HeatWave
Raphi Lyrics


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(feat. Macho (New Breed))

[Verse 1:]
A yo the road I travel is full of hard times and hard rhymes
Lost souls with strong minds, Visionaries have gone blind
Politicians that love crime, Missionaries missed the warning signs
On this road I travel, I had the long nights with tears
God whispered to me have no fear
I'm perfecting the path, putting pieces of the puzzle together
You and the rats won't struggle forever
On this road I travel, I heard the drums bang in the slums
While the hustlers be bangin they guns
And the poor, they just begging for crumbs
Some preachers still begging for funds
Outsiders catch a vibe when they come
On this road I travel, mysteries unravel
Cases get caught by the thunder of the judges gavel
From nine months to nine years
Sometimes my only peace is the pen and the poetry of my peers

[Hook:]
Yo it's like a heat wave
Beats Blaze
We write to the rhythm the street plays
We told you pray for the morning, but you didn't heed the warning
Yo it's like a sound storm
Crowds swarm
We got them worried from the bury to California
Prayin for the morning, but you didn't heed the warning

[Verse 2:]
They call me Raphi shock stopper. Lightning bolt blocker
I'm a grown up. Blown up head bubble popper. Tightrope walker
Not the typical belly flopper in a record pool
I say, "Don't play doormat!"
Get your back up off the floor and act like it's your crib
Flip the script and steal the show. Grand theft ad lib
I'm a hybrid wiz kid amid the greats
Shoveling through record crates and I got what it takes
Don't wanna babble. I want to be the one who educates with class
Speak a lesson quick. Fast enough to give you whiplash
You're still throwing out that lip trash?
Now you're about to crash
From cell blocks to bell rocks, my clientele jocks
So ask any one of the many what they thought
There will not be those who left untuned
Some diss, some jock, some listen, some talk
But all of them felt something about the groove
That proves that I'm certified top notch
A West sider knight writer, I ain't a baywatch

[Hook:]
Yo it's like a heat wave
Beats Blaze
We write to the rhythm the street plays
We told you pray for the morning, but you didn't heed the warning
Yo it's like a sound storm
Crowds swarm
We got them worried from the bury to California
Prayin for the morning, but you didn't heed the warning

[Verse 3:]
I write rhymes to the lights of the city while I'm floating down the freeway
Inhaling dirt through my lungs push auto replay
Words are coming at the speed of sound
Cali quakes when Big Shame and this kid from New Breed's in town
And the world feel the after shock for all them cats that forgot we make the planet rock
It's lonely at the top that's why we came with the clan
We knew from Tunnel Vision that we had the master plan
It seems to me that a responsibility's on my back
To bring back a respect for this art
So we do it from the heart
That way, a light can shine
Plus, I rhyme to find some kind of divine vent for my rage
This cage-like white rage might seem suitable
Heinous crime for a dangerous mind isn't do-able
So kid, got a beautiful floweth over my cup




From Mission Park to Cali
Quakin' forever shakin' it up

Overall Meaning

The song Heatwave by Raphi featuring Macho (New Breed) deals with the struggles and challenges that they have faced on their journey to success. Raphi talks about the hard times and hard rhymes that he has encountered, the loss of visionaries, the politicians who love crime and missionaries who missed the warning signs. He speaks of long nights with tears and drums banging in the slums, while the poor beg for crumbs and the preachers beg for funds. Despite all of these difficulties, God whispers to him to have no fear, and pieces of the puzzle begin to come together, revealing the mysteries that unravel and the struggles that are caught by the thunder of the judges' gavel.


Raphi also touches on the responsibility that comes with being a part of the hip-hop community. He talks about how he writes rhymes to the lights of the city while floating down the freeway, inhaling dirt through his lungs on auto replay. His words come at the speed of sound, and Cali quakes when he and Big Shame from New Breed are in town. Raphi believes that the responsibility is on his back to bring back respect for hip-hop as an art, to do it from the heart, and to shine a light on it. He wants to find a divine vent for his rage, which he believes is a cage-like white rage that he can only release through his music.


Overall, the song speaks to the challenges and responsibility of being a hip-hop artist, and how music can be used to become a light in the darkness.


Interesting Facts:


1) Heatwave was released in 2003 on Raphi's album "Conception."
2) The song was produced by DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill.
3) Heatwave was featured on the soundtrack for the video game "Def Jam Vendetta."
4) Raphi is a Filipino-American rapper from California who burst onto the scene in the late 1990s.
5) Macho (New Breed) is a Puerto Rican-American rapper who was a part of the hip-hop group New Breed in the early 2000s.
6) Raphi and Macho collaborated on another song called "A Day in the Life" in 2001.
7) Raphi has collaborated with other well-known artists such as Black Thought, Talib Kweli and DJ Rhettmatic.
8) Raphi has released several albums, including "Hip Hop Basics," "Conception," and "Soul Cal Music."
9) Raphi is also a visual artist and has worked on murals and street art projects.
10) Heatwave is considered one of Raphi's most popular and well-known songs.


Chords (if known):
Unfortunately, I could not find the chords for Heatwave by Raphi.


Line by Line Meaning

A yo the road I travel is full of hard times and hard rhymes
The path I am on is difficult and filled with obstacles, including struggles with my music.


Lost souls with strong minds, Visionaries have gone blind
There are people who are intelligent and driven, but they have lost their way and lost sight of their original goals and visions.


Politicians that love crime, Missionaries missed the warning signs
Some politicians engage in criminal activities, while some religious leaders have failed to recognize warning signs and help their communities.


On this road I travel, I had the long nights with tears
During my journey, I have experienced many long and difficult nights filled with tears and sorrow.


God whispered to me have no fear
Through these difficult times, I have found strength and guidance through my faith and belief in a higher power.


I'm perfecting the path, putting pieces of the puzzle together
I am constantly working to improve my path and put together the different aspects of my life to form a complete picture or plan.


You and the rats won't struggle forever
Regardless of the challenges and obstacles we face, we will eventually overcome them and find success.


On this road I travel, I heard the drums bang in the slums
As I navigate through life, I hear the sounds of struggle and hardship in the poorer areas of society.


While the hustlers be bangin they guns
Some individuals resort to violent and illegal behavior to try and succeed in life.


And the poor, they just begging for crumbs
People who are struggling financially are often just trying to scrape by, barely surviving.


Some preachers still begging for funds
Some religious figures are more focused on gaining money and other material possessions rather than helping their communities and congregations.


Outsiders catch a vibe when they come
Those who are not part of this community can sense the struggles and hardships present when they visit.


On this road I travel, mysteries unravel
As I move along my path, I encounter unexpected situations and surprises that reveal new information or insight.


Cases get caught by the thunder of the judges gavel
Justice is often served in the courtroom, where the judge's final decision can have a huge impact on someone's life.


From nine months to nine years
Legal sentences for crimes can range from just a few months to several years in jail or prison.


Sometimes my only peace is the pen and the poetry of my peers
Writing and poetry can offer an escape and sense of peace in times of hardship and struggle when other coping mechanisms are not available.


They call me Raphi shock stopper. Lightning bolt blocker
My rap name signifies my ability to stop people in their tracks and make a huge impact with my music and lyrics.


I'm a grown up. Blown up head bubble popper. Tightrope walker
As an adult, I have matured and learned to navigate the tricky path of life, balancing different priorities and responsibilities.


Not the typical belly flopper in a record pool
I am not just another rapper trying to make it in the industry. I am unique and stand out from the rest.


I say, "Don't play doormat!"
I urge others not to be passive and let others walk all over them. Stand up for yourself and take charge.


Get your back up off the floor and act like it's your crib
Don't let others dictate your life or make you feel like you don't belong. Take control and act like you own the place.


Flip the script and steal the show. Grand theft ad lib
Change the game and show everyone what you're capable of. Make a big impact with your improvisational skills.


I'm a hybrid wiz kid amid the greats
I possess a unique set of skills and talents that set me apart from other artists in the music industry.


Shoveling through record crates and I got what it takes
I have spent countless hours researching and studying music and have honed my skills to become a successful artist.


Don't wanna babble. I want to be the one who educates with class
I don't want to just make meaningless music. I want to create something with substance and educational value.


Speak a lesson quick. Fast enough to give you whiplash
My lyrics are impactful and can hit you so quickly that it feels like whiplash.


You're still throwing out that lip trash?
Are you still talking nonsense and not recognizing the truth?


Now you're about to crash
Your actions and choices are about to catch up with you, resulting in negative consequences.


From cell blocks to bell rocks, my clientele jocks
My fans come from all walks of life and backgrounds, including those who have been in prison or have struggled with addiction.


So ask any one of the many what they thought
You can ask any of my fans what they think of my music and they will have a positive response.


There will not be those who left untuned
Everyone who listens to my music will be impacted in some way.


Some diss, some jock, some listen, some talk
Some people may not like my music, while others love it. Some people just listen, while others engage in conversation and debate about my lyrics.


But all of them felt something about the groove
Even if someone doesn't like my music, they will still feel something when they hear it.


That proves that I'm certified top notch
The fact that my music elicits a strong emotional response from people is proof that I am a highly skilled and successful artist.


A West sider knight writer, I ain't a baywatch
I am a talented writer from the west side of town, but I am not just a pretty face like the actors on the TV show Baywatch.


I write rhymes to the lights of the city while I'm floating down the freeway
I am inspired by the sights of the city and often write my lyrics while driving on the freeway.


Inhaling dirt through my lungs push auto replay
My music is so impactful that it often feels like I am breathing it in involuntarily and on a constant loop.


Words are coming at the speed of sound
My lyrics are quick and powerful, coming at listeners rapidly like the sound barrier breaking.


Cali quakes when Big Shame and this kid from New Breed's in town
When me and my fellow artist Big Shame are in California, we create a huge impact and stir up excitement and energy.


And the world feel the after shock for all them cats that forgot we make the planet rock
Our music is so powerful that it creates a ripple effect or aftershock, reminding everyone that we are the ones who make the world rock with our music.


It's lonely at the top that's why we came with the clan
Being successful can be lonely, which is why I surround myself with other talented artists who can relate to my experiences.


We knew from Tunnel Vision that we had the master plan
We had a clear vision of where we wanted to go and what we wanted to accomplish, which we established during our Tunnel Vision project.


It seems to me that a responsibility's on my back
As a successful artist, I feel a sense of responsibility to use my platform for good and educate others through my music.


To bring back a respect for this art
I want to help restore a sense of respect and value for the art of rap music.


So we do it from the heart
We create music with passion and authenticity, putting our hearts and souls into every song.


That way, a light can shine
By creating music from the heart, we can make a positive impact on others and shine a light on important issues.


Plus, I rhyme to find some kind of divine vent for my rage
I use my music as an outlet to express my anger and frustration in a productive and creative way.


This cage-like white rage might seem suitable
My frustration and anger can feel suffocating and confining, but my music helps me escape and deal with it in a positive way.


Heinous crime for a dangerous mind isn't do-able
I believe that even those with dangerous minds or tendencies can find a better way to channel their energy and avoid committing heinous crimes.


So kid, got a beautiful floweth over my cup
I have a natural talent for rap and my musical abilities overflow from my cup like a beautiful fountain.


From Mission Park to Cali
My music reaches people from all over California, from the small town of Mission Park to the bustling city of LA.


Quakin' forever shakin' it up
My music has a powerful impact and keeps people moving and grooving for eternity.




Contributed by Luke E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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