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.
What's Wrong Wit The Game
Rappin' 4-Tay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh, (you tell me)
[Chorus: Rappin' 4-Tay, E-40]
[Rappin' 4-Tay]
Holler at a player though
40 Water, what's wrong wit the game though?
I don't know
[E-40]
Holler at a player though
4-Tay, what's wrong wit the game though?
I don't know
[Verse 1: Rappin' 4-Tay]
I keeps my distance from haters cause I'm quick to flash
Area takes me with a passion, I tap that ass
Be quick to blast, the game just ain't the same no more
You doing too much, pump your brakes, slow your roll
Fucking up the hustle with the streets and shit
It's too much legal tender on my agenda to bite our fame
But if you play me, I gots no choice to reach you in check
They playing with a full deck, you can get the breakfast, say thanks
[Verse 2: E-40]
See I'm a business man with a set of big balls
Marketing meetings and, uh, got Frisco
Just ain't your work for a living (uh huh)
They got hit, what the fuck?, you think I been got shit?, it ain't easy
Everyday now walk through the streets
A nigga can't even sit down with his family
And be straight and have a decent dinner
Without a motherfucker yelling, "Refalations"
"What I got to do to get you in my compilations?" (compilations)
So I study what I do, the shit for you for free (for free)
I used to do that to a nigga when I was seventeen (uh, uh)
[Chorus: Rappin' 4-Tay, E-40]
[Verse 3: Rappin' 4-Tay]
What's the world coming to when niggaz talk down for fun
Some Rappin' 4-Tay you don't make me dumb
Pop a cherry, we don't mean that much
Cause if it don't make dollars I don't really give a fuck
Jocking all up under my name but you don't even know me
Got me fucked up and one of them suckers when they so called homies
If that's the shit, better pause and magnum or Crip, they ready to paint us
When niggaz go against the great 40 Water, what's wrong with the game?
[Verse 4: E-40]
I'm ten years hung in this shit, if I was up to heart
My nigga got dick, her is his, by selling chicks in front of his car
Got a crib with 9,000 square, Christine and Marsha, will you just imagine?
Big ass improving for Maximus, big ass, let's fetch it
I seen it in my dream when I was nine years old
My Momma always told me to achieve my goal
Keep a cool bid and, uh, respect a dollar
Never get too greedy for the money and power
[Chorus: E-40, Rappin' 4-Tay]
[Verse 5: E-40]
The reason I carry glocks, 26 on my side of my hip
Cause I ain't dumping now (dumping now), thinking of now a days
They act like you owe something (something)
Talking about, "40, show me some love!, (show me some love!)"
Because I got a, a despot I'm my blood
Niggaz want to knock ME
Cause I don't blossom like a sunflower SEED
Surrounded by promises, you said that you keeps me smoking big WEED
Drinking while sipping Ale (sipping Ale) yes INDEED
Born and raised in Vallejo (eeehhhh!)
[Verse 6: Rappin' 4-Tay]
They claim they got solid rockets
So all my true player partners, why'all just stay focused
And watch them haters cause they plots on a daily basis
Hustlers, servants, traders that caught so many dope cases
And but I want the quickness if the G's is right
If that game was tight, ballers had pimped at it, ain't no such thing as
three strikes
No sense, our fucking minds aren't, but I'm on parole and shit
Niggaz get to running off at the mouth just like a snitch, some like a bitch
Ehhh!, Ehhh!
[Chorus: Rappin' 4-Tay, E-40]
[Chorus: E-40, Rappin' 4-Tay]
[Outro: E-40]
What's wrong wit the game?
Can't get caught off with the game
Just get my chips and get paid
Holler at a player though
4-Tay, what's wrong wit the game though?
Holler at a player though
Holler at a player though
4-Tay, what's wrong wit the game though?
Huh?
Rappin' 4-Tay's and E-40's song What's Wrong Wit The Game is an introspective look at the hip hop industry and the changes it has undergone. The song begins with the chorus which poses a question- What's wrong with the game? The two artists then describe the issues they see with the industry. The song addresses the idea of fake friends, haters, and a lack of authenticity in the industry. They talk about how some artists are trying to take shortcuts to fame and selling out their art for legal tender. In this line, Rappin' 4-Tay highlights the difference between the culture of the streets and that of the music industry, which is now more interested in profit than in its art. E-40 emphasizes the importance of keeping a cool attitude, respecting the dollar, not getting too greedy for money and power, and the importance of achieving one's goals in life instead of stagnating.
Line by Line Meaning
Holler at a player though
Hey, talk to me
40 Water, what's wrong wit the game though?
Hey E-40, what's going wrong with the music industry?
I don't know
I'm not sure
4-Tay, what's wrong wit the game though?
Hey Rappin' 4-Tay, what do you think is the issue with the music industry?
I keeps my distance from haters cause I'm quick to flash
I stay away from people who hate me because I could get violent
Area takes me with a passion, I tap that ass
I have sex passionately with women from my area
Be quick to blast, the game just ain't the same no more
I'm ready to fight because the music industry has changed
You doing too much, pump your brakes, slow your roll
You're doing too much, calm down
Fucking up the hustle with the streets and shit
People are ruining the business with street violence
It's too much legal tender on my agenda to bite our fame
I'm too busy making money legally to waste time ruining my reputation
But if you play me, I gots no choice to reach you in check
If you disrespect me, I'll have to confront you
They playing with a full deck, you can get the breakfast, say thanks
I know my enemies well, they better be grateful if they survive our encounter
See I'm a business man with a set of big balls
I'm a businessman with confidence
Marketing meetings and, uh, got Frisco
I'm in marketing meetings and I represent San Francisco
Just ain't your work for a living (uh huh)
I'm not just doing this for fun, it's my job
They got hit, what the fuck?, you think I been got shit?, it ain't easy
People are sabotaging me, it's not easy to be successful
Everyday now walk through the streets
Every day I walk in public
A nigga can't even sit down with his family
I can't even relax with my family
And be straight and have a decent dinner
And have a peaceful dinner
Without a motherfucker yelling, "Refalations"
Without someone demanding my attention and resources
"What I got to do to get you in my compilations?" (compilations)
People are asking me how to get featured on my music compilations
So I study what I do, the shit for you for free (for free)
I work hard and give my music to fans for free
I used to do that to a nigga when I was seventeen (uh, uh)
I used to distribute free music when I was young
What's the world coming to when niggaz talk down for fun
What's wrong with people who disrespect others for no reason?
Some Rappin' 4-Tay you don't make me dumb
You can't fool me, Rappin' 4-Tay
Pop a cherry, we don't mean that much
Having sex for the first time isn't a big deal
Cause if it don't make dollars I don't really give a fuck
If it doesn't make money, I don't care about it
Jocking all up under my name but you don't even know me
You're using my name but you don't really know me
Got me fucked up and one of them suckers when they so called homies
You're disrespecting me and acting like a fake friend
If that's the shit, better pause and magnum or Crip, they ready to paint us
If that's what you want to do, be prepared to face serious consequences
When niggaz go against the great 40 Water, what's wrong with the game?
What's wrong with the music industry when people disrespect me, 40 Water?
I'm ten years hung in this shit, if I was up to heart
I've been in the music industry for ten years
My nigga got dick, her is his, by selling chicks in front of his car
My friend is successful by selling drugs and women on the street
Got a crib with 9,000 square, Christine and Marsha, will you just imagine?
I have a large house, imagine how it looks
Big ass improving for Maximus, big ass, let's fetch it
I'm improving myself constantly
I seen it in my dream when I was nine years old
I dreamt about my success when I was young
My Momma always told me to achieve my goal
My mother always encouraged me to succeed
Keep a cool bid and, uh, respect a dollar
Stay calm and appreciate money
Never get too greedy for the money and power
Don't get too obsessed with money and power
The reason I carry glocks, 26 on my side of my hip
I carry a gun for protection
Cause I ain't dumping now (dumping now), thinking of now a days
I don't want to use violence nowadays
They act like you owe something (something)
People act like I owe them something
Talking about, "40, show me some love!, (show me some love!)"
They want me to favor them, "40, help me out!"
Because I got a, a despot I'm my blood
I'm a strong person by nature
Niggaz want to knock ME
People want to criticize me
Cause I don't blossom like a sunflower SEED
Because I'm not the typical successful person
Surrounded by promises, you said that you keeps me smoking big WEED
My surroundings make me smoke a lot of weed
Drinking while sipping Ale (sipping Ale) yes INDEED
I'm drinking beer
Born and raised in Vallejo (eeehhhh!)
I come from Vallejo, California
They claim they got solid rockets
They claim to be powerful
So all my true player partners, why'all just stay focused
My real friends, stay focused
And watch them haters cause they plots on a daily basis
And watch out for haters who want to harm us every day
Hustlers, servants, traders that caught so many dope cases
People in the industry who have been arrested for drug-related crimes
And but I want the quickness if the G's is right
I want money quickly if it's the right decision
If that game was tight, ballers had pimped at it, ain't no such thing as three strikes
If the industry was better, there wouldn't be such harsh consequences for mistakes
No sense, our fucking minds aren't, but I'm on parole and shit
Our minds are messed up, but I have to follow parole rules
Niggaz get to running off at the mouth just like a snitch, some like a bitch
People talk too much and act like snitches or bitches
What's wrong wit the game?
What's wrong with the music industry?
Can't get caught off with the game
Can't get caught up in the industry's problems
Just get my chips and get paid
Just focus on making money
Huh?
What do you think?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: A. FORTE, E. STEVENS, M. WHITEMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind