heating up the streets of Southern California with his "Hood Affiliated Mix Tape Vol. 1," the Los Angeles rapper (government name: Charles Tony Williamson) brings us Guerilla City, one of the most talked-about debut albums to surface in the hip-hop universe.
Producers on Guerilla City include such street music luminaries as Jazze Pha (Big Tymers, Nappy Roots, T.I.), Carlos Broady (The Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Kim, Nas), Red Spyda (50 Cent & G-Unit), Fred Wreck (Dr. Dre, Snoop, Westside Connection) and Mario Winans (R. Kelly, P. Diddy, 3LW). Among the guest appearances on the album are King of the Dancehall Beenie Man (on the blazin' hot street anthem "Compton"), Nate Dogg ("What We Gonna Do"), Jazze Pha ("Girlfriend") and Mario Winans ("You're The One").
One track that had already garnered G. Black plenty of attention is "Guerilla Nasty" (featuring rising ingénue Brooke Valentine), a driving Jazze Pha-produced cut that showcases his verbal gymnastics. The street creeper "Hearts of Fire" (produced by Broady) was already getting attention at the mixtape level. Now that the sizzling "Compton," has surfaced, G. Black is poised to explode. The cut, a head-nodding ode to the streets where he grew up, features Beenie Man, and has put the artist on the map. [The Gil Green-directed video takes the whole experience one step further.] The success of these tracks have set the stage for Guerilla City – landing in record stores September 28 – which arrives as the L.A.-based artist (who was discovered by original gangsta Ice-T) continues to solidify a strong base in the underground mix tape world.
The fact that the artist has spent quality time in several markets – Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Miami & Atlanta among them – on his grind, meeting deejays, clubgoers and consumers, speaks to his passion for getting his message out there. The press has come to the table early to explore the story of Guerilla Black. Early features on this exciting new artist include The Source, XXL and Smooth. On the television side, he has appeared on Playboy TV, and MTV showed early interest with a 'You Hear It First' profile.
"The industry just isn't the same," 27-year-old G. Black explains. "A lot of cats, they'll throw an album out there... My thing is to give people 50 mix tape joints so that when I do come with my album the fans will feel me on a much bigger level. It'll be like I've done one album, but I've got three albums worth of material out there."
Fortunately for G. Black and his fans, he has a wealth of material to draw from. Born in the Chicago area (Jolliet, IL), his family moved to Mississippi before he hit puberty. After one of his uncles boasted of the economic promise waiting in the West, G. Black's mother moved the family out to California. That move ended up being a bit premature, and the family was homeless for a spell. They bounced between shelters in Long Beach for a minute before finally making a home in Compton, when G. Black was about eight years old.
At age 11 or 12, G. Black was clearly influenced by the rampant gang activity in his Compton neighborhood. By that time, he was already hustling, "stealing cars and things of that nature," he says. He never forgot about living in homeless shelters, however, often falling asleep listening to NWA, LL Cool J, Run DMC, Rakim and the like. "Even though I was young, when NWA came out, they made me feel like that ultimate nigga. I was also feelin' Fat Joe, Kool G Rap, and my old school R&B joints."
His younger brother, Hot, who had already been writing rhymes, urged his older sibling to do the same. It lit a creative spark. "I just started rhyming here and there, kickin' a bar here, two bars there," G. Black says. "Before I knew it, I had raps and just kept rhymin.' I just started logging them in my brain on a daily basis."
To this day, G. Black never writes down his rhymes, preferring to keep them in his head. "Back in the day when me and my girl would argue, she used to throw away some of my notepads that had my rhymes in them," he explains. "I learned to keep it all up top, that way no one could ever take them away from me."
G. Black got a record deal early on, but ended up being so distraught with the way the industry drama unfolded that he temporarily gave up his hip-hop dreams. "It was a hard thing for me to do, turn my back on something that I really, really love," he says. "I love rap. I love to hear someone spit verses, especially when they got skills and can spit fire."
G. Black returned to the daily activities of the streets (both legal and otherwise) and lost his young bride – who was all of 21 when she died of meningitis – all in the same stretch. Despite these devastating events, G. Black's brother was again about to change his life. His brother had kept rhyming and encouraged him to do the same, urging him to return to a creative outlet. On his birthday, Hot invited G. Black to the studio. The results were surprising. "They pulled up a track and I ran through it," the artist says. "There was only three of us in there, but the other guy must have run out and told everybody what I was doing. Then, it seemed like there was 30 cats up in the spot by the time I hit the second song."
Word quickly spread to L.A.-based A&R executive Pete 'Volcano' Farmer, who signed G. Black to Virgin Records. But rather than just rhyme about trendy topics, G. Black chose to explore the range of his life experiences. This forced him to really examine his very being – revisiting both the most fulfilling and the most heartbreaking parts of his life in his rhymes – particularly after watching his wife die in UCLA's Harbor Hospital.
"After that, everything I started writing and rhyming was about my life," he remembers. "I had watched all these people die since I had gotten to Cali and you can love all those cats in the streets, but it's nothing like your wife or someone you cherish and who loves you unconditionally. When I lost her, that messed me up for real." The album track "My First, My Last & My Only" is dedicated to her.
After this tragedy, G. Black channeled all of his energy into his lyrics, which are among the sharpest, most thought-provoking rap music has ever experienced. That journey has come full circle on Guerilla City. Through listening to the album, you begin to understand the man that is Guerilla Black.
It's All Right
Guerilla Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Hook) x2
It's all right
If these fools keep trippin
We going start a fight
Then take it outside
Pull the heats out the car
And they ready to die
[Verse 1: Guerilla Black]
Well I'm Guerilla Black, the one they talking about
Wit a fresh throw way and some dope in my mouth
Just trying to make a liven
see-P-T, hard times that's a given
Flee from the bees, or starve or go to prison
No not me, I hope that be
I don't have to sovote the fiens
I got another plan, I got another plot
I got some-mo grams, I got another spot
Where we can put it, pull out the draws and cook it
I got my enemies all shooken
On the way I handle the .38 and work the weight
I got a stash if the search the place
Move up, or move out the way
You just stand back and do as I say
No, you don't need to know hey they call me hustle man
If you show stop my money
Watch me touch you man (he he he)
(Hook) x2
(Hook 2) x2
You don't really really want it
You don't want it
You don't really really want it
You don't want it wit us, Nooooooo
Wit us, Noooooo
[Verse 2: Guerilla Black]
It's been a long time
I shoulda left you, in the ditch half dead
Fa cause I help you
I got a nephew, was caller 40cal
I got five shots that'll slow you down
Ask around whose compound this
Drinking slize malt liquor
Trey pound in the vest (yes sir)
Lay down in the nest, I got a nice stash
Get to close watch ya ass see a bright flash
Aight man, I give you fair warning
I promise you want breathe, they'll see the morning
Little cock and squeeze, wit those high lows
Smoke lots of weed, that's my motto
I hope you got a good relationship wit Jamaica
Shoot you in Compton, watch them find you in Jamaica (ha ha ha)
Double the paper, I'm loving the odds
Huh, 20 to 1 I'm taken it all dog
(Hook) x2
(Hook 2) x2
[Lady speaking]
The song "It's All Right" by Guerilla Black featuring guest vocals from a female speaker on the hook, portrays a violent and confrontational theme. The singer on the hook is encouraging the listener to not be afraid to start a fight with those who are "tripping", and to even pull out guns from their cars and "ready to die". Guerilla Black introduces himself in the first verse as a street hustler who is trying to make a living and avoid getting caught by the police. He claims to have a stash of drugs that he can sell, and he also boasts about his ability to handle a gun and protect himself. In the second verse, Guerilla Black continues to display his violent nature, threatening anyone who crosses him and even referencing his nephew who owns a gun.
The lyrics in this song reveal the dangerous lifestyle and mentality that some individuals in the streets may adopt, showing how violence is sometimes glamorized in hip-hop culture. The song's hook, delivered in a smooth and seductive tone, is especially disturbing when considering the violent content of the verses. Overall, "It's All Right" is a cautionary tale of the dangers of living a life of crime and violence, and how it can ultimately lead to a violent and untimely death.
Line by Line Meaning
It's all right
It's okay, everything is fine
If these fools keep trippin
If these foolish people continue to cause trouble
We going start a fight
We will initiate a physical altercation
Then take it outside
We will move the altercation outside
Pull the heats out the car
Retrieve firearms from the car
And they ready to die
These people are prepared to die (in a fight)
Well I'm Guerilla Black, the one they talking about
I am Guerilla Black, the person they are discussing
Wit a fresh throw way and some dope in my mouth
I am wearing flashy clothing and have drugs in my mouth
Just trying to make a liven
I am attempting to earn a living
see-P-T, hard times that's a given
CPT (Compton) is a tough place to live, that's a known fact
Flee from the bees, or starve or go to prison
Run from the police or risk going hungry or to jail
No not me, I hope that be
I refuse to be part of that situation
I don't have to sovote the fiens
I don't have to sell drugs to addicts
I got another plan, I got another plot
I have a different strategy or scheme
I got some-mo grams, I got another spot
I have more drugs and another location to sell them
Where we can put it, pull out the draws and cook it
Where we can stash the drugs, retrieve them and prepare them for sale
I got my enemies all shooken
My opponents are frightened of me
On the way I handle the .38 and work the weight
I am skilled in using firearms and managing drug sales
I got a stash if the search the place
I have a hidden stockpile in case of a police search
Move up, or move out the way
Get out of my way or be moved out forcefully
You just stand back and do as I say
Just stay back and follow my instructions
No, you don't need to know hey they call me hustle man
You don't need to know, but they call me the Hustle Man
If you show stop my money
If you interfere with my earnings
Watch me touch you man (he he he)
Witness me harm you physically
You don't really really want it
You do not genuinely desire a confrontation
You don't want it
You do not want this problem
You don't want it wit us, Nooooooo
You don't want to be involved with us
It's been a long time
It has been a significant amount of time
I shoulda left you, in the ditch half dead
I should have abandoned you, leaving you severely injured
Fa cause I help you
Instead, I assisted you
I got a nephew, was caller 40cal
I have a nephew called 40 Cal
I got five shots that'll slow you down
I have a weapon with five bullets that will impair your movement
Ask around whose compound this
Inquire about who owns this territory
Drinking slize malt liquor
Drinking malt liquor from the brand, Slitz
Trey pound in the vest (yes sir)
A three-pound weapon concealed in my vest (yes, indeed)
Lay down in the nest, I got a nice stash
Rest in my territory, I have a valuable pile of items
Get to close watch ya ass see a bright flash
If you approach too closely, you will see a flash from my weapon
Aight man, I give you fair warning
Alright, I am warning you in advance
I promise you want breathe, they'll see the morning
I assure you that you will not breathe again and they will find your body in the morning
Little cock and squeeze, wit those high lows
I will start shooting quickly and erratically at different heights
Smoke lots of weed, that's my motto
I enjoy smoking marijuana
I hope you got a good relationship wit Jamaica
I hope you have ties or connections to Jamaica
Shoot you in Compton, watch them find you in Jamaica (ha ha ha)
I will shoot you in Compton, and they will find you in Jamaica (mocking laughter)
Double the paper, I'm loving the odds
Doubling my money, I am embracing the risk
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LEON GRAY, CHARLES N WILLIAMSON, FELLI FEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind