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"
Pain & Torture )
Jadakiss Lyrics
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So this is what it all boils down to, huh? Huh?
This is what it's come to, huh? Huh?
Playoffs (ha ha ha ha)
Yo booms, fuck that
We back baby
I ain't asked you to fear it
And it's the evils that's gonna make you have to compare it
You know me, I swing back through and see who got hit after I air it
But it ain't about shit, niggas mumble about my outfits
But I'm humble, I keep my mouth shut
Lacin' them well, it was destined for J's in the cell
I can make you a reservation to hell
Then blow you out the water, I'm out of your order
Me verse any rapper is slaughter
Something like a poet and an author
The only difference is that I mix slick talk with pain and torture
[Chorus: x2]
One false move will cost ya
These lames will cross ya
Don't let the game extort ya
Try to learn from what the game has taught ya
I'm the author of slick talk, pain, and torture
Yo, I'ma take the responsibility for bringing it back
They rappin' with hostility, meanin' they whack
But then again, I feel 'em
Knowin' that they up against a nigga just like myself that'll kill 'em
Gotta spend a buck at the dealer for suede ceilings
Lotta bodies drop because of betrayed feelins'
What other rappers you know made it and stay dealin'
Smart niggas just fell back and they saved millions
These are pedestrian bars for the civilians
Shoes is Italian, handgun Brazilian
Open it up and see what Kiss brought ya
Slick talk, pain, and torture
[Chorus: x2]
Uh, yo, I flip words around
Sorta like birds and pounds
Rub shoulders in the industry with nerds and clowns
Give it to whoever deserve the rounds
Hollow tips, move organs and nerves around
Get money, fuck riffin'
I'm definitely cut different, I twist honey's, puff piffin
Get my insight from an old G, with a good job and all that buddy love sniffin'
Shit talker, playboy, British walker
Rather be home like "God please get 'em off us"
After the sun shine, it gets darker
Slick talk, pain, and torture
[Chorus: x2]
In Jadakiss's song "Pain & Torture," he begins by addressing his critics, sarcastically saying that this is what it has all boiled down to. He then raps about the evils in the world, and how they make him compare and contemplate the impact of his music. Jadakiss is known for his slick talk combined with pain and torture. He boasts that he can knock out any other rapper in a lyrical battle. He compares himself to a poet and author, except that he infuses his work with pain and suffering.
The chorus of the song warns listeners that one false move can cost them everything, and advises them not to let the game extort them. He encourages his listeners to learn from the lessons that the game has taught him. In the second verse, he takes responsibility for the resurgence of the popularity of hip-hop, but notes that some rappers that are coming up are mediocre. He puts himself in the same category as his competitors and warns that he is ruthless when it comes to the competition. In the final verse, he talks about his unique approach to rap, and admits that he is comfortable with being different from other rappers. He talks about how his insight comes from an old-school G, who knows the game inside and out.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't asked you to fear it
I did not request that you feel scared of me
Mandatory you think about it after you hear it
It is required that you contemplate what I say once you listen to it
And it's the evils that's gonna make you have to compare it
The wrongdoings in the world will cause you to make comparisons
You know me, I swing back through and see who got hit after I air it
You are familiar with me, I revisit to find out who was affected after I express myself
But it ain't about shit, niggas mumble about my outfits
It's not significant, people gossip about my clothing
But I'm humble, I keep my mouth shut
Yet I am modest and quiet
Lacin' them well, it was destined for J's in the cell
I did the shoelaces with precision, they were meant for Jordan shoes in prison
I can make you a reservation to hell
I could reserve a spot for you in hell
Then blow you out the water, I'm out of your order
After that, I'll defeat you easily, I'm an outlier in your rankings
Me verse any rapper is slaughter
Me against any other rapper is an easy win
Something like a poet and an author
Similar to a writer of poems and books
The only difference is that I mix slick talk with pain and torture
The contrast is in the fact that I combine smooth talk with agony and torment
One false move will cost ya
One wrong decision could be expensive for you
These lames will cross ya
These undesirables will trick you
Don't let the game extort ya
Do not allow the industry to hustle you
Try to learn from what the game has taught ya
Attempt to grasp the lessons taught by the music industry
I'm the author of slick talk, pain, and torture
I am the creator of smooth speech, agony, and torment
I'ma take the responsibility for bringing it back
I accept the accountability for reviving the genre
They rappin' with hostility, meanin' they whack
They are delivering verses with anger, which means they are unskilled
But then again, I feel 'em
However, I understand them
Knowin' that they up against a nigga just like myself that'll kill 'em
Realizing that they are facing someone like me who will defeat them
Gotta spend a buck at the dealer for suede ceilings
Must buy expensive cars with suede on top
Lotta bodies drop because of betrayed feelins'
Many people die due to feelings of betrayal
What other rappers you know made it and stay dealin'
Which other artists have you seen succeed and still grind?
Smart niggas just fell back and they saved millions
Intelligent individuals step back and earn millions
These are pedestrian bars for the civilians
These are simple lyrics for regular people
Shoes is Italian, handgun Brazilian
The shoes are from Italy, while the gun is Brazilian
Open it up and see what Kiss brought ya
Unwrap it and see what Jadakiss has given you
Uh, yo, I flip words around
Uh, you know, I rearrange phrases
Sorta like birds and pounds
Like bird migration and currency
Rub shoulders in the industry with nerds and clowns
Socialize with both intelligent professionals and foolish entertainers
Give it to whoever deserve the rounds
Give the battle to whoever deserves it
Hollow tips, move organs and nerves around
Ammunition causes organs and nerves to shift
Get money, fuck riffin'
Focus on making money, forget about other people's talk
I'm definitely cut different, I twist honey's, puff piffin
I am unique, I manipulate both women and drugs
Get my insight from an old G, with a good job and all that buddy love sniffin'
Obtain my guidance from an experienced gangster who has a legitimate profession and enjoys cocaine
Shit talker, playboy, British walker
A talkative womanizer who wears British-style shoes
Rather be home like "God please get 'em off us"
I would prefer to be at home, praying to God to remove my enemies
After the sun shine, it gets darker
After a period of positivity, there follows negativity
Slick talk, pain, and torture
Smooth speech, agony, and torment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RAY RUSSELL, ANTHONY BEST, JASON PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind