123
Naughty By Nature Lyrics


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[Chorus: x6]
1 motherfucking 2 motherfucking 3
1 and here comes the 2 to the 3, and

[Lakim Shabazz]
? rappers are full of this, since I'm a Don I'm pulling out a hit
'cause I'm fired up, I'm tired of all the bullshit
Flavor Unit, it's time to attack the prey
So make way for hip-hop's green beret
Bring on the refills, you see we feel
The name of the brain game is kill or be killed
I'm an expert, who will be the next jerk to try?
Let me explain you got 8 million ways to die
We torch and scorch ya, make ya feel real sore
Have that ass looking just like this boo-boo slipped the door
Known to kill, dunk skills, e-rupt
You ask why? My reply is 'I don't give a fuck!'
I'm a Panther, I love fresh meat
After I kill ya, I'ma leave ya body across 110th Street
My tactics are drastic and real fast
I tie one to a truck and go drag ya ass
I'm more than a threat, I'm a problem
To hell with cotton, watch out when I come to Harlem
So don't whisper or make a sound or croak
Shit ya prop, go straight back down ya throat
Everyday all day this be the hard way
Putting rappers outta commission even on an off-day
Flavor Unit rules G, we're taking rappers out
1 motherfucking 2 motherfucking 3

[Chorus: x3]

[Apache]
Here comes trouble and it's all that, in fact contact
You're next of kin, friend, follow the flow format
While you slip, I grips so expect to get bruised
Ask me if I give a fuck 'cause I ain't got shit to lose
Fuck around, lay around and get stuck up
You beatnit, wait a minute, hold the fuck up
If I was deaf, dumb, blind, stupid, blame
Handicapped, crippled and "pussy" was my middle name
You couldn't beat me slick, snap that neck like a Chico stick
I know who beat'cha quick (who?), my grip
Failing this to some type of tournament
I cut ya fucking head off and use it as a Christmas tree ornament
Come and give me a test whoever claims to be the best
He's with the 40-below footprint on his chest
Fucked up, got stuck, go press your luck
Both of his legs were found in back of a garbage truck
Head found in the bar of a limousine
The rest of his body at a dove site in Queens
Damn man, Mr. Handman, you like bragging
Ya fucked up, made a wrong turn and entered the dragon
I told you I'm out to stalk,
Last nigga tried me, died G, felt my tomahawk
Apache, that's me, I'm getting rappers' ass
1 motherfucking 2 motherfucking 3

[Chorus: x4]

[Treach]
You could of been my main shit but you scrap and will wack, black
The only thing I smoke with a pipe is an ass crack
You challenge Treach, I'll seal you quick, you can't touch that
I thought you did a triple 'cause you said "Aw, fuck that!"
Diamond Hill how ya feel, hey Ben Hef
Give me a hearing aid or two then I'm through 'cause I'm that def
That's how we all be, tighter than small leaves
Club rapping all be, I'm wrecking on all 3
This drill means chill, Guard Ya Grill, trouble
Is that your head or is your neck blowing a fucking bubble?
A-B-C, skip to the S-T
You-V-W-X, fuck the why-Z
Brand new, Brand Nubian, Grand Puba-in
Tape them and cruise me then, if I'm wrong, sue me then
Wait let me hear another tune, tune me in
So I'm straight, if I hear "drop the bomb" I have to go
Break this nig' for anytime or any day, as many rhymes are played
Erase, forgive me not 'cause shit I'm hot, if I can get then you'll get got
Au contraire mon frere this is all my hair
I wouldn't cut it for the biggest butt-ocks out there
Put on a tip or hitting hips, I'm more than quick
I Grease my Lightnin', it's frightening how I get, a slick
Schooled, dark, cool Sagittarian
Two types of marrying very thick or very thin
Naughty By Nature and the Flavor you-N-I-T
1 motherfucking 2 motherfucking 3





[Chorus: x4]

Overall Meaning

The Naughty By Nature song "123" features intense and aggressive lyrics from all three members (Treach, Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee), as well as guest appearances from Lakim Shabazz and Apache. The opening line of the chorus immediately sets the tone of the song: "1 motherfucking 2 motherfucking 3," repeated six times throughout the track. The song is essentially a bragging and boasting anthem, with each artist showcasing their lyrical prowess and challenging anyone who dares to step up to them.


Lakim Shabazz starts off the song by calling out other rappers for being full of nonsense, and proclaiming his own expertise in the game. He uses violent and graphic metaphors to describe his skills, saying he'll "torch and scorch ya, make ya feel real sore" and "have that ass looking just like this boo-boo slipped the door." He also references his affiliation with the Flavor Unit, a collective of artists that included Queen Latifah and Naughty By Nature.


Apache's verse is similarly aggressive, with him warning his enemies to "expect to get bruised" and threatening to use their heads as Christmas tree ornaments. He even references the Bruce Lee film "Enter the Dragon," saying that anyone who messes with him "made a wrong turn and entered the dragon." Finally, Treach caps off the song with his own taunts and boasts, rapping about his ability to "seal you quick" and his love for "hitting hips."


Overall, "123" is a confrontational and intense track that showcases the aggressive and competitive nature of hip-hop in the early 1990s.


Line by Line Meaning

1 motherfucking 2 motherfucking 3
Counting down to the start of the song


1 and here comes the 2 to the 3, and
Continuing the countdown for the start of the song


? rappers are full of this, since I'm a Don I'm pulling out a hit
Rappers are overhyped, and the singer is going to drop a hit


'cause I'm fired up, I'm tired of all the bullshit
The singer is motivated to perform, and they are sick of the nonsense in the industry


Flavor Unit, it's time to attack the prey
The singer's crew is ready to take on their opponents


So make way for hip-hop's green beret
The singer is comparing their crew to the elite military force


Bring on the refills, you see we feel
The singer is proud of their skills and is ready to go all out


The name of the brain game is kill or be killed
The music industry is cutthroat, and only the strongest survive


I'm an expert, who will be the next jerk to try?
The singer is confident in their abilities and curious who will try to challenge them


Let me explain you got 8 million ways to die
The singer is warning their opponents of the many ways they can be defeated


We torch and scorch ya, make ya feel real sore
The singer and their crew will defeat their enemies and make them feel defeated


Have that ass looking just like this boo-boo slipped the door
The singer is saying they will destroy their opponents to the point where they will look like they were attacked by an animal


Known to kill, dunk skills, e-rupt
The singer is known for their lethal skills and ability to take control


You ask why? My reply is 'I don't give a fuck!'
The singer is unapologetic and does not care about what others think


I'm a Panther, I love fresh meat
The singer compares themselves to a panther, hungry for new challenges


After I kill ya, I'ma leave ya body across 110th Street
After defeating their opponent, the singer will leave their body in public view


My tactics are drastic and real fast
The singer's strategies are drastic and efficient


I tie one to a truck and go drag ya ass
The singer describes one of their brutal tactics


I'm more than a threat, I'm a problem
The singer is a serious problem for anyone who tries to challenge them


To hell with cotton, watch out when I come to Harlem
The singer is unconcerned with conventional rules and is a force to be reckoned with


So don't whisper or make a sound or croak
The singer warns their enemies not to make a move or sound


Shit ya prop, go straight back down ya throat
The singer is saying that their opponent's words won't affect them


Everyday all day this be the hard way
The singer is used to the struggles of the music industry


Putting rappers outta commission even on an off-day
The singer is always able to defeat their opponents


Here comes trouble and it's all that, in fact contact
A new singer is entering the song


You're next of kin, friend, follow the flow format
The singer is confident in their flow and expects their opponent to follow their style


While you slip, I grips so expect to get bruised
The singer will take advantage of their opponent's mistakes


Ask me if I give a fuck 'cause I ain't got shit to lose
The singer does not care and has nothing to lose


Fuck around, lay around and get stuck up
The singer is warning their opponent of the consequences of challenging them


You beatnit, wait a minute, hold the fuck up
The singer is calling out their opponent for talking trash


If I was deaf, dumb, blind, stupid, blame
The singer is saying even if they were at a disadvantage, their opponent still couldn't win


Handicapped, crippled and "pussy" was my middle name
The singer is saying they have no handicaps and are not soft


You couldn't beat me slick, snap that neck like a Chico stick
The singer's opponent's skills are no match for theirs


I know who beat'cha quick (who?), my grip
The singer is claiming responsibility for their opponent's defeat


Failing this to some type of tournament
The singer considers this a battle or competition


I cut ya fucking head off and use it as a Christmas tree ornament
The singer is describing their brutal victory and domination over their opponent


Come and give me a test whoever claims to be the best
The singer is challenging anyone who thinks they are the best


He's with the 40-below footprint on his chest
The singer is confident in their abilities and compares their opponent to someone who has failed


Both of his legs were found in back of a garbage truck
The singer is saying their opponent got what was coming to them


Head found in the bar of a limousine
The singer is saying their opponent was truly defeated


The rest of his body at a dove site in Queens
The singer is claiming responsibility for their opponent's defeat and death


You could of been my main shit but you scrap and will wack, black
The singer is saying their opponent was never good enough to be on their level


The only thing I smoke with a pipe is an ass crack
The singer is saying they do not do drugs and are better than their opponent


You challenge Treach, I'll seal you quick, you can't touch that
The singer is confident in their abilities and is warning their opponent not to challenge them


I thought you did a triple 'cause you said "Aw, fuck that!"
The singer is making a joke about their opponent's lack of skill


Diamond Hill how ya feel, hey Ben Hef
The singer is shouting out to others and saying he is the best


Give me a hearing aid or two then I'm through 'cause I'm that def
The singer does not need help and is confident in their abilities


That's how we all be, tighter than small leaves
The singer's crew is united and strong


Club rapping all be, I'm wrecking on all 3
The singer is excellent in all aspects of the music industry


This drill means chill, Guard Ya Grill, trouble
The singer is warning their opponents to stay calm and be careful


Is that your head or is your neck blowing a fucking bubble?
The singer is saying they will destroy their opponents to the point where they will be disfigured


A-B-C, skip to the S-T
The singer is confident in their rhyming skills


You-V-W-X, fuck the why-Z
The singer is saying they do not care about unnecessary things


Brand new, Brand Nubian, Grand Puba-in
The singer is advertising other groups


Tape them and cruise me then, if I'm wrong, sue me then
The singer is confident in their choices and is not afraid of the consequences


Wait let me hear another tune, tune me in
The singer is turning their attention to something else


So I'm straight, if I hear "drop the bomb" I have to go
The singer will take action if they hear a certain phrase


Break this nig' for anytime or any day, as many rhymes are played
The singer can keep going and going without tiring out


Erase, forgive me not 'cause shit I'm hot, if I can get then you'll get got
The singer is saying they will keep going and will take down anyone who tries to challenge them


Au contraire mon frere this is all my hair
The singer is saying they are natural and confident in their abilities


I wouldn't cut it for the biggest butt-ocks out there
The singer will not change who they are for anyone else


Put on a tip or hitting hips, I'm more than quick
The singer is good at performing and quick on their feet


I Grease my Lightnin', it's frightening how I get, a slick
The singer is boasting about their ability to perform and their style


Schooled, dark, cool Sagittarian
The singer is confident and unique in their abilities


Two types of marrying very thick or very thin
The singer is saying there are two options when it comes to working with them


Naughty By Nature and the Flavor you-N-I-T
The singer is advertising their crew




Lyrics ยฉ Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANTHONY SHAWN CRISS, ANTHONY PEAKS, LAKIM SHABAZ, LUIS ENRIQUE VEGA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@davejohnson3860

One of the most underrated cuts they ever made! Just my opinion!

@jamesverpy2376

I am glad that no fuckin thumbs down asshole disagrees with that great comment about that fucking song I might get banned for saying fucking to much even though its every second fuckin word in the chorus hahaha

@otisblue30

It's the right opinion. Actually a fact!

@davejohnson3860

@@otisblue30
Appreciate that ! Lol

@blackturkdog

Not an opinion. Just a fact.

@poeticzjustice77

Xitto

5 More Replies...

@ndeamonk24

All these dudes ran the table. Dope. Entire album dope.

@micahjared8082

Its like a Zepplin Album > every track is F Nuts. Gotta start this album with a fire extinguisher. Safety First.

@visionairetv149

Lakim did his thing, Apache tortured this shit, & Treach went in for the kill!

@squally8830

Classic, my moms bought this tape for me when I was 11 yrs old & I let this tape rock til the tape popped!

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