John Austin IV,(born September 25, 1973 in Carson, California), is better k… Read Full Bio ↴John Austin IV,(born September 25, 1973 in Carson, California), is better known by his stage name Ras Kass.
He released his debut album Soul on Ice in 1996. The album built up considerable hype through the release of several independent singles, including "Remain Anonymous" and "Won't Catch Me Runnin'." Soul on Ice saw little commercial success but was adored by the hip-hop underground, which appreciated both his sharp battle rhymes and his militant Afrocentricity. The latter also caused controversy due to the songs "Ordo Abchao" and "Nature of the Threat," which were tracks detailing the history of white-on-black racism, the latter lasting for well over seven minutes and likely his best-known song. Some claimed that Ras was extreme to the point of racism against Caucasians.

Ras Kass made a big push to make sure his second album Rasassination was commercially successful. As well as securing guest appearances from Xzibit and the Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, he received considerable assistance from superstar West Coast producer Dr. Dre, who rhymed on the lead single "Ghetto Fabulous," the video for which was supported by an extravagant video shot on a luxury yacht.

The album contained some of his most intellectual material to date ("Interview With A Vampire," a theological and spiritual exploration that featured Ras rhyming from the perspectives of God, himself, and the Devil) and occasionally addressed very personal subject matter ("It Is What It Is," concerning his relationship with his mother). Despite the single, his album didn't sell well.

Ras Kass' third album Van Gogh was originally intended for release in 2001. However, the nearly-finished album was leaked onto the internet months before the release date. It received excellent reviews,but the bootlegging caused his label Priority Records to push the release date back twice before the record was eventually shelved indefinitely. This further worsened the relationship between the label and Ras Kass, which was already strained due to disputes over several things, including the level of promotion Ras was being given, and the alleged block of the Columbia/SME Records release of his supergroup Golden State Warriors' debut album. The unreleased Van Gogh album even featured the lyrics "Fuck Priority Records, like Prince I'm writing SLAVE on my cheek" (this was later fulfilled as Ras Kass appeared in popular hip hop magazine XXL with SLAVE written on his face).

The relationship between Ras and Priority reached breaking point when the label also shelved the intended Van Gogh replacement Goldyn Chyld, an album that featured tracks from Van Gogh as well as new material. The indefinite postponement was due to a dispute over the lead single: Ras wanted to release the DJ Premier-produced title track, while Priority wanted a Dr. Dre-produced track, against the wishes of both Ras and Dre. This prompted Ras to launch a Free Ras Kass campaign (supported by an on-line petition and T-shirts) to gain his release from his contract with the label.

In February 2004, Ras Kass went on the run from the authorities after a warrant was issued following an arrest for reckless driving. He then gave himself up during Memorial Day Weekend in May of that year. While incarcerated, he organized the independent release of a mixtape titled Re-Up, which featured himself and other artists. Priority Records unsuccessfully attempted to block this release. In the 2004 song "Rise of the Machines," (which featured Ras) Vinnie Paz, front man of the hip-hop group Jedi Mind Tricks showed where he stood on the issue by saying the words Free Ras Kass on the track. In July 2004, Ras filed a lawsuit against Priority Records, Capitol Records, and EMI in protest to his treatment by the label and claimed breach of contract in an attempt to have the mixtape nullified. Ras was denied his release from his recording contract with Priority/Capitol/EMI Records in January 2007, even though Priority was absorbed by Capitol during 2004.

The HRSMN was collaboration between four emcees: Canibus, Ras Kass, Kurupt, and Killah Priest. Together the group released one album called The Horsemen Project during 2003 on Think Differently Music/Proverbs/Babygrande Records. Since that release, fans wait for another album. Although some members of the group kept calling it the Four Horsemen, Canibus always had the idea to add more people and form some kind of hip hop supergroup. A lot of names have been mentioned in the past, such as Pharaohe Monch, Kool G Rap, Pac-Man, Young Zee, Chino XL, Royce Da 5'9", Journalist, Lyrisick, Common, Rakim, Pace Won, Keith Murray, Vinnie Paz, Lonnie B, Danja Mowf, and Crooked I. None of these emcees were made a member of the group (though some artists on this list were featured on tracks)

OohWee!
Ras Kass Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Ras Kass)
Everything I say don't be yae yo
Haters in batter rams, I slam
Like syringes in heroine, four hundred and fifty grams
Overdose, every coast, one hundred spokes chrome
Knock off some malt liquor by the malzatof
Don't gotta floss, huh, ain't that the truth
Flyin in boobies, silver six hundred Coup

Like whoop whoop, holla at me big baby
Sop me up wit a biscuit, cuz you know it's all gravy
Linquistical flow, I ain't Mystikal, but y'all ain't ready
If a nigga don't rhyme about crack, clothes, pussy and fatty
Eat a dick, that's music to my balls,
like Gloria Estefan fuckin Hakeem Olajuwon
How this black lil nigga get more head than a beauty salon
Guam, blowin ya shit out like Chaka Khan
For sheezy, my favorite women is sleazy
Bisexual triplet freaks, forty five at they sexual peaks
I'm fuckin three Tony's, like Rafael Saadiq
And got a trick up my life, manufacturin cheese
My matrix will triculate wit melodies
Rehabilitated hood rats, shake the specie
I'm tryin to die filthy, rich and ruthless, I'm easy
See Austin niggas is know for flossin
But I still buy my T-shirts and socks from the slossin

(Chorus: Ras Kass & Curtis Daniels)
It's so must that I smash when I mash for me
Ask Cash -N- Gash, nobody ride for free
OohWee, they say Ras you a rider?
I reply wit "Hell yeah, I'm a rider"
I give it up for C. Austin
That's the city north of Long Beach, South Western Compton
They say Ras you a rider?
I reply wit "Hell yeah, I'm a rider"

(Ras Kass)
Watch me catch bitches, the llama and the patch bitches
Fuck sex whippin homey, don't even trip
I never seen a hood wit a retirement plan to medical benefits
I'm bout seein black folk wit chips, and hundred thousand dollars whips
Instead of monkey see, monkey power rule feelin you wit banana clips
I plan to flip my manuscript, like dyslexics
To sed it, to bet it all, genetic telekinetic brawl
See I'm the difference between booty calls and blue balls
Telethon wit Lou Rawls, and bevelin two percent off the top
S-s-sorry, couldn't got to break mines off
Decapitated, so where's he headed?
I decapitate niggas, damage is bodily
Put your tire on flat, and kill by a gat like Enis Cosby
Ain't no problem hoe, recognize

(Chorus)

(Ras Kass)
My tenant shoot pimpin is more like twenty shoot
Cuz no woman love me like the wimmy do
I write raps while pullin the lent off my nut sack
You 50% butt crack, I mean half assed
MC's we discover the mathematic format
Beneath your north plan, I'm guaranteed to come will
Like a reverse doormat, 64% Sega, 80 proof Congac,
and toll free pagers
I'm still comin out like I'm born babies wit hangers
My crew consist of millionaires, failures and gang bangers
The dangers of loaded language, my glock lick click
Got it made, me no fillet, pay then sat out like sway
Raid the police, cuz they sellin more crack then latinos and blacks
See we knows the facts, how Europeans jack
I'm sellin Native Americans gats so they can take they land back

(Chorus 2X)

Overall Meaning

In Ras Kass's song "OohWee!", he presents himself as a rider, someone who is constantly on the move, living his life in the fast lane. He rejects the stereotype of rappers who only rap about drugs, clothes, women, and luxury cars. According to Ras Kass, he is not that kind of rapper. He embraces the power of his linguistics and his flow, hence the term "linquistical flow." He boasts of his sexual prowess and the women that he is able to attract. He is not interested in flossing or showing off his wealth. Instead, he is trying to build wealth through his music and break the cycle of poverty that exists in many communities.

Line by Line Meaning

Everything I say don't be yae yo
I don't always speak truthfully.

Haters in batter rams, I slam
I am powerful and can take down my enemies.

Like syringes in heroine, four hundred and fifty grams
I am addictive and have a strong impact on people.

Overdose, every coast, one hundred spokes chrome
My influence spreads everywhere and is flashy and luxurious.

Knock off some malt liquor by the malzatof
I casually drink and party with my friends.

Don't gotta floss, huh, ain't that the truth
I don't need to show off or prove anything, I am confident in myself.

Flyin in boobies, silver six hundred Coup
I am driving a fancy and attractive car.

Like whoop whoop, holla at me big baby
I am calling out to attractive people to come talk to me.

Sop me up wit a biscuit, cuz you know it's all gravy
Buy me food, because money is no issue for me.

Linquistical flow, I ain't Mystikal, but y'all ain't ready
I have a complex and impressive flow that most people can't keep up with.

If a nigga don't rhyme about crack, clothes, pussy and fatty
Most rap is focused on drugs, fashion, and women.

Eat a dick, that's music to my balls,
I don't care about others' opinions of me.

like Gloria Estefan fuckin Hakeem Olajuwon
A metaphorical absurdity showing how unexpected things can happen.

How this black lil nigga get more head than a beauty salon
I am extremely attractive and successful with women.

Guam, blowin ya shit out like Chaka Khan
I am overpowering and unstoppable.

For sheezy, my favorite women is sleazy
I enjoy promiscuous women.

Bisexual triplet freaks, forty five at they sexual peaks
I have sexual encounters with three bisexual women.

I'm fuckin three Tony's, like Rafael Saadiq
I have relationships with multiple women at once like Tony Soprano.

And got a trick up my life, manufacturin cheese
I have a secret of how I make money.

My matrix will triculate wit melodies
My talent is so great, it is compared to the complexity of the Matrix.

Rehabilitated hood rats, shake the specie
I am respected by people who used to be unsavory.

I'm tryin to die filthy, rich and ruthless, I'm easy
I want to accumulate wealth by any means necessary.

See Austin niggas is know for flossin
People from Austin enjoy showing off their wealth.

But I still buy my T-shirts and socks from the slossin
I am impervious to social pressures to spend money on clothes.

It's so must that I smash when I mash for me
I am always victorious and successful.

Ask Cash -N- Gash, nobody ride for free
Everyone must pay a price for my services or company.

Watch me catch bitches, the llama and the patch bitches
I am successful with women, even those who are wild and unpredictable.

Fuck sex whippin homey, don't even trip
I am so good at sex, I don't need to use any special techniques.

I never seen a hood wit a retirement plan to medical benefits
People in my community don't have reliable access to healthcare or retirement planning.

I'm bout seein black folk wit chips, and hundred thousand dollars whips
I want to see black people become financially secure and well-off.

Instead of monkey see, monkey power rule feelin you wit banana clips
I want people to seek strength, power, and independence rather than mimic others' actions.

I plan to flip my manuscript, like dyslexics
I am smart and can turn my setbacks into advantages.

To sed it, to bet it all, genetic telekinetic brawl
I will use my genetic abilities to fight and win.

See I'm the difference between booty calls and blue balls
I can set boundaries and control my relationships, rather than just granting sexual favors.

Telethon wit Lou Rawls, and bevelin two percent off the top
I can participate in fundraising events and get a percentage of the profits.

S-s-sorry, couldn't got to break mines off
I apologize, I cannot give you help or money.

Decapitated, so where's he headed?
I will eliminate my competition effectively.

I decapitate niggas, damage is bodily
I will hurt people and make them suffer.

Put your tire on flat, and kill by a gat like Enis Cosby
I can cause physical harm and death with weapons like guns.

My tenant shoot pimpin is more like twenty shoot
I am confident in my shooting abilities.

Cuz no woman love me like the wimmy do
I am attractive and irresistible to women.

I write raps while pullin the lent off my nut sack
I am always creating and working on my craft, even in my free time.

You 50% butt crack, I mean half assed
You are not fully committed or invested in your work or life.

MC's we discover the mathematic format
Rap is complex and requires significant intelligence and skill to perform effectively.

Beneath your north plan, I'm guaranteed to come will
I will be successful despite competitors or obstacles in my way.

Like a reverse doormat, 64% Sega, 80 proof Congac, and toll free pagers
I am effortlessly cool and have the latest technology and luxuries.

I'm still comin out like I'm born babies wit hangers
I am resilient and will be successful despite challenges in my path.

My crew consist of millionaires, failures and gang bangers
I have a diverse and eclectic group of friends and associates.

The dangers of loaded language, my glock lick click
My words and actions can be dangerous, and I am not afraid to use force if necessary.

Got it made, me no fillet, pay then sat out like sway
I am wealthy and successful and can take breaks whenever I want.

Raid the police, cuz they sellin more crack then latinos and blacks
I criticize and recognize police corruption and discrimination against minority groups.

See we knows the facts, how Europeans jack
I am aware of how imperialism and colonization have negatively impacted non-European countries and peoples.

I'm sellin Native Americans gats so they can take they land back
I am supportive of oppressed groups and want them to have the ability to defend themselves and reclaim their rights.