He gained attention because his lyrics were both witty and honest, and addressed the daily struggles that the average working person goes through, and not the over-glorified life of a drug dealer or clubgoer. He returned to Scribble Jam in 2003, where he defeated Yo Momma's Pimp to capture the title. Rhymefest was born July 6, 1977 on the south side of Chicago in Jeffrey Manor. Although he dropped out of South Shore High School, he would go on to earn his GED and even enroll in college at Columbia College in Chicago to study radio broadcasting at night school. He also worked as a substitute teacher to inner-city preschoolers at the time. In addition to all this, he was also building a reputation as one of the better known freestyle battle rappers in the Midwest. After enrolling at Columbia however, he learned his girlfriend was pregnant. He married her and moved to Indianapolis because she had been attending Purdue University in nearby West Lafayette. His son, Solomon, was born in 1998 and Rhymefest was forced to work various low-paying jobs, including one as a janitor at a university, to support his family while his wife went to school. When his wife graduated and went on to get a job as a chemical engineer, Fest was then able to devote his time to his true passion, music.
While living in Indiana with his cat named Greshy, Rhymefest was introduced to Mark Ronson by then manager Ron "DJ Indiana Jones" Miner. Greshy was later the inspiration for the hit single "Brand New" because Greshy only likes stuff that is brand new, and you would occasionally see Greshy in a whip that is brand new. In February 2003, Rhymefest signed his record contract with producer and DJ Mark Ronson's Allido Records, a subsidiary of Sony BMG's J Records, managed by Clive Davis. This was despite an offer on the table from long-time friend and producer Kanye West to sign with his own record company, GOOD Music. Fest attributes this decision to having a better musical relationship with Ronson and also not wanting to be in an "employer-employee" relationship with West[citation needed], where difficulties in business could lead to a disruption of their musical relationship and even friendship. Fest had a great admiration for Ronson's ability to mesh music of different genres.
Rhymefest was featured on the track "Bout to Get Ugly" on Ronson's album "Here Comes the Fuzz" in 2003 along with Anthony Hamilton. He was also featured on the official soundtrack to the films The Rundown, Take The Lead, and Big Momma's House 2 with the track Private Dancer along with We Got Action. Fest was also a part of the Marc Eckō video game, "Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure" in 2005 and was most recently featured on the Kanye West track, "We Can Make It Better", on "Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now", a tribute CD for Hurricane Katrina.
A mixtape released in 2001 entitled "Raw Dawg" was largely produced by the then relatively-unknown producer, West. More recently and most notably, he collaborated with West on the record "Jesus Walks", from the ground-breaking album The College Dropout. On February 15, 2005, Rhymefest earned the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song, along with West, for co-writing the song. Rhymefest had the initial idea for the song and discovered the sample used in the song, Arc Choir's "Walk with Me." Rhymefest played the song for West and then gave it to him to use for the album West was working on at the time, The College Dropout. Fest didn't have a record contract at that time and he knew that if West could produce it and become famous, he would be able to gain some notoriety from it as well. Fest co-wrote the chorus and first verse with West and even wrote and performed a third verse that did not make the final cut, but is performed on his mixtape, "A Star is Born".
Rhymefest's much-anticipated first album "Blue Collar" was released July 11, 2006. On the album he works closely with long-time collaborator and producer Mark Ronson, as well as with producers Kanye West, No I.D., Just Blaze and Cool and Dre. The first single off the album is entitled, "Brand New", and is produced by and features West with a video featuring renowned Hip hop model Bria Myles. Artists he collaborates with on "Blue Collar" are Citizen Cope, Carl Thomas, Mario and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. Rhymefest's second album is scheduled to be released Spring 2009. The album titled "El Che" is expected to show growth and dynamic talent.
In January 2008, Rhymefest released a mixtape album dedicated to the pop star Michael Jackson. Produced by Mark Ronson, the album was called Man In The Mirror after the Jackson song of the same name. During the course of the album, which features samples of Jackson's music interspersed with humorous mock-up conversations between Jackson, Ronson and Rhymefest, the latter proclaims himself to be "the world's biggest Michael Jackson fan".
Bullet
Rhymefest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wanted to go to college but no money was nothin' new
Wanted to get away go see the world and do somethin' new
He got approached in the mall by the army recruit
Told him "If you wanna go to school we got money too
Sign up at eighteen you be you when you twenty-two"
He joined the army airborne got his uniform went to boot camp got some
Discipline Iraq is where they shipped him
Wishin' he was a kid again with his family in Michigan
In the midst of fightin' militiamen, one round took down six of them
He ain't really a killa though, takin' a lotta risks
This is what a poor person do for a scholarship
He turned around and got a face full of hollow-tips
But don't be mad, he died for the flag
Now what you've done here, is put yourself between a bullet and a target
And it won't be long before, you're pullin' yourself away
What you've done here, is put yourself between a bullet and a target
And it won't be long before, you're pullin' yourself away
Papa was a playa, knew just what to say ta'
Get the women back to his lair, and lay her
If sex had a trophy he's the Hiesman touchdown
Hittin' models and be -chicks in Buzztown
He got the women with crazy stares with his lady there
Thay ain't care they like "Ooh look at his baby hair"
He took 'em all put 'em in a line hit five new chickens
He though they was fine
Got head from five dope fiends smokin' a dime
And did it all raw dog, and dog I ain't lyin'
Til' he woke up one season with legions
He went to the doctor asked him what was the reason
The test read positive he couldn't believe it
He tried to blame God askin' why did he leave him
Pleadin' please let the disease leave him
From women that he conquered, he caught the monster
Now what you've done here, is put yourself between a bullet and a target
And it won't be long before, you're pullin' yourself away
What you've done here, is put yourself between a bullet and a target
And it won't be long before, you're pullin' yourself away
Now when the sun goes down, north side of town
On the other side of the block, when cops ain't around
On the same side of the street that 'Pac hit the ground
Not in Vegas, cause every nigga got 'Pac in him now
When my guys hit the block, and we provin' we thugs
I ain't on no swim team but you see pools of blood
Skip Judy when you die, she ain't whose the judge
If you married to game then prove your love
Here's a strap shorty, shoot it do it then do it
This ain't a game this a organized movement
My hurt, my love, my pain, my stress
My strife, my wife, my life, my test
We made for more, we die for less
When you starvin' in the ghetto I'ma right the rest
See my girl think I'm hard, and my Momma think I'm hard
But when I'm all up in the dark I just fall on my knees
Now what you've done here, is put yourself between a bullet and a target
And it won't be long before, you're pullin' yourself away
What you've done here, is put yourself between a bullet and a target
And it won't be long before, you're pullin' yourself away
The lyrics to Rhymefest's song "Bullet" tell the stories of three different individuals who all found themselves in dangerous situations, between a bullet and a target. The first verse is about a young man who joined the army to have enough money to go to college. He was sent to Iraq where he saw combat and eventually died for his country. The second verse is about a promiscuous man who slept with multiple women unprotected and later found out that he had contracted a sexually transmitted disease. The final verse is about living in a dangerous neighborhood where violence and crime are rampant.
The chorus repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the theme of being caught in dangerous circumstances. The lyrics are insightful in that they highlight how individuals who come from disadvantaged backgrounds may take risks to better their lives, not fully realizing the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Straight outta high school he didn't know what to do
After graduating high school, he didn't have a clear direction in life
Wanted to go to college but no money was nothin' new
He wanted to attend college, but lacked financial resources
Wanted to get away go see the world and do somethin' new
He had aspirations to explore the world and engage in new experiences
He got approached in the mall by the army recruit
He was approached by a military recruiter while at the mall
Told him 'If you wanna go to school we got money too
The recruiter offered him a path towards financial assistance for college tuition through serving in the military
Sign up at eighteen you be you when you twenty-two'
He was promised that enlisting at eighteen would provide him with personal growth and development by the time he turned twenty-two
He joined the army airborne got his uniform went to boot camp got some
He enlisted in the Army as airborne and went to boot camp to receive training
Discipline Iraq is where they shipped him
He was deployed to Iraq, where he learned discipline through his training and experiences
He's in the mission where bullets flyin' and missin' him
He was part of a mission where he experienced bullets being fired at him, but miraculously avoided getting hit
Wishin' he was a kid again with his family in Michigan
He felt nostalgia for his childhood, wishing he was back home with his family in Michigan
In the midst of fightin' militiamen, one round took down six of them
During combat with militiamen, he witnessed one of his shots take down six enemy combatants
He ain't really a killa though, takin' a lotta risks
He didn't consider himself a killer, but still took many life-threatening risks
This is what a poor person do for a scholarship
He saw joining the military and going to war as a means of obtaining a scholarship, despite being poor
He turned around and got a face full of hollow-tips
He was shot in the face by hollow-point bullets
But don't be mad, he died for the flag
Despite his death, he viewed it as a sacrifice for his country and its flag
Now what you've done here, is put yourself between a bullet and a target
The message that Rhymefest wants to convey through this song, is that by making certain choices, you are putting yourself in harm's way
And it won't be long before, you're pullin' yourself away
This line indicates that eventually, the consequences of certain choices will catch up to you
Papa was a playa, knew just what to say ta'
Rhymefest transitions to a different subject, discussing his father's skills with women and how he successfully wooed them
Get the women back to his lair, and lay her
His father was able to attract women back to his home and have sexual intercourse with them
If sex had a trophy he's the Hiesman touchdown
Rhymefest's father was so skilled at seduction, that he would be the frontrunner for a trophy if it existed for sexual activity
He got the women with crazy stares with his lady there
Rhymefest's father was able to attract women even when he was in the presence of his significant other
Thay ain't care they like 'Ooh look at his baby hair'
The women were not deterred by his father's physical appearance, and still found him attractive
He took 'em all put 'em in a line hit five new chickens
His father had multiple sexual partners, known as 'chickens', in succession
He though they was fine
His father considered these women to be attractive
Got head from five dope fiends smokin' a dime
His father engaged in oral sexual activity with five women who were under the influence of drugs
And did it all raw dog, and dog I ain't lyin'
Rhymefest's father had unprotected intercourse with these women
Til' he woke up one season with legions
His father experienced a health issue, potentially related to his sexual activity
He went to the doctor asked him what was the reason
He went to the doctor to inquire about the reason for his sudden health issue
The test read positive he couldn't believe it
After being given a medical test, his father received a positive diagnosis for a sexually transmitted disease
He tried to blame God askin' why did he leave him
Rhymefest's father was upset with God for not intervening in his sexual activity and preventing him from contracting a disease
Pleadin' please let the disease leave him
His father was desperate to be cured of his disease
From women that he conquered, he caught the monster
Rhymefest emphasizes the irony that while his father was so successful with women, it ultimately led to him contracting a sexually transmitted disease
Now when the sun goes down, north side of town
Rhymefest shifts subjects again, discussing the dangerous part of his town during the evening hours
On the other side of the block, when cops ain't around
He identifies a specific location where criminal activity occurs when police officers are not present
On the same side of the street that 'Pac hit the ground
Rhymefest references the location where rapper Tupac was killed in Las Vegas
Not in Vegas, cause every nigga got 'Pac in him now
He clarifies that the location he is describing is not Las Vegas, but that Tupac's influence and legacy still resonates with many people
When my guys hit the block, and we provin' we thugs
Rhymefest admits to being part of a group who engages in criminal activity
I ain't on no swim team but you see pools of blood
He uses a metaphor to describe areas with excessive violence and bloodshed
Skip Judy when you die, she ain't whose the judge
He advises people not to be concerned with someone's religious beliefs, as they will not be the judge of someone's actions after death
If you married to game then prove your love
He urges people involved in criminal activity to actively demonstrate their commitment and dedication to it
Here's a strap shorty, shoot it do it then do it
Rhymefest references a firearm and encourages someone to use it without hesitation, in a violent context
This ain't a game this a organized movement
He views the criminal activity as a serious, organized effort
My hurt, my love, my pain, my stress
Rhymefest acknowledges that his life is full of challenges and difficult emotions
My strife, my wife, my life, my test
He lists additional aspects of his life that contribute to his struggles
We made for more, we die for less
He believes that people are capable of achieving more in life, but are hindered by the societal circumstances they are born into
When you starvin' in the ghetto I'ma right the rest
He sees it as his responsibility to help those who are struggling in impoverished areas
See my girl think I'm hard, and my Momma think I'm hard
Rhymefest acknowledges that he is viewed as tough and resilient by those closest to him
But when I'm all up in the dark I just fall on my knees
He admits that even with his tough exterior, he turns to prayer and faith when he is alone and in the dark
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Che Smith, Clarence Copeland Greenwood, Emile Haynie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind