Hip Hop
Ortiz Joell Lyrics

Ha, listen homie, you don't know me like you think you know me, ha ha
You may think you know me, but you don't really know me.

Big boy toys that clap like a dirty bitch box
Refers to weapons that are powerful and loud.

His ladder's attached with thirty six shots, insert it and cop (blap)
The ladder on his gun is loaded with thirty six bullets - inserts one bullet and then fires.

You ain't gotta take my word them shits pop
You don't have to take my word for it because the guns really fire.

Ask around how I circled these blocks before hip hop (yeah)
Ask anyone how experienced I am navigating the streets before the emergence of hip hop music.

Sandwich baggies drop it in and tie knots
Refers to the drug dealing process of packaging drugs and tying knots to keep them sealed.

And fight my favorite fiend over to come and try rocks
He fought with his favorite drug user to persuade them to try his drugs.

Dope the only thing stamped inside my mailbox
He would only receive drugs in the mail, never anything else.

Folded money 'til the rubber bands pop before hip hop (woo)
He would fold his money until the rubber bands holding the cash together were stretched to their limit before the emergence of hip hop music.

Olde E, St. Ides, and Ballantine ale
Refers to different types of alcoholic drinks he used to drink.

Dutch Masters, Phillies, and White Owl smells
Different types of cigars he used to smoke.

L trainer lended in powder, to roll L's
He would borrow his friend's L trainer sneaker filled with cocaine to mix with his weed.

Tokin' boots, nigga
He used to buy weed and smoke it out of his boots.

No vocal booths nigga, before hip hop
He did not have access to a recording studio before the emergence of hip hop music.

Whole different dude, I'm rolling to you
He is now a different person, and is coming to see you as his new self.

I got a dub that I don't fold it at Deuce
He is referring to a $20 bill and how he no longer has to fold the money in his pocket multiple times like he used to.

Everything good, even your nasty ass shoes
Things are good for him, even if your shoes look terrible.

Now here's my moment of truth (ha ha)
He is now telling the real story of his life before hip hop.

Yeah, that was life before hip hop
This is a statement on his life before he got involved in hip hop music.

Before these music projects, I'm the projects' homie (cool)
Before making music, he was the popular guy in the projects.

Y'all just see the new me, y'all don't know the old me (no)
People only know him as he is now, not who he was before hip hop.

Before these beats was trapping, I was out there trapping (yes)
Before producing music, he was dealing drugs.

Before these birds was rapping, I was bird wrapping (uh huh)
A pun on bird wrapping and rapping - he was wrapping and selling drugs.

Before the feds was clapping, it was cans clapping (brrah)
Before the law enforcement got involved, there was gunfire in the streets.

No bank accounts, hand to hand transactions (ow)
He only dealt in cash and never used a bank account in his drug dealing.

A bunch of candles in the lobby, who got laid to rest?
Questions the identity of the deceased in the building by counting the number of lit candles.

Empty bottles need a flix, I know the wakers next
Empty liquor bottles are used as obstacles to keep people from waking the next drug user.

I'm from a place people walk around with major stress
Refers to the dangerous nature of his old neighborhood.

Don't say somethin' you'll regret, before hip hop (uh)
Things were different before hip hop and people should be careful about what they say.

I was crazy fresh, trapping in my Avirex
He was always fresh and fashionable despite drug dealing in his Avirex jacket.

Blue Yankee fitted, 501's above the navy chest (yaow)
Refers to a specific outfit he used to wear involving a fitted Yankees hat and Levi's jeans.

I never had to beg for pussy, bitches gave me sex
Women found him attractive and did not require him to beg for sex.

I left all the drugs that they address, before hip hop
He left the drug dealing behind before getting involved in hip hop music.

Uh, shit, your boy was out there tryna survive
He was in a dangerous situation and simply trying to stay alive.

Too lazy for a nine to five, I bought a 9 and got live 'til it jammed
He was too lazy to get a regular job - instead bought a gun and lived dangerously in the streets until it stopped working.

Said goodbye, next day, went outside, brought that pretty .38
He stopped using the broken gun and bought a new .38 revolver.

It wasn't always about these verses and words
There was a time when he was not focused on music and lyrics.

It was being first to the curb from the first to the third
He was always one step ahead in the drug dealing game.

It was 'bout stayin' alert, see 'em lurking, you swerve
Surviving involved always being alert, avoiding those who intend to harm you.

To this day, I thank God, I ain't get locked before hip hop
He is grateful that he did not get caught before discovering hip hop music.