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
Investigative Reports
Ghostface Killah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dime droppers, Twenty-five-to-lifers
Backstabbers, low blowers
Illegal cocaine growers
Starvation, profanity
Anxiety, brothers trying me
Gun slingers, dead ringers
Mix collaboration man, little man and his girl
Way of life got me thinking, plus I'm analyzing young
Youths on roofs, you know, three time felony brutes
Roll together, tropical trees puff, whatever
Yo we could go run up on, kids for leathers
What drug? Faculties bubble keys for G's
Cream flow like seven seas, hit chicks Guyanese
Word up, hold your head before you fall out
The morgue route, the devil want that
Let's get my niggas locked all out
Change for better, that be my only vendetta
With life, feed your seed right, he's breathing indeed right
Chef, remarkable, sparkable, raps and tackable gats
Never get jacked, see ya then move black
Paradise trife, plush with much ice
Getting nice, laying back, sleep all my life
Word up!
Crack patients, dime smokers
Vial carriers, mocha tokers
Burnt buildings, brothers building
Save the children, investigative reports!
Calling all cars, calling all cars! Ghetto
Psychos, armed and dangerous, leaving mad scars on those
Who are found bound, gagged and shot when they blast the spot
Victims took off like astronauts
Get with this, even your best can't
Come on down, you're the next contestant!
Get your pockets dug from all your Chemical Bank ends
Caught him at the red light on Putnam Avenue and Franklin
They used to heat up the cipher with a shot that was hyper
Than your average JFK sniper
He just came home from Spofford
Rolling like Kaufman, and laid that ass out like carpet
Stop the stuttering boy, save complaints for the five-oh
Then praise the God - chk-a-chk POW!
They release shots and premeditate to grab
And then they jet back to the lab
And then remain in Shaolin, an endangered island
Where shorties lose blood by the gallons
Crack patients, dime smokers
Vial carriers, mocha tokers
Burnt buildings, brothers building
Save the children, investigative reports!
Yo, I grab the pen for revenge and let loose, see
Like Muslims, standing on the block, rocking a kufi
The hundred-dollar kick rocking kid's back for more
Starting gold wars, with black Reeboks and Velours
Jungle way of life, living villain
Packed with visions, copywritten
Throwing bread to pigeons, Christ has risen
King Elegant, slang master, jack expensive noodle hats
In sixty-nine, old timers time that brothers shot craps
The baggy blue Guess jeans, pull strings off in Palm Springs
I'm locked in the bing, Rocky ring labelled rap king
The corner emperor - the golden thieves play the benches
Rednecks be hanging big niggas down in Memphis
Back in Now-Y, hit the bull's eye with loaded nines
Life is like Tarzan, swinging from a thin vine
Shatter dreams, then mirrors don't need a press spirals
Aim at the white shadows with big barrels
Of Moet-ers, the bald headers, milk and Armarettas
Who fear none, crushing all personal vendettas, yo
They use guns while we angrily shot arrows
You better keep your eye on the sparrow
Rugged rhymsters, crooked crimesters
Dime droppers, Twenty-five-to-lifers
Backstabbers, low blowers
Illegal cocaine growers
Starvation, profanity
Anxiety, brothers trying me
Gun slingers, dead ringers
Investigative reports
The lyrics of "10. Investigative Reports" by Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, The Genius, and U-God depict the harsh realities of living in the inner city. The song talks about the illegal activities, violence, and poverty that are prevalent in these areas. The lyrics also touch on the struggles of the youth who are forced to engage in criminal activities to survive. The song paints a picture of a society where corruption, crime, and despair are the norm. The repeated chorus of "Crack patients, dime smokers, vial carriers, mocha tokers, burnt buildings, brothers building, save the children, investigative reports" highlights the need for change and intervention in these communities.
The lyrics also showcase the unique style and flow of each artist. Ghostface Killah's rhymes are aggressive and in your face, while Raekwon's are more laid back and cool. The Genius (GZA) uses his scientific knowledge to weave intelligent lyrics, and U-God's words are hard-hitting and gritty. The song also features a catchy chorus that sticks in the listener's mind.
Overall, "10. Investigative Reports" is a powerful song that reflects on the problems facing inner-city neighborhoods. The artists present their thoughts in a raw and authentic manner that makes the lyrics hit close to home.
Line by Line Meaning
Rugged rhymsters, crooked crimesters
Tough rappers and criminals who operate outside of the law
Dime droppers, Twenty-five-to-lifers
Small-time drug dealers who can't escape the cycle of crime and violence
Backstabbers, low blowers
People who betray others and fight dirty
Illegal cocaine growers
Criminals who cultivate and distribute illegal drugs
Starvation, profanity
A life of poverty and hardship that breeds anger and cursing
Anxiety, brothers trying me
The stress and pressure of living in a violent world, surrounded by enemies
Gun slingers, dead ringers
People who use guns to settle scores and commit violent crimes
Yo, my slang's out of this world
My way of speaking is unique and impressive
Mix collaboration man, little man and his girl
Coming together to make music with different types of people, including children and women
Way of life got me thinking, plus I'm analyzing young
Youths on roofs, you know, three time felony brutes
My way of living makes me reflect on the younger generation, who are often involved in criminal activities
Roll together, tropical trees puff, whatever
We hang out and smoke weed together, no matter what kind of day it's been
Yo we could go run up on, kids for leathers
We might rob someone for their leather jacket if we need to
What drug? Faculties bubble keys for G's
We make money by selling illegal drugs to those who are addicted
Cream flow like seven seas, hit chicks Guyanese
We make a lot of money and can attract women from all over the world
Word up, hold your head before you fall out
Be careful and stay strong, or you might end up dead
The morgue route, the devil want that
Let's get my niggas locked all out
If we keep living this way, we'll end up dead or in jail
Change for better, that be my only vendetta
With life, feed your seed right, he's breathing indeed right
I'm focused on making positive changes in my life, especially for the sake of my child
Chef, remarkable, sparkable, raps and tackable gats
Never get jacked, see ya then move black
I'm an impressive rapper and skilled at using guns, but I'm also careful to avoid getting robbed or caught by the police
Paradise trife, plush with much ice
Life can be both beautiful and dangerous, and I enjoy having expensive jewelry
Getting nice, laying back, sleep all my life
I want to enjoy life and relax as much as possible
Crack patients, dime smokers
Vial carriers, mocha tokers
People who are addicted to crack cocaine or other drugs
Burnt buildings, brothers building
Communities that are being destroyed by violence and poverty, but also people who work hard to build them up
Save the children, investigative reports!
We need to do whatever we can to protect and care for the most vulnerable members of our society
Calling all cars, calling all cars! Ghetto
Psychos, armed and dangerous, leaving mad scars on those
Who are found bound, gagged and shot when they blast the spot
Victims took off like astronauts
Urgent call for help to stop violent criminals who are attacking and harming innocent people
Get with this, even your best can't
Come on down, you're the next contestant!
We are so good at what we do that even the best can't compete with us
Get your pockets dug from all your Chemical Bank ends
Caught him at the red light on Putnam Avenue and Franklin
We rob people for their money and other valuables, and might attack them when they least expect it
They used to heat up the cipher with a shot that was hyper
Than your average JFK sniper
We used to be known for our impressive rapping skills and violent behavior
He just came home from Spofford
Rolling like Kaufman, and laid that ass out like carpet
A recently released prisoner is back on the streets and wreaking havoc
Stop the stuttering boy, save complaints for the five-oh
Then praise the God - chk-a-chk POW!
Don't waste time complaining, just be grateful to be alive and keep fighting
They release shots and premeditate to grab
And then they jet back to the lab
And then remain in Shaolin, an endangered island
Where shorties lose blood by the gallons
Criminals plan their attacks and then go back to their safe haven, where violence and bloodshed are a way of life
Yo, I grab the pen for revenge and let loose, see
Like Muslims, standing on the block, rocking a kufi
I use my writing as a form of revenge against those who wronged me, and I identify with Muslim culture by wearing traditional clothing
The hundred-dollar kick rocking kid's back for more
Starting gold wars, with black Reeboks and Velours
Our expensive shoes are a status symbol and can lead to violence and competition
Jungle way of life, living villain
Packed with visions, copywritten
Throwing bread to pigeons, Christ has risen
Our rough way of living makes us feel like we're villains, but we have creative ideas and some religious beliefs
King Elegant, slang master, jack expensive noodle hats
In sixty-nine, old timers time that brothers shot craps
I am a stylish and talented rapper who enjoys playing gambling games
The baggy blue Guess jeans, pull strings off in Palm Springs
I'm locked in the bing, Rocky ring labelled rap king
I wear fashionable clothing and am a successful rapper, but I'm currently serving time in prison
The corner emperor - the golden thieves play the benches
Rednecks be hanging big niggas down in Memphis
I am a leader in my neighborhood, but there is still discrimination and violence against Black people in other parts of the country
Back in Now-Y, hit the bull's eye with loaded nines
Life is like Tarzan, swinging from a thin vine
I'm a skilled shooter and life is full of danger, but I try to stay nimble and agile like a jungle hero
Shatter dreams, then mirrors don't need a press spirals
Aim at the white shadows with big barrels
Of Moet-ers, the bald headers, milk and Armarettas
Who fear none, crushing all personal vendettas, yo
We are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed and defeat our enemies, even if it means destroying hopes and causing chaos
They use guns while we angrily shot arrows
You better keep your eye on the sparrow
Our enemies may have more powerful weapons, but we are determined and focused on our goals
Investigative reports
The song is a commentary on the violence and crime in urban communities, and is urging people to take action and find solutions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COREY WOODS, GARY E. GRICE, ROBERT F. DIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind