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)
The Evil That Men Do
Ras Kass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know what I'm sayin man?
Runnin around in these streets trickin, shit's hard man
You know? But sometimes man
Fools be bringin that shit on they god damn self
Nappy headed nigga stigmatism at birth
Born to a family of four and so that makes me one-fourth
I had a father who only stayed to see me grown
When I turned twelve he was gone
Alone, no role model
I used to watch my Granddaddy and Uncle hit the bottle
And then hit each other
Granddaddy beat Grandmother, but that's before my time
But I still see how it affected her mind
As a child I introverted, and drew pictures
While my mother prayed to Jesus reading King James scriptures
She used to take me to church so I could put money in the basket
Tell the preacher how she used to get her ass kicked
And me, I mastered the art of hatred
After pops left ran with my niggaz tryin to take shit
Petty theft, I got caught a few times, but bust it
Life is a bitch so fuck it
In eighty-one I remember the night
I covered myself with baby powder, so my black ass could be light
Cause God is white, and Bo Derek is a ten
I hate my black skin, it's just a sin to be a nigga
Then again, I'm like the Frenchman, cause Granny's creole
And therefore, we're black French people
So I think it's best if I go to Catholic school
And study under nuns and then I'll be a Catholic fool
Cause none of these cults want none of us up
And don't none want to see none of us live to be adults, sheeit
No wonder brothers take lives for red and blue
It's the evil that men do
But every nigga on my block
Can't stop, and he won't stop, and he don't stop (repeat 4X)
Nigga, nigga wake yo' punk ass up nigga!
Nigga, wake yo', wake yo' punk ass up
(Where the fuck we at?)
Nigga, one time nigga
(Man I feel strange man, and I'm fin to go man)
Shit, I'ma get you out, shit, bitches man)
(Fuck that shit man, nigga what the fuck am I gonna do man?)
We go make another gold LP nigga stop trippin nigga
Nigga we own a gold LP, nigga stop trippin!
By the time I hit adolescence and found hair on my nuts
I grew twelve inches so now it's time to fuck sluts
Never respected women, just had to keep my dick wet
Fucked this virgin named Lena, I made a bet
With my homies I could hit it first, then kicked her to the curb
Til next year, I got a call from my man Kurt
Since I never used jims I left a seed in the Earth
That left a nigga feelin like dirt
Cause now I'm a father, and got a two-week old daughter
Ironically, don't even know her name it's a damn shame
And ol girl never told me she was havin my baby
The more I thought about, she fuckin played me
Cause the family's lookin at me like I raped her
Plus with another fuckin mouth to feed I need paper
Did a caper, and took my Guinness Stout to the head
September 1990, drunk drivin, the light turned red
Somebody hit from the rear, I hit the brakes
Then lost control of the steering wheel
Hit a black Camaro and that's all I remember that night
I woke up to a five-oh flashlight
The car that I hit had exploded on impact
One woman escaped, but the driver was trapped, he burned to death
Manslaughter, off to see-why-A
Liftin weights in the yard and playin spades all day
Now I'm eighteen, hit the County in the mix
"Name and last three!" Austin, oh-six-six
By now Grandpa went crazy and my Uncle had died
And me I'm at the ranch makin pruno in Wayside
In ninety-three, I got probation
Searchin for an occupation, cause now I'm pickin restitution, confusion
I'm lookin at myself and seein every other nigga I knew
It's the evil that men do
In Ras Kass's song "The Evil That Men Do," he shares his life story, growing up in a dysfunctional household with a father who left him at the age of twelve. He observed his grandfather and uncle abusing alcohol and each other while his grandmother was the victim of domestic violence. In contrast to his mother's religious faith, Ras Kass felt hatred and anger towards life. He felt shame about his black skin and even used baby powder to make his skin appear whiter. His desire to escape the struggles of the black community led him to catholic school, where he was further indoctrinated with religious beliefs. He regarded shows like Bo Derek and events like the Civil Rights movement as the evil that men do. Even as he grew older, he was confronted with his toxic behavior towards women, his reckless driving which led to a tragic accident, and his time behind bars. Yet despite all of this, he recognizes the evil that is perpetuated through societal systems and institutions that perpetuate systemic racism and oppression.
"The Evil That Men Do" is considered one of Ras Kass's most significant songs and has been widely praised as one of the most exceptional storytelling tracks in hip hop history. Ras Kass uses his platform to bring attention to social issues in the black community and highlight how the systemic discrimination endured by black people manifests itself in their daily lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Nappy headed nigga stigmatism at birth
I was born with two strikes against me because of my race and physical appearance.
Born to a family of four and so that makes me one-fourth
I come from a dysfunctional family and only had one parent present.
Granddaddy beat Grandmother, but that's before my time
I witnessed the effects of domestic violence on my grandmother by my grandfather, but only later realized the implications.
As a child I introverted, and drew pictures
As a child, I withdrew and expressed myself through art.
She used to take me to church so I could put money in the basket
My mother took me to church to offer a form of kindness and support to those who shared similar struggles.
And me, I mastered the art of hatred
As a result of my experiences, I internalized hatred, which became a coping mechanism.
Cause God is white, and Bo Derek is a ten
I was taught that whiteness was the epitome of beauty and perfection, which resulted in me despising my own black skin.
None of these cults want none of us up
Institutional discrimination and oppression prevent black individuals from succeeding and thriving.
It's the evil that men do
The societal structures and inequalities that lead to pain and suffering are created and upheld by those in power.
Never respected women, just had to keep my dick wet
I objectified women and viewed them only as sexual conquests.
Fucked this virgin named Lena, I made a bet
I sexually took advantage of a vulnerable girl and viewed her only as a means of winning a bet.
Cause now I'm a father, and got a two-week old daughter
As a result of my actions, I became a father and now have a responsibility to care for my child.
Plus with another fuckin mouth to feed I need paper
The financial burden of having a child only added to my struggles and desperation for money.
Now I'm eighteen, hit the County in the mix
As a young adult, I became involved in criminal activity and was arrested.
It's the evil that men do
The systems and structures that lead to poverty, crime, and mass incarceration are created and upheld by those in power.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: John Austin, Lamont Holbdy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
M. Kabat
F*ck this song gets me everytime. Never have I heard a rap song so honest! He explains so well how his lack of self esteem and his environment growing up contributed to his bad decisions that lead him into a life of seeing everyone around him, including himself lacking a moral compass. Its just his experience and nothing more. At the end when he drops the "coming to terms with myself" bomb it's just the icing on the cake. You rarely heard this kind of raw honesty in rap. Even in the "Golden era".
J
Accurate
Glenn Gunter
K-rino
Abu Aseerun Ibn Alexis
Ameen
ACS 79
M. Kabat shityeah, sooooo good!!!
Dark Schalista
This is in my eyes the best biography ever in rap history - and maybe music history. It is written without filter. He explains how he went through life, what he remembers and truly knows still how he was as a person. There is no moral preaching what so ever! It is facts, how he experienced it as he lived it and only "drops a moral bomb" in the very end. I think "I covered my ass with baby powder..." is maybe the strongest line I have ever heard in rap. And his fathership explanation is raw.
Gemini3K
I loved the production on this album. And this jam was just so Soulfull
Hip Hop Junkie
Might remake the beat.
Fizzy Pop
Probably the best album ever lyricaly I have ever heard. Used to play this album all the time back in the day. Still play it now Ras Kass is a lyrical genius.Soul On Ice is a straight up classic.
Marcus Banks
Good to see you still hear. Check out www.youtube.com/mushroomkingdoment Thanks!