They say that it’s a long way to the top if you wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll, and th… Read Full Bio ↴They say that it’s a long way to the top if you wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll, and that’s an expression singer/songwriter Res knows all too well. 2001 was the year Res changed the game with How I Do, a cross-genre masterpiece that she co-penned with childhood friend Santi White (now known as Santigold). The album yielded four hit singles – the Nas remixed “Ice King”, the Billboard chart-topping “They Say Vision”, “Golden Boys”, and “Sittin’ Back” – and placed Res in a unique albeit coveted position of soulful songstress with a Hip-Hop edge. Like many great artists on the majors, the Philly native fell victim to label politics. “In a nut shell, I put out the first record [How I Do] and MCA went under,” she explains. “Instead of letting all of the people go, they handpicked like a hundred artists and brought them to Geffen. I went to Geffen, made a whole second Res album and they never put it out.” The album was mixed, mastered, and shelved. After a few years of stunted creativity while living in LA on a label salary, Res made the bravest decision in her career – she severed ties with Geffen and became a free agent. “Years were going by and they were just paying my rent and letting me live but not putting my music out,” she recalls. “I asked if I could leave.”

While the world hadn’t heard a follow-up Res album, that didn’t mean there was no music. In 2006 Res was asked by Hip-Hop crooner Cee-Lo to join the Gnarls Barkley world tour promoting their Grammy Award winning album St. Elsewhere. "That was a ride I will never forget! We performed in places like New Zealand, Australia, Japan, all throughout Europe and the United States...in the most ridiculous costumes," she fondly remembers. Throughout the year and a half touring as a background singer for Gnarls Barkley, Res constantly wrote new material, including the song “To Empower” which landed on the soundtrack to Akeelah and the Bee. Upon returning to the States, she started a residency at Hollywood’s the Mint and began doing spot dates in LA, Atlanta, and San Francisco performing new material. “Then I decided to get my act together,” she says. Then Idle Warship happened.

“I started a group with Talib Kweli ,” Res says of the genesis of Idle Warship. Their music melds the rapping of Kweli with the singing of Res peppered in. Idle Warship took the 2008 SXSW by storm, making their official debut with an unlikely paired fanbase of Rock and Hip-Hop heads. While the trio is still forming songs and gearing for an official release, the stage is now set for Res to re-emerge with her second solo offering.
Black.Girls.Rock! is a true labor of love for Res. Growing up in a household warmed by Marvin Gaye plus being a child of the ‘80s, Res was always eclectic in her musical tastes. While her early days offered electro-laden Neo Soul, Res spent a large portion of her in between years crafting singer/songwriter folk songs. Add in the influences from touring Europe with Gnarls Barkley and the music she is now making has never been heard before. With songs that were previously unreleased from her Geffen days coupled with newly penned hymns of heartache, love, and rebirth, Black.Girls.Rock! is the long-awaited album that will live up to every fan’s expectation.

Res’ near-decade long career is filled with winding paths and memorable experiences. While she’s no stranger to the hardships of being an artist, Res is simply in love with making music and the world will fall in love once again with Black.Girls.Rock! Her voice, her style, and her sound are a combination lacking in today’s music. While her debut set the tone for the start of the first decade of the new millennium, Black.Girls.Rock! will own the close of it. By now many would have given up, but Res was born to make music. Simply put, “You’re destined to do what you’re destined to do.”

Sittin' Back
Res Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sittin' back in the cut
Looking fine
Look at that nigga what
this shit is mine

So they call us stars
I guess not all of us are chosen
I drive a car with the top back

Cause my vanity's my token
Now all this talkin' ain't my style
About responsiblities
Like this here nation is my child like it's direct humanity

Sittin' back in the cut
Looking fine
Look at that nigga what
This shit is mine

You talkin' 'bout white children
Who kill their parents before school
I'm talkin' Lexus' with rims black
So when I drive back I look cool
Goodness the President's human
And you're all hypocrites
I think I'm jaded make a sport of it
Now I'm numb to the shit

Sittin' back in the cut
Lookin' fine
Look at that nigga what
This shit is mine

I just want to blow up
Then baby who knows who'll win the game
When I close my eyes it all looks the same
I don't want to know nobody's name

'Cause I'm going for dough when I go for game
'Cause I'm going for... that's why

Overall Meaning

The song "Sittin' Back" by Res is a commentary on the lifestyle and perspective of celebrities and their place in society. The opening lines "Sittin' back in the cut, looking fine, look at that nigga what, this shit is mine" suggests the artist's sense of ownership and self-importance. The term 'cut' refers to being in a safe and secure place, removed from the scrutiny of the public. Res proclaims that she is a star but perhaps not one who has been chosen, but who is still enjoying the lifestyle that comes with fame. She talks about how her vanity is her token, meaning that her self-importance is a driving force in her life.

Res reveals an ambivalent attitude towards responsibility in the song. When asked about the nation or its issues, she seems to brush it off as not her responsibility since the country is not her child. She emphasizes how she likes to drive around in her car with the top back, further emphasizing her focus on her vanity. However, she acknowledges the hypocrisy of those who judge her while ignoring their own faults. Res is numb to the issues and is 'jaded'.

The overall message of the song is quite clear, with lines like "I just want to blow up, then baby who knows who'll win the game" and "I don't want to know nobody's name, 'cause I'm going for dough when I go for game". Res is more concerned with financial gain than making a positive impact on the world. The song highlights the clash between celebrity culture and real-world issues, and the way in which celebrities can be more focused on their vanity and personal gain than social and political causes.

Line by Line Meaning

Sittin' back in the cut
Relaxing in a comfortable position

Looking fine
Appearing attractive

Look at that nigga what
Expressing pride and ownership over personal possessions

this shit is mine
Asserting dominance and control over what belongs to oneself

So they call us stars
Acknowledging that the public considers celebrities to be influential and noteworthy

I guess not all of us are chosen
Reflecting on the fact that not all celebrities actually make a significant impact on society

I drive a car with the top back
Indulging in luxury and showcasing status through material possessions

Cause my vanity's my token
Acknowledging that being self-absorbed and materialistic is part of their identity

Now all this talkin' ain't my style
Disliking discussing heavy subjects and responsibilities

About responsibilities
Referring to societal obligations and duties

Like this here nation is my child like it's direct humanity
Feeling a sense of connection and responsibility to the country, similar to a parental instinct

You talkin' 'bout white children
Comparing societal issues affecting different races

Who kill their parents before school
Referencing a disturbing news story about violence amongst young people

I'm talkin' Lexus' with rims black
Focusing on superficial and materialistic desires

So when I drive back I look cool
Valuing superficial appearances and fitting in with societal norms

Goodness the President's human
Acknowledging flaws within the political system

And you're all hypocrites
Feeling a sense of disillusionment and mistrust towards society

I think I'm jaded make a sport of it
Being cynical and bored with the world, and finding entertainment in it

Now I'm numb to the shit
Feeling desensitized to societal issues and struggles

I just want to blow up
Desiring fame and success on a large scale

Then baby who knows who'll win the game
Having uncertainty about the future despite one's aspirations

When I close my eyes it all looks the same
Feeling disillusioned with the world and finding it all to be meaningless

I don't want to know nobody's name
Not caring about personal connections or relationships with others

'Cause I'm going for dough when I go for game
Prioritizing material success over other aspects of life

'Cause I'm going for... that's why
Clarifying that their motivations center around achieving success and accumulating wealth

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SANTI WHITE, MARTIN MCKINNEY, AKLINS DILLION

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS