Rae's groundbreaking debut album helped to bring the flavour of flossing to wax as well as the use of the moniker among Wu brethren and other prominent emcees. The single "Verbal Intercourse" featured the first appearance of Nas Escobar, Nas' alter ego. Similarly, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, who served as Rae's partner in rhyme throughout the entire Cuban Linx album, also developed a slew of other identities. Identities like Lex Diamond, one of the flashy, witty and intellectually stimulating personas of the multifaceted Raekwon.
In the years after the release of Cuban Linx, Raekwon continued to record several albums with the Clan including the platinum Wu-Tang Forver (1997) and The W (2000), as well as the gold Iron Flag (2001). He also starred in the critically acclaimed film Black and White, before releasing his second solo album, Immobilarity in 1999. Four years later, it's time for another masterpiece from Raekwon.
The Lex Diamond Story, Raekwon's forthcoming third solo album is that desperately needed effort. This new LP is as much a reflection of his first musical triumph Cuban Linx, as it is a manifestation of the future and what is to come from this great emcee. Raekwon is like the E.F. Hutton of hip-hop: when he speaks, everyone listens. The current void in hip-hop is filled with this rap veteran's
crafty verbal gymnastics and artistic form of storytelling. The Lex Diamond Story takes the top shelf elements of the Wu's first album and the finest sentiments of Raekwon's debut and joins them together to deliver another classic album to the masses.
A lyrical gourmet meal, The Lex Diamond Story shows that The Chef still possesses the recipe to cook up a jambalaya of words with the main ingredient being superior skills. Animated and intense, Raekwon's stealth delivery is filled with emotion, skilled cadence and an array of diverse stories, hooks, and topics. The track, "All Over Again (The Way We Were)" touches on the flavour of "Can It Be All So Simple" with its tale of street survival. Meanwhile, "Pit Bull Fights" is reminiscent of the ferocious lyrical beating inflicted on "Incarcerated Scarfaces." Raekwon is indisputably at his creative beast. Unchained and uninhibited, he is assertive with his music and focused on his goals.
Shark Niggas
Raekwon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you know what I'm sayin'?"
"Hell yeah, man"
"Word, you know how niggas be bitin' and shit
Niggas be bitin' mad styles and shit from niggas, man"
"Yeah, no doubt"
"That's what I be hatin', man
I can't stand a fuckin' bitin' ass nigga
Before you even get a chance to shine on your own shit"
"Word, true"
"Nah, niggas be killing me though, Son" (you know what I'm sayin'?)
"Because ya know, they be take-
Be comin' with your words and shit
They hear you say one word then here they come with the word
Tryin' to flip it and bounce it and shit on some bullshit" (yeah, yeah)
"Not soundin' right, first of all and shit" (yeah)
"You know what I'm sayin'?
Boom, but then you got niggas, son, on the real
You know what I'm sayin'?
Niggas, niggas, niggas, niggas is bitin' off your album cover and shit" (yeah)
"Boom, bad enough they bitin' lines
like niggas killed me" (yeah)
"When they came with some Nas-
Niggas bit offa Nas shit, you know what I'm sayin'?
Word, niggas, niggas, niggas, niggas caught his little album cover, boom
They done did a Nas for that shit" (yeah)
"I'm like damn what the fuck, man?" (Yeah)
"It's like these happy-go-lucky niggas, man
When they get on, man
They wanna pop a little, a little champagne" (but like I said, you-)
"You know what I'm sayin'?
Every few, every time you see 'em
You know what I'm sayin'?
Like, front on, don't front for me, man" (yo, man)
"You gon' play that role, man, play it though"
"It's like this, man, niggas, man
Niggas know not to fuck around with this shit though
I don't give a fuck how nasty niggas get" (nah, son)
"Let me tell these niggas somethin' God
I don't want niggas soundin' like me on no album
You know what I'm sayin'?
For real 'cause I'ma, I'ma approach a nigga, man
For real, man
I don't want nobody soundin' like me, man
For real, son, you know?" (No doubt)
"Bad enough, nigga
I don't want nobody sound like nobody from my Clan, man
Keep it real, get your own shit, man, and be original" (word up)
"That's all, man" (you'll be a, you'll be a better man)
"And, and you gon', you gon' come out on your own wave"
"Whatever how you gon' take it, man, fuck it" (word up)
The lyrics of "Shark Niggas" by Raekwon are a conversation between two people about the irritating act of biting, which is when another rapper copies an artist's style, flows, and lyrics. They discuss how some rappers take others' lines before they have a chance to shine on their own. They further criticize the ones who do that by saying that they never sound right while doing it. They also discuss how some rappers copy an artist's album cover, such as in the case of Nas, undermining the originality of the artist. Throughout the song, the artists are emphasizing the importance of originality in the rap industry.
Apart from that, the conversation also highlights their frustration with rappers who pretend to be something they are not after they achieve success. They speak about how these happy-go-lucky rappers only want to show off their newfound success, popping champagne and fronting. In contrast, they acknowledge the importance of staying true to one's self and being original. They mention that copying other artists' styles will never bring up one's personal brand, and originality is the only way to succeed in the industry.
Overall, the song highlights the importance of staying true to one's self, individuality and originiality in a manner that is original in itself.
Line by Line Meaning
Niggas is fuckin' crazy
you know what I'm sayin'?
The rapper is acknowledging the absurdity of people trying to copy his style.
Hell yeah, man
The other person agrees with the rapper.
Word, you know how niggas be bitin' and shit
Niggas be bitin' mad styles and shit from niggas, man
The rapper is frustrated with people copying his style and using it for themselves.
Yeah, no doubt
The other person agrees with the rapper's frustration.
That's what I be hatin', man
I can't stand a fuckin' bitin' ass nigga
Wanna use your lines all ahead of time
Before you even get a chance to shine on your own shit
The rapper hates when people copy his style and use his lyrics before he gets a chance to release his own music.
Word, true
The other person affirms the rapper's feelings.
Nah, niggas be killing me though, Son (you know what I'm sayin'?)
Because ya know, they be take-
Be comin' with your words and shit
They hear you say one word then here they come with the word
Tryin' to flip it and bounce it and shit on some bullshit (yeah, yeah)
Not soundin' right, first of all and shit (yeah)
You know what I'm sayin'?
The rapper is annoyed when people try to copy his words and use them in their own music, but it doesn't sound good because they don't know how to use them properly.
Boom, but then you got niggas, son, on the real
You know what I'm sayin'?
Niggas, niggas, niggas, niggas is bitin' off your album cover and shit (yeah)
Boom, bad enough they bitin' lines
like niggas killed me (yeah)
When they came with some Nas-
Niggas bit offa Nas shit, you know what I'm sayin'?
Word, niggas, niggas, niggas, niggas caught his little album cover, boom
They done did a Nas for that shit (yeah)
I'm like damn what the fuck, man? (Yeah)
The rapper is frustrated when people copy his album art and rip off other rappers' ideas and covers.
It's like these happy-go-lucky niggas, man
When they get on, man
They wanna pop a little, a little champagne (but like I said, you-)
You know what I'm sayin'?
Every few, every time you see 'em
You know what I'm sayin'?
Like, front on, don't front for me, man (yo, man)
You gon' play that role, man, play it though
The rapper dislikes when people come into the game acting like they deserve it, and they celebrate with champagne like they've already made it.
It's like this, man, niggas, man
Niggas know not to fuck around with this shit though
I don't give a fuck how nasty niggas get (nah, son)
Let me tell these niggas somethin' God
I don't want niggas soundin' like me on no album
You know what I'm sayin'?
For real 'cause I'ma, I'ma approach a nigga, man
For real, man
I don't want nobody soundin' like me, man
For real, son, you know? (No doubt)
The rapper takes his music and style seriously, and he doesn't want anyone copying him. He will confront anyone who sounds like him on an album.
Bad enough, nigga
I don't want nobody sound like nobody from my Clan, man
Keep it real, get your own shit, man, and be original (word up)
That's all, man (you'll be a, you'll be a better man)
And, and you gon', you gon' come out on your own wave
The rapper believes originality is key, and he wants people to create their own music instead of copying others.
Whatever how you gon' take it, man, fuck it (word up)
The rapper doesn't care how others interpret his message - he just wants them to be original and not copy his style.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Corey Woods, Robert Diggs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind