Otis Jackson Jr. (born October 24, 1973), known professionally as Madlib, i… Read Full Bio ↴Otis Jackson Jr. (born October 24, 1973), known professionally as Madlib, is an American DJ, music producer, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper. One of the most prolific and critically acclaimed hip-hop producers of the 2000s, he is widely known for his collaborations with MF DOOM (as Madvillain), J Dilla (as Jaylib), and Freddie Gibbs (as MadGibbs). Madlib has described himself as a "DJ first, producer second, and MC last."

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.

Knicks
Madlib Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pippen on the assist
I'm watching Jordan drop a double nickel on the Knicks
That was '95, couple of us ain't live til '96
Gangbanging, cane slanging had us caught up in a twist
We was middle school fools, life was rushing past me
Fresh up out a school bus fighting up at Pulaski
Uncle hit me off with a zip, now I get some cash, G
"When will you get some money for Nikes?" my mama asked me

I got it selling nickle bags
Stress, weed, million seeds, where the liquor at?
Mad Dog 20/20, kept a nigga loose
Murder was the case except a niggas taste the gin and juice
Cause then we gon' be riding on some bullshit
Shoot up a nigga crib, that's some hood shit
And I can give a fuck who in the house sleep
Waking up the neighbors, shoot my trey eight at the police, bitch

I got it selling nickel bags, bitch

Chilling with a bitch
Watching LeBron put a 56 on the Knicks
In 2005, police killed my nigga in 2006
Only thing he losing is his pension, ain't that 'bout a bitch
If I see that ho I got a slug for him
I wanna kill him slow like I ain't got no love for him
I wanna torture and burn him, drag him to hell with me
This for my nigga just lurking, working the scale with me
In these last days, on my last page
Fuck a job, I'm whipping this butter cause crime pays
In these last days, on my last page
Fuck a job, I'm serving these clunkers cause crime pays
I'm a lunatic by nature
Yeah, can't knock the family for this paper
Yeah, and if you make it through the day, bro
Yeah, pray to God I ain't stank ya, bitch

I got it selling nickel bags, bitch

Overall Meaning

In Madlib's song "Knicks," the lyrics paint a vivid picture of life growing up in a rough neighborhood. The reference to Pippen on the assist and Jordan dropping a double nickel on the Knicks alludes to the Chicago Bulls' victory over the Knicks in 1995, a time when the rapper was still in middle school. The lyrics go on to describe the harsh realities of life in his neighborhood, including gangbanging and drug slinging that had many of the younger generation caught up in a twist. The rapper tells the story of how he began selling nickel bags to make money to buy Nikes, even though his mother disapproved. He references Mad Dog 20/20 and how it kept him loose, but also how it led to trouble, saying that he and his friends would ride on some "hood shit" and shoot up a rival's home. The lyrics also reference the police killing of his friend and how little justice was served.

Line by Line Meaning

Pippen on the assist
Referring to former NBA player Scottie Pippen assisting Michael Jordan in scoring a lot of points against the Knicks.

I'm watching Jordan drop a double nickel on the Knicks
Watching Michael Jordan score 55 points against the Knicks in a game in 1995.

That was '95, couple of us ain't live til '96
Some individuals didn't make it to the next year (1996).

Gangbanging, cane slanging had us caught up in a twist
Being involved in gang activity and selling drugs caused us to become twisted or confused.

We was middle school fools, life was rushing past me
We were foolish middle schoolers who struggled to keep up with the fast pace of life around us.

Fresh up out a school bus fighting up at Pulaski
Getting into fights on Pulaski street after getting off the school bus.

Uncle hit me off with a zip, now I get some cash, G
My uncle gave me a bag of drugs to sell for money.

"When will you get some money for Nikes?" my mama asked me
My mother asked when I would be able to afford Nike shoes.

I got it selling nickle bags
I earned money by selling small bags of drugs.

Stress, weed, million seeds, where the liquor at?
Feeling stressed and wanting to find alcohol while also dealing with and possibly selling a large quantity of marijuana seeds.

Mad Dog 20/20, kept a nigga loose
Drinking Mad Dog 20/20 helped loosen me up and elevate my mood.

Murder was the case except a niggas taste the gin and juice
In the event of murder, a person's taste in music (gin and juice) becomes insignificant.

Cause then we gon' be riding on some bullshit
Because of our mindset, we are willing to engage in reckless behavior.

Shoot up a nigga crib, that's some hood shit
Committing the violent act of shooting someone's home is seen as typical activity in a neighborhood with high crime rates.

And I can give a fuck who in the house sleep
I don't care if anyone is in the house sleeping while I shoot it up.

Waking up the neighbors, shoot my trey eight at the police, bitch
I am willing to wake up the neighborhood and aim my .38 gun at the police.

Watching LeBron put a 56 on the Knicks
Watching LeBron James score 56 points against the Knicks in a game in 2005.

In 2005, police killed my nigga in 2006
A friend of mine was killed by the police in 2005, but the officer who killed him wasn't fired until 2006, causing him to lose his pension.

Only thing he losing is his pension, ain't that 'bout a bitch
The only thing the officer who killed my friend loses is his pension, which is unfair.

If I see that ho I got a slug for him
If I see the officer who killed my friend, I will shoot him.

I wanna kill him slow like I ain't got no love for him
I want to maliciously kill the officer without any remorse or love for him.

I wanna torture and burn him, drag him to hell with me
I want to torture and burn the officer and drag him to hell with me.

This for my nigga just lurking, working the scale with me
This is for my friend who used to work with me selling drugs and is now deceased.

In these last days, on my last page
We are living in the end times and I am living my final moments.

Fuck a job, I'm whipping this butter cause crime pays
I'd rather sell drugs than have a job because it pays better.

Fuck a job, I'm serving these clunkers cause crime pays
I refuse to work a traditional job and prefer to sell drugs because it is more lucrative.

I'm a lunatic by nature
I have a natural tendency to exhibit lunacy or irrational behavior.

Yeah, can't knock the family for this paper
I can't blame my family for trying to make money.

Yeah, and if you make it through the day, bro
If you survive another day, my friend.

Yeah, pray to God I ain't stank ya, bitch
I hope I don't end up hurting you, but you never know.