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
Kilo Remix
Ghostface Killah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My heart pounding and shit (audible heart)
Paranoid as a motherfucker right now, who the fuck?
Close the blinds and shit! Who that? Captain Kirk?
The Stark...enterprise, enterprise I was on and some shit?
..I need some pussy though I'm ready for a Catwoman or something
f-fuck it, lets go!
Aiyyo Shareefa go to the store for me. I need some razors and a fresh box
Aiyyo son turn that water down a little bit, just a little bit..Thank You
I need two waters, a dutch, and a cranberry Snapple)
[Chorus]
All around the world today, the Kilo is the measure
(Whoever got the kilos got the candy, man)
A kilo is a thousand grams, its easy to remember
(You never catch the kid going hand to hand)
All around the world today, the Kilo is the measure
(Once you got the funds you got the panties, man)
A Kilo is a thousand grams, its easy to remember
(Throughout the I 9 to 5 I'm the Handyman)
Racing through the hood, ski mask off
Criminology hustle, when goons play the heat, blast off
And every direction, protect ya babies, your moms
Late night like Carson Daly, Theo Bailey, we stay armed
Grits box, vacuum tight, concealing the powder
Five fake cans of blow to throw them off wit the flower
Red dots on me, big scopes, bullets the size of nickels
Got Starkey coming out of his coat
I gots to jet, don't look back, my cardio's killing me
Old ladies is like 'Hold ya head, Tone, literally'
All this, for a thousand grams?
I'd rather be a con artist scheming with a thousand scams
[Chorus]
Aiyyo peace to those cooking that raw, powder white
Get your sniff on, scarface niggaz, we getting right
some call it bricks, some call it birds
how many niggaz get they lives tooken playing with shit, then catch a curb
You would go to jail
get caught with this, niggaz'll grow to fail
Stop playing, pot slaying, baking soda and scales
They lived like brothers, word life, connects discovered
most niggaz get hard, from fucking with them pipes and hustlers
Kilos is one thousand grams
You know your ammo better be heavy 'cause soon kids is coming in camo
Protect your land daddy, I'm an announcer
you get caught with an ounce and its over
matter 'fact they takin you down, son
[Chorus]
Bricks, Tar caps, powder, cooked up crack
Phones is tapped over franklin's stacks
Kingpins put in bullpens, old connects get paro'
Break out of town when the Jakes take down the Pharaoh
Reason, He was moving that Peruvian white
blowing coolies into hoopties , slamming cuties and ice
big heavy pots over hot stoves
Mayonnaise jars of water with rocks in them got my whole projects out of order
A Kilo is a thousand grams
Beige, gold, brown, dirty, fluffy, tan, extract oil cut from cuban plants
The chemist is brolic, pyrex scholars
Professors at war over raw, killing partners for a million dollars
[Chorus]
Some say a drug dealers destiny is reachin the ki'
I'd rather be the man behind the door, supplying the streets
A hundred birds go out, looking like textbooks
When they wrapped and stuffed
Four days later straight cash, two million bucks
Strictly powder, no cut
Your coke is vialed in, whats up?
Y'all beefin over little shit, we sniff, the balance split up
In a plane or a penthouse, office or a warehouse
Tony's got it nice, we never heard of any big droughts
A Kilo is a thousand grams
A pile of sand is equivilant, to the eye
It's nice to have a thousand fans
Coke buyers, some be liars
Therefore, you check for wires
Dedicated dealers, during holidays we give 'em lighters
Red tops, blue tops, green tops, yellow tops
Purple tops, beige tops, white tops, grey tops
Black tops, clear tops, gold tops, pink tops
Silver tops, tan tops, aqua tops, orange tops
Salt tops, long tops, short tops, 12 12's
58 58's, weed bags, ziplocks
Big rocks, coke spots, big glocks, one OT's
Crumbs chopped, hot pots, one plate, crack Spot
[Chorus]
Thirteen getting it, pyrex whipping it
Like UPS, pack it up, shipping it
Whether base or sniffing it, I got your fix
The story's foretold like apocalypse
It was me Michael T.T., handing out freebies
Taking over blocks, telling niggas to be fee
Where big brother 'Vine'll leave the body in the street
Something kinda like how I be bodying the beat
We was 300 deep like the Persian soldiers
Word spread fast, we was serving boulders
Ten crack commandments, holy Moses
If you don't fit must equip icer toners
Never grip they holders, fingers to the snitchers
The New York niggas be taking all our bitches
But we be God damned if taking all our business
Duct tape, hard tops, C.S.I. forensics
[Chorus]
The song "Kilo" by Ghostface Killah featuring Raekwon takes listeners into the dark and dangerous world of drug dealing. The intro to the song sets the tone for what's to come, with Ghostface expressing his paranoia and anxiety as he prepares to go out and make deals. The lyrics describe the lengths that drug dealers go to protect themselves and their product, from hiding drugs in vacuum-sealed containers to using fake cans to throw off suspicion. The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of the kilo as a measure of drugs, and how having access to large amounts of drugs can open doors to wealth and power.
The verses of the song highlight the different aspects of the drug trade, including cooking and selling drugs, evading the police, and making deals with other dealers. The lyrics also touch on the dangerous consequences of the drug trade, from getting caught and going to jail to getting killed in turf wars. Despite the dangers and risks involved, the lyrics suggest that there is a certain thrill and excitement to the drug trade that can be alluring.
Throughout the song, the lyrics are peppered with references to drug culture and urban slang, which contribute to the gritty and authentic tone of the song. Overall, the lyrics of "Kilo" provide a vivid and detailed portrait of the world of drug dealing, highlighting the highs and lows of a life on the edge.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, Oh, Yo Rae... I can't feel my face
Hey, Raekwon, I'm feeling really paranoid and on edge right now.
My heart pounding and shit (audible heart)
I can hear my heartbeat racing because I'm so anxious.
Paranoid as a motherfucker right now, who the fuck?
I'm extremely paranoid and don't know who I can trust.
Close the blinds and shit! Who that? Captain Kirk?
I'm closing the blinds because I'm so paranoid, even asking if Captain Kirk is outside.
The Stark...enterprise, enterprise I was on and some shit?
I feel like I'm on the Stark enterprise, not sure what's real anymore.
..I need some pussy though I'm ready for a Catwoman or something
Despite my paranoia, I have a strong desire for sexual pleasure with someone like Catwoman.
f-fuck it, lets go!
Forget about it, let's just go and do whatever.
Aiyyo Shareefa go to the store for me. I need some razors and a fresh box of baggies, the ones with the tint in them!
Hey, Shareefa, can you please go to the store for me? I need razor blades and new baggies with tinted windows.
Aiyyo son turn that water down a little bit, just a little bit..Thank You
Hey, son, can you please turn down the water just a little bit? Thanks.
I need two waters, a dutch, and a cranberry Snapple)
I need two bottles of water, a cigar, and a cranberry Snapple.
[Chorus]
Refrain
All around the world today, the Kilo is the measure
The kilo is considered a standard unit of measure worldwide.
(Whoever got the kilos got the candy, man)
Whoever possesses kilograms of drugs also controls the illegal drug market.
A kilo is a thousand grams, its easy to remember
A kilogram is equivalent to one thousand grams, a simple conversion.
(You never catch the kid going hand to hand)
I don't engage in street-level drug dealing or transactions.
All around the world today, the Kilo is the measure
The kilogram remains a widely recognized unit of measurement globally.
(Once you got the funds you got the panties, man)
When you have enough money, you can attract and have sexual encounters with women.
A Kilo is a thousand grams, its easy to remember
A kilogram equates to one thousand grams, a straightforward concept.
(Throughout the I 9 to 5 I'm the Handyman)
During my everyday life and work, I'm skilled and resourceful.
Racing through the hood, ski mask off
I'm driving aggressively through the neighborhood, no longer wearing my ski mask.
Criminology hustle, when goons play the heat, blast off
Engaging in criminal activities, when dangerous individuals initiate violence, I swiftly retaliate.
And every direction, protect ya babies, your moms
In every direction, be vigilant and safeguard your children and mothers.
Late night like Carson Daly, Theo Bailey, we stay armed
During late nights, just like on the show hosted by Carson Daly, my crew and I remain armed and ready.
Grits box, vacuum tight, concealing the powder
We store the drugs in a tightly sealed grits box, making it hard to detect the concealed powder.
Five fake cans of blow to throw them off wit the flower
To mislead authorities, we use five counterfeit cans of cocaine, disguised as flower containers.
Red dots on me, big scopes, bullets the size of nickels
I have laser sights on my body, along with large scopes and bullets that resemble nickels in size.
Got Starkey coming out of his coat
I'm attracting attention and causing fear in Starkey, who is startled by my actions.
I gots to jet, don't look back, my cardio's killing me
I have to quickly escape without turning back because my heart is racing due to excessive physical exertion.
Old ladies is like 'Hold ya head, Tone, literally'
Elderly women advise me to keep my head up, both literally and metaphorically, despite the difficult circumstances.
All this, for a thousand grams?
Is all this chaos and risk worth it for just one kilogram of drugs?
I'd rather be a con artist scheming with a thousand scams
Personally, I prefer engaging in various fraudulent schemes and scams over the dangerous drug trade.
Aiyyo peace to those cooking that raw, powder white
Shoutout to those who are skillfully producing pure, white powdered drugs.
Get your sniff on, scarface niggaz, we getting right
Indulge in snorting drugs, resembling the behavior of the character Scarface. We're having a good time.
some call it bricks, some call it birds
Some refer to the drugs as bricks, while others call them birds, indicating their overall quantity.
how many niggaz get they lives tooken playing with shit, then catch a curb
Too many individuals lose their lives when dealing with drugs and end up in fatal situations.
You would go to jail
If you get caught, you'll end up in prison.
get caught with this, niggaz'll grow to fail
If you're apprehended with these drugs, your life will certainly deteriorate.
Stop playing, pot slaying, baking soda and scales
Quit fooling around; we're actively involved in drug manufacturing and weighing substances using baking soda and scales.
They lived like brothers, word life, connects discovered
These individuals had an extremely close relationship, almost like brothers. They made lucrative connections.
most niggaz get hard, from fucking with them pipes and hustlers
Many individuals become tough and hardened by associating with drug addicts and street hustlers.
Kilos is one thousand grams
Kilograms represent one thousand grams in weight.
You know your ammo better be heavy 'cause soon kids is coming in camo
Make sure you're well-armed because young individuals are approaching, dressed in camouflage attire.
Protect your land daddy, I'm an announcer
Defend your territory, my friend, and I'll be the one updating you on what's happening.
you get caught with an ounce and its over
If you're caught with an ounce of drugs, your life will completely fall apart.
matter 'fact they takin you down, son
In fact, they'll apprehend and bring you down, my friend.
Bricks, Tar caps, powder, cooked up crack
Referring to different forms of drugs, such as bricks, tar capsules, powdered substances, and processed crack cocaine.
Phones is tapped over franklin's stacks
Our phones are being monitored for wiretapping due to the large amount of money we're dealing with.
Kingpins put in bullpens, old connects get paro'
High-ranking drug dealers end up in prison, while the older connections become paranoid.
Break out of town when the Jakes take down the Pharaoh
Escape from the city when the police arrest the main drug supplier.
Reason, He was moving that Peruvian white
The reason behind his downfall was his involvement in trafficking Peruvian cocaine.
blowing coolies into hoopties, slamming cuties and ice
Engaging in drug use and indulging in sexual encounters while driving old, low-quality cars.
big heavy pots over hot stoves
Using large, weighty pots over high-temperature stoves.
Mayonnaise jars of water with rocks in them got my whole projects out of order
Hiding rocks and illegal substances in mayonnaise jars filled with water disrupted the entire community.
A Kilo is a thousand grams
A kilogram equals one thousand grams in weight.
Beige, gold, brown, dirty, fluffy, tan, extract oil cut from Cuban plants
Referring to various shades and forms of drugs, including beige, gold, brown, dirty, fluffy, tan, and extracted oil obtained from Cuban plants.
The chemist is brolic, pyrex scholars
The drug chemist is strong and muscular, regarded as an expert in using pyrex glassware.
Professors at war over raw, killing partners for a million dollars
Highly skilled drug producers and dealers fight each other over raw materials, even resorting to killing their partners to gain substantial amounts of money.
Some say a drug dealer's destiny is reachin the ki'
Some believe that a drug dealer's ultimate goal is obtaining significant quantities of drugs.
I'd rather be the man behind the door, supplying the streets
Personally, I prefer to be the one discreetly providing drugs and controlling the supply in the streets.
A hundred birds go out, looking like textbooks
One hundred packages of drugs are distributed, resembling textbooks in appearance.
When they wrapped and stuffed
Referring to the method of packaging and concealing drugs in various wrappers.
Four days later straight cash, two million bucks
After just four days, I receive two million dollars in cash from drug sales.
Strictly powder, no cut
Dealing only with pure powdered drugs, without any adulterants or dilution.
Your coke is vialed in, what's up?
Your cocaine is repackaged and stored in vials, ready for sale.
Y'all beefin over little shit, we sniff, the balance split up
While others argue over minor issues, we indulge in drugs and divide the profits among ourselves.
In a plane or a penthouse, office or a warehouse
Whether in an airplane, luxurious penthouse, office, or warehouse, we conduct our drug operations anywhere.
Tony's got it nice, we never heard of any big droughts
Tony, a reference to a drug dealer, enjoys a luxurious lifestyle, and we've never experienced significant shortages of drugs.
A Kilo is a thousand grams
A kilogram equals one thousand grams in weight.
A pile of sand is equivalent to the eye
To the untrained eye, a heap of sand may seem similar to a kilogram of drugs.
It's nice to have a thousand fans
Having a thousand loyal customers is beneficial and advantageous in the drug trade.
Coke buyers, some be liars
Some individuals who purchase cocaine from us are deceitful and dishonest.
Therefore, you check for wires
As a result, we diligently inspect and search for hidden recording devices.
Dedicated dealers, during holidays we give 'em lighters
As committed drug dealers, we even offer lighters as gifts to our loyal customers during holidays.
Red tops, blue tops, green tops, yellow tops
Referring to different colored tops on drug containers, such as red, blue, green, and yellow.
Purple tops, beige tops, white tops, grey tops
Also including different colored tops like purple, beige, white, and grey.
Black tops, clear tops, gold tops, pink tops
Additionally, including black, clear, gold, and pink tops on drug containers.
Silver tops, tan tops, aqua tops, orange tops
Further describing drug containers with silver, tan, aqua, and orange tops.
Salt tops, long tops, short tops, 12 12's
Mentioning tops with salt-like appearance, long tops, and short tops, including a reference to 12 twelve-ounce containers.
58 58's, weed bags, ziplocks
Referring to containers with numbers like 58, ziplock bags used for storing marijuana.
Big rocks, coke spots, big glocks, one OT's
Describing large quantities of drugs, specific places for cocaine distribution, dangerous firearms, and also referencing a specific region or city.
Crumbs chopped, hot pots, one plate, crack Spot
Referring to small amounts of drugs being divided, hot cooking utensils, alluding to using one plate for drug preparation, and mentioning a spot for crack cocaine.
[Chorus]
Refrain
Thirteen getting it, pyrex whipping it
Even at a young age of thirteen, individuals are involved in drug distribution and vigorously stirring drugs in pyrex glassware.
Like UPS, pack it up, shipping it
Just like the shipping company UPS, we expertly pack drugs and send them off for distribution.
Whether base or sniffing it, I got your fix
Regardless of whether the drugs are in base form or for sniffing, I have what you need.
The story's foretold like apocalypse
The narrative of drug dealing and its consequences has been told repeatedly, like an apocalyptic prophecy.
It was me Michael T.T., handing out freebies
Me, alongside Michael and T.T., were distributing drugs for free as a form of promotion or enticement.
Taking over blocks, telling niggas to be fee
We're seizing control of entire neighborhoods, instructing others to pay a fee for our drug operations.
Where big brother 'Vine'll leave the body in the street
Big brother 'Vine, a reference to a powerful figure, will leave dead bodies in the streets as a form of intimidation.
Something kinda like how I be bodying the beat
Similar to how I dominate and excel in music, I also assert my dominance in dangerous situations.
We was 300 deep like the Persian soldiers
Our group was composed of three hundred individuals, reminiscent of the Persian soldiers' strength.
Word spread fast, we was serving boulders
News about our drug operations quickly circulated, as we were supplying large quantities of drugs.
Ten crack commandments, holy Moses
We strictly adhere to the rules and principles of crack cocaine dealing, akin to the Ten Commandments, as if considered sacred.
If you don't fit must equip icer toners
If you don't conform or meet our standards, you'll be required to use an icer toner (a type of spray) to recolor your appearance.
Never grip they holders, fingers to the snitchers
We never hold firearms because we know the importance of keeping our hands free to handle informants.
The New York niggas be taking all our bitches
People from New York are stealing all our women or romantic interests.
But we be God damned if taking all our business
However, we won't let them take away our profitable drug business.
Duct tape, hard tops, C.S.I. forensics
We use duct tape to restrain individuals, secure hard objects, and allude to the presence of forensic investigators from the show CSI.
[Chorus]
Refrain
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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Desmond Jenkins
Crazy Raw Uncut