A New Jersey native, Rah Digga attended private school in Maryland where she graduated as salutatorian, then studied electrical engineering at the New Jersey Institute Of Technology. She started rapping after being inspired by artists of hip hop's "golden age" such as Rakim, Kool G. Rap and Queen Latifah, eventually joining the group Twice the Flavor and then Jersey's Outsidaz clique. A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip negotiated her a deal with Elektra Records after being impressed by a performance at New York City's Lyricist Lounge (at which time Digga was eight months pregnant). Q-Tip also introduced her to Busta Rhymes, who invited her to join his newly-formed Flipmode Squad crew. The deal with Elektra soon collapsed however and Digga signed to Flipmode Entertainment. She made guest appearanes on Busta's 1997 album When Disaster Strikes as well as the Lyricist Lounge, Vol. 1 compilation (on the track "Be OK", a two-hander with Bahamadia), the first installment of the Hip Hop For Respect anti-police brutality project in memory of Amadou Diallo, and the Fugees track "Cowboys", before joining up with the Flipmode Squad for The Imperial Album (1998). Anticipation mounted for further output, and she recorded tracks with legendary producers Pete Rock and DJ Premier. These and others were included on her solo album Dirty Harriet in 2000.
The follow-up to Dirty Harriet was originally intended to be a duet album with Digga's husband, Young Zee of the Outsidaz. However, this was eventually put on hold for a fully-fledged solo album. However, it was long delayed, partly due to Digga switching labels from J Records to the independent Koch Records; currently a February 2006 release is planned, with the album titled Sucker Free. A single, which may or may not resurface on the album, is "Party Gets Hot Tonight" featuring Akon. Her follow up album that was supposed to be released on J Records was titled Everything Is a Story, and was originally scheduled to be released February 10, 2004. During the time between her first and second solo albums Digga made numerous high-profile guest appearances, including on Busta Rhymes' hit single "I Know What You Want" and on albums by Talib Kweli, Bless, Masta Ace and Jamelia.
Rah Digga can be seen in Busta's latest (and polemical) video, "Touch It Remix", that features Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks, Papoose and DMX.
Rah Digga also stars as (Maggie Bess) in the 2001 re-make of the sci-fi chiller Thirteen Ghosts
Handle Your B.I
Rah Digga Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got what you want
I got what you need
Rep chicks on the strip
Rep thugs on the street
I got what you want
I got what you need
Rep thugs on the street
Verse 1:
Digga Digga
First name Rashia
Rock the mic crazy
Wouldn't wanna be ya
Had a nice wing since my early teens
Now I'm grown rocking microphones
Sin! Sin!
Said I learned new ways
Gotta thank God for my chance to blaze
Next album gonna see a fat healthy raise
And he make mistakes
Say That's The Brakes (That's The Brakes)
True
Hit 'em with the (Wooo!)
Fine young woman now
Long time coming now (Coming now)
Thank the fans for they love and affection
Heard me with the Fugees
Still ain't making a connection
Fulfill my destiny wasn't nothing y'all could tell me
Ripping down the stage with a baby in my belly
Adding up to math
Applying everything I learned
While a dummy kept going on tour and get burned
See
Chorus:
I got what you want
I got what you need
Rep chicks on the strength
Rep thugs on the street
East Coast y'all
Handle your B. I.
West Coast y'all
Handle your B. I.
Dirty South y'all
Handle B. I.
Up top y'all
Handle your B. I.
Verse 2:
Now make way for a sister little feisty foul mouth
Say what's that all about (bout bout)
It's about one two three four five for the rating
A penny for the hating
Y'all know my ways
Staying up in the game of this mc craze
Kind of wonder what if I'd of dropped back in the days
Say
Rhymes I toss it
Taking no losses
Let management tell you who your new boss is
People stay repping up on the West Coast
Word is bond to my flow
Y'all got the best 'dro
Ain't seen nothing like it
Ain't bring nothing like it
If my rhymes strike a nerve
Ain't mean nothing by it
Dirty Harriet!
And I be stepping to the left
You bust for Diablo
I still bust for ucef
Try'na see me on the mc tip
Now child please
Vocab for years
And freak enough stylees
Swing!
Rep the thing for my Hip-Hop brothers
Take care of them before I take care of others
Juice Crew, Rakim, Prince
Big influence
You saying I'm the dopest
But I already knew this
Say one check two check
Everywhere check check
Check for me
We haven't ever even met yet
Gotta thank God
I said I gotta thank God I could look this fly and rock it this hard
Chorus:
I got what you want
I got what you need
Rep chicks on the strength
Rep thugs on the street
East Coast y'all
Handle your B. I.
West Coast y'all
Handle your B. I.
Dirty South y'all
Handle B. I.
Up top y'all
Handle your B. I.
I got what you want
I got what you need
Rep chicks on the strength
Rep thugs on the street
East Coast y'all
Handle your B. I.
West Coast y'all
Handle your B. I.
Dirty South y'all
Handle B. I.
Up top y'all
Handle your B. I
The song 'Handle Your B.I.' by Rah Digga is a celebration of her musical achievements and success in the rap game. The chorus, "I got what you want, I got what you need, rep chicks on the strip, rep thugs on the street" introduces the song, highlighting Digga's versatility as an artist, who can cater to both the male and female demographics. In the first verse, Digga reflects on her journey from her teenage years to her present status as an established rapper. She acknowledges her success while also acknowledging her mistakes and learning from them. Furthermore, Digga raps about how she has been steadily growing as an artist, and her next album would bring in a considerable raise.
The second verse sees Rah Digga deliver yet another remarkable rap in which she takes a jab at some of the rappers in the game. She questions where she would have been if she had started in earlier years and whether she would have succeeded the way she has. Digga also talks about how those who are successful in the rap game are managed by someone else who ultimately is their boss. Additionally, she mentions how the West Coast has a better weed culture, and her rhymes can strike a nerve without necessarily meaning any harm. Finally, Digga outlines her gratitude towards Hip-Hop legends such as Rakim and how they have influenced her music. The song closes with the chorus, reiterating Digga's versatility and calling out to all regions to handle their 'B.I.'
Line by Line Meaning
I got what you want
I possess the qualities and talents that you desire
I got what you need
I have the skills and abilities required to satisfy your desires
Rep chicks on the strip
I represent and showcase talented female artists in urban areas
Rep thugs on the street
I represent and showcase skilled male rappers in urban areas
East Coast y'all
Addressing and acknowledging the audience from the eastern United States
Handle your B. I.
Deal with and manage your own business and issues
Dirty South y'all
Addressing and acknowledging the audience from the southern United States
Up top y'all
Addressing and acknowledging the audience from the northern United States
Now I'm grown rocking microphones
As an adult, I perform confidently and successfully as a rapper
Next album gonna see a fat healthy raise
My upcoming music project will increase my financial success significantly
Say That's The Brakes (That's The Brakes)
Accepting and acknowledging that mistakes and failures are part of life
Adding up to math
Using the knowledge and skills I have acquired to achieve success in my career
Ain't mean nothing by it
My lyrics were not intended to cause offense or harm
Take care of them before I take care of others
Prioritizing the needs and success of fellow hip-hop artists before my own
Juice Crew, Rakim, Prince
Acknowledging the influential and inspiring hip-hop artists who have influenced my career
I said I gotta thank God I could look this fly and rock it this hard
Grateful for my talents and successes in hip-hop music
Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.