But it all began rather humbly in his hometown of Victoria, BC, where Moka Only discovered hip hop culture at an early age, starting out as a graffiti artist before switching to rhyming at house parties and freestyling anywhere and everywhere alongside partner K-Prevail (recording together as Splitsphere). In 1994, Moka made the move to San Diego in order to further his rap career, creating a number of connections that he would later use to his advantage. Upon moving back to Canada in 1995 and taking up residence in Vancouver, Moka met Mad Child, and along with K-Prevail, now just Prevail, the three emcees founded Swollen Members one night at a Denny's, with Moka coining their multiple meaning name. However, a group dynamic was not for Moka and he soon moved on to a solo career.
In 1995, Moka Only started flooding the local scene with a myriad of music, quickly earning himself the nickname of “The Most Prolific” by self-releasing cassettes on an almost seasonal basis, which led to a few vinyl releases and finally album deals with a variety of labels. All the while, Moka was building a name for himself as a strong and skillful emcee with down-to-earth subject matter ranging from hip hop to fashion, from food to travel, and from love to sex. Although best known for his rapping, Moka was also building his resume as a a quirky producer with a knack for mixing live and sampled instruments. While the majority of Moka's musical output has been self-produced, his beats are also sought after by a wide range of underground artists, including Buck 65, who used one of his beats for his new album, Dirtbike 1/3.
With his solo career as both rapper and producer on the rise, Moka Only participated in a few collaborations with Swollen Members resulting in Moka rejoining the group for Monsters in the Closet, their 2002 collection of b-sides and rarities featuring three new songs. He remained on board for Heavy in 2003 but left again prior to the recording of Black Magic. Once again Moka had found himself confined as part of a group.
His time with Swollen Members, which also saw him signed to the Battle Axe label, resulted in three consecutive Junos, but it also meant a decrease in the amount of solo music from Moka. “The Most Prolific” returned in 2005 beginning with the release of The Desired Effect, his Nettwerk debut that realized a much greater pop potential for Moka. Unhappy with the label interference, Moka released a Japan-only alternate version under the title Dirty Jazz that was more to his liking, marking Moka's return to releasing the nearly seasonal albums of gritty, underground jams he has always been known for through labels like Camobear, Legendary Entertainment and Urbnet, as well as an occasional one-off project for various other indie labels.
What to Do
Moka Only Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The song's as easy as one, two, three
Fa la lou, fa la lee
You know that Moka Only is your favorite MC
You know that Moka Only is your favorite producer
And ladies all agree 'cause I'm the one they're getting loose ta
All I do is do stuff
Never ran out 'cause I got a surplus
Enough bitches I should open up a circus
Well, "Hey baby I'm just kidding"
But you know that when it comes to sex I should get a ribbon
'Cause I'll fuck you great and I'll fluctuate
Between consciousness and arrogant
The best combination it's a rap experiment
I'm taking over America from Maryland back to the west
Moving it and proving it, a nigga's rapping the best
And make the ladies wanna right, right, left
When I speak it begins with a treble clef
When I'm doing it I'm rapping at you
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
I know that she your favorite girl but I'm tapping that too
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
I make a beat then I eat then I sleep till two
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
Yes
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
Yes
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
Yes
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
Yes
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
I woke up, got out of bed
Didn't drag the comb across my head
'Cause I'm dread but I don't need the weed I'm R rated for life
It's a good day I could say that everything nice
I got a dram on the way
My mail got a check
And that's about the size of it see I don't need your respect
I got enough of that already from the reels I got my back
I'm 20 something, I'm a Scorp' on the zodiac
In a time warp, stuck in '92 and in fact
I got [?] Homie, we chewing the fat
I give a hot blooded shorty, some love from the back
And if you call him with the games, I dismiss you as wack
So keep it simple as loop de da, you know where it's at
I'm the Durable Mammal with the passion to mack
'Til
I'm tapping that ass
I'm chill, I'm super I'll, plus I'm laughing in rap
What y'all think that y'all can do?
I can do that shit times two
It's so easy, watch me do
Watch me do that shit that you wish you could do
When I'm doing it I'm rapping at you
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
I know that she your favorite girl but I'm tapping that too
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
I make a beat then I eat then I sleep till two
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
Yes
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
Yes
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
Yes
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
Yes
"This is what I do yes, this is what I do yes"
And right about now, even though I don't know you homie
I give a shout out to the brother Questlove
Yo
The song "What I Do" by Moka Only is a laid-back and confident track that details the artist's skills and swagger as an MC and producer. The first verse expresses Moka's self-assurance that he is a favorite among listeners, especially the ladies who cannot resist his charm. He boasts about his style, which is unique and different from what people are used to hearing, and how he always has enough material to share with his audience. The chorus reaffirms that this is what he does, and he does it with ease and finesse.
In the second verse, Moka reveals how he starts his day, emphasizing that he doesn't conform to societal norms or expectations. He's quite content with his life and doesn't need anyone's validation or approval. He mentions his love for hip hop as he is still stuck in the era when it started and continues to enjoy chewing the fat with his homies. He finishes by declaring that he's unstoppable as he can perform twice as better as anyone who dares to challenge him.
Overall, the song highlights Moka Only's strengths as an artist, his carefree attitude, and his confidence in his abilities, which have earned him the respect of his peers and listeners alike.
Line by Line Meaning
La la lou, la la lee
The song is simple and easy to follow
Fa la lou, fa la lee
Moka Only is well-known and loved by his fans as both an MC and producer
You know that Moka Only is your favorite MC
Acknowledging his fans’ support and admiration
You know that Moka Only is your favorite producer
Acknowledging his fans’ support and admiration
And ladies all agree 'cause I'm the one they're getting loose ta
Moka Only is popular with women because of his talent and charisma
All I do is do stuff
Moka Only is always working and creating, constantly pushing himself to be better
I stand out 'cause I ain't what ya used ta
Moka Only’s unique style sets him apart from other artists
Never ran out 'cause I got a surplus
Moka Only has a large amount of music available and is prolific in his output
Enough bitches I should open up a circus
Although not serious, Moka Only playfully boasts about his romantic success
Well, 'Hey baby I'm just kidding'
Moka Only clarifies that he is not serious about opening up a circus
But you know that when it comes to sex I should get a ribbon
Moka Only is confident in his sexual abilities
'Cause I'll fuck you great and I'll fluctuate
Moka Only is confident in his sexual abilities and can switch between being conscious and arrogant in his music
Between consciousness and arrogant
Moka Only switches between being fully aware of his talents and being confident in them
The best combination it's a rap experiment
Moka Only blends his consciousness and arrogance to make the best music
I'm taking over America from Maryland back to the west
Moka Only is confident in his musical abilities and is ready to take over the rap scene in America
Moving it and proving it, a nigga's rapping the best
Moka Only is proving himself to be the best rapper
And make the ladies wanna right, right, left
Moka Only's music makes women want to dance
When I speak it begins with a treble clef
Moka Only's music starts with the treble clef, the symbol of the high-pitched sounds in music
I woke up, got out of bed
Moka Only starts his day with a positive attitude
Didn't drag the comb across my head
Moka Only lets his dreadlocks be free and doesn't need to comb them
'Cause I'm dread but I don't need the weed I'm R rated for life
Although Moka Only has dreadlocks, he doesn't smoke weed and his music has a mature R rating
It's a good day I could say that everything nice
Moka Only is having a good day
I got a dram on the way
Moka Only has a drink on the way
My mail got a check
Moka Only has received a check in the mail
And that's about the size of it, see I don't need your respect
Moka Only is content with his life and doesn't need anyone's approval
I got enough of that already from the reels I got my back
Moka Only has enough respect and support from his fans
I'm 20 something, I'm a Scorp' on the zodiac
Moka Only is in his 20s and a Scorpio
In a time warp, stuck in '92 and in fact
Moka Only has a style reminiscent of the 90s
I got [?] homie, we chewing the fat
Moka Only is hanging out and talking with his friends
I give a hot blooded shorty, some love from the back
Moka Only is sexually active and enjoys having sex from behind
And if you call him with the games, I dismiss you as wack
Moka Only doesn't tolerate people trying to disrespect him
So keep it simple as loop de da, you know where it's at
Don't try to be too complicated, Moka Only likes simple things
I'm the Durable Mammal with the passion to mack
Moka Only is a tough individual with a strong desire to be successful with women
'Til I'm tapping that ass
He is confident that he will eventually have sex with the women he desires
I'm chill, I'm super I'll, plus I'm laughing in rap
Moka Only is cool, confident, and has a sense of humor in his music
What y'all think that y'all can do?
Moka Only challenges other artists to try and outdo him
I can do that shit times two
Moka Only knows he is talented and can do anything he sets his mind to
It's so easy, watch me do
Moka Only makes it look effortless and easy
Watch me do that shit that you wish you could do
Moka Only is confident in his abilities and knows others admire them
And right about now, even though I don't know you homie
Moka Only is speaking to his listeners
I give a shout out to the brother Questlove
Moka Only is giving recognition and respect to Questlove, a fellow musician and producer
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Daniel James Denton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind