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]
R.O.C
Memphis Bleek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
DGL we back in the club again, ya know? Holla
J-Jeah j-jeah j-jeah bounce! easy!
Ya heard? we back - bitches
Don't be scared now, it's the Roc
We here, ya know? as if we left this bitch (R!)
Really though, ya know? (gimme the O!)
Marcy holla, uh oh (C!) Brooklyn
I pull up on deuce deuces, still roofless
No security I move with shooters
V Tweezy dual exhaust
Stashbox like a child seat, tucked in the baby Taurus (DGL!)
I'm on skinnies, two with me
Battle of Armi, '89 in it I'm blowing on Phillies
And yeah I'm high as fuck
And the Roc's the realest click nigga I'm a buy as fuck WHAT!
Say I'm bug cause I walk with a hung John
Nine two hund' fifty, don't disrespect me
I call my nigga seal the deal
Cause he just brought a G to seal the deal prick!
And I got that on stand by (stand by)
What you commercial niggas fly stand buy, won't stand by
And let a nigga do his dues
Fuck these hoes, get this bread, rep the crew, the
[Chorus: x2]
Are, realest niggas puttin it down
Oh, other niggas can't see us now
See, come through your hood snatch and reap up
But keep cannon on me to clear streets up
You talk jewels, my ears got 2K blazers
Roc jeans, Airs in all flavors
White tees and fitted's, backwoods and spinage
That's haze for you dudes who don't get it
I smoke silver and strawberry
Easy ball like Maurberry you know I'm not the ordinary
I keep one that keep one
Yeah my bitch bag bitches too, we the illest crew
Nothing change but the rims upgrade
It's quarters now ma, and I'm on it now
So hop in, I pull off like toupes
And the only thing I rock on my hip that's two ways
My bitch, my beeper, Bleek keep two heaters
Still peeling the city with two seaters
And you know how I does it while I'm doing it
Black couping it bitch, I keep two in it
[Chorus]
Look here, I live wild like Q cousin +Day-Day+
Anytime I want, I take they K
"Next Friday" till November
Stay two more weeks I'll be home in December
You know I move like that
The game all mad cause I'm back with my tool like that
I'm in that big body truck
That I whip through the sky like I don't give a fuck
Got trucks with drivers, cars low mileage
Just copped it, I drove it and parked it
Truthfully that's my Sunday wheel
And your wife, real nice, she my Sunday feel nigga!
I got one day for her still ok for her
But by sunrise, I throwed her one high
You know I'm up and out
Hit the brake clutch throw it in first, pull out easy gone
It's the
[Chorus]
In Memphis Bleek's song "R.O.C," he boastingly rhymes about his affiliation with Roc-a-Fella Records, a legendary hip-hop record label. Bleek starts his first verse by stating that he rolls in old school cars, specifically the deuce deuce, and that he moves with shooters instead of security. He goes on to detail his penchant for smoking high-quality weed while he rocks Roc-a-Wear clothing and Air Jordans. Bleek then transitions to rapping about his sexual conquests, bragging about his womanizing lifestyle while also warning people not to disrespect him. In the chorus, Bleek declares that he and his Roc-a-Fella crew are the realest in the game and he is willing to clear the streets with his gun.
Bleek spends the second verse discussing his criminal lifestyle and the pleasures that come with it. He boasts about stealing guns from others and later flashing his own gun as a show of power. Bleek also flexes his wealth, driving expensive cars and having drivers on standby. He has sex with women, including those in relationships, and reveals that he has a particular woman that he only meets one day a week but still manages to get his needs met. Throughout the song, Bleek makes it clear that he has a strong affinity towards the Roc-a-Fella crew and that he is willing to do whatever it takes to rep the clique.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo Just man, gimma a heat rock man
The performer is requesting to start the song with a fire verse.
DGL we back in the club again, ya know? Holla
The Roc-A-Fella group is back in the club and they are calling out to the fans in the house.
J-Jeah j-jeah j-jeah bounce! easy!
The performer is hyping up the crowd and encouraging them to dance and enjoy the party.
Ya heard? we back - bitches
The Roc-A-Fella group wants the fans to be aware that they are back and ready to party.
Don't be scared now, it's the Roc
The performer is warning the crowd not to be intimidated as the Roc-A-Fella group is here to have a good time.
We here, ya know? as if we left this bitch (R!)
The Roc-A-Fella group has returned to the party as if they never left, and they are reminding the fans with their signature shout 'R'.
Really though, ya know? (gimme the O!)
The performer wants the fans to join in and shout out the letters of the Roc-A-Fella group in unison, starting with the letter 'O'.
Marcy holla, uh oh (C!) Brooklyn
The performer is shouting out his hometown area 'Marcy' and his city 'Brooklyn'. He is calling out for the fans in these areas to shout back in agreement.
Let's do this shit right, yo
The Roc-A-Fella group wants the fans to join in and have a good time while partying.
I pull up on deuce deuces, still roofless
The performer drives a convertible car and parks it outside the club while arriving.
No security I move with shooters
The performer does not need to move around with security as he is protected by armed guards accompanying him.
Stashbox like a child seat, tucked in the baby Taurus (DGL!)
The performer has a hidden chamber in his car that resembles a child seat holder, and it is placed in a Ford Taurus car brand from DGL.
I'm on skinnies, two with me
The performer is wearing skinny clothes and is accompanied by two people who are with him.
Battle of Armi, '89 in it I'm blowing on Phillies
The performer is smoking the Phillies cigar brand and refers to the '89 Armistice accord, which brought a ceasefire to the long-standing Arab-Israeli conflict.
And yeah I'm high as fuck
The performer is very high and under the influence of drugs.
And the Roc's the realest click nigga I'm a buy as fuck WHAT!
The performer considers the Roc-A-Fella group as the most genuine group in the industry, and he is proud to be a part of it.
Say I'm bug cause I walk with a hung John
The performer is being criticised for carrying a gun with him wherever he goes.
Nine two hund' fifty, don't disrespect me
The performer has a $250,000 worth gun, and he requests people not to disrespect him because of it.
I call my nigga seal the deal
The performer has a close friend who can close business deals for him.
Cause he just brought a G to seal the deal prick!
The performer's friend has just brought in a $1,000 bill to close a deal for him.
And I got that on stand by (stand by)
The performer has access to cash if he needs it urgently and has it ready on standby mode.
What you commercial niggas fly stand buy, won't stand by
The performer is daring other commercial artists who pretend to be rich to produce their cash on a moment's notice.
And let a nigga do his dues
The performer wants people to support him while he reaches his goals and pays his dues to the industry.
Fuck these hoes, get this bread, rep the crew, the
The performer is focused on earning money and representing his group while ignoring any distractions caused by women present in the industry.
[Chorus: x2]
The chorus follows the main verse and repeats the performer's message about their clique.
Are, realest niggas puttin it down
The Roc-A-Fella group is the most authentic group of people currently taking over the industry.
Oh, other niggas can't see us now
No other artist's clique can match the Roc-A-Fella group's dominance in the industry.
See, come through your hood snatch and reap up
The Roc-A-Fella group is capable of taking down any other artist's crew in their hood.
But keep cannon on me to clear streets up
The performer has a weapon on him to defend himself and clear the streets of any opposition.
You talk jewels, my ears got 2K blazers
The performer is not interested in hearing about other people's jewelry, as he already owns expensive blazers worth $2,000.
Roc jeans, Airs in all flavors
The Roc-A-Fella group has branded jeans and sneakers in all types and designs to offer customers a diverse selection.
White tees and fitted's, backwoods and spinage
The Roc-A-Fella group prefers plain white tees and well-fitted clothes, and they smoke cigarillos of tobacco leaf more commonly known as 'backwoods'.
That's haze for you dudes who don't get it
The performer is smoking marijuana, also known as haze, and they are encouraging people who don't smoke to try it out.
I smoke silver and strawberry
The performer smokes silver and strawberry-flavored cigars.
Easy ball like Maurberry you know I'm not the ordinary
The performer is referencing the luxury brand Mulberry and claims that he is exceptional and not the average person in terms of style and wealth.
I keep one that keep one
The performer always keeps one person with him who also carries a weapon for protection.
Yeah my bitch bag bitches too, we the illest crew
The performer's female companion is also involved in the group's activities, and together they are the most dominant crew in the industry.
Nothing change but the rims upgrade
The Roc-A-Fella group still uses the same cars, but they enhance the quality by upgrading their rims.
It's quarters now ma, and I'm on it now
The performer upgrades the type of currency he carries, from dollar bills to quarters, and can pay their bills with ease.
So hop in, I pull off like toupes
The performer invites someone to join him in his car and speeds off from the scene quickly like a wig falling off quickly.
And the only thing I rock on my hip that's two ways
The performer only has a two-way radio on his hip, and his phone is not visible or in use.
My bitch, my beeper, Bleek keep two heaters
The performer's female companion, and his beeper are always with him, and he carries two guns with him for protection.
Still peeling the city with two seaters
The Roc-A-Fella group still uses two-seater cars to patrol the city and arrive in style.
And you know how I does it while I'm doing it
The performer always does things in his unique way, even when he is busy.
Black couping it bitch, I keep two in it
The performer drives a black coupe car and always carries two guns with him inside the car.
[Chorus]
The chorus concludes the song by repeating the Roc-A-Fella group's message about their dominance and authenticity in the industry.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAMIEN SMITH, MICHAEL WOODROW SR. JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind