Madlib was born in Oxnard, California to musician parents Otis Jackson, Sr. and Dora Sinesca Jackson. He sampled his first song at 11 years old, sourced from his father's collection. His younger brother is the producer and rapper Michael "Oh No" Jackson. His uncle is the jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis. He was raised in Oxnard, where he began his music career.
During an interview on Chrome Children, Madlib stated that his most significant musical influences include Miles Davis, Sun Ra, and David Axelrod. Some of his hip-hop influences are Large Professor, Marley Marl, Paul C, DJ Pooh, and Dr. Dre.
Bomb
Madlib Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drugs got me wakin' up in cold sweats
Sometimes I'm slightly off my rocker, but I'm on deck
Got 2 and a baby off my bitches student loan check
She hit my line to get that girl, I call it phone sex
Robbing like my problems ain't gon catch up to me later
Bitch I'm mobbing like OG Bobby Johnson, split your potato
At the table, cooking, shaving and touching base with them basers
The amazin' black American Gangster, sinister, corner her
Cuz seeing this nigga shine been annoying me like a muthafucka
This busta owe me, now he act like he don't know me
Forty fo' my closest homie, kill cockaroaches like Tony
Got Montana money
You bought 100, dipped in fluid, yo, I had to smoke it
Pupils dilated like silver dollars, now we kno-cking
Call it devilish how I do bitch
Fuck these niggas talking, I leave they thoughts on my shoestrings
What?
Rolling
Pockets all swollen
Set the record straight, that FNH is what I'm holding
A busta that we know got 15 'bows, bust it open
We came bandana'd up, divide it up, now what's the quotient?
A split with 4 niggas, since I'm a go getter
I think these suckers pussy, I'ma merk the whole litter
Told my girl to leave as soon as I hung up the phone with her
Man, I heard you rob the robbers, look Freddie a cold nigga
Got an ice maker for a heart, made nigga from the start
Life is like a movie, all I did was play my fuckin' part
Cheffing up the crack, the heroin, and the weed a la carte
I call it Fast Freddie's, I should own a fuckin' restaurant
Cuz back when I was 12 threw some bells on a scale and I got a pager
We broke them down and started selling nickels to the neighbors
Eventually the penitentiary gon' see me later
Kiss my momma, told her if I die, then it was part of nature
What?
28 days later we all getting fresh
Got the heart to die for something, flesh to flesh
The Lambo, got her outside, it's a stretch
My bitch half Mexican/Afghan, I'm blessed
From living tough times with rough lemons, a gorgeous watch
My team on a dreadful level, yo
Yeah, we still getting money right
Long as the sun come out, I'll hold these twenties tight
Getting fresh, just cooling, my bitch on my dick
Ba boom yo, you live with your moms, just get a grip
Clip in my pocket, a rocket
I think of the Dips, I need Juelz and Jims, with rough licks
Trips to Africa, shorty tear Saks up
I'm out in Bombay, rebels here actin' up
We real, all G, 7500 of us
Up in the Sprinter bus, fussin' "we need more heat"
The lyrics of "Bomb" by Madlib, Raekwon and Freddie Gibbs delve into the gritty realities of the life of a drug dealer. The song opens with a reference to the drug addict's experience of waking up in cold sweat, conveying the physical and emotional toll of drug use. The reference to being off one's rocker but still being on deck highlights how drug use can cause disorientation but does not impede the ability to sell drugs. The line about a baby and two women living on student loan money highlights the desperation and lack of opportunities that can drive people to turn to drug dealing.
The second verse starts with a reference to robbers, suggesting the dangerous nature of the drug dealing business. The line "Got an ice maker for a heart" reinforces the idea of the coldness and inhumanity of the drug trade, and the reference to being from the start suggests that this personality trait was a factor in his choice to become a drug dealer. The reference to "Fast Freddie's" as a potential name for a restaurant highlights the perception of drug dealing as a business and a potential alternate reality. The final verse evokes luxury and excess, with references to a Lamborghini and shopping trips to Saks, while still emphasizing the dangers and risks associated with the drug trade.
Line by Line Meaning
Slammin
Starting off strong
Drugs got me wakin' up in cold sweats
Drug addiction is causing intense physical and emotional discomfort
Sometimes I'm slightly off my rocker, but I'm on deck
Sometimes mentally unstable, but ready for whatever comes next
Got 2 and a baby off my bitches student loan check
Using money from a partner's student loans to support multiple dependents
She hit my line to get that girl, I call it phone sex
Receiving a phone call from a drug client
Robbing like my problems ain't gon catch up to me later
Partaking in risky behavior despite inevitable consequences
Bitch I'm mobbing like OG Bobby Johnson, split your potato
Showing dominance and readiness to harm others like a character in a movie
At the table, cooking, shaving and touching base with them basers
Preparing drugs for sale and maintaining communication with drug users
Bet they try to make a play for the yay' as soon as they taste it
Anticipating drug clients attempting to steal product after sampling it
The amazin' black American Gangster, sinister, corner her
Comparing the rapper's success and criminal behavior to a movie character
Cuz seeing this nigga shine been annoying me like a muthafucka
Feeling a desire to harm someone else due to jealousy
This busta owe me, now he act like he don't know me
Being betrayed by someone who owes money
Forty fo' my closest homie, kill cockaroaches like Tony
Asserting dominance over others and willingness to commit violence
Got Montana money
Having lots of money like a character from a movie
You bought 100, dipped in fluid, yo, I had to smoke it
Smoking a large quantity of drugs purchased from someone else
Pupils dilated like silver dollars, now we kno-cking
Experiencing the physical effects of drug use
Call it devilish how I do bitch
Referring to criminal behavior as satanic
Fuck these niggas talking, I leave they thoughts on my shoestrings
Disregarding negative opinions from others
Rolling
Continuation of the song
Pockets all swollen
Having a lot of money
Set the record straight, that FNH is what I'm holding
Clarifying possession of a firearm
A busta that we know got 15 'bows, bust it open
Knowing someone who has a large amount of drugs and planning to rob them
We came bandana'd up, divide it up, now what's the quotient?
Arriving to rob someone with faces covered and discussing how to split the stolen drugs
A split with 4 niggas, since I'm a go getter
Suggesting they will split the drugs four ways because the rapper is a hard worker
I think these suckers pussy, I'ma merk the whole litter
Viewing others as weak and planning to harm them all
Told my girl to leave as soon as I hung up the phone with her
Warning a significant other to leave before illegal activity begins
Man, I heard you rob the robbers, look Freddie a cold nigga
Being respected for successfully robbing other criminals
Got an ice maker for a heart, made nigga from the start
Describing oneself as cold and unfeeling
Life is like a movie, all I did was play my fuckin' part
Viewing life as a movie and accepting one's role
Cheffing up the crack, the heroin, and the weed a la carte
Cooking and selling a variety of drugs
I call it Fast Freddie's, I should own a fuckin' restaurant
Jokingly suggesting opening a drug-selling establishment
Cuz back when I was 12 threw some bells on a scale and I got a pager
Beginning involvement in drug dealing at a young age
We broke them down and started selling nickels to the neighbors
Breaking down drugs into smaller quantities to sell to others
Eventually the penitentiary gon' see me later
Anticipating future imprisonment due to criminal activity
Kiss my momma, told her if I die, then it was part of nature
Accepting the risks and consequences of one's actions
28 days later we all getting fresh
Continuation of the song
Got the heart to die for something, flesh to flesh
Being willing to die for something important
The Lambo, got her outside, it's a stretch
Having a luxurious car parked outside
My bitch half Mexican/Afghan, I'm blessed
Feeling fortunate to have a partner with a unique ethnic background
From living tough times with rough lemons, a gorgeous watch
Overcoming adversity and now owning expensive possessions
My team on a dreadful level, yo
Having a highly skilled and intimidating group
Yeah, we still getting money right
Continuing to make money through criminal activity
Long as the sun come out, I'll hold these twenties tight
Holding onto drug money for as long as possible
Getting fresh, just cooling, my bitch on my dick
Relaxing and enjoying life with one's partner
Ba boom yo, you live with your moms, just get a grip
Insulting someone for living with their mother
Clip in my pocket, a rocket
Possessing a gun and being ready for any situation
I think of the Dips, I need Juelz and Jims, with rough licks
Thinking of other rappers and wanting to collaborate
Trips to Africa, shorty tear Saks up
Traveling and shopping extravagantly
I'm out in Bombay, rebels here actin' up
Being in Bombay and encountering tough and rebellious people
We real, all G, 7500 of us
Describing oneself as genuine and having a large group of people
Up in the Sprinter bus, fussin' "we need more heat"
Traveling in a van and discussing needing more drugs to sell
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Corey Woods, Fredrick Jamel Tipton, Otis Lee Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eric Myers
The first 16 seconds is a vivid description of what traveling through a time machine would sound like
sdghv lvhgngv
no one can kill these instrumentals like gibbs did
Carsten
no like literally anything. danny brown can rap over ANYTHING
Needle_Man
@Nikhil Bhagat keep in mind they were arguing about Kendrick before he was a living legend.
Nikhil Bhagat
@Brandon Burnie Kendrick definitely can murder any beat. And that's a fact
ZeRoUnload
Danny brown can rap over anything
Kyle Twitty
sdghv lvhgngv absolutely. Madlib a different breed. Like I can’t imagine anybody else rapping over these shits than the guys he got.
I N
Might be my favourite beat off Pinata. Not like I could really choose one anyway
Sahil Jyoti
robes and deeper
Stiopic
Personally its this, Shame, High and Robes as my faves