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".
These Days
Rhymefest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Some of these days)
I wanna bust some heads
(Some of these days)
I'd rather lie inda bed
(Some of these days)
Im out tryna get love
(Some of these days)
(Some of these days)
I feel like crying
(Some of these days)
I feel like dying
(Some of these days)
MAA---N!
(Some of these days)
Woooo, thank you very much now
I wanna spaz out
Throw a brick thru' a sucker ass nigga glasshouse - wit cho'
I know the time comin
Child support gonna bust in and try to find something - but no!
My baby momma just don't understand,
I ain't rich bitch it's just an advance - but she know
She better off wit some of these nigs
Whose baby dads don't even care for these kids
I don't kick it wit cowards, this my career you just rap in the shower
You ain't stackin on power, he ain't...?
You ain't ready to ride, get yo' ass out that impala... Holla!
I'm on my grind, be back in an hour.
I'm like a bully up in the class, whose waitin for a chance to whopp yo ass, but then again,
I used to get cheese, kids said they actin white...? but then again
Ain't no benefit, 'fest can't not lose coz he get ignorant
I ain't innocent, Jesus walked me to the grammies
thank you god, now i can sin again
(Chorus)
I feel like puff daddy, coz i ain't vote and I ain't die
I ain't a hypocrit, I don't hate rap music, i just love my shit
Kanye, common and twista, that's it
But then again, i kinda like eminem, he be funny and dissin
I bought his record, it's a one time listen
But man, some of these days Im mo' black and i be ready to blast
Till i see a white girl with a black girl ass
I wanna take that white girl give her a black girl mask
But if i get a dark italian girl, it just might paaaass.
i wish i wasn't good at rhyming, coz then my dumbass would go dining
But until that time arrive i won't play thug
Just say hey this is tough love
(Chorus)
Rhymefest’s song These Days is about the emotional rollercoaster that he experiences on a daily basis. In the chorus, he talks about the various feelings that he has on different days, ranging from anger to sadness. He wants to “bust some heads” on some days, while on others, he just feels like lying in bed. He also talks about feeling like crying or dying, which shows the depth of his emotional turmoil. However, the song is not just about Rhymefest’s emotions. He also talks about his personal life, including his struggles with child support payments and his baby mama not understanding his financial situation. He discusses how he feels like he’s being targeted by the authorities, who are always “trying to find something” when they come to his house. Despite these challenges, he remains committed to his music career, working hard and being selective about the people he surrounds himself with. The song also touches on racial issues, with Rhymefest expressing his desire to see more black women with curvy bodies.
Overall, These Days is a powerful and emotive song that touches on a variety of themes. It’s about the challenges of being a black man in America, the complexities of personal relationships, and the importance of staying grounded in one’s values and beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
(Chorus)
The chorus describes the different emotions experienced by Rhymefest on some days including feeling aggressive (wanting to bust some heads), lethargic (preferring to lie in bed), seeking love, being at the strip club, feeling vulnerable enough to cry or die, feeling overjoyed (expressed by 'MAA---N! Woooo, thank you very much now'), etc.
I wanna spaz out
Rhymefest desires to act in a wild, uncontrolled manner.
Throw a brick thru' a sucker ass nigga glasshouse - wit cho'
Rhymefest expresses his desire to throw a brick through another person's home.
I know the time comin Child support gonna bust in and try to find something - but no!
Rhymefest is aware that he may be forced to pay child support and anticipates that officials may dig through his belongings to collect payments.
My baby momma just don't understand, I ain't rich bitch it's just an advance - but she know
Rhymefest's child's mother does not comprehend that he hasn't become wealthy and that his immediate funds are solely from his advances.
She better off wit some of these nigs Whose baby dads don't even care for these kids
Rhymefest suggests that his child's mother would be better off with someone who neglects their children completely or doesn't accept any responsibilities as a father.
I don't kick it wit cowards, this my career you just rap in the shower
Rhymefest does not associate with cowardly individuals and believes that his rap career is legitimate while others may only be practicing in their bathroom.
You ain't ready to ride, get yo' ass out that impala... Holla!
If one is not prepared to handle tough situations adequately, Rhymefest suggests they leave their vehicle and expresses this message using 'Holla!'
I'm on my grind, be back in an hour.
Rhymefest is working hard and focused and will return shortly.
I'm like a bully up in the class, whose waitin for a chance to whopp yo ass, but then again,
Rhymefest feels like a bully who is waiting for an opportunity to take someone down but also recognizes this is not an ideal trait or state of mind.
I used to get cheese, kids said they actin white...? but then again
Rhymefest used to have plenty of money but was criticized and called 'acting white', which may suggest that he was doing things outside of the norm or acting like someone outside of his race, but he may also be questioning or second-guessing whether his memory is accurate.
Ain't no benefit, 'fest can't not lose coz he get ignorant
Rhymefest does not benefit from anything and expresses doubt that he can't win by being ignorant.
I ain't innocent, Jesus walked me to the grammies thank you god, now i can sin again
Rhymefest believes he is not entirely innocent and attributes his success to Jesus and God which allows him to transgress again.
(Chorus)
See first entry for chorus interpretation.
I ain't a hypocrit, I don't hate rap music, i just love my shit
Rhymefest argues he is not a hypocrite since he doesn't hate rap music but only favors his own music.
But then again, i kinda like eminem, he be funny and dissin
Rhymefest expresses an appreciation for Eminem's music since he enjoys his humorous and critical perspectives on popular culture and rap music specifically.
I bought his record, it's a one time listen
Rhymefest purchased Eminem's album but suggests that he only listened to it once and found it unremarkable.
But man, some of these days Im mo' black and i be ready to blast Till i see a white girl with a black girl ass
Rhymefest feels more conscious of his racial identity on certain days and may act irrationally but changes perspective if he sees a white girl with similar physical attributes as a black girl.
I wanna take that white girl give her a black girl mask But if i get a dark italian girl, it just might paaaass.
Rhymefest fantasizes about giving a white girl a black girl mask but suggests that a dark Italian girl might be acceptable as they are perceived to be more culturally similar to blacks.
i wish i wasn't good at rhyming, coz then my dumbass would go dining
Rhymefest implies that if he wasn't able to rhyme well, he would put more time and effort into achieving other goals.
Just say hey this is tough love
Rhymefest concludes that his tough approach is not born from malice but rather 'tough love.'
(Chorus)
See first entry for chorus interpretation.
Writer(s): Mark Ronson, Mark Daniel Ronson, Che Smith Copyright: BMG Vm Music Ltd., Solomon Ink, Universal Music - Mgb Songs
Contributed by Bella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Frank Castle
Rhymefest had bars. Too bad the industry only wants guys who spit ignorance
XTesT15X
They also want fools who live and die by the hook. I don't get it either.
andruwne
Frank Castle It is the fault of the people buying the music. If they changed what they bought then we wouldnt have a shitty rap/hip-hop industry.
Anthony Dooley II
The part when he says "woo, thank you very much now". always makes me laugh.
TribalQwest
Man, I think it's great that more and more video games provide a unique avenue for artists to disseminate their music, but I'm tired of all these kids saying they only heard of this song because of a video game. If you heard this song, and you like it, bump the underground scene man and be a hip hop head. Thumbs up if you were rockin this shit when it came out in '05, though I'm sure I'll be the minority...
Cooper J
2019 and still jammin
ItzJahmeer
2020 this song is still 🔥
Aaron Sands
2021 too
ItzJahmeer
@Aaron Sands and 2022
Mars
@ItzJahmeer and 2023