He has also released solo albums under the alter-ego Bobby Digital. In addition to the Wu-Tang Clan and his solo releases, RZA was also a founding member of the rap group Gravediggaz where he used the name The Rzarector.
He has made cameos in several movies including Coffee and Cigarettes, American Gangster, Gospel Hill, Life Is Hot in Cracktown, Ghost Dog, Funny People, Repo Men. About.com named him 3rd on their list of best hip hop producers of all time
Born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, RZA spent time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a child, where his father had a convenience store in the Hill District.[1] A young RZA also spent many years living in North Carolina with his uncle. RZA began his hip hop career in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a member of the trio Force of the Imperial Master (which subsequently became known as the All in Together Now Crew after they had a successful underground single of that name). The group consisted of future Wu-Tang members and his cousins GZA (then known as the Genius) and Ol' Dirty Bastard (then known as Ason Unique, the Specialist, and the Professor).
Once this local band dissolved, both he and the GZA attempted to kick start solo careers. With the help of GZA's friend (then owner of Jamaica Records) they both secured single deals with album options at successful labels, GZA going to Cold Chillin and RZA to Tommy Boy. GZA ultimately released the Words from the Genius album, but RZA's stint at Tommy Boy ended with only the 1991 EP Ooh I Love You Rakeem to show for it when he went to jail soon after its release. GZA's album flopped, and the two cousins became determined to conquer the hip hop industry on their own terms. Throughout most of his youth he enjoyed watching various kung-fu movies and purchasing countless albums which he would later sample in most of his music
Can't Loose
Rza Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"can't lose..."
[RZA]
What, What
Four Shellies
What, What, What
Blast him right outside of Mike's deli
Dip to the tele
Call my bird up on the celle
Bobby what Bobby lust I walk strange
And talk strange
Long range sniper aims
Swiss cheese your brain
I don't sleep
And don't eat meat
Rest twice a week
Speak without moving my lips
Got fifty pairs of sneaks
Fingerprint proof rubber grips
Hollow tip clips
Eight ounce sip bud nips
We crack private do chips
And clock a bird off the block
Straight away from a flock
Just caught me at the bus stop
Twist the Snapple top
Off, pierced her breast
Kept her hair processed
No panties underneath the dress
Wally ankle bracelet
Polo frames
Her shades had no name
Popocane
I slowed my game
Thick gold chains
Make your eyes flame
Up against the Bodega gate
She stay straight
Perfect figure eight
Shape, couldn't wait
To bust her grape
With the applehead
Legs spread open
Invincible body armor
My scarlet blade will slice the leg
From the Shaolin llama
Cause I...["can't lose"]
Cause I...["can't lose"]
(Yo) Cause I...["can't lose]
[Beretta Nine]
Yo, 2001summer heat
Icy hot, play the street
Twelve month, seven day a week
Cat in eye, we hit
Blunts hard
Fuck birds hard
Bitch slap retards
Quick fast
Wind up in mass
Body cast, its like
Don't start shit
Won't be shit
Allah quick to spot shit
Smash hit
You know the name kid
Don't splash it
Pop a joint and blast it
The shit sound
Hype in your whip
Make you take the car and crash it
Megagraphical
Always speak actual
Only deal with natural
One hundred percent
Five percent
Militant in aim
With the intent
Beretta Nine, blast mine
On some empty the clip
In RZA & Beretta 9's song "Can't Lose," the lyrics provide vivid descriptions of the characters' lives and actions. The song is centered on the street culture and activities of gangsters that live by the creed of "can't lose." In the first verse, RZA's verse is condensed with various short phrases that depict his life as a gangster. Four shellies, a slang for a shotgun, are used to kill someone outside of Mike's deli. After the shooting, RZA dips to the telephone to call his girl Bobby with the slang 'bird' and refers to his walk and talk as strange. He describes himself as having a long-range sniper aim and is always on the alert. He doesn't sleep and only eats meat twice a week. He speaks without moving his lips and collects sneakers as his hobby. He continues to describe his criminal activities in detail, such as cracking private chips, cock a bird off the block, and drinking Budweiser liquor.
In the second verse, Beretta 9's verse, he starts by describing the hot summer heat of 2001. He refers to the gang's activities as they hit the streets and play hard. They smoke weed, hang out with women, and don't tolerate provocations. If you don't start anything, then there won't be any issues. They have an awareness of the environment and are always ready to spot any provocation. They are ready to deal with anyone that dares to start something with them. Beretta Nine describes himself as being 100% and militant in his aim. He is committed to his activities and is always on the alert. He doesn't do anything that feels unnatural to him, and he speaks the truth. Lastly, Beretta Nine talks about how he can empty the clip of his gun in a single shot.
Line by Line Meaning
Four Shellies
Four gunshots
rip through his belly
The four gunshots go through the person's belly
Blast him right outside of Mike's deli
The gunshots were fired outside a deli named Mike's
Call my bird up on the celle
Calling my girlfriend on my cellphone
Bobby what Bobby lust I walk strange And talk strange
Bobby what's up, I walk and talk in a unique way
Long range sniper aims Swiss cheese your brain
A sniper from far away shoots and damages your brain
I don't sleep And don't eat meat Rest twice a week
I don't sleep much and I don't eat meat. I only rest two days a week
Speak without moving my lips Got fifty pairs of sneaks
I can speak without moving my lips. I own fifty pairs of sneakers
Fingerprint proof rubber grips Hollow tip clips Eight ounce sip bud nips
My gun has a rubber grip that can't leave fingerprints. The bullets are hollow and I drink eight ounces of Budweiser
We crack private do chips And clock a bird off the block
We break private security codes and catch a girl on the street
Straight away from a flock Just caught me at the bus stop
Separating myself from a group of people, I meet the girl at the bus stop
Twist the Snapple top Off, pierced her breast Kept her hair processed
I open a bottle of Snapple, then touch her breast and notice she's wearing her hair in a chemically-processed hairstyle
No panties underneath the dress Wally ankle bracelet Polo frames Her shades had no name Popocane
She isn't wearing underwear under her dress. She's wearing a Wally ankle bracelet and Polo frames, but her sunglasses don't have a label. She's also smoking Popocane
I slowed my game Thick gold chains Make your eyes flame Up against the Bodega gate She stay straight Perfect figure eight Shape, couldn't wait To bust her grape
I slowed my approach, wearing thick gold chains. She has a great body and is standing straight against the Bodega gate. Her figure is a perfect shape, I couldn't wait to have sex with her
With the applehead Legs spread open Invincible body armor My scarlet blade will slice the leg From the Shaolin llama
I'm having sex with a girl with an apple-shaped butt. Her legs are open and I'm wearing an invincible body armor. I can cut the leg off a Shaolin monk with my scarlet blade
Cause I...['can't lose']
I can't be defeated
Yo, 2001 summer heat Icy hot, play the street Twelve month, seven day a week
In the summer of 2001, the streets are hot and active all year round, seven days a week
Cat in eye, we hit Blunts hard Fuck birds hard Bitch slap retards
We're focused and ready to smoke blunts, have sex, and fight against stupid people
Quick fast Wind up in mass Body cast, its like Don't start shit Won't be shit
Act quickly and you'll end up in a bad situation. If you don't start fights, you'll avoid bad outcomes
Allah quick to spot shit Smash hit You know the name kid
God notices all bad things you do. You'll be famous if you work hard
Don't splash it Pop a joint and blast it The shit sound Hype in your whip Make you take the car and crash it
Don't mess around with it, smoke a joint and listen to the music. The music is so good that it can make you lose control and crash your car
Megagraphical Always speak actual Only deal with natural One hundred percent Five percent Militant in aim With the intent Beretta Nine, blast mine On some empty the clip
Our music is always true and we don't mess around with fake things. We're serious about our mission, with the intention of firing our guns. Beretta Nine will shoot his gun until it's empty
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT F. DIGGS, S. MURRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind