Track
J Dilla feat. Phat Kat Lyrics

Uh, uh, uh, it's the sickness uh, uh, uh, ah, ah, ah
The song is 'sickness' and the repeated 'Uh' and 'Ah' ad-libs compliment that.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
The repeated 'Oh' ad-libs add to the vibe of the song being sick and powerful.

I got the MJ disease 'cause MCs wanna be me
J Dilla is saying that other rappers are envious of his success and talent, comparing it to Michael Jackson's own success and fame.

If I spit anything it's gonna be heat
J Dilla is confident in his abilities as a rapper and producer - everything he creates will be hot.

'Cause Dilla Dawg a one of a kind nigga
J Dilla sees himself as unique and one-of-a-kind, with his own style and approach to music.

Killin' 'em off with the rhymes, motherfuckin' son of a 9 nigga
J Dilla is destroying other rappers with his lyrics, and he's from the 9th district of Detroit, known for being rough and tough.

If I pull a chain out in the sun it'll blind niggas
J Dilla is so flashy and successful that he can blind others with his wealth and jewelry.

First thing that come to your mind when you think of hardcore
J Dilla is reminding listeners what comes to mind when they think of hardcore rap - it's gritty, raw, and real.

Takin' cuts to the front of the line
J Dilla is skipping ahead in life, both metaphorically and literally - he doesn't wait his turn.

I break blunts, fill 'em up, and then fire, and take puffs
J Dilla likes to smoke weed, and he's describing the process of rolling up and smoking a blunt.

The city of G's, the gaters, and gutter
J Dilla is representing Detroit, a city known for its tough and dangerous neighborhoods (G's) and streets (gaters and gutter).

The switches and D's, the haters and murder
J Dilla is describing the culture of car customization in Detroit (switches and D's) as well as the violence and crime (haters and murder).

My niggas runnin' the streets, they ready to eat
J Dilla's friends and associates are hustling hard and willing to do whatever it takes to make money and succeed.

And roll heavy, deep in Chevys and Jeeps
J Dilla and his crew travel in style, driving around in expensive cars (Chevys and Jeeps) and looking impressive.

And most carry so be ready to bleed if you talk shit
J Dilla's friends are also tough and violent; if you talk smack about them, be prepared for the consequences.

Why check these nigga threatin' the Dee, we walkin'
J Dilla's friends are not afraid of danger and will stand their ground, even in the face of threats.

Most of my niggas been locked down for something, prolly bitch smackin' niggas, knocked down for nothin'
J Dilla's friends have spent time in jail for various violent or criminal activities, including slapping other men ('bitch smackin') and getting into fights for no reason.

Got a fetish for dough, cheese, bucks
J Dilla loves money and success, and he's using various words for cash to reinforce that.

Out for the lettuce so blow these nuts
J Dilla is chasing after money (lettuce) and telling others to blow his metaphorical nuts (i.e. showing him respect and supporting him).

Yo, everybody's not goin' get me
Nas is saying that he won't be understood by everyone, and not everyone will appreciate his music or message.

They mad 'cause they can't accept me
Nas thinks that some people are angry or resentful towards him because they can't handle his talent and success.

They try to hex me, especially those who never rose
Nas believes that people who haven't achieved their own success are more likely to try and bring him down through negativity and bad energy (hexing).

They want better clothes and nicer lives
Nas is saying that some people are more focused on material possessions and a lavish lifestyle than they are on creating art or pursuing their passions.

I don't have an ego, I go harder than average people
Nas is saying that he's not arrogant, but he's still more motivated and talented than most others.

Plus I got twice the drive
Nas is saying that he's even more motivated and ambitious than he already seems.

Suited and booted, niggas might have heard I was lost
Nas is dressed well (suited and booted) and people may have thought he was lost or struggling, but he's still successful and driven.

You might wanna consider your source
Nas is saying that people should be careful where they get their information from, and not believe rumors or gossip without checking the source.

I try to play it cool, show people that I can chill
Nas doesn't want to seem too intense or serious, so he tries to be relaxed and calm in social situations.

So wealthy people take me serious and know I'm real
Nas wants to be taken seriously by wealthy or powerful individuals, and he thinks that by seeming calm and collected, he'll come across as authentic and genuine.

Open a club up in Shanghai
Nas is saying that he's so successful, he can open a new club in another country (Shanghai).

I ain't step inside yet
Nas hasn't even visited the club he's planning to open - he's that powerful and connected.

Silicon Valley every two months
Nas is frequently visiting Silicon Valley, a hub for tech and innovation, to stay up to date on new advances and opportunities.

On private jet, I'm venture capital nigga
Nas is using a private jet to travel, further emphasizing his wealth and status, and he invests in new ventures and startups.

Read it how I invest
Nas is telling people to pay attention to how he invests his money, and to recognize his skills in this area.

I'm in the trade so much
Nas is spending a lot of time investing and working in the financial world.

The Wall Street Journal but I don't flex or front too much
Nas is reading the Wall Street Journal (a newspaper focused on finance and business), but he's not bragging about it or showing off his knowledge too much.

It's too early to serve you, I'd rather curve you
Nas isn't interested in confronting or fighting with people (serving them) right now; he'd rather avoid conflict (curve you) and focus on other things.

This ain't just rap, this facts
Nas is emphasizing the truth and authenticity in his music and message, not just using rap as a way to show off or entertain.

I'm in places, I shock faces 'cause they don't see black
Nas is visiting different parts of the world where it's surprising to see a successful black man or where black people are underrepresented.

So if you ever in Maldives tell 'em Nas said peace
Nas is giving a shoutout to the Maldives as a symbol of his global reach and influence; if people go there, they might hear his name mentioned or referenced in some form.

Frontin', I've never been in Maldives, not even Greece yet
Nas is admitting that he's never actually been to the Maldives or Greece (two far-off and exotic locations), and he doesn't want to make it seem like he's pretending or lying about his travels.

But I bet out in Greece I get that respect
Nas is still confident that if he did visit Greece, he'd be respected and admired for his success and talent.