By the age of twelve, Jadakiss was a freestyle rapper, engaging in competitions. He and some of his friends were given the opportunity to compete in the "Jack the Rapper Competition" in Florida, where Jadakiss was noticed for his battle rap ability. He met Dee and Wah of the Ruff Ryders (then a management company), and began hanging out and battling outside of the Ruff Ryders' studio where artists like DMX made their first hits.
Jadakiss founded the rap group the Warlox in 1994 with friends Jamaal, Sheek Louch, and Styles P. They later signed to Bad Boy Entertainment, where it was suggested that they change their name simply to "The LOX", which came to stand for Living Off eXperience. They made their first appearance on The Main Source's 1994 LP "Fuck What You Think" on the track "Set it Off".
The group, especially Jadakiss, developed a close relationship with The Notorious B.I.G., during which time Jadakiss was taken under Biggie's wing. The LOX's first multi-platinum hit was the tribute to Biggie called "We'll Always Love Big Poppa" (the B-side to Puff Daddy's "I'll Be Missing You") in 1997. In 1998, the LOX released Money, Power, Respect. Following this album, they left Bad Boy Records.
Jada's debut solo album, Kiss the Game Goodbye, was released in August 2001 under the Ruff Ryders/Interscope label. The album featured popular guests and producers such as Snoop Dogg and Swizz Beatz, but was written off as repetitive and uninspired. Jadakiss has acknowledged the criticism as, generally speaking, valid, saying the record was done less out of inspiration and more out of contract obligations to Bad Boy. The album produced the single "Put Ya Hands Up" with the chorus "Put ya hands up/nah, f**k that/ Put ya hands down" reflecting Jada's distance from the album.
Jadakiss' second album, Kiss of Death, was released in June 2004. Prior to the release, his fans were polled, and most claimed the rapper wasn't personal enough in his lyrical stylings.[citation needed] As a result, Jadakiss released the song, "Why?", which bared his innermost thoughts,[citation needed] and it became one of the biggest hits of that year, spawning a remix featuring Styles P, Common, Nas, and Anthony Hamilton. It remains as his biggest hit, peaking at #11 on the Hot 100. Another single from the record, "You Make Me Wanna" featured Mariah Carey and was a much more commercially driven love song. Kiss of Death did not reflect the popularity of its lead single, but it was better-received than his first effort, eventually achieving platinum-selling status.
Recently, in late 2007, Jadakiss signed to Jay-Z's Roc-a-Fella Records, a move Jay had been trying to arrange for a long period of time. He reportedly will have an as-yet-untitled album on Roc-a-Fella in 2008, executive produced by both Jay-Z and the Ruff Ryders CEOs/management team of Dee and Wah. The move comes on the heels of increased D-Block/Roc-a-Fella collaborations; in 2006, Kiss and former rival Beanie Sigel collaborated on DJ Khaled's album Listen..., and in 2007, on Freeway's album Free At Last, while Styles P has appeared on a radio freestyle with Freeway and Sigel. He has also appeared briefly in Jay-Z's latest video for his American Gangster second single, Roc Boys, in which he appears throwing up the famous Roc-a-Fella sign, "the Diamond."
On May 26th 2008, The New York Post reported in its Page Six section that Jadakiss has signed on to play a gang leader in Russell Costanzo's provocative movie-directing debut, "The Tested"
Feel Me
Jadakiss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Na'mean true story
Feel me, matter of fact, still feel me
Uh, yeah
Ayo, past few years shit got so ill
Was kinda hard for the God to laugh through tears
I went through something with momma, no drama
My pop think his son is desertin' him, its hurtin' him
Guess I gotta be the man and sit down and work with him
My little boy 7, he the sequel to the thug
So I told him the money will never equal to the love
Listen, I'm grown y'all
When it comes to my family it ain't never a problem, it's only a phone call
They tend to take that and run with it
So every other month I be on some new phone, new number shit
They violated Stay again
Gus totaled the Beamer and broke Kay leg again
Shh, let us pray again
And I ain't get enough of hanging in the local bars yet
Had to let the thing off, 'cross town in the projects
All these rumors and shit, but I ain't get robbed yet
Bitch-ass niggas ain't stop actin' like broads yet
In arm reach of a gun and a mask
Somebody clipped me for a hundred in cash, still feel me
I hit the road and try to get more grip
It was cool 'til a muthafuckin' tour bus flipped
Uh, no charges brought up, bitch popped up with a kid
Got caught up, then I put a court up
Now the road to the riches is taking me longer
It ain't kill yet so it's making me stronger
I don't know if it's the hate, frustration, or hunger
That keep a nigga going, rappin' for a reason
Shit don't just happen, shit happens for a reason
I'm that dude, like it or love it
I do my thing in the hood, and get right with a budget
Ain't afraid to give my life to the public
And when you see me next time maybe we can further discuss
How my 16's give you a visual
I know you thinking he ain't really selling, how he live off residuals
But right now the game is pitiful
And niggas is lonely, they need company 'cause they miserable
Yeah, uh-huh, shit is still real, B
That's why I want you to still feel me
Still feel me
One, I'm out
In Jadakiss's song Feel Me, the lyrics are a reflection on his past, struggles, and success. The rapper wants the listener to connect with him, to understand him beyond his persona, to feel him. He talks about how he grew up as an only child, who learned to hold it down on his own. He shares how his journey started, from being addicted to GI Joes and ices to light-skinned girls and Nikes. He drops hints about his involvement in hustling and how he and his friend K were plotting to get into the coke business.
As he continues with his storytelling, he talks about how the block was crowding, and they were waiting for an opening, but things were still flow, and they never stopped or looked back. Jadakiss reflects on his experience with the music industry, passing demos to Mary and her cousin but it didn't work initially. Eventually, he and his team got signed and made niggas wake up, causing them to talk about pumping bricks and going to papi to sniff something. In other words, their success made them a force to reckon with, and others want to partake in it.
He ends the song, stating that his thoughts are dope, and he can spit heroin, making it impossible for anyone to be on his level. He remains grateful for waking up each day, knowing he has another chance to go and cash in and cake it up.
Line by Line Meaning
All I want you to do is feel me,
I want you to understand and empathize with me.
Why take time out, to give you the real me,
Why bother revealing my true self to you if you won't appreciate it?
Uh, uh, uh
Interjection indicating that something is about to be said.
Hey yo I grew up very athletic, hard headed
Hey, let me tell you about my upbringing - I was very active and stubborn.
Thought I knew everything, wanted to do everything
I was confident in my abilities and wanted to try everything.
I was spoiled, stubborn, the only child
Being the only child made me selfish and hard to deal with.
So the only thing I could do was hold it down
I had to be strong and take care of myself.
Now this is something that I could tell you that's no bullshit
This is the truth and not a lie.
I always been wicked with the flow since a lil kid
I've been skilled at rapping since I was young.
My first addiction, GI Joes and icies
As a child, I was obsessed with GI Joe toys and Italian ices.
After that it was light skinned girls and Nikes
In my teenage years, I was attracted to light skinned girls and Nike shoes.
Breeze through junior high school, then high school
I easily got through junior and high school.
Couple of semesters of college and then night school
I attended a few semesters of college but had to switch to night school.
Moms start riffing, talking 'bout how she can't support a grown man
My mom started criticizing me, saying she couldn't support me if I didn't grow up.
So the god start flipping
I started getting angry in response.
Pops used to say shit, but never to me much
My dad would speak badly about me, but not to my face.
Was like he wasn't even there 'cause we ain't agree much
I didn't feel like my dad supported me because we didn't get along.
Used to be gone for whole weeks at a time
My dad would be absent for weeks at a time.
Puffin one eleven, used to roll three out a dime
I used to smoke weed and roll joints using three $10 bags.
Then I found myself sleeping in late, doing nothing
Eventually, I became lazy and did nothing productive.
Fucking, running with the niggas that was hustling
I started hanging out with guys who were involved in illegal activities.
Shop wasn't open then, niggas was working for a pair of Jordans
There weren't any job opportunities, so people were resorting to crime to buy shoes.
The next two weeks they was broke again
Their money didn't last very long.
Me and K keep havin talks of getting coke again
My friend K and I were considering getting into the drug trade.
But the block was crowded we waiting for an opening
There were already too many drug dealers on the block, so we were waiting for a chance to get in.
Meanwhile shit still slow we still flowing
Things were still going slowly, but we kept at it.
Never stop or look back we still going
We kept moving forward without stopping or turning back.
Bop passed the demo to Mary then she passed it to cousin
My friend Bop gave a music demo to Mary J. Blige, who then passed it to her cousin.
We thought it was on but it wasn't
We thought our music career was taking off, but it wasn't successful.
And we can't blame nobody
We can't hold anyone else responsible for our lack of success.
Look at us now dog, we came in the game nobodies
We started from the bottom and had no fame or recognition when we entered the music industry.
Double are and Interscope, put that cake up
We signed with record labels Ruff Ryders and Interscope to make money.
And we ain't go platinum but we made niggas wake up
Our music wasn't good enough to go platinum, but it still caught people's attention.
Got 'em all talking 'bout pumping the brick
Our lyrics inspired people to talk about selling drugs.
And they only go and see papi to get something to sniff
People were only going to drug dealers to buy cocaine.
I'm 'bout to fuck the game up for real like in the World Series
I'm going to make a big impact on the music industry, like in the World Series baseball games.
Nigga that parachute down in the field
I'm going to make a grand entrance, like parachuting onto a sports field.
I don't rap I provide you bars
I don't just rap, I give you quality lyrics.
And the pain is invisible, but you can't hide the scars
The emotional pain in my life is not visible, but I have scars from it.
So y'all never be on the level that we're on
Others will never achieve the same level of success as us.
Ability to have dope thoughts and spit heroin
We have the ability to come up with great lyrics and rap them well.
I'm good just waking up
I'm thankful just to wake up and have another chance at success.
That's how I know I got one more chance to go and cash in and cake it up...
I know I still have an opportunity to make money and be successful.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: Jason T Phillips, Alan Maman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nykay6255
All I want you to do is feel me,
Why take time out, to give you the real me,
Uh, uh, uh
Hey yo I grew up very athletic, hard headed
Thought I knew everything, wanted to do everything
I was spoiled, stubborn, the only child
So the only thing I could do was hold it down
Now this is something that I could tell you that's no bullshit
I always been wicked with the flow since a lil kid
My first addiction, GI Joes and icies
After that it was light skinned girls and Nikes
Breeze through junior high school, then high school
Couple of semesters of college and then night school
Moms start riffing, talking 'bout how she can't support a grown man
So the god start flipping
Pops used to say shit, but never to me much
Was like he wasn't even there 'cause we ain't agree much
Used to be gone for whole weeks at a time
Puffin one eleven, used to roll three out a dime
Then I found myself sleeping in late, doing nothing
Fucking, running with the niggas that was hustling
Shop wasn't open then, niggas was working for a pair of Jordans
The next two weeks they was broke again
Me and K keep havin talks of getting coke again
But the block was crowded we waiting for an opening
Meanwhile shit still slow we still flowing
Never stop or look back we still going
Bop passed the demo to Mary then she passed it to cousin
We thought it was on but it wasn't
And we can't blame nobody
Look at us now dog, we came in the game nobodies
Double are and Interscope, put that cake up
And we ain't go platinum but we made niggas wake up
Got 'em all talking 'bout pumping the brick
And they only go and see papi to get something to sniff
I'm 'bout to fuck the game up for real like in the World Series
Nigga that parachute down in the field
I don't rap I provide you bars
And the pain is invisible, but you can't hide the scars
So y'all never be on the level that we're on
Ability to have dope thoughts and spit heroin
I'm good just waking up
That's how I know I got one more chance to go and cash in and cake it up...
@seannewkirk9048
Never heard a weak 16 from Jada. Bars is always fire. Untouchable
@sonofthunder5876
I don't rap I provide you bars
And the pain is invisible, but you can't hide the scars🔥🔥🔥🔥
✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿
@redsnorlax1945
This man told us his whole story from child hood to when he blew up in 2 minutes
@danvisgreen4669
The most underated rapper EVER
@dg3916
Danvis Green you right about that one fur sure! Top five all day jay to muah!
@MontanaOJ
On me!!!
@kwajotube
**EVER**
@jasminecody9695
Definitely a Fact! 💯
@vikkorheel9966
Underrated??? Who jada??? Not at all.💯
@fushawnortiz7
“Used to roll 3 outta dime” 🤦🏽♂️🔥