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".
More
Rhymefest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the Midwest goin through our struggle
We know things could be better, huh
And we just want a little mooore
No matter how much I get (I want mooore)
Even when I talk my shit (I want mooore)
Every party on every list
But still (I want mooore)
Look now I ain't goin for the okey-doke (nope)
You owe me dough, you better pay me like you know we broke
This industry be tryin to strangle niggaz in the choke
You think these rappers rich? These niggaz out here sellin dope
You think it's crazy sayin, "If I had what he had"
But if you had what he had, nigga you'd be mad
Three kids, see dad broke-ass waitin on the royalties with no cash
Nice car, no gas, stuck at the pump
Had a lil' hot single now he's stuck in a slump
At the top of his section eight, straight waitin to jump
Like Milli Vanilli, now people just look at him silly
Sayin "That's umm - I forgot his name - who is he?"
He wanted (mooore) never really thought of the loss
Lookin for (mooore) everybody playin the boss
To get (mooore) now he just stuck in the sauce
Like white kids when they got cut off, "Daddy I want.." (mooore)
No matter how much I get (I want mooore)
Even when I talk my shit (I want mooore)
Every party on every list
And everybody want a life like this
But still (I want mooore)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
This go out to every man tryin to achieve and hold his own
Them ladies are nice, but you gotta leave them hoes alone
They'll take it and bro, break in your phone, call your boss up
(Where that nigga at?) Or tell your wife to try to break up your home
Now your baby momma takin your son, learn from mistakes I done
Yesterday we all naked and fun
I ain't thinkin of none, break in and cum, soon as you done run
This is real talk, nigga one-on-one
Between me and you, now this mono-a-mono
How you gon' catch mono from a hoe that work at McDonald's
Now you lookin like the clown like Ronald
That's where Kels fucked up, cause young girls he decided to fondle
And I ain't fin' ta let HIV's in my bag
I'll start usin rubbers again, it ain't that bad
You gotta take care of yourself mayne, don't get grabbed
Cause if you die, people be like "Aww that's too bad"
I want (mooore)
No matter how much I get (I want mooore)
Even when I talk my shit (I want mooore)
Every party on every list
And everybody want a life like this
But still (I want mooore)
Everybody so weak like, like, they afraid to speak
If you see that nigga violate then hit him in his cheek
Tryin to act like, like, you reppin the street
You ain't a gangsta, you a bitch with a beat
So it's time to make role call, then expose y'all
Adam & Eve shocked in the garden with no drawers
While niggaz gettin popped on my block with no laws
I grew up with Disciples that'll smash ya gold off
I never plugged, cause I know that when you do that shit
You locked in for life, nigga yeah, etched in blood
But it's hard to get respect when you less than thug
And you ain't fin' to serve here if you ain't with us
Us meanin them, them meanin G.D.
Gangster Disciples, the same ones that killed Cochise
So see, how he, well he, meanin me
Refused to be another nigga dead in the street
I wanted (mooore)
No matter how much I get (I want mooore)
Even when I talk my shit (I want mooore)
Every party on every list
And everybody want a life like this
But still (I want mooore)
No matter how much I get (I want mooore)
Even when I talk my shit (I want mooore)
Every party on every list
And everybody want a life like this
But still (I want mooore)
The lyrics of Rhymefest's song "More" speaks to the struggles of Midwest residents living a blue-collar life, detailing the desire for more in life. The song is characterized by the desire for change, criticism of the music industry, and the need for self-preservation. The lyrics shed light on the struggles of up-and-coming artists who tirelessly work to make a name for themselves while enduring the ridicule of others. Rhymefest also highlights the monetary discrepancies that exist in the music industry, where people are usually seen to have money when in reality, they are struggling financially.
Rhymefest speaks to the power dynamics in relationships and the negative impact that can arise when these power dynamics are unbalanced. He urges everyone to be cautious and look out for themselves, rather than playing into the games of others. Rhymefest also speaks to the societal implications of his obsessions, arguing that people need to change their ways and be more supportive of one another rather than competitive.
Overall, "More" speaks to the real-life experiences that most middle-class Americans can relate to, and the lyrics bring these experiences to life through rhyme and rhythm.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, this joint right here man, is for all my blue collar niggaz
This song is for all the hardworking people in the Midwest who are struggling to make ends meet.
In the Midwest goin through our struggle
The people in the Midwest are facing many challenges and hardships.
We know things could be better, huh
We are aware that our situation could be improved.
And we just want a little mooore
We just want a little bit more than what we currently have.
No matter how much I get (I want mooore)
Even though I have some success, I still want more.
Even when I talk my shit (I want mooore)
Even when I boast about what I have achieved, I still want more.
Every party on every list
I get invited to all the high-profile events and parties.
And everybody want a life like this
Everyone wants to experience the success and fame that I have.
But still (I want mooore)
Despite all that, I still want more.
Look now I ain't goin for the okey-doke (nope)
I am not falling for any tricks or lies.
You owe me dough, you better pay me like you know we broke
If someone owes me money, they need to pay it back despite the fact that I am not well off myself.
This industry be tryin to strangle niggaz in the choke
The music industry can be suffocating and overwhelming.
You think these rappers rich? These niggaz out here sellin dope
Rappers are not always wealthy and some may resort to illegal activities to make money.
You think it's crazy sayin, "If I had what he had"
It may seem foolish to wish for someone else's success.
But if you had what he had, nigga you'd be mad
If you were in their position, you would likely still want more.
Three kids, see dad broke-ass waitin on the royalties with no cash
A father with three children is struggling to make ends meet despite having a hit song that earns him royalties.
Nice car, no gas, stuck at the pump
He has a nice car but can't fill it with gas due to his financial situation.
Had a lil' hot single now he's stuck in a slump
He experienced brief success with a hit song but is now struggling to stay relevant.
At the top of his section eight, straight waitin to jump
He is living in government-assisted housing and can't wait to move on to something better.
Like Milli Vanilli, now people just look at him silly
Like the famously lip-syncing duo Milli Vanilli, people now view him as a joke.
Sayin "That's umm - I forgot his name - who is he?"
He has become forgettable and irrelevant in the music industry.
He wanted (mooore) never really thought of the loss
Despite his past success, he always wanted more and never considered the possibility of losing it all.
Lookin for (mooore) everybody playin the boss
Everyone around him is trying to be the boss and stay on top.
To get (mooore) now he just stuck in the sauce
Now that he is no longer successful, he is stuck in a difficult situation.
Like white kids when they got cut off, "Daddy I want.." (mooore)
Like wealthy children who suddenly lose their financial support, he still wants more despite his unsuccessful situation.
This go out to every man tryin to achieve and hold his own
This song is meant for anyone trying to succeed and support themselves.
Them ladies are nice, but you gotta leave them hoes alone
Women are tempting but can be distractive, so it's important to focus on success first.
They'll take it and bro, break in your phone, call your boss up
Women may try to manipulate you and disrupt your success by stealing personal information and revealing it to others.
(Where that nigga at?) Or tell your wife to try to break up your home
Women may even go as far as trying to ruin your family life and relationships.
Now your baby momma takin your son, learn from mistakes I done
Your child's mother may try to take custody of your child, so it's important to learn from others' experiences.
Yesterday we all naked and fun
Living recklessly and carelessly in the past is not sustainable or responsible.
I ain't thinkin of none, break in and cum, soon as you done run
Having casual sex with strangers can lead to risky behavior and negative consequences.
This is real talk, nigga one-on-one
This is raw and honest advice from one person to another.
Between me and you, now this mono-a-mono
This is a personal conversation between the two of us.
How you gon' catch mono from a hoe that work at McDonald's
It's important to be smart and take precautions to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.
Now you lookin like the clown like Ronald
If you don't take care of yourself, you may end up looking foolish like the McDonald's mascot Ronald McDonald.
That's where Kels fucked up, cause young girls he decided to fondle
R. Kelly made the mistake of engaging in illegal and immoral activities with young girls.
And I ain't fin' ta let HIV's in my bag
He is not going to put himself at risk of contracting HIV or any other STDs.
I'll start usin rubbers again, it ain't that bad
He will take precautions to protect himself and others from STDs.
You gotta take care of yourself mayne, don't get grabbed
It's important to protect yourself and avoid harmful situations.
Cause if you die, people be like "Aww that's too bad"
If you don't take care of yourself, others will ultimately suffer the consequences of your actions.
Everybody so weak like, like, they afraid to speak
People are hesitant and fearful to speak their mind or stand up for themselves.
If you see that nigga violate then hit him in his cheek
If someone is disrespecting you or others, stand up for yourself and take action.
Tryin to act like, like, you reppin the street
Many people are trying to portray themselves as tough and influential in the street culture.
You ain't a gangsta, you a bitch with a beat
Just because you make music doesn't make you a gangster or someone to be feared.
So it's time to make role call, then expose y'all
It's time to call out fake gangsters and bring attention to their inauthenticity.
Adam & Eve shocked in the garden with no drawers
Just like Adam and Eve who were embarrassed and ashamed after having sinned, fake gangsters should be similarly exposed and disgraced.
While niggaz gettin popped on my block with no laws
Actual violence and criminal activity are happening in his neighborhood with no consequences due to lack of law enforcement or governing.
I grew up with Disciples that'll smash ya gold off
He grew up with gang members who would steal jewelry from others and commit other crimes.
I never plugged, cause I know that when you do that shit
He has never gotten involved in illegal activity because he knows the consequences of doing so.
You locked in for life, nigga yeah, etched in blood
Getting involved in illegal activity can lead to a lifelong commitment and you essentially become married to the lifestyle.
But it's hard to get respect when you less than thug
It's difficult to earn respect from others when you don't portray an image of toughness and criminality.
And you ain't fin' to serve here if you ain't with us
You won't be allowed to thrive in this community if you don't join or cooperate with the gang.
Us meanin them, them meanin G.D.
The "us" he is referring to is the Gangster Disciples gang in his area.
Gangster Disciples, the same ones that killed Cochise
The Gangster Disciples are the same gang that killed a prominent gang member named Cochise.
So see, how he, well he, meanin me
He is relating his own experiences and insights throughout the song.
Refused to be another nigga dead in the street
He has made the decision to not become a statistic and become another victim of gang violence or criminal lifestyle.
No matter how much I get (I want mooore)
Despite all his success and accomplishments, he still wants more out of life.
Even when I talk my shit (I want mooore)
Even when he boasts about his achievements, he still has a desire for more in his life.
Every party on every list
He is invited to all the high-profile events and gatherings in his industry.
And everybody want a life like this
Everyone desires success and fame like he has achieved.
But still (I want mooore)
Despite all of this, he still wants more for himself and his life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDRE CHRISTOPHER LYON, CHE SMITH, KANYE OMARI WEST, MARCELLO VALENZANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind