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
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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
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
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.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Otis Jackson, Fredrick Tipton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Citizen’s Guard
"Keys" wasn't on Kites, but my white was still Electric /
Tha "Plug" was an "outlet" to catch a "charge" - expect it/
cost of business, feds investigate your investments/
Ever since I met tha metrics, my system has been eclectic/
LBs to Kilos, fiends hold more needles than diabetics /
Can't even try and edit, it's fact... My Ride-Or-Dies respect it/
Injected into the rap game, my dialect will infect it/
Genuine, authentic, never synthetic, don't u forget it/
They glamorize drugs and dealin, and its pathetic/
I talk about it, since I rerouted, my objective is to reflect it/
Not to make it seem like a dream, that's just irreverent/
But to give em wisdom and hope that they may collect it/
You get money, but everyday you always gotta protect it/
You look at your community, and see how you effect it/
Parents neglect they kids, babies born needin medics/
All off what you sell, now tell me you dont connect it/
I was in kitchen, wippin, but it didn't feel like Scarface/
It was hard work, down and dirty, with birdies of hard base/
You think it'll get you rich, since you sick of bein broke/
You'll get riches and tha bitches, flippin keys of coke/
But what isnt shown in tha movie scenes they wrote/
Is how 99 percent of dealers is barely keepin afloat/
And all it takes is one mistake, to sink ya whole ship/
Cuz maw fuckas aint scared to sweep tha whole strip/
If tha cops don't get you, then tha judge might/
If robbers or fiends don't split u, your own plug might/
That's why, even when u sleep, u gotta hug tha snub tight/
Or get rolled up in a rug, over a fuckin drug fight/
It's rules and a code, and you always gotta stick to that/
It aint just blow you sold, ya soul is in that brick of crack/
Citizen’s Guard
Bet lol all me son
This shit here is All me, call me, a General, in general/
Lanes of the lames what I'm skippin through, n' this is true/
Tha system is fucked, it'll leave you in the worst state/
Demographics twisted backwards, based on race and birth place/
You can buy freedom, if you can afford a lawyer thats first rate/
If not? You given one by the system that made you need one in tha first place!/
Now tell me.. does that sound like a hustle? Or does that sound like a hustle?/
Does that sound like they fuck you? Or does that sound like they fuck you?/
I know an O.G. who got his third strike off of stealing some a candy bar/
They give us 25 to life, all cause who the ancestors of our families are/
Got a kite from my brother Boo, in county on two different counts/
Felonies with priors... It's guaranteed they'll send him to the prison house/
I give y'all tha life that led, I was lucky enough to make it out/
Other rappers tellin a life they'd never lead, on a fakin route/
They tellin our stories, not theirs, like unauthorized biography/
I don't know they claim to be with, but bet they not with me/
Imad Alam
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, 'caine slanging had us caught up in a twist
We was middle school fools, life was rushing past me
Fresh up out Tolleston bus, fighting up at Pulaski
Uncle hit me off with a zip, now I get some cash, G
"Well where you get some money for Nikes?" my mama asked me
Uhh, I got it selling nickel bags
Stress, weed, million seeds, where the liquor at?
Mad Dog 20/20 kept a nigga loose
Murder was the case except a nigga 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
[Chorus]
Uhh, yeah, I got it selling nickel bags, bitch
Uhh, yeah, I got it selling nickel bags
Uhh, bitch, I got it selling nickel bags, bitch
Yeah, I got it selling nickel bags
[Verse 2]
Uhh, chilling with a bitch
Watching LeBron put up 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 that 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 cluckers cause crime pays
I'm a lunatic by nature
Yeah, kidnap a family for his paper
Yeah, and if you make it through the day, bro
Yeah, I pray to God I ain't stank ya, bitch
[Chorus]
Got it selling nickel bags, bitch
Uhh, I got it selling nickel bags, bitch
Yeah, I got it selling nickel bags, bitch
Real killer, drug dealer
I got it selling nickel bags, bitch
Real killer, drug dealer
I got it selling nickel bags, bitch
Rony Arriaga
And this is why Madlib is a genius. He can chop up a sample, rearrange it, and make it sound amazing without adding much to it. Kudos, sir!
Jadon Lowe
Facts! I make beats and I incorporate that style a lot into my production💯
Carsten
hip hop baby
Tabitha Quiroz
I love that original sound. Raw record noise and all.
Gifford Palmer
he's flawless..😈
Fantastic3
There was a reason why Dilla went crazy over Madlib. Madlib's music spoke to him and only him. Madlib was doing stuff with his music that only Dilla understood and felt he was musically reaching out to him. Madlib rapped over a Dilla beat CD and after that one confronting call by Dilla the rest was history .JAYLIB 4 Ever!! R.I.P J Dilla
Sheldon Pegram
@BALMAIN RICHARD slim... Cool out. U lookin way too deep. I said what I wanted to say & meant to say. It ain't no interruptive reading exercise or some shit. Again... me personally... Which has nothing at all to do with u. I don't hold Dilla over Premo. That's it. That's all. See inn these underground rap convos everybody say the same shit... I be baffled. Like it's almost mainstream at this point. "Doom the best MC Dilla the best producer." Nah stop that shit. It ain't law. Now stop @ me foo & go play some music! 😉
BALMAIN RICHARD
@Sheldon Pegram but chu said that Dilla beats were basic. Cuz u argued wit the other nigga that DJ Premier's beats can't be called basic when he praises Dilla more, meaning that u think Dilla's beats are basic and Preem's beats go out the norm, which ain't true lol. Plus man, I don't disagree, if u pick Premier over Dilla, I'll legit respect and somewhat agree all the way. But keep in mind that majority of people today think otherwise lol. Plus man, if Premier's No1, then don't undermine Dilla, he top 5 in the books fr.
Sheldon Pegram
@BALMAIN RICHARD Idk what u tryna say slim. The guy I was rappin wit in the thread said DJ Premier was basic. & Dilla was god. I didn't agree & still don't. Premo over Dilla for me. Again it's not something have to second guess.
BALMAIN RICHARD
@Sheldon Pegram what kinda arguement is that lmao? No offense, cuz u actually a dope hip hop head, but Dilla's production are anything but simple dude. Did u hear J Dilla's Vintage Mixtape and thought all of his beats sounded like that simple? If so HELL NAH. Listen to Donuts, then listen to The Shining, also listen to his beats on Labcabincalifornia and Fantastic VOL.2, You'll be surprised at how those beats sound and were arranged at first listen.