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.
Think It Over
Rappin' 4-Tay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'mma tell you something about myself
Y'all see this black right here? Y'all see this black?
This basically right here represents the spirit of darkness
This where I was in my life, in the spirit of darkness
God, it don't look like You love me no more
God, it feel like I'm holding on to my past, but it's like You're not moving for me
God, You said You'll never leave me nor forsake me, but where You at?
He start saying, Son, despite what you feel, despite what you're going through
You better realize and understand that I made you
I made you, and I know all about you. You're still the apple of My eye
No matter how you feel right now, you're still the apple of My eye
No matter what you may be going through, you're still the apple of My eye
So what started happening was, the more He started talking to me
The more He started talking to me, that spirit of darkness...left
Now, I came to encourage y'all right now
Yeah, I struggling with something right now; we all struggling with something. We all got problems
But, I got 99 problems, and my faith ain't one
(Testimonial shouts)
So I just came to basically let y'all know, no matter what you're in right now
God still loves you; He still cares about you
He said that you're the apple of His eye
He said He loves you
I created you, I made you
And no matter what you may have been in your life
I still love you!
The lyrics of Rappin' 4-Tay's song "Think It Over" delve into a personal journey of struggle and redemption, reflecting on a deep spiritual connection and internal conflict. The artist begins by introspectively sharing about a dark period in his life, symbolized by the color black, where he felt abandoned and disconnected from God. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and questioning God's presence during a challenging time, feeling forgotten and questioning his faith.
As the song progresses, there is a pivotal moment where the artist experiences a shift in perspective and a spiritual awakening. Through the shedding of metaphorical weight and dark energy, he begins to feel a renewed connection with God and a sense of divine love and guidance. The artist shares a powerful testimony of God's unwavering love and presence, despite feelings of doubt and struggle, emphasizing that we are all still cherished and valued in the eyes of a higher power.
The lyrics express a message of hope and resilience, highlighting that despite ongoing challenges and personal struggles, faith and trust in God's love remain steadfast. The artist offers words of encouragement to listeners, acknowledging shared hardships and emphasizing the importance of holding onto faith and believing in the inherent worth and love bestowed upon each individual by a higher power.
Overall, the song serves as a reflection on the complexities of faith, personal growth, and the transformative power of spirituality in overcoming darkness and finding light. Through a raw and introspective narrative, Rappin' 4-Tay delivers a message of resilience, self-acceptance, and unwavering love, emphasizing that no matter the circumstances, divine love and compassion are always present and accessible to those in need.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me tell you something about myself
Allow me to share some insights about my personal experiences and struggles
I'mma tell you something about myself
I am going to reveal some truths about my life and journey
Y'all see this black right here? Y'all see this black?
Do you perceive this darkness within me? Do you understand the depth of my struggles?
This basically right here represents the spirit of darkness
The darkness symbolizes the hardships and challenges I have faced in life
This where I was in my life, in the spirit of darkness
I was once consumed by the darkness and negativity that surrounded me
God, it don't look like You love me no more
It seems like you've abandoned me, God, and I feel unloved
God, it feel like I'm holding on to my past, but it's like You're not moving for me
I am struggling to let go of my past, but I feel like you're not helping me move forward
God, You said You'll never leave me nor forsake me, but where You at?
You promised to never abandon me, but I feel lost and alone. Where are you, God?
And then He start shed, He started shedding that skin. He started shedding that weight. He started shedding that weight
God began to help me remove the burdens and negativity that weighed me down
He start saying, Son, despite what you feel, despite what you're going through
He reassured me, saying, 'My child, regardless of your emotions or struggles'
You better realize and understand that I made you
I want you to acknowledge that I created you and have a purpose for you
I made you, and I know all about you. You're still the apple of My eye
I formed you in my image and know every part of you. You are still cherished and loved by me
No matter how you feel right now, you're still the apple of My eye
Even if you feel lost or unloved, you are still deeply cherished and valued
No matter what you may be going through, you're still the apple of My eye
Regardless of your struggles, remember that you are always precious to me
So what started happening was, the more He started talking to me
Gradually, as I listened to God and his words of encouragement
The more He started talking to me, that spirit of darkness...left
The darkness and negativity that enveloped me began to dissipate as I embraced his guidance
Now, I came to encourage y'all right now
I am here to uplift and motivate all of you in this moment
Yeah, I struggling with something right now; we all struggling with something. We all got problems
Yes, I am facing challenges currently, as we all do. We all have our own struggles and difficulties
But, I got 99 problems, and my faith ain't one
Despite the numerous issues I face, my faith in God remains steadfast and unwavering
(Testimonial shouts)
Expressions of praise and gratitude towards God
So I just came to basically let y'all know, no matter what you're in right now
I simply want to reassure all of you that, regardless of your current circumstances
God still loves you; He still cares about you
God's love and compassion for you remain constant and unwavering
He said that you're the apple of His eye
He regards you as the most precious and beloved in his sight
He said He loves you
His love for you is profound and unconditional
I created you, I made you
I carefully crafted and designed you with a specific purpose in mind
And no matter what you may have been in your life
Regardless of your past mistakes or experiences
I still love you!
My love for you remains unchanging and ever-present
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Eddron Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind