Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Brownsville, Killah Priest became infatuated with hip-hop as a child, listening to old-school and new school acts like Eric B. & Rakim alike. He also was influenced by local rappers, like GZA and Onyx's Suave, who would often play local parties. Killah Priest began working on his rhyming and eventually earned a considerable reputation in Brooklyn , but instead of pursuing his musical career further, he took a sabbatical in order to educate himself, primarily about religion and history.
Killah Priest returned to rapping in 1995, appearing on several Wu projects. All of his cameos were noteworthy, but his role on Liquid Swords earned special attention. By the end of 1996, he formed his own side project, the Sunz of Man. In 1997, GZA suggested to Geffen that they sign Killah Priest, and the label took his advice.
Killah worked on the album with True Master and 4th Disciple, two producers associated with the Clan. The resulting album, Heavy Mental, was dense with religious imagery and filled with evocative sounds. It received excellent reviews upon its March 1998 release and was a respectable commercial success, debuting at number 24 on the pop charts.
Killah Priest issued his second album, View from Masada, in the spring of 2000, further bolstering his status as one of the most compelling solo artists in the Wu-Tang stable. After that he has released more projects such as Priesthood and Black August.
Hood Nursery
Killah Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You cheated
Hood Nurseries
You cheated
I ain't playing with you no more
Can't run that far
What you mean you can't run that far?
Nah let's play another game, stick your feet in
I got my feet in
Uh!, buzzing
Ok, let me count
It goes
[Killah Priest]
It goes eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Catch a dealer with his blow
If he squeals we let 'em go
Tax his silly, penny blow
Niggas, spics, grab your nines
Cops is rolling down our lines
Sell your blow, get off the track
Hide your doe and flush your crack
Change your clothes, dump your gats
Stay on your toes, watch your back
And the officer picked this thug right over here
One grenade, two bananas, three hammers, four
Five vests, six bullets, now we want war
In the inner city bang-bang, he laid behind the fence
Trying to blow his nine at sixteen Crips
"I'm hit, I'm hit" he yell to his clique
But they're busy running so they finish off the clip
Red rag, blue rag, one two three
Pants sag, du-rag, guns on me
Doe-ray-me, old lady
Give me that money and then we're free
(Hook) Priest
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
(Priest as kids)
You ain't, hey I don't wanna play no more
You caught me man, you was me first
Man I don't care
Yo, nah man, let's play another game
Ok, my feet is in, my feet is in
Yo, we ain't gotta play with the feet
Put your hands in, put your hands in
I got another game, here it goes
[Killah Priest]
Mirror, mirror on the wall; who was the livest of them all?
What's this dude doing in my hood?
Who did he shoot? Who was his war?
Bodies laying, shotty's spraying
Daddy is drinking, mommy is praying
Caddy's, Lincolns, I'm up in the A.M.
Streets is mayhem, cops is aiming at our playgrounds
Looks like a grave now
I'm out in a Greyhound
Gotta escape this life in the cages
My hood is outrageous
It's all about papers, going out of state 'cause
Cop, thieves and hustlers, welfare in numbers
That's all we play, that's all we know
That's all we have, now it's your gun...
(Hook) Priest
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
(Priest as kids)
Nah I'm not playing with you no more
Ahhaha, yeah, yo we gotta make it out of this hood man
These games are kinda making me scary
[Killah Priest]
Paddywagon, paddywagon police man
Coming down our block we ran fast as we can
This young man lived in the slums
Tired of living poor till he picked up his gun
And went "click-clack" "Rat-at-tat"
Hit the copper's dome
Now the officer is laying in the tombstone
(Hook) Priest
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
Hood Nurseries
(Priest as kids)
Yo, I got another game, yo
Yo, listen y'all ever play
Da-da-don't-shoot?
Da-da-don't-shoot
Let's play
Well let's do it
Play again
We start of by playing freeze tag
Hood Nursery
But in the end you'll get a toe-tag
Let Priest tell it
No you it, no you it
Why is that cop looking at us like that?
I don't know
We can't play these games no more
We getting older y'all
We getting older
We can't play these games no more
Let's just stop
The song "Hood Nursery" by Killah Priest tells a story about life in the ghetto, with the lyrics jumping back and forth between Priest as a child playing games with his friends in the hood and the harsh reality of violence and crime in the neighborhood as an adult. The song begins with Priest reminiscing about playing childhood games in "Hood Nurseries," which is likely a reference to the housing projects or a rundown area of the neighborhood. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the games played as a child are a stark contrast to the violence and crime that have come to define the neighborhood.
The lyrics then turn to the harsh reality of living in the ghetto, with Priest rapping about drug dealing, police brutality, and gang violence. The chorus repeats the phrase "Hood Nurseries" but with a sense of foreboding rather than nostalgia. As the song progresses, the violence becomes increasingly intense, with Priest rapping about shootings, death, and a young man killing a police officer.
The end of the song reflects on the transition from childhood to adulthood and the loss of innocence that comes with it. Priest and his friends acknowledge that they can no longer play childish games and must face the harsh reality of their surroundings.
Overall, "Hood Nurseries" presents a clear picture of the difficulties of growing up in a violent, poverty-stricken environment and the toll it takes on both children and adults.
Line by Line Meaning
You cheated
Priest complains about cheating during a game.
Hood Nurseries
Priest and friends are playing a game.
I ain't playing with you no more
Priest refuses to play with cheater anymore.
Can't run that far
Priest's friend claims they cannot run far.
What you mean you can't run that far?
Priest asks for clarification of friend's statement.
Nah let's play another game, stick your feet in
Priest suggests playing a different game where they put their feet in.
Hood Nursery, let's count, I'm about to count
Priest suggests counting as part of the new game.
I got my feet in
Priest participates in the game by putting his feet in.
Uh!, buzzing
Priest feels a buzzing sensation in his feet.
Ok, let me count
Priest accepts the role of counting in the game.
It goes eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Priest begins a new song chorus.
Catch a dealer with his blow
Priest suggests catching a drug dealer with his product.
If he squeals we let 'em go
Priest suggests letting go of dealers who cooperate.
Tax his silly, penny blow
Priest suggests demanding money for the drug dealer's product.
Niggas, spics, grab your nines
Priest suggests arming oneself.
Cops is rolling down our lines
Priest mentions the police presence in their community.
Sell your blow, get off the track
Priest recommends selling drugs and leaving the area.
Hide your doe and flush your crack
Priest recommends hiding money and flushing drugs to avoid detection.
Change your clothes, dump your gats
Priest recommends changing clothes and getting rid of guns to avoid being recognized.
Stay on your toes, watch your back
Priest recommends being aware of danger and taking precautions.
And the officer picked this thug right over here
Priest describes a police officer singling out a criminal suspect.
One grenade, two bananas, three hammers, four
Priest lists weapons as part of a violent scenario.
Five vests, six bullets, now we want war
Priest suggests a desire for a violent confrontation.
In the inner city bang-bang, he laid behind the fence
Priest describes a violent situation in the inner city.
Trying to blow his nine at sixteen Crips
Priest describes a character's attempt to attack members of a gang.
"I'm hit, I'm hit" he yell to his clique
Priest describes a character being wounded and calling for help.
But they're busy running so they finish off the clip
Priest describes a character being abandoned by their friends.
Red rag, blue rag, one two three
Priest lists gang colors or signs.
Pants sag, du-rag, guns on me
Priest describes typical fashion and weaponry in the neighborhood.
Doe-ray-me, old lady
Priest sings a brief melody.
Give me that money and then we're free
Priest suggests that stealing money can provide freedom.
You ain't, hey I don't wanna play no more
Priest's friend declines to play a game again.
Ah-ha-ha, yeah, yo we gotta make it out of this hood man
Priest reflects on the need to escape their dangerous environment.
These games are kinda making me scary
Priest admits to feeling scared due to their risky games.
Paddywagon, paddywagon police man
Priest sings about a police wagon and officer.
Coming down our block we ran fast as we can
Priest describes running from the police.
This young man lived in the slums
Priest describes a character's impoverished background.
Tired of living poor till he picked up his gun
Priest suggests that the character chose a life of crime due to poverty.
And went "click-clack" "Rat-at-tat"
Priest mimics the sound of gunshots.
Hit the copper's dome
Priest describes a character shooting a police officer in the head.
Now the officer is laying in the tombstone
Priest reveals the final outcome of the violent act.
No you it, no you it
Priest and friends continue to play a game of tag.
Why is that cop looking at us like that?
Priest reflects on the suspicious behavior of a police officer.
We can't play these games no more
Priest recognizes that their risky games are no longer appropriate.
We getting older y'all
Priest realizes that they are growing up and need to mature.
Let's just stop
Priest decides to stop playing games and focus on growing up.
Contributed by Ethan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@itzoma
I like this song and glad it got a music video. This is on some rugged shit.
@o0TraceuR0o
thats sick dooog!!!
@RastaFATian
For sure! Peace!
@oogaboogaslovenija
aight!