Early years
Memphis "One Hit Away" Bleek's first mainstream rap vocals appeared on the Clark Kent produced song "Coming of Age", featured on Jay-Z's classic debut LP Reasonable Doubt. Shortly after, Bleek became the first artist signed to Roc-A-Fella Records.
"Coming of Age", ironiclly, was also the title of Memphis' debut LP, which didn't create massive records sales and chart-topping singles as his labelmate and peers' albums had. The same was the case of his second LP, "The Understanding", and third, "M.A.D.E", though the latter spawned his largest amount of sales yet (900,000).
Get Low label and rivalries
In the time between the releases of his second and third albums, Memphis Bleek started his own label, Get Low, which in turn led to the signing of former Junior MAFIA member Lil' Cease. The name of the label has sparked a hip-hop rivalry, or beef, between Memphis Bleek, JT tha Bigga Figga & The Game, the former of which built an independent record label with the same title.
Memphis Bleek was also caught in the middle of the epic Jay-Z and Nas battle, in which Bleek gained a few enemies, most notably Nas and Mobb Deep. Despite boosting Jay-Z and Nas's careers, the beef did little to help Bleek gain any more popularity than he had already attained.
Later years
Remaining one hit away, on May 17, 2005, Bleek released his fourth album titled "534" , in reference to the building he & mentor Jay-Z grew up in, located in the Marcy housing projects of Brooklyn. However, like many of Bleeks previous releases the album suffered in sales, despite decent exposure of the Swizz Beatz produced single 'Like That'.
In fall 2005, Memphis Bleek told MTV that he was recording an album called "The Process", that he would describe as a make or break album, saying "I want to do an album that's through the roof, I want to do a classic album. I feel that if this album I'm not recording is a classic, I'm not even gonna put it out. I have to do it bigger than anybody has ever done it. I have to make a good record this time, not just talking-junk records."The rapper has worked on the album since 2005 and during that time frame he would release the songs "Hustla", "Get Ya Money Off" and "Let It Off". During this time, he would also leave Roc-A-Fella after Jay-Z told him he could run his own company and had the proper distribution deals to do so. He found a new home in 2009 when he signed to Mass Appeal Entertainment which is where he will release his long anticipated album The Process is yet.
Albums
1999: The Coming of Age [Certified: Gold]
2001: The Understanding [Certified: Gold]
2003: M.A.D.E. [Certified: Gold]
2005: 534 [Certified: Gold]
Pain In Da A*s Intro )
Memphis Bleek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I Mean For Me It Was Bigger Than Being President Of The United
States
To Me It Meant Being Somebody In A Neighborhood That Was Full Of
Nobodys
They Weren't Like Anyboddy Else I Mean They Did What Ever They
Wanted
They Could Double Park In Front Of A Hydrant Nobody Ever
All Night Nobody Ever Botherd Calling The Cops I Mean To Us
Living The Way Was Nuts To Us Those Goodie-Good People Who Work
Shitie Jobs For Bumb Paychecks Worring About Their Bills Taking
A Subway To Work Everyday Were Dead I Mean They Were Suckers
They Had No Balls If We Wanted Something We Just Took It If
Anybody Complained Twice They Would Get Hit So Bad They Would
Never Complain Again It Was Just Our Routine We Never Even
Throught Twice About It Okay Are We Loaded
The intro to Memphis Bleek's song "Pain in Da A*s" delivers a powerful message about his aspirations and the significance of Roc-a-Fella to him. He mentions that ever since he was a little kid, he wanted to be a part of the Roc-a-Fella record label, which for him, was bigger than being the President of the United States. The record label represented somebody in a neighborhood full of nobodies, people who were not like anybody else, and did whatever they wanted to without being bothered by anyone. Bleek goes on to describe how their lifestyle was nuts and how goodie-good people with crappy jobs, worrying about their bills and taking a subway to work every day, were considered suckers. Those who complained would get hit so badly that they would never complain again, and it was just a routine that they never thought twice about. At the end, he asks if they are loaded, casting a glimpse into his life and that of the Roc-a-Fella artists.
The lyrics reveal how empowered Bleek felt as a part of Roc-a-Fella, and how the label represented a symbol of freedom from the constraints of society. The Roc-a-Fella label represented a chance for nobodies to be somebody in a society that usually suppresses such people. It symbolized power, self-expression, and getting whatever they wanted without consequences. Through his words, Bleak paints a picture of a life that was full of danger and excitement and how they could live as though they were on top of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever Since I Was A Little Kid I Wanted To Be Part Of Roc-a-Fella
Since I was young, I dreamed of joining Roc-a-Fella, and this was more important to me than becoming the President of the United States.
I Mean For Me It Was Bigger Than Being President Of The United States
Joining Roc-a-Fella was more significant to me than the highest position in the United States government.
To Me It Meant Being Somebody In A Neighborhood That Was Full Of Nobodys
Being part of Roc-a-Fella meant being somebody in a community where most people were seen as insignificant and had little influence.
They Weren't Like Anyboddy Else I Mean They Did What Ever They Wanted
Roc-a-Fella members were unique in that they did whatever they wanted without worrying about the consequences or what others thought.
They Could Double Park In Front Of A Hydrant Nobody Ever Bothered Giving Them A Ticket
Members of Roc-a-Fella had a sense of entitlement and could park their cars illegally without facing consequences like a ticket from the authorities.
In The Summer When They Shot Dice All Night Nobody Ever Botherd Calling The Cops
Roc-a-Fella members could engage in illegal gambling activities in public without worrying about getting caught or the police being called on them.
I Mean To Us Living The Way Was Nuts To Us
The way Roc-a-Fella members lived might seem insane or unusual to others, but to us, it was the norm.
Those Goodie-Good People Who Work Shitie Jobs For Bumb Paychecks Worring About Their Bills Taking A Subway To Work Everyday Were Dead I Mean They Were Suckers
We saw those who worked typical jobs, barely making ends meet, and commuting on public transportation as suckers who lacked the courage to take what they wanted by force.
They Had No Balls If We Wanted Something We Just Took It If Anybody Complained Twice They Would Get Hit So Bad They Would Never Complain Again It Was Just Our Routine We Never Even Throught Twice About It
We took what we wanted without regard for anyone else, and we enforced our will through violence, making sure those who spoke out against us never did so again. It was just a part of our daily routine and never questioned.
Okay Are We Loaded
Are we prepared (with weapons or ammunition)?
Contributed by Alex S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.