Hunter routinely mentions the Park Hill Projects in Clifton, Staten Island, NY, where he grew up, going to school with the future Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and Method Man. Coming from a musical family, his father died when he was 6, and seeing his mother support the family contributed to his laid-back, quiet mentality; this led to his stage name, as he decided to play a low-key counterbalance to the antics of RZA, Method Man and Ol' Dirty Bastard. This is also referenced by Method Man at the end of the track "Can it Be All So Simple?" on "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)', stating.
However, Deck was featured as much, if not more, than any other of his fellow clansmen on the group's 1993 debut album, "Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers)". While keeping a relatively high profile on Wu-Tang group releases β including highly-praised verses on the singles "C.R.E.A.M." and "Triumph", from 36 Chambers and Wu-Tang Forever, respectively β Deck has had less success with his own solo career. Originally set to release an album in 1997, his first effort, Uncontrolled Substance, was delayed until 1999, after a flood in RZA's basement destroyed over a hundred beats, including those meant for Deck's album. According to Wu affiliate Cilvaringz, "Recently Deck pulled out some disks from the flood and they worked again and he used 1 for his upcoming album on Koch."[4]
In the years following the release of the highly successful debut album of the Wu-Tang Clan, Hunter would appear on several Wu members' solo albums, including the critically acclaimed trio "Only Built 4 Cuban Linxβ¦" by Raekwon, "Liquid Swords" by GZA and "Ironman" by Ghostface Killah. On the Clan's second group album, "Wu-Tang Forever" (1997), Deck produced the track "Visionz" and contributed a solo track, "The City." He also provided production for some of his Wu cohorts, including "Kiss of a Black Widow" for RZA's "RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo", and "Elements" and "Spazzola" from Method Man's sophomore "Tical 2000: Judgement Day". In 1999, he finally released his debut solo album, featuring a number of less-exposed Wu-Tang affiliates as guests and more of Deck's own production. The album received strong reviews but failed to garner him the popularity enjoyed by some of his groupmates; Deck subsequently returned to the Wu-Tang fold for the albums "The W" and "Iron Flag", also providing beats for GZA's sophomore "Beneath the Surface" and Ghostface Killah's "Supreme Clientele". In 2003 the rapper released his follow-up, "The Movement". That album failed to live up to Deck's expectations, and soon he was back to planning his next album, "The Rebellion"; three years later, in 2006, he released "The Resident Patient", intended as a precursor to the album. The rapper took a hiatus to record "8 Diagrams" with the group, partaking in the controversy sparked when Raekwon and Ghostface Killah disparaged RZA's tight control of the album, championing Ghost's album "The Big Doe Rehab"
βI feel like we have to give them a newer, better album such as the new Ghost album. Iβm not saying thatβs the truth either. Iβm just saying that his album sounds like what a Wu-Tang album should sound like, but itβs him by himself.β
He has also mentioned "The Rebellion" again, confirming production by RZA and the Wu-Elements; it is now set to come after "The Resident Patient 2" and will, reportedly, be Deck's final album as a solo artist. Deck is also featured on several tracks of Raekwon's most recent album, "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II".
On March 23rd, 2010 he will drop his 3rd album entitled "The Manifesto", with guest-appearances from Raekwon, Cormega,Termanology , Planet Asia, Cappadonna, Kurupt and M.O.P.'s Billy Danze. Deck himself will be producing on the album as well as having outside contributions: most notably, The Revelations who produced on Wu-Tang's Chamber Music[9].
In 2008, a mixtape entitled "The Resident Patient 2" was leaked to the internet, featuring some original material as well as freestyles over other artists' songs. In a recent interview, Deck stated that "The Manifesto" was meant to be the originally announced full-length sequel, "The Resident Patient 2". Since the early leak of "The Manifesto", he has begun work already on his final album "The Rebellion" and has expressed his interest in having Snoop Dogg, E-40, Nas & Jadakiss as guests but wanted to involve more of his fellow Clansmen on this album. He had also stated on a interview with Conspiracy Radio he will only retire from albums if the fans show support for "The Manifesto" and "The Rebellion". He has also expressed his wish to release an instrumental album of his own production similar to the ones put out by Alchemist, Ayatollah & Pete Rock. The album is to be entitled 'Instrumartyr' & recently confirmed March, 2011 as the release for The Rebellion according to his Twitter.
My Style
Inspectah Deck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My style, sick as the plague
Hold ya head, like I'm trimmin' ya fade
Now witness the raid, Rebellion, spittin' them blades
That'll tear ya "Face/Off" like Nicolas Cage
In the brick maze, ain't slept in six days
Trippin' off a spliff of haze, rollin' trip trays
I need, one followed by zero, he's some kinda hero
(Inspectah Deck)
I'm not the man, I'm just one of the men
You don't wanna cross me, I'm like a hundred & ten
Truck Turner burning the steel, child style working the mill
Like I still kill, serving them crill
Can't stop til I'm splurging a mill', gorilla lurk in the field
With my lean on, swerving my wills
Full time with the grind, like nine on the limb
Lone Ranger, so I don't conspire with them
Got men that'll fire the sem', see me sliding with the diamond
Like four or five of them, inside the Benz
It's the, main event when searched and through
Old timers recognize, with the young kids too
Damn right, I'm still 1-6-Ooh
Young G out to get his due, you can't fit his shoe
In the hood like graph' on the wall, snatchin' it all
Niggaz hate me, I'm just, having a ball
Yeah y'all, still hang in the halls, or macking them broad
Or at the fiend house, bagging a raw
And I'm alright, sending y'all a kite
Boss tight with the mic, y'all call it a night
It's the, gener-al, keep backin' them off
Backin' more, throw it down like Shaq in the fourth
You a cartoon in back of The Source, I clap off
And the, strongest quake couldn't match the force
Disrespect me, the eagles'll squeeze, my peoples is G's
Who put the work in and breeze in the D's
Keep several TV's in the V's, now wise men speak in degrees
Had you leaking with ease, fools
(Chorus)
In Inspectah Deck's song "My Style," he begins the chorus by describing his style as being sick like the plague. He then uses a metaphor to hold your head like he's trimming your fade which means he won't let you stray from his thoughts or ideas. He then goes on to describe his lyrical abilities as being sharp like a blade that will tear your face off like Nicolas Cage in the movie "Face/Off." In the verse, Deck emphasizes his talents as a rapper, saying he's not just a man, but one of the men. He talks about his past and how he's been grinding since the days of serving crill. He's a lone ranger who doesn't conspire with others, and he has men who will fire the sem. He's at the top of his game and delivers every time he's on the mic.
One interesting fact about "My Style" is that it was released as a single in 2000 and featured on Inspectah Deck's solo album "Uncontrolled Substance." The song was produced by the RZA and includes a sample from the song "The Look of Love" by Isaac Hayes. Inspectah Deck's verse in "My Style" was famously sampled by MF DOOM in his song "Accordion." The melody and tempo of the Inspectah Deck verse inspired DOOM to create his iconic instrumental, and he used Deck's vocals as the main vocal sample. The song also appeared in several video games, including "Tony Hawk's Underground 2," "Fight Night Round 2," and "Def Jam Vendetta."
Line by Line Meaning
My style, sick as the plague
My signature style is unique and contagious
Hold ya head, like I'm trimmin' ya fade
I'm exerting control over you, like I'm cutting your hair
Now witness the raid, Rebellion, spittin' them blades
Watch my attack, the Rebellion crew is here and we're wielding sharp lyrics
That'll tear ya "Face/Off" like Nicolas Cage
Our rhymes are so powerful they can change your whole identity, like in the movie Face/Off
In the brick maze, ain't slept in six days
I'm in a complex situation and haven't slept for six days
Trippin' off a spliff of haze, rollin' trip trays
I'm high on marijuana and creating beats
I need, one followed by zero, he's some kinda hero
I need a computer programmer to help me achieve greatness
Analyze This, like DeNiro
I analyze and strategize like Robert DeNiro's character in the movie Analyze This
I'm not the man, I'm just one of the men
I'm not the only influential person, just one of many
You don't wanna cross me, I'm like a hundred & ten
My dangerous presence should not be crossed, like going over 110%
Truck Turner burning the steel, child style working the mill
I work hard like the character Truck Turner and young children working in factories
Like I still kill, serving them crill
I'm still good at what I do, selling drugs
Can't stop til I'm splurging a mill', gorilla lurk in the field
I won't stop until I have a million dollars and I lurk like a gorilla
With my lean on, swerving my wills
I'm driving fast and recklessly
Full time with the grind, like nine on the limb
I'm always grinding like a worker on his ninth hour
Lone Ranger, so I don't conspire with them
I work alone and won't conspire with others
Got men that'll fire the sem', see me sliding with the diamond
I have men who will shoot a semi-automatic gun and catch me riding in my luxury car
Like four or five of them, inside the Benz
There are several people in my car, a Benz
It's the, main event when searched and through
I'm a big deal when people search for my name
Old timers recognize, with the young kids too
Both older and younger generations recognize my talent
Damn right, I'm still 1-6-Ooh
Yes, I'm still the same energetic youth
Young G out to get his due, you can't fit his shoe
I'm a young, talented rapper, and you can't compare to me
In the hood like graph' on the wall, snatchin' it all
I'm present in the hood, taking everything I can get
Niggaz hate me, I'm just, having a ball
People dislike me but I'm having fun anyway
Yeah y'all, still hang in the halls, or macking them broad
I'm still hanging out in the hallways or flirting with women
Or at the fiend house, bagging a raw
I'm at a drug addict's house, packaging drugs
And I'm alright, sending y'all a kite
I'm doing well, sending messages to people
Boss tight with the mic, y'all call it a night
I'm really good at rapping, so everyone else should quit for the night
It's the, gener-al, keep backin' them off
I'm a general in this game, pushing my opponents away
Backin' more, throw it down like Shaq in the fourth
I keep getting better, like Shaq in the fourth quarter
You a cartoon in back of The Source, I clap off
You're a joke and I'm going to shoot you
And the, strongest quake couldn't match the force
Nothing can stop me
Disrespect me, the eagles'll squeeze, my peoples is G's
If you disrespect me, my people will hurt you. They're gangsters.
Who put the work in and breeze in the D's
My gangster friends work hard and move unnoticed by the police
Keep several TV's in the V's, now wise men speak in degrees
I have many TVs in my car and now smart people use complex language
Had you leaking with ease, fools
I could easily hurt someone and they wouldn't be able to stop me
Contributed by Michael Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
FourTracK
Get Ya Wheight Up & My Style are Produced By FourTrack
That's what's UP!!!!
Philip Khatana
Thank God for Jason Hunter
China Everlast
Hip Hop