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
Fire
Ghostface Killah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't play with me, cause you're playing with fire!
(Whooo, smoking, smoking, smoking them Marley Marl's
Smile, smoking, them Marley Marl's now be smoking
Uh huh uh huh, smoking, light them Marley up nigga, you
Smoking) {yeah, yo}
[Trife Da God]
Nigga, everything I touch, I burn
When I spark and that fire heat up, you better run
To the nearest telephone and call the fire chief up
Cuz I'm hazard, causin' disorder on your recorder
So run along with your little buckets of water
There's not a nigga that can doubt my game or doust my flame
I'm know to cause a panic when you shout my name
Fire, you damn right, nigga, I bang pipes
It's not a fucking room in this building I can't light
I'm the definition when you mix heat with friction
When I walk through I set off all sprinkler systems
I'm that kid with the firey flow, the firey glow
Adjust the mic levels or the wires will blow
New York's bravest, meet the man who inspired the pro's
Throw on your fireproof bombers and admire the show, let's go
[Chorus: Ghostface Killah & Trife Da God]
Gotta strike while the iron is hot, fighting
Fire with fire, you'll die on the spot, (nigga)
Gotta strike while the iron is hot, fighting
Fire with fire, you'll die on the spot, (uh)
Gotta strike while the iron is hot, fighting
Fire with fire, you'll die on the spot, (yeah)
Gotta strike while the iron is hot, fighting
Fire with fire, you'll die on the spot, (let's go)
[Ghostface Killah]
Peep the barcode, leave the booth, wrapped it in charcoal
Sippin' on firewater, plus I keep a cigar rolled
The human torch, special effects, cannons is shootin' off
Leave body bags full of ashes, we ain't no move to cost
Spit flammable bars, I got a whooping cough
Scarlet red, six forty five, with the dual exhaust
My barrel blow like dodgers, pop one in your rider
And cause a meltdown at One Police Plaza
I'm the opposite of aqua, hotter than a plate of pasta
I'm the reason LaMar Odom was traded off the roster
The hot stepper, crushing ya niggaz like hot pepper
The forty cal' squeeze a nigga, my heaters apply pressure
In the kitchen with the gun steaming, six hundred degrees
Feeling like you in the desert with the sun beaming
You can't block me with the sun screening
Ultra violet rays, shorten his days, we left his blood streaming
[Chorus x2]
In the song "Fire" by Ghostface Killah (ft. Trife Da God), the lyrics discuss the concept of playing with fire and the consequences that come with it. Trife Da God sets the tone for the song by warning about the dangers of playing with fire and how everything he touches, he burns. He considers himself a hazard and warns everyone to call the fire chief when he sparks up. He suggests that he's known for causing pandemonium and chaos when his name is shouted. He uses his fiery flow and glow to set everything around him ablaze, causing the entire sprinkler system to go off when he walks through. Ghostface Killah comes in with his own intensity, describing himself as the human torch, with special effects and cannons shooting off. His bars are flammable, able to leave body bags full of ashes. He boasts about his power, being able to crush people like hot pepper and trade off professional basketball players from a team. His guns are steaming, and his heaters apply pressure, with ultra-violet rays shortening people's days.
The lyrics of the song are a metaphor for the rapper's own abilities and prowess in the rap game. They suggest that they hold power, the power to cause chaos and destruction if they wanted to. The idea is that they shouldn't be messed with or taken lightly, as they're capable of setting everything ablaze. The song is an intense warning to anyone thinking of coming for them to tread lightly, as the consequences of messing with them will be severe.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't play with me, cause you're playing with fire!
You better watch out because if you mess with me, it's like you're playing with fire and you might get burned.
When you motherfuckin' ducks gonna learn, that you playin' with fire
You need to understand that you are playing with something dangerous when you mess with me
Nigga, everything I touch, I burn
I am so lethal, I even cause destruction just by touching things
There's not a nigga that can doubt my game or doust my flame
No one can ever question my abilities or put out my fire
Fire, you damn right, nigga, I bang pipes
Yes, I am on fire and I am unstoppable. I dominate every situation.
New York's bravest, meet the man who inspired the pro's
I am the best of the best and even other professionals look up to me.
Gotta strike while the iron is hot, fighting Fire with fire, you'll die on the spot
You need to be quick and fight back just as hard as your opponent, otherwise you will fail.
Peep the barcode, leave the booth, wrapped it in charcoal
I am so cool that I leave the recording studio with my art on fire and ready to ignite the world.
Scarlet red, six forty five, with the dual exhaust
I am driving a powerful car that is as hot as the fire I am spitting in my rhymes.
My barrel blow like dodgers, pop one in your rider
I am like a gun that shoots flames and I can take out anyone who stands in my way.
I'm the opposite of aqua, hotter than a plate of pasta
I am the opposite of cool water, I am hot and intense like a plate full of steaming pasta.
You can't block me with the sun screening
There is no way you can stop me, even if you try to block me out with sun screen.
Ultra violet rays, shorten his days, we left his blood streaming
I am like the sun, shining bright and intense, and I can take out anyone who gets in my way.
Contributed by Keira E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.