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.
The Plan
Madlib Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We gon' show 'em where the ghettos are
We gon' tell the about the schools
(?) shit and all this kind of thing
I think the time has perhaps come when
Reparations will begin to take a back seat
When action
In Madlib's song "The Plan," the lyrics convey a strong message about social injustices and the need to address them. The lines "We gon' tell them exactly, we gon' show 'em where the ghettos are, we gon' tell them about the schools, (?) shit and all this kind of thing" highlight the intention to expose the reality of disadvantaged communities and the struggles they face. The lyrics suggest a desire to bring attention to issues such as poverty, inadequate education, and systemic inequalities.
The following lines, "I think the time has perhaps come when reparations will begin to take a back seat when action. And I was so stirred by that possibility and excited..." reflect the artist's realization that talk of reparations alone may not be enough to enact real change. The lyrics emphasize the need for action to back up the words, indicating a growing frustration with empty promises and a yearning for tangible solutions to address the longstanding societal problems.
Overall, "The Plan" suggests a call to action, urging listeners to confront the issues plaguing marginalized communities and move beyond mere discussions and promises to bring about meaningful change.
Line by Line Meaning
We gon' tell them exactly
We will explicitly communicate and inform them
We gon' show 'em where the ghettos are
We will physically demonstrate the locations of impoverished neighborhoods
We gon' tell the about the schools
We will educate them about the educational institutions
(?) shit and all this kind of thing
Various important issues, circumstances, and related matters
I think the time has perhaps come when
I believe it's possible that the moment has arrived
Reparations will begin to take a back seat
The focus on compensatory payments may diminish in priority
When action
When proactive steps are taken
And I was so stirred by that possibility and excited...
And I was profoundly moved and filled with enthusiasm by that potential outcome
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Anuroop Pillai, Gloria Nussbaum, Jules Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind