Anthony Forte was born March 2, 1968 and grew up in San Francisco's Fillmore District. He has a twin sister. He has a son as well as three daughters.
Right after high school, 4-Tay made his debut on the Too Short album Life Is...Too Short. He was later convicted on drug charges and served ten months in prison. Upon his release from prison he released his debut album Rappin' 4-Tay Is Back in 1991, and followed up in 1994 with Don't Fight the Feelin', which included the hits "Playaz Club" (which sampled the song "Private Number" by William Bell and Judy Clay and hit number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100), the "Dank Season" featuring Seff Tha Gaffla, and "I'll Be Around" (which hit number 39 on the US Hot 100, number 59 in Australia, and number one in New Zealand).
In 1995, two Rappin' 4-Tay songs—"Problems" and "A Message for Your Mind"—were featured on the Dangerous Minds soundtrack. "A Message For Your Mind" sampled "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5.
Rappin' 4-Tay's mainstream success has been scarce since then, but he was featured on 2Pac's All Eyez on Me album on the track "Only God Can Judge Me" in 1996 and Master P's West Coast Bad Boyz II compilation in 1997. 4-Tay was also an original member of Bay Area supergroup T.W.D.Y. in 1999.
In 2003 Rappin' 4-Tay released the album Gangsta Gumbo with the single "Burning, Burning", followed up by the album That's What You Thought in 2007. In 2010 He was featured on R&B Artist E. Broussard's song titled Big Game Droppin'.
He was featured on the song "My Alphabets" on fellow Bay Area rap veteran Mac Dre's 2004 album The Genie of the Lamp. Dec 06 2011 Rappin' 4-Tay, E-40 and Playalitical collaborated on a song entitled "Bounce It Like a Bad Check" which was featured on the Political Playboy Music album released by Playalitical. In 2012 Rappin' 4-Tay collaborated on the song "Picture a Nigga" with Lil' Gang$ta, as well as helping with his debut album.
In 2013, he headlined the main stage of Seattle Hempfest with artists Ditch, Tony Tag, Brian Meyers and more.
In May 2014, he appeared with E Bone415 in a music video about Alcatraz Island.
Ain't Nobody Trippin'
Rappin' 4-Tay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me be open when blessings come in disguise
When I'm a tyrant please help me fall in line
I'm sending thank you's to You and the Angel guides
That helped me get to this point cause I know my choices are hectic
Times be getting hard but I know I'm Divinely protected
I seen your message
So I'm trying not to stress too hard
I take 3 steps forward then 2 steps back
Fell off track but through God know I'll be right back
I've failed 2, 3 times, though I tried my best
But I know I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be at, so I ain't tripping
I ain't tripping
I ain't tripping, yeah
But if I stray don't leave me
Please forgive me when I
Choose the wrong way to go
But if I stray don't leave me
Please forgive me when I
Choose the wrong way to go
I take 3 steps forward then 2 steps back
Fell off track but through God know I'll be right back
I've failed 2, 3 times, though I tried my best
But I know I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be at, so I ain't tripping
I ain't tripping
I ain't tripping, yeah
In these lyrics, Rappin' 4-Tay expresses his desire for patience and kindness, asking for guidance from a higher power, referred to as "Heavenly Father." He acknowledges that blessings sometimes come in unexpected forms, and asks for help in recognizing them even when they may not be immediately apparent. When he finds himself acting like a "tyrant," he asks for assistance in finding balance and alignment with the divine. He expresses gratitude towards God and the angelic guides who have supported him to reach his current point in life, acknowledging that his choices have often been challenging.
Rappin' 4-Tay then reflects on the struggles he has faced, admitting that he has experienced setbacks and fallen off track multiple times. Despite these failures, he acknowledges that he has always managed to find his way back with the help of God. He understands that he may not always succeed and that he may encounter obstacles along the way, but he remains steadfast in his belief that he is exactly where he is meant to be. Rather than getting caught up in regret or self-blame, he asserts that he is not overly concerned or stressed about these hiccups because he trusts in a higher plan.
The lyrics also touch on the vulnerability of straying from the desired path and making mistakes. Rappin' 4-Tay pleads for forgiveness and mercy from the higher power if he ever chooses the wrong direction. He acknowledges that he may sometimes make questionable choices but hopes that he will not be abandoned by God in those moments. He recognizes that he is fallible and may take occasional missteps, but he desires understanding and guidance during those times.
Overall, these lyrics showcase Rappin' 4-Tay's deep faith and his belief in divine protection and guidance. He understands that life may present challenges and setbacks, but he remains committed to staying true to himself and his faith. Through his lyrics, he encourages resilience, acceptance of failures, and the importance of placing trust in a higher power's plan for one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Heavenly Father make me patient, make me kind
I pray to God to help me become a more patient and kind person.
Let me be open when blessings come in disguise
I want to be able to recognize and appreciate the blessings in my life even when they may not initially appear as such.
When I'm a tyrant please help me fall in line
In moments when I become controlling or authoritative, I seek assistance in finding my way back to humility and righteousness.
I'm sending thank you's to You and the Angel guides
I express gratitude to God and the celestial beings who have guided and supported me along my journey.
That helped me get to this point cause I know my choices are hectic
I acknowledge that the decisions I've made in the past may have been turbulent, but I appreciate the guidance that brought me to where I am now.
Times be getting hard but I know I'm Divinely protected
Despite facing difficult times, I have faith that I am under God's divine protection.
I seen your message
I have understood the message you have sent me, God.
So I'm trying not to stress too hard
I am making an effort not to let anxiety overwhelm me.
Let it go, do my best, put my faith in Y'all
I release my worries, give my all, and trust in God and his divine guidance.
But if I stray don't leave me
Even if I wander from the right path, please don't abandon me, God.
Please forgive me when I choose the wrong way to go
I ask for forgiveness when I make mistakes and select the incorrect path.
I take 3 steps forward then 2 steps back
In my journey of progress, I sometimes make small setbacks.
Fell off track but through God know I'll be right back
Although I may deviate from my goals, I trust that with God's help, I will find my way back.
I've failed 2, 3 times, though I tried my best
Despite experiencing failure multiple times, I know I gave my utmost effort.
But I know I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be at, so I ain't tripping
I have the understanding that I am precisely where I need to be in life, so I am not worried or bothered.
I ain't tripping
I am not stressing or becoming anxious.
I ain't tripping, yeah
I am not letting things bother me, and I remain in a calm state of mind.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Tamar Tuggle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind