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
Walk Around )
Ghostface Killah Lyrics
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(I walk around) Keep the mic on (acting strange, like a man in a daze)
I don't know what happened, son, I just lost my mind, son
It's like y'all, I wasn't strong, I couldn't hold it (people talking)
When I seen it, a nigga flesh on me, son, I can't really...
I couldn't hold it, g (I don't hear a word) I don't know, I'ma...
Nah, it went like this, nigga...
It was him, the corner store, and a buttered roll
The shit dropped when I gave him two stomach holes
And one to the face, he fell sideways
I was up close, a part of his nose was stuck to my padres
Standing over him, shaking, kids screaming
He slapped my girl, that's the reason I was fiendin to lean him
Everything got, real slow, I ain't hear shit
My word, at least forty seconds, I seemed scared stiff
I pound him with the gun out, Big Den came, opened my hand
Removed the gun and the 6 speed, spun out
He floored it, past ninty on the B.Q.E.
I threw up all on his door, splashed his Gucci seats
I couldn't speak, I'm in a state of shock
About now they should be yellow taping the block and raid out my spots
Aiyo, I'm feeling a little bugged out, insane
I've lost my mind, people telling me "Ghost, you acting mad strange"
[Chorus]
I walk around, acting strange, like a man in a daze
People talking to me and calling my name
Although I don't hear a word they say
[Interlude: Ghostface Killah - over chorus]
See what I'm saying?
I don't know, I just don't feel right, y'all, I don't know
I'm having flashbacks, feeling bugged out
Smoking mad cigarettes and shit
Nah, I don't wanna go in... I don't want the clank
I don't wanna go in the hospital, son
It's, yeah, don't... I just feel like I'm lost
In my own reality like, nah... know what I mean?
Even my face feel numb, son, I don't know...
[Ghostface Killah]
Flashbacks of me blowing his brains out
All I remember, my shirt, I couldn't get them god damn stains out
Oxy Clean sweep 'round the chest area, right hand side
I'm plucking off little pieces of meat
And my goons want me to bounce to Tennessee
But I said "No, I got these two snow bunnies in Venus Beach"
On the low, son, I sleep with the hawk, Denise from New York
'Round my man Killa way, where all the murders walk
Manhunt, police searchers, SWAT ran in my crib
Battering rams, early morning, you'll awaken my kids
Now my aunt gotta stay with whiz
She paranoid, having anxiety attacks cuz of these pigs
Plus my connect, they going crazy, they trying to slay me
I told 'em Friday I'd have they money, faggots trying to play me
I never eat up out a garbage can
I'd Larry Davis a cop, and if I make it alive, it was the father's plan
[Chorus x 2]
[Outro: Ghostface Killah - over chorus]
I ain't going nowhere, I ain't going nowhere, I'm aight
I'm aight, but I know one thing, if anybody touch me
I'm blowing they head smooth off, cops, connects, I don't give a fuck
Younahmean? They gon' feel a Eagle, they gon' feel that Desert
They gon' feel that bulldog, you know, I don't give a fuck
Don't put me in no mental clinics, ain't nothing...
Nahmean? If I make it out alive, , make it out alive, if not, fuck it!
I ain't, I ain't, yo... I can't take this shit no more, it's too hot
Nigga thinking I'm bugging out, I ain't bugging, I ain't bugging
Y'all niggaz'd bug out too if y'all had somebody flesh on you
Mothafucka, fuck y'all niggaz, I ain't going crazy
Sleeping on couches and shit, I'm going back outside
Fuck y'all niggaz, man!
[sample]
I know I'd never sleep, worried about me
But they'd have to put me behind
Cuz when I make it, they'll never clone me
Just use me, I believe, I believe...
The lyrics to Ghostface Killah's song "Walk Around" describe a violent incident that has left the singer shaken and unable to connect with reality. The song's intro sets the stage for the story to unfold, with Ghostface admitting that he's acting strange and he's lost his mind. He goes on to describe an encounter with a man at a corner store, whom he shoots multiple times, including a shot to the face. As the people around him scream, Ghostface experiences a slow-motion quality to the events, and he admits to feeling scared stiff. After his friend removes the gun and they flee the scene in a car, Ghostface is left feeling disoriented, with serious trauma from the event.
Throughout "Walk Around," Ghostface vacillates between feeling paranoid, anxious, and angry, with moments of confusion and disorientation. He's haunted by flashbacks of the shooting and can't get the bloodstains out of his shirt. Additionally, his criminal associates have turned on him, and he's feeling pressure from various sides. By the end of the song, he's defiant in the face of anyone who questions his sanity, stating that he would react violently to anyone who tried to mess with him.
Overall, "Walk Around" is a powerful reflection on the psychological impact of violence, told through Ghostface Killah's distinct and compelling voice.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep the mic on
Continuing to rap
Acting strange, like a man in a daze
Feeling out of it and not like himself
I just lost my mind, son
I'm not in my right mind
It's like y'all, I wasn't strong, I couldn't hold it
I couldn't handle what happened and it broke me down
When I seen it, a nigga flesh on me, son, I can't really...
I saw something traumatic that has affected me greatly
I don't hear a word
I'm not paying attention to what people are saying to me
It was him, the corner store, and a buttered roll
The setting of a violent incident
The shit dropped when I gave him two stomach holes
Ghostface Killah shot the victim in the stomach
And one to the face, he fell sideways
Ghostface Killah shot the victim in the face and he fell to the side
I was up close, a part of his nose was stuck to my padres
The victim's nose was stuck to Ghostface Killah's shoes
Standing over him, shaking, kids screaming
Ghostface Killah was standing over the victim while he was shaking and children were screaming
He slapped my girl, that's the reason I was fiendin to lean him
The victim slapped Ghostface Killah's girlfriend, which caused him to seek revenge
Everything got, real slow, I ain't hear shit
Time seemed to slow down and Ghostface Killah wasn't aware of anything around him
My word, at least forty seconds, I seemed scared stiff
Ghostface Killah was frozen in fear for at least 40 seconds
I pound him with the gun out, Big Den came, opened my hand
Ghostface Killah hit the victim with the gun and his friend Big Den had to open his hand to remove the gun
Removed the gun and the 6 speed, spun out
Big Den took the gun and the car Ghostface Killah was driving and drove away quickly
He floored it, past ninty on the B.Q.E.
Big Den drove away quickly on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
I threw up all on his door, splashed his Gucci seats
Ghostface Killah threw up on Big Den's car door and splashed his expensive Gucci seats
I'm in a state of shock
Ghostface Killah is still shocked by what happened
About now they should be yellow taping the block and raid out my spots
The police should be investigating and searching his homes
I'm feeling a little bugged out, insane
Ghostface Killah is feeling like he's going insane
People telling me "Ghost, you acting mad strange"
People around him are noticing his odd behavior
Y'all, I don't know
Ghostface Killah is unsure about what is going on
I'm having flashbacks, feeling bugged out
He is experiencing flashbacks of the traumatic event and feeling disturbed
Smoking mad cigarettes and shit
Taking up smoking heavily as a result of stress and anxiety
I don't want the clank
He doesn't want to be put in jail or incarcerated
Even my face feel numb
His face feels numb, possibly indicating shock and disbelief
Flashbacks of me blowing his brains out
He is experiencing vivid flashbacks of the murder
All I remember, my shirt, I couldn't get them god damn stains out
He is reminded of the bloody incident through seeing his shirt with bloodstains that he couldn't remove
Oxy Clean sweep 'round the chest area, right hand side
He used Oxy Clean to try and remove the stains around the area where he shot the victim
I'm plucking off little pieces of meat
He is physically affected by the traumatic event and is still dealing with the aftermath
And my goons want me to bounce to Tennessee
His associates are encouraging him to flee to Tennessee
But I said "No, I got these two snow bunnies in Venus Beach"
He wants to stay because he has two white women in Venus Beach he is interested in
'Round my man Killa way, where all the murders walk
He is in an area in which many people have been murdered
Manhunt, police searchers, SWAT ran in my crib
There is a manhunt for him and SWAT teams have entered his home
Battering rams, early morning, you'll awaken my kids
The SWAT team used battering rams on his door and it woke up his children
Now my aunt gotta stay with whiz
His aunt has to stay with his children while he lies low
She paranoid, having anxiety attacks cuz of these pigs
His aunt is paranoid and having anxiety attacks due to the police presence
Plus my connect, they going crazy, they trying to slay me
His associates are trying to kill him because he owes them money
I told 'em Friday I'd have they money, faggots trying to play me
He's promised to pay back the money but they don't believe him
I never eat up out a garbage can
He refuses to live like an animal, eating from trash cans
I'd Larry Davis a cop
He would fight police like Larry Davis famously did
And if I make it alive, it was the father's plan
If he survives, it's because of divine intervention
I'm blowing they head smooth off, cops, connects, I don't give a fuck
He will kill anyone who tries to harm him including police and associates
Younahmean?
Do you know what I mean?
They gon' feel a Eagle, they gon' feel that Desert
He will shoot them with powerful firearms
They gon' feel that bulldog
He will also use a dangerous weapon called a bulldog
Don't put me in no mental clinics
He doesn't want to be put in a mental institution
If I make it out alive, , make it out alive, if not, fuck it!
He will do whatever it takes to survive and if he doesn't, so be it
I can't take this shit no more, it's too hot
He can't handle the pressure and stress anymore
Nigga thinking I'm bugging out, I ain't bugging, I ain't bugging
Others think he's going crazy but he insists he's not
Y'all niggaz'd bug out too if y'all had somebody flesh on you
He would not be alone in being affected by a traumatic event like this
Mothafucka, fuck y'all niggaz, I ain't going crazy
He's angry and frustrated with those who don't believe him and think he's going crazy
Sleeping on couches and shit, I'm going back outside
He will not stay in hiding and will go back to his normal life
I know I'd never sleep, worried about me
He knows people are worried about him
But they'd have to put me behind
He won't stop living his life because of fear
Cuz when I make it, they'll never clone me
He is one of a kind and cannot be replicated
Just use me, I believe, I believe...
He is confident in his abilities and believes in himself
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: ANTHONY CAPPUTO, DENNIS COLES, ORA CRAIG, MACK RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind