Another exceedingly strong album from the copious early-'90s hip-hop scene … Read Full Bio ↴Another exceedingly strong album from the copious early-'90s hip-hop scene that dropped away virtually unnoticed, Powerule's Volume One gave voice to the largely unheard Latino quotient of the late-night, underground New York City community that had always been nearly as essential to the rap world as the African-American community but, up to that point, had rarely made it out of the recording studio. Powerule had dropped a classic underground cut, "Brick in the Wall," in the late '80s, but it wasn't until this 1991 full-length debut that the full extent of their abilities hit wax. It more than delivered on their promise. Most of the album is produced or co-produced by Powerule themselves, and they inject a tough-but-seductive Puerto Rican ambience into the music, in the form of salsafied breaks and samples and shuffle beats and rhythms (especially in songs such as "When the Rhythm Calls," with its unbelievable constantly scratched beat, and "Que Pasa?"). Mixed with the hallucinatory, stop-action, stoned New York vibe of East Coast hip-hop, the album often takes on, to a greater degree than many from its era, the resonance of swaggering nightlife, sweltering summertime block parties, and the cramped, sweaty spaces in which the hip-hop lifestyle has always thrived. From the opening cut, "Back," to the end of the album, Volume One characterizes where hip-hop was born and where its beating heart has always remained: musty basements, rooftops, electric after-hours clubs, and hazy studios, with the ever-present thump of low-end pounding at the gut and the tension of the unknown hanging in the air. The trio move from the mellowness of hanging out ("Back," "Que Pasa?") to kicking rhymes with friends ("Rub Off the Wax," featuring Leaders of the New School, and "Young Stars From Nowhere") to doing a show ("5 Minutes 2 Showtime") to hitting the clubs (the buoyant brag-fest "Gots Ta Get This," co-produced by and featuring Large Professor). And on the molasses-thick, reggae-ish "Premises," MCs Prince Power and E. Ville go beyond simply reflecting the culture, and reflect on it as well.

Smooth
Powerule Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Prince Power]
Yo Ax, what's up man, that beat sounds kinda fly

[DJ Ax]
Yeah word Prince, this beat is not too fast
Not too wild, you know? Just right, strictly smooth

"Smooth" "Cause I don't get upset" [x4]

[Prince Power]
I get a grip on myself and I don't break a sweat
Dreams come to life and some that I stand by
Looking at myself and I'm asking "Who am I?"
Face in the crowd like any other
I dig and I scratch and I fight like many brothers
To reach the top and do what has to be done
So I can be number 1
But then I'm stuck and stopped, eventually dropped
Like a kid on the block selling rock, I get popped
Looking forward, see some reach the plateau
Pump the junk, packing a wacks show
I flip, lose my head, wanna bust an ill move
I'd better chill man, and better play it smooth

"Smooth" "Cause I don't get upset" [x4]

[Prince Power]
Drug seller, fly fella
When he speaks he's heard, it sounds accapella
Wheels and deals and does what he feels
Drives around with girls with skirts and high heels
Clocking cash, a knot to flash
He throws a party, an all out bash
Cars and jewelery, a lust for passion
Wants to be seen in a styling fashion
He sits back, gets paid off of crime
While I rack my brain and G off of rhyme
Now must I sell to do well? (No)
Must I deal to appeal? (No)
Do I have to live life in danger, strap on a side arm
Walk down the block like I was a time bomb
First blast, cause I'm in an ill mood
(Yo Prince man, just keep it smooth)

"Smooth" "Cause I don't get upset" [x4]

Keep it smooth, yo Ax, keep it smooth
Yo E. Vill, keep it smooth

[Prince Power]
(Yo you sound kinda angry) I am my man
I see society snatch all good things from my hand
Take what I make and burn what I earn
Wait til the day when I get my turn
And stand on stage, and hear the crowd roar
(Prince Powerule, give him an encore)
Solve enough cause I love to perform
Take the mic from the stand to my hands switch it on
Rip a rhyme rough enough for the people
Talent is shown and you know it's not equal
Ax backs me up with cuts and scratching
E. Vill's producing a sound worth matching
Fans are frozen, fixed on the stage
Absorbing a sound that's coming of age
Powerule, the group of the future
Giving they heart and soul like they used to
Taking a stand, making a move
Keeping it rough but playing it smooth

"Smooth" "Cause I don't get upset" [x4]

Overall Meaning

Powerule's song "Smooth" talks about the struggles and challenges of rising to the top and staying there as an African-American. The song starts with a conversation between Prince Power and DJ Ax about the smoothness of the beat, which sets the tone of the song. The lyrics describe the hard work and dedication that Prince Power puts into his music career to succeed and become number one, but sometimes he gets stopped and stuck, like a kid on the block selling rock that gets popped. In moments when he loses his head and wants to bust an ill move, he reminds himself to chill and better play it smooth.

The second verse of the song talks about the contrast between Prince Power's life and that of a drug dealer's. The drug dealer is portrayed as driving around with girls in high heels, flashing his cars and jewelry, and throwing an all-out bash. The drug dealer gets paid off of crime, while Prince Power has to rack his brain and G off of rhyme. Prince Power raises the question of whether he has to sell or deal to do well or appeal and whether he has to live life in danger, strapped on a side arm, walking down the block like he is a time-bomb. Prince Power says he must keep it smooth, and he doesn't get upset.

In the third verse, Prince Power acknowledges that he sounds angry because he sees society snatch all good things from his hand, take what he makes, and burn what he earns. He waits for the day when he gets his turn and stands on stage, hearing the crowd roar. Prince Power talks about his talent and that of his group members, Ax and E. Vill. He talks about how they give their heart and soul to their music and take a stand, making a move, while keeping it rough but playing it smooth. The song ends with the repeated phrase, "Smooth 'Cause I don't get upset."

Line by Line Meaning

"Yo Ax, what's up man, that beat sounds kinda fly"
Prince Power compliments DJ Ax’s beats and says they sound good.

"Yeah word Prince, this beat is not too fast \nNot too wild, you know? Just right, strictly smooth"
DJ Ax explains the beat to Prince Power, saying it’s not too fast or too wild, but a perfect balance of smoothness.

"Smooth" "Cause I don't get upset" [x4]
The chorus repeats, with Powerule saying that they remain calm and smooth, even when things get tough.

"I get a grip on myself and I don't break a sweat \nDreams come to life and some that I stand by \nLooking at myself and I'm asking \"Who am I?\""
Prince Power says that he remains calm and collected, even when pursuing his dreams, and questions his identity.

"Face in the crowd like any other \nI dig and I scratch and I fight like many brothers \nTo reach the top and do what has to be done \nSo I can be number 1"
Powerule mentions how he works hard to stand out in the crowd and become successful in his career.

"But then I'm stuck and stopped, eventually dropped \nLike a kid on the block selling rock, I get popped \nLooking forward, see some reach the plateau \nPump the junk, packing a wacks show \nI flip, lose my head, wanna bust an ill move \nI'd better chill man, and better play it smooth"
Despite his hard work, Powerule sometimes struggles to succeed and gets angry, but learns to stay calm and collected.

"Drug seller, fly fella \nWhen he speaks he's heard, it sounds accapella \nWheels and deals and does what he feels \nDrives around with girls with skirts and high heels"
Powerule contrasts his struggles with a drug dealer who lives a lavish lifestyle.

"Clocking cash, a knot to flash \nHe throws a party, an all out bash \nCars and jewelery, a lust for passion \nWants to be seen in a styling fashion"
The drug dealer spends his money on flashy things and loves to be seen as stylish and cool.

"He sits back, gets paid off of crime \nWhile I rack my brain and G off of rhyme \nNow must I sell to do well? (No) \nMust I deal to appeal? (No) \nDo I have to live life in danger, strap on a side arm \nWalk down the block like I was a time bomb"
Powerule questions whether he has to resort to crime to succeed like the drug dealer, ultimately saying no and refusing the lifestyle.

"First blast, cause I'm in an ill mood \n(Yo Prince man, just keep it smooth)"
Powerule gets angry but is reminded to stay calm by his friend Prince Power.

"(Yo you sound kinda angry) I am my man \nI see society snatch all good things from my hand \nTake what I make and burn what I earn \nWait til the day when I get my turn"
Powerule talks about his struggles against society, how they take what he earns and waits for his chance to succeed.

"And stand on stage, and hear the crowd roar \n(Prince Powerule, give him an encore) \nSolve enough cause I love to perform \nTake the mic from the stand to my hands switch it on"
Powerule talks about his love of performing and the joy he feels when the crowd cheers for him.

"Rip a rhyme rough enough for the people \nTalent is shown and you know it's not equal \nAx backs me up with cuts and scratching \nE. Vill's producing a sound worth matching"
Powerule highlights his talent and the work of his friends DJ Ax and E. Vill in making great music for the people.

"Fans are frozen, fixed on the stage \nAbsorbing a sound that's coming of age \nPowerule, the group of the future \nGiving they heart and soul like they used to \nTaking a stand, making a move \nKeeping it rough but playing it smooth"
The song ends with Powerule making a statement on how they are a group of the future, who play great music while staying true to themselves and staying calm and collected.

Contributed by Molly H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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