The Drummer
Ghostface Killah Lyrics


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I don't want the horns, blowing...
I don't want the streets to play a melody... (yeah, it's hip hop, it's hip hop
The mic needs to be a little bit more crystal).
I don't want to hear the good time is coming...
Don't want to hear the voices in back of me... (you know what I'm saying? 'Cause I'm bout to go in)
I'm not gonna hear it! I don't want the drummer...

Awwwww, Meth Tical, yo, you stepped on my corns and shit
Got the charm lit, bomb wrist, what type of arm is this?
I seen you at the Grammy's with a triple Bar Mitz',
Can I kick it? (Hell No!).
That's why she got hair in her elbows and she real slow,
And a, every two weeks she gotta see her P.O.
She's a disgrace to signs, she fuck it up for Leos,
Method Man (Tony Starks) the most important M.C. in the whole wide world.
Is you and you hardly even know it, know it, know it...

Watch me shock the world, move the masses like a landslide,
It's a lyrical stick-up, everybody's (hands high).
See the bigger, picture, I'm out for the grand prize,
I'm not a role player, senor, I'm the franchise.


A yo, with Trife sweating, every bullet is life threatening,
And you could get a chest full of slugs in a slight second.
Yo, my nine milli' pistol's really official,
So you can Analyze That like DeNiro and Billy Crystal.

A yo, it's Ghost with the sky blue cuffi, smashing groupies,
Leaving them fiend out, like New Jack's Pookie.
Every line is like ninety nine dimes,
Shrine auditorium rap, aquarium's in my wall in the back.

Now that you know my name, niggaz know my game,
If you feel me, then you know my pain,
I seen you rap dudes done stole my slang, trying hold my fame.
Ain't even strong enough to hold my thing,
Want to flow, fuck with me though, baby, I'm a trying see dough.
My squad got them caught in the yard screaming for C.O,
Every time we blow, it raise the prize on the padrico.
Ya niggaz shoot your guns like Shaq shooting a free throw.


Spark the fluid, hop out and park the Buick.
I got fiends blowing CREAM like Martha Stewart,
We on that up north jail shit, harder than steel chips.
Ya'll niggaz better bail quick, before you inhale clips.

Ya'll better get low, before I let the Tec blow.
Streetlife, I'm trying get more dollars than Kreftlo,
The whole hood echoes, every time my nine let go.
Get out of line or steal your life like a klepto.

When Biggie died, they came out with Biggie fries,
Big biscuits got me over, in the streets wide,
Prada gloves, laying for thugs, praying.
Drop a bronco buster, G-37 on the rap patient.

I'mma leave the shit this summer in that H2 Hummer now,
Mami gotta call your bean ass ay caramba, now.
Eh boy el loco, oh no, I ain't Yoko,
My hoes, I keep 'em looking good, right, but no dough.





I don't want no horns blowing...
I don't want the... I don't want the drummer...

Overall Meaning

In the song "The Drummer" by Ghostface Killah and Theodore Unit, the lyrics express a desire for simplicity in the music. The first few lines establish a desire for the focus to remain on the lyricism and on the crystal clear delivery of the vocals. The lyrics are rejecting the idea of a big band sound with horn sections and street melodies. The rappers are focused on their message and want their words to be the most important thing in the music. The line "I'm not gonna hear it! I don't want the drummer..." is a rejection of even having a drummer in the mix. The words and the delivery are the only things that need to be heard.


The song goes on to showcase the lyrical prowess of the group, with each rapper delivering complex rhymes and gritty storytelling. The second verse in particular by Method Man has multiple pop culture references, including a reference to the Grammy Awards and an "Analyze That" reference, which was a popular movie at the time. The third verse has vivid imagery of the street life, with references to fiends blowing money and life in a North jail, which is a hard, unforgiving environment. The final verse is a mix of braggadocio and warnings, with references to the group's monetary success juxtaposed with warnings of violence.


Overall, the song is a showcase of the lyrical talent and gritty storytelling ability of the group. The rejection of elaborate instrumentation and focus on clear vocal delivery is a statement of their confidence in their rapping abilities.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't want the horns, blowing...
I don't want any extraneous distractions or embellishments, let's keep it simple.


I don't want the streets to play a melody... (yeah, it's hip hop, it's hip hop
I don't want to conform to any particular style or sound, this is hip hop and we'll do it our way.


The mic needs to be a little bit more crystal).
We need clarity and precision in our delivery for maximum impact.


I don't want to hear the good time is coming...
I don't want to hear any empty promises or false hope, we need to focus on the present and work hard for our success.


Don't want to hear the voices in back of me... (you know what I'm saying? 'Cause I'm bout to go in)
I don't want any distractions or detractors trying to hold me back, I'm about to give it my all and I need to focus.


I'm not gonna hear it! I don't want the drummer...
I don't want any unnecessary noise or beats, just keep it simple and let the lyrics speak for themselves.




Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Big Will Oechsle

Wu Is The GREATEST Group ever And Ghost is arguably one of the best rappers ever!!!!

Troy Matthews

Ghost faces in my top three. Eminem Nas ghostface.

Juggalo Fred

I like Insane Clown Posse best. ICP was Wu Tang affiliated thru ODB.

ToroidalVortexLove

one of the most underrated Wu songs ever. Everything is perfect. The crackle of the vinyl, the delivery, the bars, the vibe. Perfect. Play it loud as fuck and rep the real.

F P

A bit more bass would be nice.

PorfottoJuan

ToroidalVortexLove word. You feel the talent of these men tru their music. Very rare these days.

D. Pinit77

πŸ’―πŸ‘ŠπŸ»πŸ”₯

Yung Thuggin

YES!!!! THIS SHIT FIRE!! #NY #WuTang4Eva METHOD STILL GOT IT!!! SHOUTS OUT #GhostfaceKilla

On Any Given Seattle

From the golden era of hip hop.

Antonio Gambardella

Wu-tang clan The Real hip-hop Classic πŸ”₯πŸ’£πŸ‘ŠπŸ™πŸ”πŸŽ€πŸŽ™

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