Madness in a Cup
Mr. Lif Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Begin initiation, it's been too many years awaitin
While other niggas fell off I been contemplatin
What's the best to blow up the scene
Murder all the wack and get away clean
Plan one, all the wack got done
State by state, one by one
And peace to my niggas in the ton
Divide and conquer, because it's evident I'm stronger
than the average man generated by the ganja
Some mc's got 40 ounce hearts and blunt brains
and they frames are supported by a spine of cocaine
But I'm rollin dimes wit ya minds
Sippin ya heart and on time ya spine is
in lines exported to Peru
and I'm about to flip on somethin illa
tippa Heinekin or Miller the blank page filler
Until ya bring the ruck this is just madness in a cup
chorus
(Jeru sample)
superscientifical madness (x2)
(Mr. Lif)
Whether in the studio on the road or on tour
my mic remains raw
verbal, metamorphosis of metaphor
In the cocoon to incubate ascend to higher rates
Never no time to wait TC can kill the rhymes annihilate
My suffixes cause eclipses
Mad elixirs for dime smokin blunt fixers
My flow snatches the earth off its axis
and leave civilazation on galactic paralysis
My analysis is that of an exodus
Synthesis like photo, "Africa" like toto
Ya unto my dojo, the setting is Pluto
Then back to earth to kill niggas wit my judo
Sixteen century foolbro, on horsebacks through your thorax
Relax drink up, this is just madness in a cup
chorus (x2)
(Mr. Lif)
Line by line I combine phrases to braze kids
The rules of my raps form labryinths and mazes
Melting glaciers cuz my rhymes warm globally
broken ozones casualties and microphones
Whites bury tones in my headphones
Whirlwind MC and my flows are now cyclones
Go on blow the earth up in the stars and
I tiptoe the constallations just like Starman
But even as particles I built rhymes by molecules
Black holes all fallin to rebuild ya cells and folicles
My brain cells are jail cells where my thoughts dwell
amongst the smoke of a thousand L's
I'm still increasin peace signs to wrap my piece in
And I'll be keepin tissues for those that's weapin
You win it all to lose it all, riches to the winners
to the losers shells fall all in all
I'm breakin hearts and hidin traces, unitin the races
and gaining mad speed from cop chases
This place is blowin up, this is just madness in a cup
chorus (x2)
The lyrics of Mr. Lif's song Madness in a Cup express the artist's ambition to revolutionize the rap scene by eliminating all the mediocre and untalented rappers. The first part of the song describes Lif's plan to systematically "murder" all the "wack" rappers, one state at a time, and then divide and conquer their crews. He contrasts his sharp, inventive rhymes with the "blunt brains" and "spine of cocaine" of other rappers, positioning himself as the superior wordsmith who can "export" his lines to Peru. Lif uses metaphors of madness and intoxication to describe the effect of his flow and the state of the rap game as a whole, calling it "just madness in a cup".
Line by Line Meaning
Begin initiation, it's been too many years awaitin
Starting the process that's been long overdue
While other niggas fell off I been contemplatin
While others have failed, I've been strategizing
What's the best to blow up the scene
What's the most effective way to make an impact
Murder all the wack and get away clean
Eliminate inferior competition without repercussions
Plan one, all the wack got done
First plan executed flawlessly
State by state, one by one
Eliminating competition systematically
And peace to my niggas in the ton
Acknowledging supporters in the process
Here come plan two, separate they crew
Introducing the next phase, divide and conquer
Divide and conquer, because it's evident I'm stronger
Weakening the opposition to assert dominance
than the average man generated by the ganja
More powerful and strategic than the average weed smoker
Some mc's got 40 ounce hearts and blunt brains
Some rappers have alcohol and drug-related limitations
and they frames are supported by a spine of cocaine
Drug addiction affecting the foundation of their success
But I'm rollin dimes wit ya minds
I'm using my intelligence to manipulate my opponents
Sippin ya heart and on time ya spine is
Controlling my opponents' emotions and actions
in lines exported to Peru
Referring to cocaine trafficking
and I'm about to flip on somethin illa
About to do something impressive
tippa Heinekin or Miller the blank page filler
Drinking and writing rhymes
Until ya bring the ruck this is just madness in a cup
Until my opponents challenge me, what I've done is nothing
Whether in the studio on the road or on tour
Regardless of the situation
my mic remains raw
My talent is innate and unpolished
verbal, metamorphosis of metaphor
Transforming simple words into complex meanings
In the cocoon to incubate ascend to higher rates
Developing and improving as an artist
Never no time to wait TC can kill the rhymes annihilate
Never waiting, always improving. Also, it references an artist named TC who can kill other rappers' rhymes
My suffixes cause eclipses
My rhymes are so powerful they overshadow others
Mad elixirs for dime smokin blunt fixers
My rhymes are like magic potions for drug addicts
My flow snatches the earth off its axis
My words are so impactful they can disrupt the world
and leave civilazation on galactic paralysis
Causing a standstill in the world, leaving it mesmerized
My analysis is that of an exodus
My perspective is that of a mass departure
Synthesis like photo, "Africa" like toto
Combining elements like a photographer, references to the song "Africa" by Toto
Ya unto my dojo, the setting is Pluto
Welcome to my world, set in Pluto (an obscure, distant planet)
Then back to earth to kill niggas wit my judo
Returning to reality and using my skills to defeat my opponents
Sixteen century foolbro, on horsebacks through your thorax
Riding on horseback mounted with weapons, conquering opponents with ease
Relax drink up, this is just madness in a cup
Take it easy, this is just an impressive display of skill
Line by line I combine phrases to braze kids
Slowly and carefully crafting rhymes that amaze listeners
The rules of my raps form labryinths and mazes
My rhymes are complex and confusing, like a maze
Melting glaciers cuz my rhymes warm globally
My words have the power to affect the entire world, like melting ice caps
broken ozones casualties and microphones
Polluting the environment and destroying microphones with my talent
Whites bury tones in my headphones
Reference to the common trend of white people hiding behind headphones at concerts
Whirlwind MC and my flows are now cyclones
Long-lasting and powerful like whirlwinds and cyclones
Go on blow the earth up in the stars and
Even if the world explodes, my talent will live on
I tiptoe the constallations just like Starman
Light on my feet, able to travel through the stars like a superhero
But even as particles I built rhymes by molecules
Even at a microscopic level, I'm crafting rhymes with precision and care
Black holes all fallin to rebuild ya cells and folicles
My words have the power to rebuild anything, even the human body
My brain cells are jail cells where my thoughts dwell
My mind is a prison where my thoughts are trapped
amongst the smoke of a thousand L's
Amidst the smoke of many marijuana joints (abbreviated as L's)
I'm still increasin peace signs to wrap my piece in
I'm still spreading messages of peace despite my tough exterior
And I'll be keepin tissues for those that's weapin
Even amidst success, I remain compassionate and understanding towards those who are struggling
You win it all to lose it all, riches to the winners
Success isn't permanent and can be fleeting, even for the most successful
to the losers shells fall all in all
For the unsuccessful, everything falls apart
I'm breakin hearts and hidin traces, unitin the races
Impacting emotions while also bringing people together
and gaining mad speed from cop chases
Gaining momentum and adrenaline from being chased by law enforcement
This place is blowin up, this is just madness in a cup
Everything is falling apart, and what I've done is just a small part of the madness
Contributed by Gabriella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Gity444
One of the dopest tracks of the 90s ,hands down! Still holds weight!!
@linnettecruz9038
88.9 at night was the best radio station in northeast Massachusetts. That's how I first heard this!
@Geeperz1
One of the best rap tracks ever made. Boston represent!
@StrangeManCalledSeb
One of Lif's best tracks.
@Mossb3rg206
one of my all time throwbacks.
@Pearljam313
I love this song, had this on a mix cd years ago and rediscovered it a while back. still great!
@thelegendinhisownmind7038
Back in late 2001, or early 2002, I went to a Def Jux show in Providence, RI. Among the artists who performed were Lif, Hangar 18 (Former members of The Atoms Family), Aesop Rock, and El-P. I've attended literally hundreds of shows, and with that said, this particular set of performances is still to this day, one of my all-time favorites. To add metaphorical icing to the cake, I met and spoke for almost a half hour, to El-P outside after the show concluded. He was such a down to earth, forthcoming individual. I remember discussing with him, the equipment he used to produce the instrumentals on Company Flow's Funcrusher Plus (One of my top 10 favorite hiphop albums of all time) and Little Johnny From the Hospital. As a producer, and lyricist myself, I happened to have a burned copy of some of my work, which I gave to El-P. There wasn't any contact info on it whatsoever. I just gave it to him freely, without any hidden agenda. I just felt it was potentially something he might enjoy, and left it at that. Because of that, he said he respected that I wasn't trying to sell myself (unlike so many other artists have done with him in the past) and as a result, he said he was going to listen to it as soon as he got on the tour bus. I hope he did. I also got to meet Mr. Lif earlier in the evening. After he performed his set, he decided to chill near his merchandise table, so I jumped at the opportunity to introduce myself to him, and tell him how much of a fan I was. I actually purchased the Sleepyheads album from him that night, upon which he proceeded to sign his autograph on the cover, along with a short message thanking me for my support. Lif too was a great guy, who was both very approachable and appreciative of his fans. Hanging out alongside him, was his girlfriend at the time; who I found out just recently graduated from Central CT University, which just so happened to be my Alma mater as well. What a crazy coincidence. Lol! Such an awesome show, chock-full of great memories. Seeing El-P go on to achieve popularity and success with RTJ always makes me smile. Nobody in the business deserves it more. To say he paid his dues is arguably the understatement of the century!
👍😁👍
@reymondmiramontes8916
First time listening to this song and artist .It's a dope song and the mc tears it to shreds
@666sk8erguy
Lif's probably my favorite rapper.
@TOKRocK84
Mine too, In all ways though, 'probable', causal, quantum mechanical, you name it! :-)