Fish
Raekwon & Cappadonna Lyrics


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These are the men who lead the crime families of America
I control 26,000 men. Except for dope, we operate in all aspects
Of organized crime. And if there's one thing I'm sure of
It's that drugs destroy your mind and destroy your home
In the end it'll only lead our country into ruin

We eat fish, toss salads and make rap ballads
The biochemical slanglord'll throw the Arabs
In the dope fiend, vocal chords switch laser beams
My triple sevens broke the slot machines out in Queens
Grey Poupon is Revlon rap, smack pawns, swing like batons
Most my niggas smoke like Hillshire Farms
Check the gummy sole, underneath my shoe lies the tap
That attract bow-legged bitches with wide horse gaps
In steel mills Iron he'll smoke the blow on duns
You run errands, Primatene Mist is afraid of my lungs
Turn my channel, it'll blow your whole bench off the panel
Like eighty roman candles that backfired then slammed you
Every day is like a video shoot, check this shit
I take it back to Playboy, stash guns in whips
Picture afro picks, shish kabobs and dashikis
Thousands civil marched, raised their fists in early sixties

Now check this one, you must have been stupid to miss this one
Donna shogun-ing flip a ton of fashion
Destination be the cash one, I step past one
Don't make me blast one, I'm cold like eskimo flow
Cappa villain stay chillin' take shots of penicillin
Clean out and let the steam out, she fiend to blow out
But I'm equipped with mad white, Morris The Rap got nine lives
I'll take a few hundred thousand dollar dives
And then I still never go down
Until the last round I shine
When RZA do his thing motherfucker, I'mma do mine

Now, where I come from cats be carrying, marrying drug money
Fuck up your wife, get four to life
Cream we handling, Midtown niggas scrambling
Move and examine the fly shit, plus quick to buy shit
Chef, yeah, you know the whole gods astral
Fidel Castro suits plus depositing cash rule
Big time, play it like Canadian wine
RZA's divine now, the sacredness of one's true mind
Now let's get colorful like money green
High roller coaster, Sosa, million dollar nigga roaster
Yeah God, be having my whole steez laced
Now let's rap a taste, connect dots, aim Glocks, train stop
Figaro fly jewelin', tri-color Cubans
Swerving we'll pow with Germans in Suburbans
Twenty-four niggas with vests on, my own restaurant
Dons sending my sons membership forms
And still getting this paper scraper
Fake gators from Jamaica, wizards be passing like Lakers




And it be coming from Lex Louis Rich Liberace
Fetus style and blocking goals like hockey

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Fish" by Raekwon and Cappadonna explore the themes of organized crime and the drug epidemic that plagues many communities across America. The verse opens with a quote from the movie "Goodfellas", where the singer explains how the crime families of America operate, and the devastating effects of drugs on individuals and society. The following verses are a mix of boastful rhymes, cultural references, and cryptic statements that touch on Raekwon and Cappadonna's experiences growing up in Staten Island.


The first verse is characterized by intricate wordplay and vivid imagery, such as the biochemical slanglord throwing Arabs, the vocal chords switching laser beams, or the triple sevens breaking slot machines. The lyrics reference different products and brands, like Grey Poupon or Primatene Mist, and feature metaphors and homophones that require close attention to decipher. The chorus is a simple repetition of the line "We eat fish, toss salads, and make rap ballads", which is meant to convey the trio's diverse talents and interests.


The second verse is more focused on Cappadonna's perspective, as he describes his mastery of rap and his readiness to defend his crew from any threat. He also hints at his involvement in drug trafficking, bragging about his stash of white and his ability to take expensive trips without getting caught. The verse ends with a declaration of loyalty to RZA, the Wu-Tang Clan's leader, and a recognition of his superior production skills.


Overall, "Fish" is a dense and complex song that showcases Raekwon and Cappadonna's lyrical skills and their deep knowledge of pop culture and street life. The lyrics are full of references to movies, food, fashion, and drug slang, and require multiple listens to fully appreciate. The song also features a jazzy beat, brought by sample-heavy production by RZA and King Tech, that complements the vocal performances and reinforces the group's reputation as pioneers of East Coast hip-hop.


Line by Line Meaning

These are the men who lead the crime families of America
I am in control of thousands of men in organized crime except for drugs. However, drugs will lead to ruin.


We eat fish, toss salads and make rap ballads
We are rappers who enjoy meals of fish and salad while creating music.


The biochemical slanglord'll throw the Arabs
My lyrical style is so powerful that it can overpower even Arabic music.


In the dope fiend, vocal chords switch laser beams
The addiction to drugs can cause your voice to change and become destructive like a laser beam.


My triple sevens broke the slot machines out in Queens
I am so successful that I have won big at gambling and even broken the slot machines.


Grey Poupon is Revlon rap, smack pawns, swing like batons
I am a skilled rapper who can rap about anything and make it sound good. Even my verses that criticize the wealthy and powerful (such as Grey Poupon and Revlon) sound great.


Most my niggas smoke like Hillshire Farms
Most of the people I know smoke cigarettes like they are going out of style.


Check the gummy sole, underneath my shoe lies the tap
Under the sticky rubber sole of my shoe, there is hidden money.


That attract bow-legged bitches with wide horse gaps
My wealth and success can attract the attention of beautiful women who are eager to please.


In steel mills Iron he'll smoke the blow on duns
Even in a dangerous workplace like a steel mill, people can still smoke illegal drugs.


You run errands, Primatene Mist is afraid of my lungs
I am tough and can handle physical exertion, even with asthma drugs like Primatene Mist.


Turn my channel, it'll blow your whole bench off the panel
My music is so powerful that it can inspire people to action or disrupt their current lifestyle.


Like eighty roman candles that backfired then slammed you
My music can be explosive, like a fireworks show, but can also cause trouble if you get too close.


Every day is like a video shoot, check this shit
My life feels like a movie, and I am always ready to show off and party.


I take it back to Playboy, stash guns in whips
I like to party and am also prepared to protect myself with weapons.


Picture afro picks, shish kabobs and dashikis
Imagining stylish and cultural hair picks, shish kabobs, and dashikis.


Thousands civil marched, raised their fists in early sixties
Referring to the Civil Rights Movement's protests and rallies in the 1960s.


Now check this one, you must have been stupid to miss this one
I am calling out my critics, saying they must be blind or dumb not to recognize my talent.


Donna shogun-ing flip a ton of fashion
My friend Cappadonna is willfully and creatively flaunting his monopoly on fashion-selling.


Destination be the cash one, I step past one
I am constantly striving towards wealth and success, and avoid any obstacles that present themselves along the way.


Don't make me blast one, I'm cold like eskimo flow
Don't provoke me or I'll use violence against you. I'm a skilled rapper with a cold, calculated flow.


Cappa villain stay chillin' take shots of penicillin
Cappadonna is a cool and relaxed rapper and also enjoys drinking Penicillin.


Clean out and let the steam out, she fiend to blow out
I am cleaning my gun and venting my anger, and other people are eager to see me take action.


But I'm equipped with mad white, Morris The Rap got nine lives
I am street smart and have ample illegal drugs, and even Morris The Rap has survived numerous dangerous situations.


I'll take a few hundred thousand dollar dives
I will take financial risks and occasionally lose a lot of money.


And then I still never go down
Even if I do lose, I never give up or lose my confidence.


Until the last round I shine
I will continue to excel and shine until the very end.


When RZA do his thing motherfucker, I'mma do mine
When my friend and fellow rapper RZA does his thing, I will also do mine with equal skill and ability.


Now, where I come from cats be carrying, marrying drug money
Where I'm from, drug dealers often carry and invest in large amounts of cash.


Fuck up your wife, get four to life
If you harm someone's wife, you could face up to life in prison.


Cream we handling, Midtown niggas scrambling
We are controlling and managing large amounts of money, and other people are trying to get a piece of the action.


Move and examine the fly shit, plus quick to buy shit
We are savvy about fashion and keep our eyes on the latest trends, and are also quick to purchase these items for ourselves.


Chef, yeah, you know the whole gods astral
Referring to Raekwon's nickname, Chef, and how he is a part of a larger group of talented rappers.


Fidel Castro suits plus depositing cash rule
We enjoy wearing stylish and expensive suits and depositing large amounts of cash in the bank.


Big time, play it like Canadian wine
We are enjoying the good life and appreciate the finer things, like smooth Canadian wines.


RZA's divine now, the sacredness of one's true mind
RZA is an accomplished and revered rapper, and we should all take inspiration from our true mind and values.


Now let's get colorful like money green
Let's celebrate our wealth and success and have fun with it.


High roller coaster, Sosa, million dollar nigga roaster
We are living large and enjoying the thrilling ups and downs of our success as millionaires.


Yeah God, be having my whole steez laced
I am confident and enjoy having every aspect of my life looking great and fashionable.


Now let's rap a taste, connect dots, aim Glocks, train stop
Let's rap and celebrate, connect with each other, use violence only when necessary, and stop our trains at the right place.


Figaro fly jewelin', tri-color Cubans
Rejoicing in flying our jewelry, and enjoying our colorful Cuban cigars.


Swerving we'll pow with Germans in Suburbans
We are skilled drivers and can maneuver our cars like a pro, even in close calls.


Twenty-four niggas with vests on, my own restaurant
I have an army of people guarding me, and I own my own restaurant.


Dons sending my sons membership forms
High-ranking members of organized crime are seeking to bring me and mine into their operations.


And still getting this paper scraper
We are still earning lots of money, even as we navigate dangerous and risky situations.


Fake gators from Jamaica, wizards be passing like Lakers
Proud and confident in our flashy style and accessories, even if they're not real. Also referencing the skill and moves of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.


And it be coming from Lex Louis Rich Liberace
We are living the high life, dressed up in fancy and expensive designer clothes.


Fetus style and blocking goals like hockey
We move and dress with swag and are also experts at defensive maneuvers, like in the sport of hockey.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: Corey Woods, Darryl Hill, Dennis Coles, T Master

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@grinchoi1

One of the greatest beats of all-time.

@andrekindley

My favorite song off the album hands down!!!!

@jeromekidd790

This beat and the beat on Heaterz

@jay1live422

This Shit is tough !!!

@llorenstorres3730

I agree🔥🔥🔥

@orlandovazquez9662

Shit is elegant!

6 More Replies...

@HelpMeFindTheseSongs

Now THIS is Hip-Hop. No hook/chorus, nobody singing their little heart out, nobody mumbling, nobody sounding silly or corny. Just three skilled cats from the greatest rap group of all time spitting gritty rhymes over a nasty ass beat!! 90s Hip-Hop!!

@Skyzikz

There isn't anything to compare WuTang to cuz theyre kinda in a league of their own

@dhgrant100

Hell yeah. You said it. This track still rocks like it always did like all wu

We eat fish to seed salads and make rap ballads. Ghost is like top 5 MCs to me

@Toxic_Adrian

This may be the greatest beat in all of hip hop

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