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
lesson of today
Rah Digga Lyrics
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Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Check it out now uh
Dirty Harriet!
Dirty Harriet!
Dirty Harriet! Yeah!
Where's my sisters?
Where's my sisters?
The brothers, the brothers
Said I be rappin' for da ladies
What's up ladies?
But this one's for da brothers
The brothers, the brothers
Yeah check it out now
Now I'm the baby in the family
And I got three siblings
Three older brothers and we trying to make a living
So we hustle and we bubble
And we coming up fast
Ain't gon' never be the same
Since mom and pops past
The oldest one, child prodigy no doubt
Every since he was a kid used to ride a bitch out
All grown up now
Nice job, nice clout
Nice wife, nice house, try-na take the right route
Treat sis like a queen brother gave me everything
Any time I got in trouble he could probably pull some strings
Walk daddy's footsteps and career same speed
Made the greatest big brother and a father to his own seed
(Uh-oh) But something happened on the job, he started snappin'
Problems with the wifee, winging out and started cappin'
Tried to turn himself in just to make things right
Ended up taking flight cause he's not the jail type
The lesson of today
You have to listen to each and every single word I have to say
Because?
Rah Digga?remains raw
(Follow the rules)
(Ya hear me, huh?)
The lesson of today
You have to listen to each and every single word I have to say
Because?
Rah Digga?remains raw
(Follow the rules)
(Ya hear me, huh?)
Now I got a second brother me and this one was closer
Made me a little tom boy like he was supposed to
Tearing up the place blowing weed in my face
Irresponsible to death parents stayed on his case
Probably cause he wanted to be the baby in the family
Drinking with his friends, macking up
Mommy carried me, look half way crook getting crazy on the mic
Wasn't really into rap but the shit sound tight
He used to tell me all the time
Don't wet none sis
By this time next year we gon' be dumb rich
That's when I heard the ill
My physical got killed
Just a couple of weeks after signing a record deal
Now somebody gots to bust and have to get a little tough
And on the block round the clock
Niggas ain't seen nothing
Yeah right
Never seen a brother more determined or eager
Moms and pops couldn't see it
Now we not gonna see it either
The lesson of today
You have to listen to each and every single word I have to say
Because?
Rah Digga?remains raw
(Follow the rules)
(Ya hear me, huh?)
The lesson of today
You have to listen to each and every single word I have to say
Because?
Rah Digga?remains raw
(Follow the rules)
(Ya hear me, huh?)
Now my last and final brother, kinda something out the norm
Some say part depressed some say part deformed
Record unclean since his early teens
In and out the youth house
Playing all the crime scenes
Early hangin' with fiends smoking all types of things
He used to chase a basketball now he chasing pipe dreams
From the door, shit was wrong undetected too long
Bugged out when he was little
Now he big that was wrong
Little too early had to kick him out the house
He just wanted some attention that's what dad was all about
He used to bust down the door
Moms cry, pops fight
Even family counseling couldn't make this shit right
Word on the street every body want to do him
>From his so-called boys to all the chickens he was screwin'
Anybody get the chance, who will probably unload?
How much longer sis got before the last brother gone
OH NO!
The lesson of today
You have to listen to each and every single word I have to say
Because?
Rah Digga?remains raw
(Follow the rules)
(Ya hear me, huh?)
The lesson of today
You have to listen to each and every single word I have to say
Because?
Rah Digga?remains raw
(Follow the rules)
(Ya hear me, huh?)
Rah Digga, rah digga
[Outro]
Peace y'all this is the first lady of the Flipmode Squad
Rah Digga (Uh-huh)
I want to take this time out to say thanks to everybody
Who went out and copped my shit
For those of y'all who's listening and didn't go cop your own copy
I suggest you go handle your BI
Now I'm about to take this time out to plug the next
Flipmode Squad album (Okay) the Rulership album (Okay)
I want to plug the next Busta Ryhmes solo LP?Anarchy
And I'm pluggin' the Outsidaz (Hey-dey-dey)
Ya know what I mean? Bricks City all day (Night Life)
Now for those of y'all who think I purposely make my voice deep
Try-na sound like some extra hard core, whatever, whatever
Fuck all y'all alright cause
This is me, this is who I be
This is my voice and you got no choice
And on that note I just wanted to say
Cheers to another thousand years
Of shit poppin' dope emceein' and I write my own rhymes y'all
Dirty Harriet!
But before I forget don't touch that dial y'all
Make sure y'all stay tune to check out
These next couple of bonus tracks I left y'all with
In "Lessons of Today," Rah Digga recounts the stories of her three older brothers and the lessons she has learned from their experiences. Each verse tells the story of a different brother, highlighting their struggles and successes. The first brother was a child prodigy and successful in his career until personal problems caused him to lose control and run from the law. The second brother was a musician who was killed shortly after signing a record deal, leaving Rah Digga feeling lost and determined to succeed in his honor. The final brother struggled with drugs and crime and was eventually killed by someone seeking revenge.
Through these stories, Rah Digga emphasizes the importance of listening and learning from others' experiences. She also speaks to the challenges and difficulties faced by Black families and communities. The lesson of the song is to take heed of the lessons of the past in order to create a brighter future.
Overall, "Lessons of Today" is a powerful and introspective track that showcases Rah Digga's storytelling abilities. It is a call to action for listeners to learn from both the successes and challenges faced by those who came before us.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I'm the baby in the family
And I got three siblings
Three older brothers and we trying to make a living
The singer is the youngest sibling in a family of four, with three older brothers, and they are all hustling to make a living.
So we hustle and we bubble
And we coming up fast
Ain't gon' never be the same
Since mom and pops past
The family is making quick progress through their hustling, but things changed since their parents died.
The lesson of today
You have to listen to each and every single word I have to say
The singer implores everyone to pay close attention to her words and learn from the lesson that follows.
But something happened on the job, he started snappin'
Problems with the wifee, winging out and started cappin'
The oldest brother had issues at work and with his wife, which led to him having a breakdown and becoming violent.
Now somebody gots to bust and have to get a little tough
And on the block round the clock
Niggas ain't seen nothing
After the second brother's tragic death, someone had to step up and be tough, and the artist is referring to herself in this role, as there is a lot of work to do.
Little too early had to kick him out the house
He just wanted some attention that's what dad was all about
The third brother was kicked out of the house because he wanted attention, which the father always prioritized.
Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RASHIA FISHER, MARK JAMES, CHRISTOPHER E MARTIN, DANA OWENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind