Written and produced by M… Read Full Bio ↴“Beef Rap,” the first track off of "MM..FOOD".
Written and produced by MF DOOM, (a.k.a. Metal Fingers when he’s producing).
This ditty here is about those rappers who make their living from “beef raps,” fights started with other rappers to boost sales. Battle raps are a true part of Hip Hop, and true battles are things of legend (e.g. MC Shan vs. KRS-One, LL Cool J vs. Kool Moe D, Hammer, Ice-T and Canibus, etc.). DOOM doesn’t care too much for it though, as he explains in XXL Magazine:
"Oh yeah, “Beef Rap.” Good song. Good choice. I just think it’s a funny word. I don’t get angry at this point, so [rap beef] is like whatever. The challenge is what it’s about with me, the challenge of being such a picky topic to handle. Also, the double entendre with the word beef, the way it’s perceived in the street world and it’s a food—a so-called food—so how it’s perceived in the nutritional realm. The fact that there’s two things that correlate there gave me enough metaphors to play with. But it’s all fun. I always do it with something that’s fun. Anger is something I don’t deal with.
It had to be two things: It had to be a food people could relate to and there had to be another play on the word. For instance, I’d say con queso, like cheese. Everyone knows “cheese” has a reference in the street, as money and whatnot. And cheese is something that’s always added in addition to a cheeseburger or a beef patty. So it’s about finding a word where you can take two different approaches to it."
Beef Rap
MF DOOM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or even a wreath for mom dukes on some grief crap
I suggest you change your diet
It can lead to high blood pressure if you fry it
Or even a stroke, heart attack, heart disease
It ain't no startin? back once arteries start to squeeze
Take the easy way out, phony, until then they know
So disgustin, pardon self as I discuss this
They talk a wealth of shit and they ain't never seen the justice
Bust this like a cold milk from out the toilet
Two batteries some Brillo and some foil, he'll boil it
He be better off on PC glued
And it's a feud so don't be in no TV mood
Every week it's mystery meat, seaweed stewed
He wears a mask just to cover the raw flesh
A rather ugly brother with flows that's gorgeous
Drop dead joints hit the whips like bird shit
They need it like a hole in they head or a third tit
Her bra smell, his card say, aw, hell
Barred from all bars and kicked out the Carvel
Keep a cooker where the jar fell
And keep a cheap hooker that's off the hook like Ma Bell
Top bleeding, maybe fellow took the loaded rod gears
Stop feeding babies colored, sugar coated lard squares
The odd pairs swears and God fears
Even when it's rotten, we've gotten through the hard years
I wrote this note around New Year's
Off a couple a shots and a few beers, but who cares
Enough about me, it's about the beats
Not about the streets and who food he about to eat
A rhymin? cannibal who's dressed to kill, it's cynical
Whether is it animal, vegetable or mineral
It's a miracle how he get so lyrical
And proceed to move the crowd like a old negro spiritual
For a mil' do a commercial for Mello Yello
Tell 'em devil's hell, no, sell y'all own Jello
We hollow krills, she swallow pills
He follow flea collar, three dollar bills
And squeal for halal veal, in y'all appeal
Dig the real, it's how the big ballers deal
Twirl a L after every meal
Word up to all rappers, shut up with ya shuttin? up
And keep your shirt on, at least a button up
Yuck, is they rhymers or strippin? males?
Outta work jerks since they shut down Chippendales
They chippin? nails, doom, chippin? scales
Let alone the pre-orders that's counted off shippin? sales
This one goes out to all my peoples skippin? bail
Dippin? jail, whippin? tail and sippin? ale
Light the doobie ?til it glow like a ruby
After which they couldn't find the villain like Scooby
He's in the lab on some old Buddha Monk shit
Overproof drunk shit and who'da thunk it
Punk, try and ask why ours be better
It could be the iron mask or the Cosby sweater
Yes, you, who's screwed by the dude on the CD nude
The lyrics to MF DOOM's "Beef Rap" can be interpreted in several ways. The song is essentially a critique of the contemporary hip-hop scene and how it glorifies violence and unhealthy lifestyles. The opening lines talk about how beef rap, or feuding between rappers, can lead to serious consequences, including getting killed or causing grief to one's loved ones. The singer then suggests changing one's diet because unhealthy food can lead to high blood pressure, which in turn can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and heart diseases.
The song then takes a more critical turn as the singer discusses how the hip-hop community talks a lot of "bologna" (a wordplay on "baloney" meaning nonsense) and yet they've never seen the justice system. The singer goes on to criticize the community for its unhealthy lifestyles and questionable ethical practices, from drug use to violence to objectification of women. This part of the song is fueled by sarcasm and disgust, as he talks about feeding babies sugar-coated lard squares and swears and fears even in the midst of rot.
Overall, the song is a biting critique of the hip-hop industry and its players. The lyrics are well-crafted and lend themselves to multiple interpretations, highlighting DOOM's skill as a rapper and his insights into the culture he critiques.
Line by Line Meaning
Beef rap could lead to gettin? teeth capped
Starting a beef with someone might lead to a violent confrontation that results in getting punched in the face so hard you need dental work done
Or even a wreath for mom dukes on some grief crap
In extreme cases, a beef could even lead to someone getting killed, and then their mother receiving flowers for their funeral
I suggest you change your diet
I recommend you stop talking so much nonsense
It can lead to high blood pressure if you fry it
Talking too much nonsense can lead to a lot of stress and anger
Or even a stroke, heart attack, heart disease
Continuing to talk nonsense can have serious long term health effects, such as cardiovascular disease
It ain't no startin? back once arteries start to squeeze
Once you've started talking nonsense, it's hard to go back to a place where you're not talking nonsense
Take the easy way out, phony, until then they know
It's easier to pretend to be someone you're not, and talk nonsense like everyone else, until someone calls you out on it
They wouldn't be talkin? that bologna in the bullpen
If they were really who they claim to be, they wouldn't be spouting nonsense from behind bars in prison
So disgustin, pardon self as I discuss this
It's pretty gross to have to talk about this kind of thing, so please excuse me as I vent a bit
They talk a wealth of shit and they ain't never seen the justice
They talk a lot of nonsense but have no real credibility or results to back it up
Bust this like a cold milk from out the toilet
Listen to me break it down like this - clear and simple
Two batteries some Brillo and some foil, he'll boil it
If he had to, he could make a makeshift stove out of basic supplies to cook his food
He be better off on PC glued
He would be better off mindlessly staring at a computer screen, stuck in a cycle of consumption and inactivity
And it's a feud so don't be in no TV mood
This is a serious rivalry and not something to be taken lightly, so don't expect it to be resolved on some daytime talk show
Every week it's mystery meat, seaweed stewed
Every week brings a new flavor of nonsense, and he's starting to get really sick of it
He wears a mask just to cover the raw flesh
He hides his true self and true feelings behind a persona or facade
A rather ugly brother with flows that's gorgeous
Despite his outward appearance, he possesses a great talent for rap music
Drop dead joints hit the whips like bird shit
His music hits hard and leaves an impact, much like bird poop on a car windshield
They need it like a hole in they head or a third tit
His music is addictive and they can't get enough of it, even though they don't really need it
Her bra smell, his card say, aw, hell
The situation is a mess and there's just no easy way out
Barred from all bars and kicked out the Carvel
He's been banned from everywhere and has been completely shut out of society
Keep a cooker where the jar fell
He's resourceful and knows how to adapt even when things go wrong
And keep a cheap hooker that's off the hook like Ma Bell
He has a low maintenance partner who is always there for him and doesn't cause any trouble
Top bleeding, maybe fellow took the loaded rod gears
He's got a lot of personal problems and is barely hanging on to his sanity
Stop feeding babies colored, sugar coated lard squares
Stop exposing people to unhealthy and poisonous ideas through media and entertainment
The odd pairs swears and God fears
People who are different or strange are often judged and ostracized by society
Even when it's rotten, we've gotten through the hard years
Even when times are tough and everything seems hopeless, we've still managed to survive somehow
I wrote this note around New Year's
I wrote this piece of music around the beginning of a new year, reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the future
Off a couple a shots and a few beers, but who cares
I was under the influence of alcohol when I wrote this, but it doesn't really matter
Enough about me, it's about the beats
Let's focus on the music itself, rather than the artist behind it
Not about the streets and who food he about to eat
This isn't a song about gangster culture or who has more power and influence
A rhymin? cannibal who's dressed to kill, it's cynical
Rap music can often be savage and dark, and the artist themselves can be just as dangerous
Whether is it animal, vegetable or mineral
It doesn't matter what the subject matter of the song is - it will still be intense and powerful
It's a miracle how he get so lyrical
It's amazing how talented some people are when it comes to writing and performing music
And proceed to move the crowd like a old negro spiritual
Despite the sometimes harsh subject matter of the music, it can still be inspirational and uplifting like traditional hymns and spirituals
For a mil' do a commercial for Mello Yello
He would never sell out for a big commercial paycheck like most celebrities do
Tell 'em devil's hell, no, sell y'all own Jello
Instead, he encourages others to create and market their own ideas, rather than sell out to corporations
We hollow krills, she swallow pills
We are empty and shallow, while she is struggling with addiction and depression
He follow flea collar, three dollar bills
He's chasing after trivial things and doesn't really have any direction in life
And squeal for halal veal, in y'all appeal
And they complain about trivial things, like whether their meat is kosher or halal, without realizing there are bigger issues at play
Dig the real, it's how the big ballers deal
Understand the true reality of life, and you'll know how to handle problems in a mature and effective way
Twirl a L after every meal
Smoke a cigar after every meal to reward yourself and relax
Word up to all rappers, shut up with ya shuttin? up
Stop arguing and talking, and let the music and art speak for itself
And keep your shirt on, at least a button up
And maintain some dignity and pride in your appearance and actions
Yuck, is they rhymers or strippin? males?
Are they even talented musicians or just desperate for attention and money?
Outta work jerks since they shut down Chippendales
They are failures and can't even make a living as strippers, which is pretty sad
They chippin? nails, doom, chippin? scales
They're wasting their time on pointless hobbies and interests, while he is focusing on his craft and sharpening his skills
Let alone the pre-orders that's counted off shippin? sales
Meanwhile, he's making big money moves and taking control of the music industry
This one goes out to all my peoples skippin? bail
Dedicated to those who are taking risks and breaking the rules, just to survive and get ahead in life
Dippin' jail, whippin' tail and sippin' ale
They're not afraid of the consequences of their actions, and will continue their wild and free lifestyle no matter what
Light the doobie ?til it glow like a ruby
Light up a joint until it's glowing hot and intense, like a precious ruby stone
After which they couldn't find the villain like Scooby
After getting high and causing trouble, it's harder to track them down and find the culprit, just like in a Scooby Doo mystery
He's in the lab on some old Buddha Monk shit
He's holed up in his recording studio, working tirelessly like an ancient monk seeking enlightenment
Overproof drunk shit and who'da thunk it
He's surprisingly talented and skilled despite getting really drunk and causing chaos
Punk, try and ask why ours be better
Challenge his music at your own risk, because he knows it's better than the rest
It could be the iron mask or the Cosby sweater
His unique style and image sets him apart from other rappers, whether it's his metal mask or bright sweaters
Yes, you, who's screwed by the dude on the CD nude
This is directed at anyone who's ever been duped by a fake or false artist, only to realize they've been tricked after the fact
Contributed by Blake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.