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.
S.O.S.
Inspectah Deck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shoot em On Sight Sight Sight [x3]
Shoot em On Sight Sight Sight [overlaps INS talking]
[Inspectah Deck]
Another mission, Street Life, gun talk, Sir I
Don't push me, because I'm close to the edge
Livin on this thin line, I know the ledge
Allegience I pledge strictly to my comittee
Way above the law, we soar the inner city
My crime pays, deep in the metro, nines blaze
Shorties watchin plus adoptin my ways
In the PJ's, the heat blaze and beats raid
Can't see the cage but can't leave the Streets Of Rage
[Street Life]
It's a Shoot On Sight fair, warfare prepared
Arm yourself beware, hardware tear through your flesh and bones bear
Witness stand clear
Flash the Wu-sign to see if my comrades is in here
PLO began this, ninety-nine bananas
Wu extravaganza, cops scandals and guns, a S.O.S.
Prepare for the slug fest, unusual suspect disconnet your outfit
It's a dead-end Street, I play for keeps release, shots through your fleece
Retreat, delete you from the crime spree
Chorus
Shoot em On Sight Sight Sight [x2] [overlaps entire chorus]
When you got beef wit one time-S.O.S.
When you standin on the front line-S.O.S.
Niggas wanna steal your sunshine-S.O.S.
When it comes time to do or die-S.O.S.
For the five-oh that brutalize-S.O.S.
Before you try suicide-S.O.S.
[Street Life]
Street chronicle, wise words by the abominal
High honorable, rap quotable phenomenal
Seniority kid, I speak for the minority
Ghetto poverty fuck the housing authority
Not to be idolized, I deal wit grand larceny
Money laundaring, auto theft, and armed robbery
Ninety-nine regimine torment your resident
Street intelligence child, KillaHill pedestrian
Sucker for love-ass, niggas catch a gay-bash
Slim-Fast from the gun blast burner, I last
The S-T-R, double E-T, own a Desert E
Keep it closely, I feed off envy and foul energy
Your best friend's your worst enemy
Thug therapy until they bury me, it's do or die tonight
Shoot out a street light, bleak life
Aim at your windpipe, squeeze tight
[Inspectah Deck]
In the parking lot, parked in a dark spot
The specialist wit one shot been at the drop
Your Highness INS, darts catch your body
Feds got me on watch wit nuttin yet to charge me
I strike quick, movin on the night shift
Rollin wit those who been the same likeness
Where I come from the blast make your ears go numb
Trust no one cuz murderers range old to young
And death don't discriminate, to choose your fate
Shot wit hypedermic sword wit the trey-eight
Gotta hold your weight, there's no escape from the mayhem
I'm livin for now but tryin to make it to the a.m.
Creepin in the hallways, we always on barrow
Calico crept close to over cash flow
The neighborhood watch, the skunks in my sock got me rocked
But keep my eyes on the shot clock
[Chorus]
The song S.O.S by Inspectah Deck featuring Street Life is a rap song that deals with the harsh realities of life in the inner city. Both rappers talk about their willingness to use violence to protect themselves and their communities from the dangers that surround them. The chorus indicates that life in the inner city can be dangerous and unpredictable, and people have to always be ready to "shoot em on sight." The lyrics are intense, and the rappers reflect on their personal experiences with crime, poverty, and violence.
Inspectah Deck's verse speaks about the inner workings of his criminal enterprise, which operates above the law. He talks about his deep connections to the inner city and the influence he has over the youth. He also reflects on the dangers of his lifestyle and how it can be difficult to leave his old ways behind. Street Life's verse is a commentary on the daily struggles of life in the ghetto. He talks about his hardships, including poverty, the lack of opportunities, and the constant need to protect himself. He also reflects on the corrupt nature of the police and how they are often the source of violence in the inner city.
Line by Line Meaning
Another mission, Street Life, gun talk, Sir I
Starting a new mission with Street Life, engaging in talk about guns, respecting the higher-ups with a 'Sir'
Don't push me, because I'm close to the edge
Warning not to push too far, as it could lead to disaster
Livin on this thin line, I know the ledge
Living dangerously, always on the brink of disaster
Allegience I pledge strictly to my comittee
Being loyal to one's crew and promising to serve them faithfully
Way above the law, we soar the inner city
Operating outside the law, navigating the dangerous inner city
My crime pays, deep in the metro, nines blaze
Committing crimes and profiting from them, using firearms in the metropolitan area
Shorties watchin plus adoptin my ways
Younger individuals observing and copying his actions
In the PJ's, the heat blaze and beats raid
In the projects, guns are fired and music is played at high volumes
Can't see the cage but can't leave the Streets Of Rage
Staying in a dangerous area where violence is common and leaving is difficult
It's a Shoot On Sight fair, warfare prepared
Certain individuals are targeted and violence is expected, preparing for war
Arm yourself beware, hardware tear through your flesh and bones bear
Warning to arm oneself as the violence can be deadly and destructive
Witness stand clear
Telling others to stay out of the crossfire
Flash the Wu-sign to see if my comrades is in here
Using a signal to see if fellow members of the Wu-Tang Clan are present
PLO began this, ninety-nine bananas
Referring to the Palestine Liberation Organization starting a conflict, followed by a reference to a drink
Wu extravaganza, cops scandals and guns, a S.O.S.
Describing the chaos of the situation and calling for help ('S.O.S.').
Prepare for the slug fest, unusual suspect disconnet your outfit
Preparing for a violent battle, disconnecting from one's usual outfit and taking on a new persona
It's a dead-end Street, I play for keeps release, shots through your fleece
The situation is hopeless, the fight is serious, and bullets penetrate even thick clothing
Retreat, delete you from the crime spree
Choosing to leave the violent lifestyle behind
Street chronicle, wise words by the abominal
Telling stories of the streets, with intelligent contributions from the singer
High honorable, rap quotable phenomenal
Acknowledging the artist's respected position and praising their ability to create memorable lyrics
Seniority kid, I speak for the minority
Acknowledging the artist's experience and leadership role, representing the views of a minority group
Ghetto poverty fuck the housing authority
Disliking the poor living conditions in the ghetto and rebelling against the authority who manages housing
Not to be idolized, I deal wit grand larceny
Warning not to look up to the singer, as they are involved in serious crime
Money laundaring, auto theft, and armed robbery
Describing the illegal activities the artist is involved in
Ninety-nine regimine torment your resident
Warning of a regime causing trouble in the area
Street intelligence child, KillaHill pedestrian
Having street smarts and being familiar with the dangerous areas of KillaHill
Sucker for love-ass, niggas catch a gay-bash
Despising those who are overly emotional, making fun of those who are gay
Slim-Fast from the gun blast burner, I last
Dodge bullets like losing weight quickly (reference to Slim-Fast), able to survive gunfire
The S-T-R, double E-T, own a Desert E
Spelling out his name and stating he owns a certain type of gun
Keep it closely, I feed off envy and foul energy
Keeping the gun close, and thriving on negative emotions
Your best friend's your worst enemy
Warning that even those you trust can harm you
Thug therapy until they bury me, it's do or die tonight
Living the dangerous thug lifestyle until death, with each night a life-or-death situation
Shoot out a street light, bleak life
Firing at a street light, symbolizing the bleakness of the environment
Aim at your windpipe, squeeze tight
Aiming to kill by squeezing the trigger tight
In the parking lot, parked in a dark spot
Hiding in a dark place in a parking lot
The specialist wit one shot been at the drop
Using a specialized gun for a single shot, possibly in a planned shooting
Your Highness INS, darts catch your body
Referring to himself as royalty, with his words acting as 'darts' that hit their target (the listener)
Feds got me on watch wit nuttin yet to charge me
The government is watching him even though they have not yet charged him with a crime
I strike quick, movin on the night shift
Making fast moves, operating during the night
Rollin wit those who been the same likeness
Hanging out with others who have a similar lifestyle
Where I come from the blast make your ears go numb
In his home environment, gunfire is so common that it no longer surprises or shocks the listener
Trust no one cuz murderers range old to young
Not trusting anyone, as even young people can be involved in murder
And death don't discriminate, to choose your fate
Death can happen to anyone for any reason, and it is up to the person to make their own choices about how they live their life
Shot wit hypedermic sword wit the trey-eight
Being shot with a gun, with the bullet feeling like a hypodermic needle, and using a .38 caliber weapon
Gotta hold your weight, there's no escape from the mayhem
Needing to be strong and survive in the dangerous environment with no way to escape
I'm livin for now but tryin to make it to the a.m.
Living in the present while hoping to survive until the morning
Creepin in the hallways, we always on barrow
Moving quietly through hallways while always remaining alert
Calico crept close to over cash flow
Having a gun (a type of pistol) used in attempting to take over a source of income
The neighborhood watch, the skunks in my sock got me rocked
Being watched by those in the neighborhood, with 'skunks' meaning cheap and poor-quality drugs that get him high
But keep my eyes on the shot clock
Remaining alert and watching for danger, like a basketball player watching the time on the clock
When you got beef wit one time-S.O.S.
Calling for help ('S.O.S.') when in conflict with law enforcement
When you standin on the front line-S.O.S.
In a dangerous position and needing help
Niggas wanna steal your sunshine-S.O.S.
Warning of those who want to steal one's joy or success, calling for help
When it comes time to do or die-S.O.S.
When facing a life-or-death situation, requesting assistance
For the five-oh that brutalize-S.O.S.
Police who use excessive force, calling for help against them
Before you try suicide-S.O.S.
Asking for help ('S.O.S.') before attempting suicide
Contributed by Nicholas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aly Hawana
The hip hop I was raised with....fire!!
Chanc' Register
Factoids
Emari Carter
my theme music in college football
LB Fresh
Facts
Jason Earley
@Chanc' Register yez ..zzzir Doggie...90's banger my man
Jim Sockeye
This beat is fuckin hypnotizing! Also Streetlife was underrated, probly the best of the Killa Beez
Tyssiak Beats
2020 and im still love classic hh... Timeless!!
J M
November 2018. Still 100% one of the best albums ever made. WU TANG
Lasane Lasane
ππΎ
cafemochamix
Straight raw unadulterated lyracism. Purely headnotic... Deck is a MONSTER!!!!!! This is STILL hiphop. What are yall clowns mumblin' about??? Can't hold an unstruck safety tip match to this.