Heltah Skeltah first appeared on Smif-N-Wessun's album Dah Shinin' in 1995, appearing on the tracks "Wontime (LP Version)", "Cession at da Doghillee (LP Version)" and "Let's Git It On". Later in 1995, they grouped up with fellow Boot Camp members O.G.C. to form The Fab 5 (another nod to The Beatles), and released a surprise hit single, "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka". Out of The Fab 5 members, Rock and Ruck received the most amount of attention, due to their notable charisma and chemistry. The duo released their anticipated debut Nocturnal in June 1996, which included "Leflah", as well as the singles "Operation Lock Down" and "Therapy". The album sold over 250,000 copies in the United States, and has become a classic in the underground hip hop scene because of its grimy, basement sound and strong lyrics.
The duo released a group album with the Boot Camp Clik in 1997, then followed in 1998 with their second effort Magnum Force. The album's lead single, "I Ain't Havin' That" (sampled from the A Tribe Called Quest track "Hot Sex"), became a Hot 100 hit. Despite the single's success, most critics slammed the album due to its lighter content. Ruck and Rock seemed disillusioned with their lack of sales, and split in 2000. Rock began having problems with Duck Down Records, and split with the label, signing to DJ Lethal's Lethal Records. He planned to release an album titled Planet Rock, but the label folded and the album disappeared. Sean Price stuck with the Boot Camp for their second group effort The Chosen Few in 2002.
Heltah Skeltah reunited in 2005, making appearances on Sean Price's solo album Monkey Barz and Smif-N-Wessun's Reloaded album. The duo continued work with the Boot Camp for their third group effort The Last Stand, released in July 2006. According to both members, they are also currently working on another Heltah Skeltah album, tentatively titled D.I.R.T., an acronym for Da Incredible Rap Team. Rock is also planning to release his solo debut, tentatively titled Monstah Music, sometime in 2007. In 2007, Heltah Skeltah will appear on Chinga Chang Records March 5th Release The "Official Joints" compilation, a collection of previously unreleased songs by NYC rappers.
Da Beginning of Da End
Heltah Skeltah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I rep Hel', fresh out of jail, Brownsville scheming
Ya'll wanna see me up north, but I'm down the hill creeping
Niggas keeping and keeping they beef, with they cops still singing
I'm getting my gwop, still eating
Loudest one in the flock, still street, pass me the pot, I'm still chief
And I'm pacing over you, just a thief on the weekend
Beef with me, into you bleeding and hit with some feces
Well, kinda, big Rock's tougher than leather
With slum to get set up, he's dumping forever
The king of pot, there is none higher
You nickel bag smoker, need to call me sire
With Reggie Miller to the Isaac Hayes, straight fire
Who said it, just ight, this bitch a liar
I'm fixing to Ike her, I gets it rock and ready rock
Filled with the Rock, not guilty, y'all feel me
[Sean Price:]
I carry a gun, pa, Marbury your thunder
Switchblade, bitch made, niggas like Un God
All white Nikes with a knife to cut krills
Turn a dead butt like Buffie, bring back pocket of bills
I ain't got mills, but I got a couple of thou'
I ain't got a gun, but I bet I fuck you up now
Fucking with I, have you niggas touching the sky
Wings on your back, Kanye singing the track
Slinging my crack, muthafucka, shopping a demo
I pop at your temple, muthafucka sing about that
Listen, fuck a hip hop, I take ya wrist watch
Put the gun to your tongue and make you lick shots
Make a pit stop, by the piss spot
You wanna take a pull? You can kick rocks
[Rock:]
I'm like that's not a gun, this is a gun, we?
Who wanna rumble with me ol' Rockadile Dundee
I rule the underground, I'm Pimp C, Bun B
Lord Jazz Do-It-All and Mr. Funkee
Mr. Bummy FlyJab, some of ya'll mad
I can scrape up one twenty five cash
I had too much dirt to double you niggas
Nothing in the world was gon' keep me from crushing you bitches
[Sean Price:]
Yeah two in your dome rhyme, funeral home time
Announce death to you, I'm Phil Rizzuto with mine
This Puerto Rican bitch called me papi chulo, but I'm
Not with the gwala shit, fill the hollow tip in the nine, I'm
Nice with a nine, I'm nice with the rhyme
52 block will snot box, right in his prime
Line for line, top five dead or alive
Two of them dead, and soon as the other three die
I'm number one!
The song "Da Beginning of Da End" by Heltah Skeltah is a rap song that features Rock and Sean Price. The song starts with Rock letting people know where he is from and how he is still wheeling in the game, “I rep Hel', fresh out of jail, Brownsville scheming. Ya'll wanna see me up north, but I'm down the hill creeping.” He is very confident about himself and his abilities, mentioning how he is still eating and always the loudest one in the flock. Then, Sean P comes in, stating how he is carrying a gun and he is not afraid to use it. He is talking about his street credibility and is known for his knife attacks.
Throughout the song, Rock and Sean P are making references to various famous people such as Reggie Miller and Isaac Hayes. The two rappers are also talking about their abilities as rappers, playfully jabbing at other rappers who cannot keep up with them. This song is all about the confidence of these two artists and their domination in the rap world.
Overall, "Da Beginning of Da End" is a boastful song about street life and rap game dominance. The song is an insider’s view into the hip-hop world and its culture.
Line by Line Meaning
I rep Hel', fresh out of jail, Brownsville scheming
I represent Heltah Skeltah, having just been released from jail, I'm planning and plotting in the dangerous area of Brownsville
Ya'll wanna see me up north, but I'm down the hill creeping
You might expect to find me in the north, but I'm actually lurking down the hill
Niggas keeping and keeping they beef, with they cops still singing
People are holding onto their grudges and letting the police know about it
I'm getting my gwop, still eating
I'm making money and still surviving
Loudest one in the flock, still street, pass me the pot, I'm still chief
I'm the most vocal and prominent member of the group, still a street person, and I'm the boss when it comes to smoking marijuana
And I'm pacing over you, just a thief on the weekend
I'm looking down on you as if you're nothing, a petty criminal only making moves on the weekend
Beef with me, into you bleeding and hit with some feces
If you come at me, it'll end with you hurt and humiliated
Sucker MC's, sucker MC, when they run with they feet, bitches
People who talk tough and then run away are weak and cowardly
Well, kinda, big Rock's tougher than leather
I'm not just talking tough, I'm actually as hard as leather
With slum to get set up, he's dumping forever
My associate Slum is always ready to retaliate with gunfire
The king of pot, there is none higher
I'm the champion when it comes to smoking marijuana
You nickel bag smoker, need to call me sire
If you're just a small-time marijuana user, you should respect me as your superior
With Reggie Miller to the Isaac Hayes, straight fire
My rhymes are as hot as Reggie Miller's shooting and Isaac Hayes' music
Who said it, just ight, this bitch a liar
If anyone claims I'm not the best, they're just lying
I'm fixing to Ike her, I gets it rock and ready rock
I'm going to rough up the woman who dared insult me, and I'm always prepared and motivated
Filled with the Rock, not guilty, y'all feel me
My rhymes are packed with intensity and aggression, and I'm not afraid of anyone or anything
I carry a gun, pa, Marbury your thunder
I always have a weapon with me, and I'm ready to strike like Stephon Marbury on the basketball court
Switchblade, bitch made, niggas like Un God
I use a switchblade knife and sneer at those who are soft and weak, just like the rapper Un God
All white Nikes with a knife to cut krills
I wear pristine white sneakers, but that doesn't stop me from using my knife to chop up drugs
Turn a dead butt like Buffie, bring back pocket of bills
I can turn a worthless person into a valuable one with my skills, and make a lot of money doing it
I ain't got mills, but I got a couple of thou'
I don't have millions, but I still have a decent amount of money
I ain't got a gun, but I bet I fuck you up now
I might not have a firearm, but I'm confident I can beat you up right now
Fucking with I, have you niggas touching the sky
If you mess with me, you won't be able to stay on the ground
Wings on your back, Kanye singing the track
You'll be lifted up like you've grown wings, with a Kanye West track playing in the background
Slinging my crack, muthafucka, shopping a demo
I'm selling drugs and working on my music career at the same time
I pop at your temple, muthafucka sing about that
I shoot at your head and then challenge you to make a song about it
Listen, fuck a hip hop, I take ya wrist watch
I don't care about rap music, I'm more interested in stealing your jewelry
Put the gun to your tongue and make you lick shots
I'll hold a gun to your mouth and make you shoot bullets out with your tongue
Make a pit stop, by the piss spot
I'll take a quick break by the side of the road to urinate
You wanna take a pull? You can kick rocks
If you want to share my drugs, go away and find your own instead
I'm like that's not a gun, this is a gun, we?
I'm saying 'you call that a gun?' and then showing off a bigger, more powerful weapon
Who wanna rumble with me ol' Rockadile Dundee
I'm daring anyone to fight me, like the fearless Crocodile Dundee
I rule the underground, I'm Pimp C, Bun B
I'm the king of the underground rap scene, like Pimp C and Bun B of UGK
Lord Jazz Do-It-All and Mr. Funkee
I'm naming some other rappers who have achieved success in hip hop
Mr. Bummy FlyJab, some of ya'll mad
I mention another rapper with a funny name, and some people are jealous of him
I can scrape up one twenty five cash
I can come up with $125 in cash if I need to
I had too much dirt to double you niggas
I have too much shady business to share with anyone, so I can't team up with you
Nothing in the world was gon' keep me from crushing you bitches
I'm determined to defeat and humiliate my enemies, no matter what obstacles I face
Yeah two in your dome rhyme, funeral home time
If I shoot you twice in the head, you'll be dead and ready for a funeral
Announce death to you, I'm Phil Rizzuto with mine
I'll shout out about your death, just like baseball announcer Phil Rizzuto used to say 'Holy cow!'
This Puerto Rican bitch called me papi chulo, but I'm
A woman of Puerto Rican descent called me 'papi chulo' (a term of endearment for a handsome man), but I'm not interested in that
Not with the gwala shit, fill the hollow tip in the nine, I'm
I don't like messing around with money, I'd rather fill my gun with hollow-point bullets
Nice with a nine, I'm nice with the rhyme
I'm skilled at shooting my gun and writing rhymes
52 block will snot box, right in his prime
My martial arts technique (52 block) involves punching someone in the nose when they least expect it
Line for line, top five dead or alive
I'm so good at rapping that I'm in the top five of all time, regardless of how you rank people
Two of them dead, and soon as the other three die
Two of the top five rappers are already dead, and the other three will also eventually pass away
I'm number one!
I'm the best rapper of all time, according to myself
Contributed by Elijah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sean Faunce
on gettin ass gettin ass
yw
Sean Faunce
on gettin ass gettin ass
aight aight girl I aint doin nothin ether, maybe we could do somethin ya meen,
come through i got the trees ya know, i got the fat bootleg joint ye know what im sayin, new jackie chan joint
I got it on video tape yee know what im sayin? come through
ya never know what could happen ya know what im sayin it might get a little physical ya know
i think im ready to make that move ya know what im sayin like whyyy cant wee go alll the wayy