After the Smoke Is Clear
Ghostface Killah Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yo, god, show these niggas how we get deep, down, and dirty
Like Keyon, got his wig pushed back
Five-thirty
Yo they gotta hit
Placed on my head, what should the god do?
Max out in Spain and do business with the Jews
Never that
Them never look angry out of sync
The imperial, industrial king got weight
Don't give a fuck
Like the poor part, we watch Heart To Heart
They used to push me in shuffle cards
Now I'm writing books like Ebinezzer
The porno teaser
Saying words like sheeba
Educated rapper fouling the teaser
My team got rocks like Six Flags, plus the Wu lab
Cameras in nine bedrooms we own tags
Don't touch this
Crackling hot shit
I snap ya shoulder blade in half
Laugh, and pop shit
Reader's Digest, passed my book to L. Ron Hubbard
Got bagged that the world government tried to dub it
But devils love it
Movie trap raps cover the tracks
Like Ajax
Sharper than cuts laced on hardly scratched supreme clientele
My cartel
Willie Star Joe passed
Shit his piece, where's the Nobel?
Oh, well
Sigining off as usual
The arsonist, leaving niggas lost in the stairwell

(Tang-o-Phonics number one) Yeah, yo, yo
Represent my projects Stapleton (after the smoke is done)
He represent that project Park Hill (tang-o-Phonics number one)
You represent that project Murder West Brighton Now Born
Arm banging into that will
Word up (after the smoke is clear) yeah, what, Stapleton
(Tang-o-phonics and Wu-Tang still here)
Park Hill, word up, yeah, yeah, New York

The greatest story ever told by me, precisely
Roman numeral I be
Plus three describe me
My son move like the toad
Get drunk
Speak in codes
Throw a fiend in the sleeper hold
Got beef with the cold
Met my comrade
Go half on this lamp down in Baghdad
Flipping like a mex tab
Get money like an Arab
The type niggas snapped
Six legs on the crab
Now, hush, who wanna do what
My click better bust

Underprivileged
Grew up in a Stapleton house village
Where blood flood the water in the streets like oil spillage
When the water was flowing (Tang-O-Phonics number one)
I spot a fifty-five borough
A nigga was still flowing
Voice was echoing
I rise high like an Opera
Procter wouldn't Gamble
The sample, it shocked her
My ninjas run wilder than Shaka Zulu
Some play peace like Donny the Guru
Others live to be wise and old like Desmond Dutchu
Undisputed champion
Bell holders
Shape and mold us
Sole controller of the moon
I, solar and polar
I blow hash smoke through my nasal
My appraisal is 30 million
Wu-Tang third battalion, rush like Hannibal raiding Sicilians

After the smoke is done
Wu-Tang-o-Phonics number one
After the smoke is done
Wu-Tang-o-Phonics number one
After the smoke is clear
Tang-o-Phonics and Wu-Tang still here




After the smoke is done
Wu-Tang-o-Phonics number one

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ghostface Killah's "After The Smoke Is Clear" are dense with references to drug dealing, criminal activity, and the complexities of life on the streets. The singer is contemplating the challenges he faces as a drug dealer with a bounty on his head, wondering whether to flee the country or confront his enemies head-on. He ultimately decides to stay put and continue doing business, writing books and making music that reveal the darker truths of life on the margins of society. The verse that begins "The greatest story ever told by me, precisely" suggests that the singer sees himself as a storyteller, sharing the realities of his life and the lives of those around him with the world through his music.


The song incorporates a number of different styles and sounds, blending elements of hip hop, soul, R&B, and funk to create a sound that is uniquely its own. The instrumental track is dominated by a jazzy keyboard melody and a funky bassline, while Ghostface's rhymes range from fast-paced and aggressive to introspective and vulnerable. Throughout the song, he emphasizes the importance of loyalty, both to his crew and to his own moral code.


Line by Line Meaning

Yo, god, show these niggas how we get deep, down, and dirty
Addressing the divine, let's exemplify our ability to be profound and real in our artistry.


Like Keyon, got his wig pushed back, Five-thirty
A reference to a real-life person who suffered a serious consequence. Time is ticking on our own lives.


Yo they gotta hit, placed on my head, what should the god do?
Facing the pressure of a death threat, what should my response or action be?


Max out in Spain and do business with the Jews, never that
A tongue-in-cheek remark against anti-semitism while discussing potential business ventures.


Them never look angry out of sync, the imperial, industrial king got weight, don't give a fuck
The calm exterior doesn't mean we're not in control. Our power is undeniable and we don't care about others' opinions.


Like the poor part, we watch Heart To Heart, they used to push me in shuffle cards
Despite our humble beginnings, we are capable of sophistication and success.


Now I'm writing books like Ebinezzer, the porno teaser, saying words like sheeba
My written work is diverse and ranges from high-brow literature to sexually suggestive content.


Educated rapper fouling the teaser, my team got rocks like Six Flags, plus the Wu lab
Despite being both smart and provocative, my team is talented and wealthy.


Cameras in nine bedrooms we own tags, don't touch this
We hold power and control, and anyone who challenges it will face the consequences.


Crackling hot shit, I snap ya shoulder blade in half, laugh, and pop shit
We are threatening and brutal towards those who oppose us. Humor us at your own risk.


Reader's Digest, passed my book to L. Ron Hubbard, got bagged that the world government tried to dub it, but devils love it
The mainstream media may reject us, but even they are fascinated by our work.


Movie trap raps cover the tracks like Ajax, sharper than cuts laced on hardly scratched supreme clientele
We create music that is layered, complex and provocative, but we do so masterfully.


My cartel, Willie Star Joe passed, shit his piece, where's the Nobel? Oh, well
Our group has faced loss but we're still focused on achieving greatness and recognition.


Sigining off as usual, the arsonist, leaving niggas lost in the stairwell
I'm ready to bow out as I usually do, leaving chaos and confusion in my wake.


(Tang-o-Phonics number one) Yeah, yo, yo
Introductory line to a collaborative chant.


Represent my projects Stapleton (after the smoke is done)
Proudly representing my neighborhood, which has survived through tumultuous times.


He represent that project Park Hill (tang-o-Phonics number one)
Acknowledging another artist who represents a nearby community.


You represent that project Murder West Brighton Now Born, arm banging into that will, word up
Shouting out the third artist in the chant who represents their neighborhood with proud conviction.


(After the smoke is clear) yeah, what, Stapleton, tang-o-phonics and Wu-Tang still here
Despite obstacles, we're still standing and repping our communities and collective group.


The greatest story ever told by me, precisely, Roman numeral I be, plus three describe me
My life story is epic and uniquely mine, represented by the Roman numeral I and enhanced by three modifiers.


My son move like the toad, get drunk, speak in codes, throw a fiend in the sleeper hold, got beef with the cold
Describing my son's enigmatic, fluid nature and preference for functioning in secrecy.


Met my comrade, go half on this lamp down in Baghdad, flipping like a mex tab, get money like an Arab
Describing business ventures and acquisitions that span national and cultural borders.


The type niggas snapped, six legs on the crab, now, hush, who wanna do what, my click better bust
My crew is ready to defend ourselves and our business interests with lethal force.


Underprivileged, grew up in a Stapleton house village, where blood flood the water in the streets like oil spillage
Acknowledging the violent and impoverished circumstances of my upbringing.


When the water was flowing (Tang-O-Phonics number one), I spot a fifty-five borough, a nigga was still flowing, voice was echoing, I rise high like an Opera
Despite challenges, I prevailed and rose to success with the power of my voice.


Procter wouldn't Gamble, the sample, it shocked her, my ninjas run wilder than Shaka Zulu
Our creativity is both unexpected and more powerful than the norm. My crew is to be feared.


Undisputed champion, bell holders, shape and mold us, sole controller of the moon, I, solar and polar, I blow hash smoke through my nasal, my appraisal is 30 million
I am a dominant force and I have obtained incredible wealth through my talents and business ventures.


Wu-Tang third battalion, rush like Hannibal raiding Sicilians
Acknowledging the strength, unity and strategic prowess of the Wu-Tang Clan collective.


(After the smoke is done) Wu-Tang-o-Phonics number one
Finishing the chant with pride for our collaboration and team.




Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: Dennis David Coles, Robert F. Diggs

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@claytonmatt4334

"that was insane", "one second he was smilin, chattin us up, the next hes firing shots out the fuckin window". Best scene from the whole series

@MichaelBellJr81

"You want to tell him we're leaving"?

@princeofthehood

Lmao he said it was the dark skin nigga with the falsetto the whole time lol

@brutalityhonest96

๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ yo that shit had me in tears

@brutalityhonest96

๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

@truthhurts2000

Shit was comedy but according to Ghost it didn't go like that. He said one of them said they wish the brought their knife that day๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜…. Remember they are from Philly

3 More Replies...

@sototrojanful

I remember back then that RZA's accent combined with his flow and
delivery made every track he was on that much special. There was just something about his rhyming that stood out.

@briang3698

Bobby Steelz

@vollsticks

Yeah, I think now it's a bit trendy to slag off his rhyming...he was always dope, his verse on this....whew. Copped all the Wu shit when it dropped, Golden Days Lived In A Haze, this is the best closing track to an LP ever.

@ShadowStarMicah24

I agree, I loved his awkward way of speaking, always looked forward to him being on a track

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