Jackson.
Without Chris Tucker, with no Marlon Brando
I can do it without Chris Tucker or Marlon Brando.
Just give enough for J-Lo to handle
I'm just giving enough for J-Lo to handle.
So scream at me, holla, smoke signals
I want you to scream at me, holla, or send smoke signals.
Morse code, try a 2-way, or telephone
You can even send me a message in Morse code, through a 2-way, or over the phone.
And I give it to ya, all day in street
I'll give it to you all day in the streets.
Two turntables a mic and breakbeat, cause
All I need is two turntables, a mic, and a breakbeat, because I don't care!
[Chorus]
Chorus repeats: We don't care nuttin' bout you!
You got about five seconds to get to the dance floor!
You have about five seconds to get to the dance floor!
You got about, two more seconds to get to the dance floor
You only have two seconds left to get to the dance floor!
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: MATT KNEE, KRISTIAN NIK WALKER, MATTHEW SMITH, RITCHIE DAVID TOWNEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind