Originally a member of Busta Rhymes' crew, Flipmode Squad becoming the sixth member after the departure of Lord Have Mercy, (aside from other flipmode acts Serious and Show Money) Roc Marciano left in 2001 to form the U.N., a hardcore underground hip hop group consisting of three other MCs (Dino Brave, Laku & Mic Raw) with whom he released an album on Carson Daly's 456 Entertainment in 2004. Notably, Roc Marciano appeared in the 2005 Wu-Tang Clan compilation album, Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture, and in Pete Rock's 2008 album, NY's Finest, drawing acclaim for such performances. Since 2008, Roc Marciano has been working on his solo career, and to widespread internet acclaim, released his entirely self-produced debut album, Marcberg in 2010.
In 2011, Roc Marciano collaborated with Gangrene, the duo of rapper/producers Oh No and The Alchemist, to release the collaborative EP Greneberg. His second solo album, Reloaded, was released in November 2012, which Allmusic described as "Grim and exultant at once, this is low-profile hustling on wax at its finest."
Even a cursory glance at the history of Strong Island reveals that its produced more than its fair share of innovative verbal technicians over the years. One of the most original MCs to hail from its shores in recent times has been Roc Marciano from The UN crew. Initially put on by fellow L.I. resident Busta Rhymes, it wasn’t until Marcy and his crew lent their vocals to three tracks for Pete Rock’s Petestrumentals project that the world really took notice. Utilizing a stream-of-consciousness technique that sounds effortless but is actually very precise in terms of timing and cadence, Marciano is in a class of his own right now.
Thugs Prayer Pt. 2
Roc Marciano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We lost out in the field
When you was killed
It was Allah's will
We part your pill with large steel
You left a big pair of Clarks to fill
We flipped the hard still
And watched you cartwheel
Feel the wind chill
The pill of imbecile like Seal
Blood out the pen spill
I chill by the window sill
Think about mils
I'm on a no frills, niggas heels
The dillingers reveal but not on film
I print the literature with zeal, appeal
Sniff the cocaine hill off a bill, it's surreal
With chopsticks lift the eel with skill
The deal was to keep the pitcher fill
My signature was written on the bill
They Fisher Price mic grippers
Tip them light like strippers illicit
Two piece chicken with the biscuit
This is simplistic
I had the iron in my fist when I enlisted
I was twisted off of strawberry cough
The Pelle's very soft
The Pirelli's on course
I'm heavy with the floss
Cock sucker get lost
Grind hard for the paper
This is tip of the glacier
Sip the Henny without the chaser
Piss on the city from the skyscraper
Face your fears
Your prayers fell on deaf ears
We parked the yacht by the pier
And shot the deer
My bitch rock the weird Moncler
Resemble Pam Grier
My vision is clear
I sip the Everclear
My wounds is severe
My skin is unfair
The fair make the rare gun flare
Shit your underwear
Can't steal my thunder
You's a fucking square
And I swear I shed a thug's tear
Say a thug's prayer
In "Thugs Prayer Pt. 2," Roc Marciano pays his respects to the fallen soldiers on the street with a prayer of sorts. He acknowledges the dangers of the game as he reminisces about his fallen comrades in the field. Marciano notes that their deaths were "Allah's will," and that the pill they left behind is to be filled by those left behind. Marciano talks about everything from flipping drugs to chilling by the window sill, to eating eel with chopsticks, and signing the bill for the deals he made.
The song has a slow, deliberate pace, suggesting Marciano's thuggish lifestyle is one of reflection as well as danger. Marciano declares in the song "I swear I shed a thug's tear," indicating that the life he leads is not only violent and dangerous but also reflective and emotive. In the end, the song speaks to Marciano's love for the people he's lost and the dedication he has to the game.
Line by Line Meaning
God bless the soldiers,
May God bless those who fight for a cause
We lost out in the field
We suffered defeat in the battleground
When you was killed
When you met your demise
It was Allah's will
It was destined by God's plan
We part your pill with large steel
We divide your drugs with a big metal knife
You left a big pair of Clarks to fill
You left a huge gap to be filled
We flipped the hard still
We turned over the drug dealing operation
And watched you cartwheel
And saw you flip over
Parked the Civil on the dark hill
Left the car hidden on a shadowy hill
Feel the wind chill
Savor the freezing air blowing against my face
The pill of imbecile like Seal
The drug I'm taking makes me feel stupid like Seal
Blood out the pen spill
I write with so much passion that it drips like blood
I chill by the window sill
I relax by the window ledge
Think about mils
Reflect on making millions
I'm on a no frills, niggas heels
I'm focused on the essentials, chasing after success
The dillingers reveal but not on film
We expose our guns, but not on camera
I print the literature with zeal, appeal
I write my words passionately and persuasively
Sniff the cocaine hill off a bill, it's surreal
Snort cocaine on a rolled up dollar bill, feels unreal
With chopsticks lift the eel with skill
Use chopsticks to expertly pick up and eat the eel
The deal was to keep the pitcher fill
The agreement was to maintain a full supply of drugs
My signature was written on the bill
I put my stamp on the deal
They Fisher Price mic grippers
They hold their mic like a child's toy
Tip them light like strippers illicit
Hold the microphone delicately, like a dancer would
Two piece chicken with the biscuit
Eat two pieces of chicken with a biscuit
This is simplistic
This is basic and straight-forward
I had the iron in my fist when I enlisted
I held a gun when I joined the army
I was twisted off of strawberry cough
I got high off of strawberry flavored marijuana
The Pelle's very soft
The Pelle Pelle jacket is very comfortable
The Pirelli's on course
The Pirelli tires are doing well
I'm heavy with the floss
I have a lot of expensive jewelry
Cock sucker get lost
Go away, you annoying person
Grind hard for the paper
Work very hard to make money
This is tip of the glacier
This is just the beginning, there's more to come
Sip the Henny without the chaser
Drink Hennessy without a mixer
Piss on the city from the skyscraper
Urinate on the city from a tall building
Face your fears
Confront your anxieties
Your prayers fell on deaf ears
Your requests to God went unheard
We parked the yacht by the pier
We left the boat by the dock
And shot the deer
And hunted down the deer
My bitch rock the weird Moncler
My girl wears the unusual Moncler jacket
Resemble Pam Grier
Looks like the actress Pam Grier
My vision is clear
I have clarity of thought
I sip the Everclear
I drink the strong alcoholic beverage Everclear
My wounds is severe
I have serious injuries
My skin is unfair
My skin is dark or different from the norm, causing discrimination
The fair make the rare gun flare
People undergo violent demonstrations if they feel they are being treated unjustly
Shit your underwear
Be nervous, scared, or affected in a negative way
Can't steal my thunder
Can't take away my success, accomplishments, or excitement
You's a fucking square
You're a knowledgeable but unimaginative, boring person
And I swear I shed a thug's tear
And I genuinely cry because of my tough life
Say a thug's prayer
I pray for success in my illegal activities
Writer(s): r. meyer
Contributed by Lila B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.