Pharoahe Monch then signed to Rawkus Records, an indie label. After making several guest appearances on albums like the best-selling Rawkus compilation Soundbombing 2, Monch's much-hyped debut, Internal Affairs was released in 1999. The first single of the album, "Simon Says", was a major hit in 1999; he was later sued for the use of a Godzilla sample for the beat. He also had a 2001 hit with "Got You," though the single ultimately didn't sell well, and he also contributed the track "Fuck You" to the Training Day soundtrack. In 2003, Pharoahe released his final single through Rawkus Records, "Agent Orange", a war-inspired song that revisited the 1991 Organized Konfusion track "Releasing Hypnotical Gases".
Pharoahe's song "Simon Says" was featured in the 2000 cinematic release Charlie's Angels. Viewers will recognize the song and backbeat in the scene where Sam Rockwell is lighting a cigarette in the castle while holding Drew Barrymore hostage. Two of Monch's songs, "Right Here" and "Simon Says" were featured in the movie Boiler Room.
Pharoahe is also affiliated with the rap group The HRSMN. Although not a member of the group (there are only four real members), he is constantly linked to someday join the group when/if they ever expand.
There were rumors his next album, Innervisions, was to be released under Denaun Porter's new Shady Records imprint Runyon Ave., but apparently, the deal fell through; Monch has since announced a deal with Street Records Corporation, home of Wu-Tang Clan, David Banner, and Terror Squad. In June 2007 Monch released his second solo album Desire to critical acclaim. Monch said about the album; "...it's very soulful, very gospel, a fresh, new sound for me." The album's lead single was the self-produced track "Push", with "Let's Go" as its B-Side. The song's music video and single were released in late September 2006. Monch released a second music video entitled "When the Gun Draws" at a Brooklyn music festival in February 2007.
Monch also produced and ghost-wrote the track The Future and ghost-wrote the track Hold Up with Mobb Deep member Havoc on rap mogul Diddy's latest album Press Play. Critics contest that Monch's writing is evident in both the content and the delivery of Diddy's rhymes.
Pharoahe Monch sang the Madden NFL 2002 theme for the game and six years later Desire was featured on the soundtrack of Madden NFL 08.
Pharoahe Monch will release his third solo album W.A.R. (Let My People Go) in 2009. He revealed that the album will be a "throwback to 1993, '94 hip-hop" and will feature production by Black Milk, Mr. Porter, Lee Stone & M-Phazes. A ten-year anniversary re-issue of Internal Affairs will also be released featuring a documentary about the making of the album.
Welcome To The Terrordome
Pharoahe Monch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
3,000 soldiers have come home in coffins
Hundreds of thousands of Iraq civilians have lost their lives
Our brothers and sisters in New Orleans are left homeless and hungry
They murdered Sean Bell
They murdered Amadou Diallo
They murdered Timothy Stansbury
And it's time to say no more!
I got so much trouble on my mind, refuse to lose
Here's your ticket (uh), hear the drummer get wicked
The crew to you to push the back to Black
Attack so I sat and japped, then slapped the Mac
Now I'm ready to mike it (huh)
Hear my favoritism roll "Oh"
Never be a brother like to go solo
Lazer, Anastasia, maze ya
Ways to blaze your brain and train ya
The way I'm livin', forgiven, what I'm givin' up
X on the flex (hear me now)
I don't know about later
As for now I know how to avoid the paranoid
Man I've had it up to here
Gear I wear got 'em goin' in fear
Rhetoric said, it read just a bit ago
Not quittin', it signed the hard rhymer
Work to keep from gettin' jerked
Changin' some ways, to way back in the better days
Raw metaphysically bold, never follow the code
Still dropped a load
Never question what I am, God knows
Cause it's comin' from the heart
What I got better get some (um hum)
Hustler of culture
Snakebitten, been spit in the face
But the rhymes keep fittin'
Respects been givin', how's ya livin?
Now I can't protect a pad off the defect
Check the record of reckon
An intentional wreck
Played off as some intellect
Made the call, took the fall, broke the laws
Not my fault that they're fallin' off
Known as fair square, throughout my years
So I growl at the livin' foul
Black to the bone my home is your home
So welcome to the Terrordome
Come on down (get down)
You can get it, get it, get it, get it
Come on down,
You can get it, get it, get it, get it
Get down
You can get it, get it, get it, get it
There's a hole in an apple, an apple has been rotten
Scheme like a clan, I plan like Bin Laden
Supreme, screen writer, slit, script editor
Drop the LP, many hit like Nesbula
7 years later, it's the year of the Gods
United States government is just the facade
The Catholic church got ties with the Mob
I see it all like "The Wizard of Oz"
Now there's a yellow brick road, the fame which is yours
If you only had a brain, you would know who you are
Poison your ventilation, cut your education
Secret information, world domination
Take over reservations
Trigger the energies in the oceans for tsunamis to control the population
Eyes of the sky, hit an observation
If your over 65 we'll take over your medication
Like give me that (give me that), form a line (form a line)
Go to war (go to war), press rewind
Cause when I get mad, I put it down on the pad
Give you somethin' that you never had
Controllin', fear of high rollin'
God bless your soul and keep livin'
Black to the bone, my home is your home
Well welcome to the Terrordome
Come on down (get down)
Get it, get it, get it, get it
Come on down
Get it, get it, get it, get it
Get it, get it, get it, get it
The opening lyrics of "Welcome to the Terrordome" by Pharoahe Monch address the many issues and tragedies facing society at the time. From the war in Iraq and the needless deaths of soldiers and civilians to the murders of Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, and Timothy Stansbury, the song highlights the state of the world and the need for change. The repeated phrase of "no more" emphasizes the urgency of these problems and the need for immediate action to address them.
The remainder of the song is a mix of complex and abstract lyrics that touch on various themes such as individualism, culture, corruption, and control. The chorus's repeated phrase of "come on down, get it" has a double meaning, urging the listener to engage with the world and seize opportunities, while also hinting at the darker aspects of human nature and the willingness to exploit others. Pharoahe Monch is known for his thought-provoking lyrics, and "Welcome to the Terrordome" is no exception.
Line by Line Meaning
I got so much trouble on my mind, refuse to lose
I'm dealing with a lot of issues but I won't let them beat me
Here's your ticket (uh), hear the drummer get wicked
I’ll take you on a ride to my world where the rhythm rules
The crew to you to push the back to Black
My crew and I will bring back the essence of Black culture and music
Attack so I sat and japped, then slapped the Mac
I sat down and wrote a powerful rap over a sick beat
What I'm givin' up, X on the flex (hear me now)
I'm sharing my gifts and talents with the world (listen up)
Rhetoric said, it read just a bit ago, Not quittin', it signed the hard rhymer
My rhymes are strong and I won't stop speaking truth
Still dropped a load
I delivered another set of powerful lyrics
Never question what I am, God knows, Cause it's comin' from the heart
I know who I am and what I stand for, and my message comes straight from the soul
Hustler of culture
I'm working hard to spread and preserve the culture of hip hop
Respects been givin', how's ya livin?
I show respect to those who came before me, and I ask how they're doing
Known as fair square, throughout my years, So I growl at the livin' foul
I've always been a fair person, but I won't hesitate to call out those who are corrupt
Black to the bone my home is your home, So welcome to the Terrordome
I'm proud of my Black identity and I welcome others to my world, even though it can be a place of chaos and turmoil
There's a hole in an apple, an apple has been rotten
Something small and seemingly insignificant can be a sign of a bigger problem
Scheme like a clan, I plan like Bin Laden
I'm always strategizing and planning, just like a terrorist organization
The Catholic church got ties with the Mob, I see it all like "The Wizard of Oz"
The church and organized crime are intertwined, and the world is full of hidden connections and secrets
Poison your ventilation, cut your education, Secret information, world domination
The powerful elite are trying to control and manipulate the masses by controlling their access to vital resources and information
Eyes of the sky, hit an observation, If your over 65 we'll take over your medication
The government is watching us from above and they're capable of controlling our lives, even our healthcare
Cause when I get mad, I put it down on the pad, Give you somethin' that you never had
When I'm angry, I channel that energy into my music and create something fresh and original
Controllin', fear of high rollin', God bless your soul and keep livin'
We're all trying to maintain control and not be overwhelmed by the world's chaos, but we need to keep going and have faith in a higher power
Black to the bone, my home is your home, Well welcome to the Terrordome
My identity and culture are a part of who I am, and I welcome others to join me in dealing with life's challenges
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Carlton Ridenhour, Keith M. Boxley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Towed Array
Good cover. Solid and faithful to the original. I like it. Also very relevant right now. “Snake bitten, been spit in the face” for sure.
Cyrious
This is an approved remake and the visual book is fucking dope for our generation babyboomer and generation x I hope the rest of the generations can carry the torch and not just use it as a hashtag ✊🏾✌🏽
Taxidermistification
This dude is soooo underrated
Matthew Coward
FACTS
JD
Dude is criminally underrated
Kevin Duffy
this album was so underated
Danny Bloomfield
Didn't know it was even rated :/ - I've listened to this through more times than I can count
I Geriatrici
One of the wokest guys in the scene. Always big respects to Pharoahe.
Justin Parker
2023 and more relevant than ever, he does so much respect to the original!!
Jermaine Rebello
OMG This is so classic.. Really loving PTSD too!