Guillotine
Ghostface Killah Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Allow me to demonstrate the skill of Shaolin
The special technique of shadowboxing (check it out)
Poisonous (word, word, word)
Slap (poisonous)
Yo, I should slap all y'all niggas for comin' in my fuckin' face with that shit
(Shh, shh, aight, soon, soon)
Yo, man, ain't that-
Ain't that Ghostface right there?
Ain't that nigga Ghost?
Poisonous

Poisonous paragraphs, smash ya phonograph in half
It be the Inspectah Deck on the warpath
First class leavin mics with a cast
Causin ruckus like the aftermath when guns blast
Run fast, here comes the verbal assaulter
Rhymes runnin' wild like a child in a walker
I scored from the inner slums abroad
And my thoughts are razor sharp
I slice the mic from the cord
First they criticize
But now they have become mentally paralyzed
With hits that I devise
Now I testify, the rest is I
Rebel INS, Your Highness
Blessed to electrify with voltage of an eel
Truth that I reveal'll
Crush the amateurs who scream they keep it real
Caesar black down, hoodied up in fatigues
Part-time minor leagues receive third degrees
Attack like a wolf pack, once I pull back
Then guard you, and bust through like a fullback

Yo, you fourteen carat gold slum computer wizard
Tappin' inside my rap vein causes blizzards
The wildlife that kills for ice trife, like by the digits
Gorillas injected with strength of eighty midgets
The earth spins ruins, rap exotic blends
Let my peeps in, niggas gaspin', swallowin' aspirins
What a dosage. You overdosed in rap
High explosives, my posters hypnotize with hypnosis
I sell goods, my whole clan is on the run like natural born killers
Record-breakin' the album Thriller
Got access to teargas, bombs and rocket launchers
Flow like dope, killer bees is what I sponsor
Your entrepreneur, pens and gear like Shakespeare
When I fuck I grab hair, collect drawers as souvenirs
Fuck yeah, my crew down German beers
My career's based on guns, throwin' cats in wheelchairs
Etcetera, damage any lame ass competitor
Who try to front, get broken in fast like leathers
Whatever, hot hard-heads get shattered like mirrors
Beretta shots splatter your Goose, scatter ya feathers
Say never poetry chumps crumbs deal with graphic
Flew my family overseas, I'm maxin'
If rap was crack, fully packed, I'd be tall caps
Taxin' kingpin of the rap drug traffickin'
Village niggas get slapped in Manhattan
For rappin, big Ghost steps off laughin', ha

(Were you just using the Wu-Tang school method against me?
I've learned so many styles, forgive me)

Sit back, relax, fake niggas don't get turns
Watch me massage ya brain with slang that's king
Projects filled with young men cause threats
Who has that? Thousand dollar chains and TECs
Focus, the brokest niggas of life shit
These mics is like cocaine, son
Check the suicidal hype shit
Exchange mad blunts, tapes for sweepstakes
Peepin' up on fakes, outta state for cakes, no doubt
Plus nobody amount, we makin' dough off
Puttin' fifty on the Land and Allah, it's like that
Pull ya shoes up black, matta of fact just adapt
Tie up, ya black Nike's and tight hats
Corners, stay surrounded with foreigners
What up, dread? Feds caught you grudgin' for his bread
But regardless, peace to jail niggas with charges
Unify, layin' in the guard with la
My clan done ran from Japan to Atlanta, with stamina
Slingers and gamblers, and gram handlers
Tical, like the Owl cigar, let's get steamed
Infrared guard yo' beam, so seek nuff respect
Rude bwoy, you bet
Keep it movin', Mashallah, pro black like tar
Designin' the fly shit and stay shinin'
The RZA pour more beats than Cristal's fine wine
Concrete raps go to bat
With fifty other niggas on the other side of the map
'Til it's all good and all done what we want some
Mike Tyson of this rap shit, pullin' out MACs for fun

The nigga don't get mad, I got mad styles of my own
And it's shown when my hands grip the chrome microphone
Verbally I catch bodies with cordless shotties
Intriguin' MCs, I keep em trained like potties
I bomb facts, my sword is an axe
To split backs invisible, like dope fiend tracks
Sky's the limit, niggas are timid, and nobody knows
How we move like wolves in sheep clothes
Producin' data, microchips of software
Underground and off air, the land of the lost




Notorious henchman from the North
Strikin' niggas where the Mason-Dixon line crossed

Overall Meaning

"Guillotine" is a classic Wu-Tang Clan song from their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, and Raekwon take turns spitting gritty, aggressive verses over a haunting beat. The song opens with the line "Allow me to demonstrate the skill of Shaolin," which sets the stage for the martial arts imagery that permeates much of Wu-Tang's music. "The special technique of shadowboxing" refers to the practice of practicing martial arts without an actual opponent, using mental visualization instead.


Inspectah Deck's verse is full of wordplay and boasts about his lyrical prowess. He uses metaphors like "poisonous paragraphs" and "sliced the mic from the cord" to describe his rhymes, which he claims are so potent they can cause physical damage to a phonograph. He also alludes to the fact that he was initially criticized but has now achieved success and made his doubters "mentally paralyzed."


Ghostface Killah's verse is a bit more abstract, with references to "14 carat gold slum computer wizard," "gorillas injected with strength of eighty midgets," and "post-its hypnotize with hypnosis." He brags about his rapping skills, claiming that they can "overdose" listeners with their intensity. Raekwon's verse touches on themes of drug trafficking, violence, and crime. He refers to himself as the "kingpin of the rap drug trafficking" and threatens to break the legs of his enemies.


Line by Line Meaning

Allow me to demonstrate the skill of Shaolin
Let me show you the superior martial arts technique of the Shaolin monks


The special technique of shadowboxing
The unique strategy of mentally envisioning and practicing combat moves without an opponent


Poisonous, poisonous (word word word)
I strongly disapprove of and am disgusted by your behavior and words


I should slap all y'all niggaz for coming in my fuckin face with that shit
I am highly annoyed and angered by your disrespectful actions and speech towards me


Alright cool yeah, go ahead man
Okay, fine, do what you want, I don't care


Poisonous
I have a venomous lyrical style that is captivating and powerful


Poisonous paragraphs, smash ya phonograph
My skillful and intense wordplay destroys your music and lyricism


In half, it be the Inspectah Deck on the warpath
I, Inspectah Deck, am on a determined and aggressive mission to conquer


First class leavin mics with a cast
I excel in my performances, leaving microphones damaged and outperformed


Causin ruckus like the aftermath when guns blast
My presence creates chaos similar to the destruction caused after a gunfight


Run fast, here comes the verbal assaulta
Prepare yourself, I am about to attack you fiercely with my words


Rhymes runnin wild like a child in a walker
My lyrical flow is unrestricted and unrestrained, like a baby in a walker


I scored from the inner slums abroad
I gained success and recognition starting from the disadvantaged neighborhoods of my city


And my thoughts are razor sharp I sliced the mic from the cord
My thinking is extremely focused and precise, as if I can cut a microphone cord with my thoughts


First they criticize, but now they have become
Initially, people used to criticize me, but now they have turned into


Mentally paralyzed with hits that I devise
Incapable of thinking or responding properly due to the impact of my skillfully crafted songs


Now I testify, the rest is i, rebel ins
Now I am proudly proclaiming the truth and asserting my dominance as the rebellious Inspectah Deck


Ya highness, blessed to electrify
I am honored and privileged to have the ability to captivate and excite listeners


With voltage of an eel, truth that I reveal'll
My words have a shocking power, and I expose and reveal the truth


Crush the amateurs who screamed to keep it real
I overpower and defeat the inexperienced artists who claim to be authentic


Caesar black down hoodied up and fatigues
I, representing power and dominance, am dressed in a black hoodie and military attire


Part time minor leagues receive third degrees
Less skilled artists, who are only part-time in the rap game, face harsh criticism and scrutiny from me


Attack like a wolf pack, once I pull back
I strike aggressively, like a group of wolves, as soon as I prepare to release my attack


Then guard you, and bust through like a fullback
I protect myself and break through any opposition with strength and force, like a football fullback


Yo, you fourteen carat gold slum computer wizard
Hey, you pretentious and aspiring artist who pretends to be wealthy and knowledgeable


Tappin inside my rap vein causes blizzards
Attempting to imitate my style and harness my rap skills results in chaos and confusion


Do I like the kills for ice trife like botta digits
Do I enjoy achieving success and fame through dangerous and risky means, similar to calculating numerical combinations


Gorillas injected with strength of eighty midgets
I possess great power and influence, comparable to gorillas enhanced with the strength of eighty little people


The earth spins ruins, rap exotic blends
The world is in chaos and decline, while I create unique and captivating rap mixes


Let my peeps in, niggaz gaspin swallowin aspirins
Allow my crew to enter, causing others to be shocked and overwhelmed, needing aspirins for relief


What a dosage, you overdosed in rap
The intensity and potency of my rap is overwhelming, causing others to overdose on its effects


High explosives my post-its hypnotize with hypnosis
My powerful lyrics and messages have a mesmerizing and hypnotic effect


I sell goods, my whole clan is on the run like natural born killers
I am successful in my endeavors, and my entire group is always active and evasive like skilled assassins


Record-breaking the album thriller
I am achieving unprecedented success with my thrilling and captivating album


Now access the jig who has bombs and rocket launchers
Now witness the skilled individual who possesses powerful and explosive tools


Float like dope killer bees is what I sponsor
I move smoothly and gracefully like deadly killer bees, which is what I endorse


Ya entrepreneur, pens and gear like Shakespeare
I am a visionary and business-savvy individual, with the same level of creativity and talent as Shakespeare


When I fuck I grab hair, collect drawers as souvenirs
During sexual encounters, I engage in rough behavior and collect women's undergarments as mementos


Fuck yeah, my crew down German beers
Hell yeah, my crew and I enjoy drinking German beers


My career is based on guns, throwin cats in wheelchairs
My reputation and success are built upon violence, incapacitating my enemies


Etcetera, damage any lame ass competitor
And so on, I destroy and defeat any weak and irrelevant opponent


Who try to front, get broken and passed like leathers
Anyone who attempts to act tough or deceive me will be physically harmed and discarded like worn-out leather


Whatever hot hardheads get shattered like mirrors
No matter how tough and conceited they are, arrogant individuals will be crushed and humiliated like broken mirrors


Beretta shots splatter your goose, scatter ya feathers
Gunshots from my Beretta pistol will cause your life to end violently, scattering your peace and security


Say never poetry chumps crumbs deal with graphic
Those who lack talent in writing poetic verses cannot compete with my powerful and vivid wordplay


Blew my family overseas in mansions
I achieved great success and wealth, providing my family with luxurious homes abroad


If rap was crack, fully packed I be tour cats
If rap music was like a highly addictive drug, I would be the top supplier and distributor


Tax the kingpin of the rap drug traffickin
I am the influential figure in the rap industry, making significant profits and controlling the market


Village niggaz get slapped in manhattan
Inexperienced and insignificant individuals from smaller neighborhoods will be humiliated and defeated in the major rap scene of Manhattan


For rappin, big ghost steps off laffin
I, the prominent and respected rapper Ghostface Killah, confidently step away, laughing at the attempts of others


(Were you just using the wu-tang school method against me?
(Were you just employing the techniques and strategies taught by the Wu-Tang Clan to challenge me?


I've learned so many styles, forgive me)
I have acquired extensive knowledge and skills in various rap styles, please forgive any arrogance


Sit back relax, fake niggaz don't get turns
Calm down and take a seat, fake individuals will not be given opportunities or chances


Watch me massage ya brain with slang that's king
Witness how I stimulate your mind with my masterful and powerful use of language and slang


Projects filled with young men cause threats
The housing projects are populated by young men who pose a significant danger and generate fear


Who is that? thousand dollar chains and techs
Who is that person with expensive jewelry and firearms?


Focus, the brokest niggaz of life shit
Pay attention, the poorest individuals in life's struggles


These mics is like cocaine sun, check the suicidal hype shit
These microphones possess the addictive and intense energy of cocaine, listen to the overwhelming and self-destructive content


Exchange mad blunts taste the sweepstakes
Let's share and pass around a large number of marijuana cigarettes and experience the excitement and potential rewards


Keepin up on fakes outta state for cakes
Staying informed and aware of false individuals who come from other places in search of wealth and success


No doubt, plus nobody amount, we making dough off of
Certainly, and no one else can achieve what we are accomplishing, we are making money from our endeavors


Puttin fifty on the land and allah, it's like that
Investing a large sum of money into real estate and success, following the will of Allah, that's how it is


Pull ya shoes up black, matta of fact just adapt
Take control of your life and improve your situation, in fact, just adjust and adapt to your circumstances


Tie up, ya black nike's and tight hats
Lace up your black Nike sneakers and wear your fitted hats tightly


Corners, stay surrounded with foreigners
Stay in the neighborhoods and areas filled with people from different ethnic backgrounds


Whattup dread? feds caught you grudgin for his bread
Hey, my friend, the authorities caught you holding a grudge and seeking revenge because of money


But regardless, peace to jail niggaz with charges
Nevertheless, I send peace and respect to the incarcerated individuals who are facing legal charges


Unify layin in the guard with la
Unite and come together while imprisoned, under the watch of the guards, in love and loyalty


My clan done ran from japan to Atlanta, with stamina
My crew has traveled extensively, from Japan to Atlanta, with great endurance and perseverance


Clingers and gamblers, and gram handlers
We attract loyal followers and risk-takers, as well as drug dealers and users


Tical like the isle, so god, let's get steamed
I, like the drug known as tical, possess a strong and intoxicating effect, so let's get excited and energetic


Infrared guard yo' beem, so seek nuff respect
Use the heightened focus and alertness of your senses, be cautious and seek the admiration and honor you deserve


Rude bwoy you bet, keep it movin par shallah
Rude boy, you can be sure of that, keep it moving, my friend, by the will of God


Pro black like tar
Strongly and unapologetically supporting and promoting black culture and empowerment


Designin the fly shit and stay shinin and
Creating and coming up with stylish and impressive works of art, while maintaining an aura of success and brilliance


The rza pours more beats than cristal's fine wine
The RZA produces a larger quantity of high-quality beats than the expensive and refined wine brand Cristal


Concrete raps go to black
My powerful and solid lyrics are directed towards the experiences and struggles of the black community


With 50 other niggaz on the other side of the map
In the company of fifty other individuals representing different areas and cities


Knew it's all good and all done what, we want some
We were aware that everything is fine and accomplished, now what we desire is to be recognized


Mike Tyson of this rap shit, pullin out macs for fun
I am the dominant and intimidating figure in the rap scene, just like Mike Tyson, using firearms casually for my pleasure


The nigga don't get mad, I got mad styles of my own
I don't get angry, as I possess numerous diverse and impressive artistic techniques


And it's shown when my hands grip the chrome microphone
My exceptional skills are evident when I hold the microphone and deliver my powerful lyrics


Verbally I catch bodies with cordless shotties
Using only my words, I metaphorically capture and defeat my opponents like a shotgun without wires or limitations


Intriguin emcees, I keep em trained like potties
I captivate and fascinate other rappers, making them obedient and submissive, similar to potty training


I bomb facts, my sword is an axe
I deliver undeniable truths and devastate my enemies, using my words as a powerful weapon


To split backs invisible, like dope fiend tracks
I metaphorically cut and separate my opponents, leaving them defeated and unnoticed, similar to the tracks of drug addicts


Sky's the limit, niggaz are timid, and nobody knows
There are limitless possibilities for success, but many people lack courage and confidence, and no one truly understands


How we move like wolfs in sheep clothes
Others are unaware of how we maneuver and operate secretly, disguising our true intentions and motives


Producin data, microchips or software
Generating and creating valuable information, technological advancements, and software programs


Undaground and off air, the land of the lost
Operating in the realm of independent and non-commercial music, overlooked and unrecognized by mainstream media


Notorious henchman from the north
Well-known and feared enforcer originating from the northern regions


Strikin niggaz where the Mason-Dixon line crossed
Targeting and attacking individuals who cross the symbolic border that separates different regions and communities




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Corey Woods, Robert F. Diggs

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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