Ghostface Killah is critically acclaimed for his loud, fast-paced flow, and his stream-of-consciousness narratives containing cryptic slang and non-sequiturs.
Ghostface Killah was raised in the Stapleton housing projects in Staten Island, New York. In his autobiographical song "All That I Got Is You", Ghost tells the story of his childhood. He raps about how he grew up in a three bedroom apartment without his father, who left him at the age of six. Apparently, his mother had nine children.
His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film Mystery of Chessboxing.
He was also a close friend of the three founding members of Wu-tang clan
Be Easy )
Ghostface Killah Lyrics
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It's ya boy Ghost in the motherfuckin ' house tonight
Know what I mean? We about to get it popping, let's go!
Yo! Yo!
Tell your crew to be easy, niggas run around
With them fake frowns, sell 'em on eBay
Get word to the DJ, tell 'em Staten Island's
Get your nose blowned off by the fifth, uh
You wanna be there, layin' all stiff, uh
Every time you go uptown, you get jipped, uh
That's karma, boy, running your lip, uh
You be fronting like you got a bunch of chicks, uh
You be at home, nigga, beating your dick, uh
I'm in the club with the chipped up wrist, uh
You at the bar, whoadie, drinkin' my piss, uh
The yellow shit, and the bottle ain't Crys', son
You turned your mothafuckin' head, nigga, we switched 'em
You just mad cause I'm hittin' your sister
You in the other room, huh, you couldn't sleep, uh
Pop a lotta shit without that liquor, yup
We mind seat up, so take our picture
I'm like the boogeyman, nigga, I'll get ya
Whether now or later, afterlife, or switcher
Yeah, oh shit, hey yo Tone hurry up and get 'em, nigga
You know what I mean, it's about to pop off!
Y'all niggas clear the fucking floor
Get the fuck out the way, come on!
Tell your crew to be easy, niggas run around
With them fake frowns, sell 'em on eBay
Get word to the DJ, tell 'em Staten Island's
In the house, put the record on replay
Yo, it's Tone in the building (the teams in the building)
Niggas wanna beef what up, what up, what up
We packed to the ceiling (we constantly chilling)
We can cause we could, we shoot, we slice, we cut
Shimmy shimmy ya, shimmy yam, shimmy yea, now
Yes, my birthday, landed in May, now
Peace to Dirt Dog, I'm back like Deja Vu
Leave your girl around me, I will bag your boo
You bitch niggaz better listen up
Anybody front, paramedics gonna pick 'em up
They try to save you, sware to God, I hit the nurse up
Like "Nah, doc, he look better in a Herse truck"
I tried to ignore it, his people saw it
I ain't the type of dude you go to war with
My polo gun yo, will crack the floor shit
When the heat's on, you know I draw it
I had his number down, Toney just called it
Yo, ayo, Pete Rock, good looking nigga!
Staten Island, yo Theodore! What's the deal
Slap me one of the ratchets, I'm about to go in! Yo!
Tell your crew to be easy, niggas run around
With them fake frowns, sell 'em on eBay
Get word to the DJ, tell 'em Staten Island's
In the house, put the record on replay
Gotta get that cheese, gotta pimp that V
Gotta burn those leaves, and uh
Pretty Tone make the girls say please
Daddy work that D, put it in and be eas' and uh
So what, come on, now some of y'all people
Might know me from my wallabies
Pretty bitches got my number, y'all can dial me
I stick it up like an iced cake robbery
And when I'm done, y'all can finger nail file me
Floss the ill robes since Criminology
Supreme Clientele, put the world on top of me
Yo babe, hurry up, with those collard greens
I represent S.I., ain't as wild as me
They lousy, I'm phat like a pound of cheeba weed brownies
Tone got the powder squeeze, don't surround me
Quick to pick a honey up, shit, the flow's Bounty
Ya'll can just crown me!
Yeah, that's right
I like to thank y'all for coming out tonight
How y'all like that shit? You know what I mean?
You really run New York
This is that Theodore shit, motherfucker!
The song "Be Easy" by Ghostface is a rap song filled with lyrics that diss other people, boast about the rapper's own success, and invite others to party with him. The chorus sets the tone for the entire song, telling others to "be easy" while in the presence of Ghostface because he and his crew are in the house. The lyrics also contain threats towards those who might oppose him or laugh at him since he can have them killed within a snap of a finger. Ghostface also boasts about his wealth and how he treats women, ending with thanking his fans who attended the concert.
However, there is more to the song than just bragging rights. Ghostface is using his music as a form of self-expression by showcasing his artistry as a rapper while being authentic to himself. His lyrics are filled with humor and boasts while also acknowledging social norms and practices, such as the use of slang and Codeswitching. The song is also an expression of Blackness, and the tensions and marginalization of the Black community. Ghostface's rap seems to acknowledge that he is troubled with systemic social challenges but refuses to let it stop him from living his life authentically.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, what's happening New York City?
Ghostface is greeting the crowd and signaling that he's about to perform.
Tell your crew to be easy, niggas run around
With them fake frowns, sell 'em on eBay
Get word to the DJ, tell 'em Staten Island's
In the house, put the record on replay
Ghostface is commanding people to relax and enjoy their time, and encouraging the DJ to play more music from Staten Island after observing that some people are putting on fake sad expressions as though they would rather not be there.
Get your nose blowned off by the fifth, uh
You wanna be there, layin' all stiff, uh
Every time you go uptown, you get jipped, uh
That's karma, boy, running your lip, uh
Ghostface is threatening anyone who acts hostile and negatively towards him with severe physical harm, while also reminding them that they will ultimately be punished for their immoral behavior.
You be fronting like you got a bunch of chicks, uh
You be at home, nigga, beating your dick, uh
I'm in the club with the chipped up wrist, uh
You at the bar, whoadie, drinkin' my piss, uh
The yellow shit, and the bottle ain't Crys', son
You turned your muthafuckin' head, nigga, we switched 'em
You just mad cause I'm hittin' your sister
You in the other room, huh, you couldn't sleep, uh
Pop a lotta shit without that liquor, yup
We mind seat up, so take our picture
I'm like the boogeyman, nigga, I'll get ya
Whether now or later, afterlife, or switcher
Ghostface is mocking and belittling a person who he feels is inferior to him, and revealing that he has engaged in an affair with that person's sister. He also brags about his own attractiveness to women and bodily features while threatening this person with violence.
Yo, it's Tone in the building (the teams in the building)
Niggas wanna beef {what up, what up, what up}
We packed to the ceiling (we constantly chilling)
We can cause {we could, we shoot, we slice, we cut}
Ghostface and Trife Da God are declaring their readiness and willingness to get into fights with anyone who messes with them, and that they already have a lot of weapons on their person.
Shimmy shimmy ya, shimmy yam, shimmy yea, now
Yes, my birthday, landed in nay, now
Peace to Dirt Dog, I'm back like deja vu
Leave your girl around me, I will bag your boo
You bitch niggaz better listen up
Anybody front, paramedics gonna pick 'em up
They try to save you, sware to God, I hit the nurse up
Like "Nah, doc, he look better in a herse truck"
I tried to ignore it, his people saw it
I ain't the type of dude you go to war with
My polo gun yo, will crack the floor shit
When the heat's on, you know I draw it
I had his number down, Toney just called it
Ghostface is reminiscing about a past experience on his birthday where he successfully wooed someone else's girlfriend while also taking jabs at his detractors. Additionally, he is boasting about his skills in violence and ability to quickly access guns during confrontations.
Gotta get that cheese, gotta pimp that V
Gotta burn those leaves, and uh
Pretty Tone make the girls say please
Daddy work that d, put it in and be eas' and uh
So what, come on, now some of y'all people
Might know me from my wallabies
Pretty bitches got my number, y'all can dial me
I stick it up like an iced cake robbery
And when I'm done, y'all can finger nail file me
Floss the ill robes since Criminology
Supreme Clientele, put the world on top of me
Yo babe, hurry up, with those collard greens
I represent S.I., ain't as wild as me
They lousy, I'm phat like a pound of cheeba weed brownies
Tone got the powder squeeze, don't surround me
Quick to pick a honey up, shit, the flow's Bounty
Ya'll can just crown me!
Ghostface brags about his ability to make money, get women, and commit crimes, also referencing his past successes in music and urging someone to hurry up and bring him some food.
Yeah, that's right
I like to thank y'all for coming out tonight
How y'all like that shit? You know what i mean?
You really run New York
This is that Theodore shit, motherfucker!
Ghostface is thanking his fans and praising their power, adding that he's proud to be associated with Theodore, which is likely an abbreviation for the group Theodore Unit.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Aldrin Davis, Clifford Joseph Harris, Gary St. Clair, Tim O'brien
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind