HIP HOP
Joell Ortiz featuring: Jadakiss & Saigon Lyrics
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Uh (what's happening?)
Big boy toys that clap like a dirty bitch box
His ladder's attached with thirty six shots, insert it and cop (blap)
You ain't gotta take my word them shits pop
Ask around how I circled these blocks before hip hop (yeah)
Sandwich baggies drop it in and tie knots
Dope the only thing stamped inside my mailbox
Folded money 'til the rubber bands pop before hip hop (woo)
Olde E, St. Ides, and Ballantine ale
Dutch Masters, Phillies, and White Owl smells
L trainer lended in powder, to roll L's
Tokin' boots, nigga
No vocal booths nigga, before hip hop
Whole different dude, I'm rolling to you
I got a dub that I don't fold it at Deuce
Everything good, even your nasty ass shoes
Now here's my moment of truth (ha ha)
Yeah, that was life before hip hop
You think you know me, you don't really know me (nah)
Back in my hood, I'm still a one and only (yaow)
Before these music projects, I'm the projects' homie (cool)
Y'all just see the new me, y'all don't know the old me (no)
Before these beats was trapping, I was out there trapping (yes)
Before these birds was rapping, I was bird wrapping (uh huh)
Before the feds was clapping, it was cans clapping (brrah)
No bank accounts, hand to hand transactions (ow)
A bunch of candles in the lobby, who got laid to rest?
Empty bottles need a flix, I know the wakers next
I'm from a place people walk around with major stress
Don't say somethin' you'll regret, before hip hop (uh)
I was crazy fresh, trapping in my Avirex
Blue Yankee fitted, 501's above the navy chest (yaow)
I never had to beg for pussy, bitches gave me sex
I left all the drugs that they address, before hip hop
Uh, shit, your boy was out there tryna survive
Too lazy for a nine to five, I bought a 9 and got live 'til it jammed
Said goodbye, next day, went outside, brought that pretty .38
it's on the lap in my ride, ride (ow)
It wasn't always about these verses and words
It was being first to the curb from the first to the third
It was 'bout stayin' alert, see 'em lurking, you swerve
To this day, I thank God, I ain't get locked before hip hop
You think you know me, you don't really know me (nah)
Back in my hood, I'm still a one and only (yaow)
Before these music projects, I'm the projects' homie (cool)
Y'all just see the new me, y'all don't know the old me (no)
Before these beats was trapping, I was out there trapping (yes)
Before these birds was rapping, I was bird wrapping (uh huh)
Before the feds was clapping, it was cans clapping (brrah)
No bank accounts, hand to hand transactions (ow)
Before hip hop, had that thing on my hip, don't let it hop off (ha ha ha)
But nah though, just Joell Ortiz
In "Hip Hop," Joell Ortiz, Jadakiss, and Saigon reminisce on their lives before they became successful rappers. They paint a vivid picture of their upbringing in the streets, which involved selling drugs, carrying weapons, and constantly being aware of their surroundings. In the first verse, Joell describes a life of drug dealing and violence. He talks about carrying guns with 36 rounds loaded in them and how he used to sell drugs out of sandwich baggies. He also talks about drinking malt liquor and smoking marijuana. In the second verse, Jadakiss reminisces on the early days of his career as a drug dealer before he became famous. He reminisces about wearing Yankee fitted caps and 501 jeans in the streets. He also reminisces about how his old drug dealing contacts reacted when they saw him become a famous rapper. In the third verse, Saigon talks about his experiences selling drugs and being a criminal. He also talks about the struggles of growing up in the projects.
The song presents examples of the harsh environment in which the rappers grew up. It also highlights how hip hop saved their lives by providing them with opportunities they would not otherwise have had. The song is a powerful reminder that hip hop can give a voice to the voiceless and provide a way out of poverty and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha, listen homie, you don't know me like you think you know me, ha ha
I'm telling you, you don't really know me even if you think you do, ha ha.
Big boy toys that clap like a dirty bitch box
My guns are like big boy toys that shoot loud like a dirty speaker box.
His ladder's attached with thirty six shots, insert it and cop (blap)
The magazine has thirty six bullets inserted in it, ready to be used.
You ain't gotta take my word them shits pop
You don't have to take my word, the guns really do shoot.
Ask around how I circled these blocks before hip hop (yeah)
Ask anyone how I traveled these streets before I got into hip hop.
Sandwich baggies drop it in and tie knots
I used to put drugs in sandwich bags and tie them up.
And fight my favorite fiend over to come and try rocks
I used to fight my favorite drug addict to come and try the drugs I had.
Dope the only thing stamped inside my mailbox
All I used to receive in my mailbox was drugs.
Folded money 'til the rubber bands pop before hip hop (woo)
I used to fold my money so much that the rubber bands could no longer hold them together.
Olde E, St. Ides, and Ballantine ale
I used to drink Olde E, St. Ides, and Ballantine ale.
Dutch Masters, Phillies, and White Owl smells
I used to smoke Dutch Masters, Phillies, and White Owl cigars.
L trainer lended in powder, to roll L's
I used to have a L trainer which I filled with powder to roll joints.
Tokin' boots, nigga
I used to wear shoes with hidden pockets to carry drugs.
No vocal booths nigga, before hip hop
Before I got into hip hop, I didn't have a vocal booth to record my music.
Whole different dude, I'm rolling to you
I used to be a different person, but now I'm coming to you as Joell Ortiz.
I got a dub that I don't fold it at Deuce
I have a twenty dollar bill that I don't fold in half anymore.
Everything good, even your nasty ass shoes
Everything is alright, even if your shoes are dirty.
Now here's my moment of truth (ha ha)
Now, I'm going to tell you the truth about my past.
Yeah, that was life before hip hop
That was my life before I got into hip hop.
Back in my hood, I'm still a one and only (yaow)
I am still the one and only person from my neighborhood.
Before these music projects, I'm the projects' homie (cool)
Before I made music, I was known as the guy from the projects.
Y'all just see the new me, y'all don't know the old me (no)
You only know the new me, not the old me from before.
Before these beats was trapping, I was out there trapping (yes)
Before I started making beats, I was selling drugs.
Before these birds was rapping, I was bird wrapping (uh huh)
Before rappers started talking about drugs, I was actually wrapping them up.
Before the feds was clapping, it was cans clapping (brrah)
Before the FBI would arrest me, there were gunshots in the streets.
No bank accounts, hand to hand transactions (ow)
I used to only engage in cash transactions, without the use of a bank account.
A bunch of candles in the lobby, who got laid to rest?
There are always a lot of candles in the lobby of a building, indicating that someone has died.
Empty bottles need a flix, I know the wakers next
There are empty bottles in the building, meaning that the people who drank them will soon wake up and go about their day.
I'm from a place people walk around with major stress
I'm from a neighborhood where people live with a lot of stress.
Don't say somethin' you'll regret, before hip hop (uh)
It's important to watch what you say, even before you become famous.
I was crazy fresh, trapping in my Avirex
I was always stylish and selling drugs in my Avirex jacket.
Blue Yankee fitted, 501's above the navy chest (yaow)
I used to wear a blue Yankee hat and 501 jeans with a shirt above it.
I never had to beg for pussy, bitches gave me sex
I never had to beg for sex, women would give it to me.
I left all the drugs that they address, before hip hop
I stopped selling drugs before I got into hip hop.
Uh, shit, your boy was out there tryna survive
I was just trying to survive back then.
Too lazy for a nine to five, I bought a 9 and got live 'til it jammed
I was too lazy to work a regular job, so I bought a gun and became a criminal until it stopped working.
Said goodbye, next day, went outside, brought that pretty .38
After my gun stopped working, I bought a new .38 revolver the next day.
It wasn't always about these verses and words
Not everything in my life was always about making music and writing lyrics.
It was being first to the curb from the first to the third
It was about being on top of my game in the streets.
It was 'bout stayin' alert, see 'em lurking, you swerve
It was about being aware of danger and avoiding it when possible.
To this day, I thank God, I ain't get locked before hip hop
I'm grateful that I didn't get arrested before I got into hip hop.
Before hip hop, had that thing on my hip, don't let it hop off (ha ha ha)
Before I got into hip hop, I always carried a gun and made sure it didn't accidentally go off.
But nah though, just Joell Ortiz
But now, I'm just Joell Ortiz.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Joell Christopher Ortiz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind