After hooking up with the Wu-Tang, Shabazz made two guest appearances on the first Gravediggaz album 6 Feet Deep in 1994, and then he signed to the GZA Entertainment management agency. He remained an official member of Sunz Of Man until just before the group released its debut LP The Last Shall Be First; his best-known solo track "Death be the Penalty" was originally intended to be a Sunz of Man track on the B-side to their single "Soldiers of Darkness," but the other members were so impressed with his contribution he was given the track for himself. This track was met with mixed emotions mainly because many felt it was extremely self righteous and incredibly hypocritical.
In the mid-90s Shabazz released a handful of singles, such as "Death be the Penalty", "Crime Saga", "The Lamb's Blood" and "Street Parables", in anticipation of his planned 1998 debut LP which was scrapped after GZA/Genius' GZA Entertainment label folded. Due to that deal folding, Shabazz's Wu affiliation (along with the affiliation of his close friend Killah Priest, also a GZA Entertainment refugee) began to wane. Around this 1996/1997 period, Priest and Shabazz both began to clash with RZA, and both had since all but cut their Wu-Tang ties. After unsuccessful attempts by the pair to create new post-Wu Tang crews (Priest proposed a crew called the Maccabeez which would include himself, Shabazz and Timbo King among others, while Shabazz proposed a group including himself and Priest called the Sunz Of Thunder) they both effectively went their separate ways, recording solo projects and in Shabazz's case recording as Celestial Souljaz with his cousin Freestyle (of non-Wu Tang crew The Arsonists). Shabazz is also known for being an influence on the late Big Pun.
In recent years, Shabazz has began to rediscover his Wu-Tang roots and performed on a Killa Beez tour as well as doing shows in Europe with Killah Priest (who has also recently been repairing his links with the Wu-Tang). After the death of Poetic, he has been rumored to be part of a new incarnation of Gravediggaz though Prince Paul has stated that a revival of the group is unlikely. He also announced in early 2003 that he has returned to Sunz Of Man as an official member.
In 2003, Shabazz finally released his solo debut "The Book of Shabazz (Hidden Scrollz)", the album featured his past singles "The Lamb's Blood," "Crime Saga," "Street Parables," and "Organized Rime Part 2," as well as the single "Red Hook Day" b/w "Thieves in da Nite (Heist)." Two years later he returned with The Passion of the Hood Christ in mid-2006.
In 2008, Shabazz formed the group T.H.U.G. Angels with fellow Sunz of Man member Hell Razah and producer Ayatollah. The group's debut, Welcome to Red Hook Houses, was released July 8, 2008, on Babygrande Records.
Hip Pop
Shabazz The Disciple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hip pop, they tap dance to sell a mil
While real emcees with skills don't got a deal
It's industry conspiracy to make us savage
Take off ya clothes to go gold, sell ya soul to live lavish
[Verse One]
It seems every man want to be a pop star
These labels will have you wearing high heels and a bra
Cut the roots to ya tree and watch ya empire fall
Now hip hop is a tree, and trees live by their roots
All the roots live underground, water down me no salute!
They pimping the culture, the same vulture who stole ya agriculture
My vocab is ultra, I insult ya or nurture ya sculpture
It's like to get a record deal, you gotta get naked and kneel
Labels ain't checking for skills no more, they want sex appeal
No publishing checks in the mail
Don't you know when you become a slave to money
That's when you destined to fail
You swallowing so you can sell a million records
On magazine front covers butt naked
Used to be a queen who was highly respected
Now when I listen to ya album, shit get ejected
I didn't get the album out, somebody cock blocked it
In 99 I smacked the blackball right in the side pocket
When I drop it take ya plaque to the pawn shop and hock it
I'm taking all y'all money this year, extorting ya profit
y'all got greedy and went commercial
And ya label's still jerking you
I'm starving all y'all niggaz this year, take it personal
[Chorus]
[Verse Two]
Fuck riding in limos nigga copyright ya demos
Cause they shiesty, labels are shiesty
Ya manager's stroking you, saying shows are promotional
Cause they shiesty, niggaz are shiesty
Stupid, the main niggaz who helped you get on
The first niggaz you shit on
You'll realize who love you when all ya money's giddone
They're smiling in ya face
Cause right now you're putting cake on their plate
Them the same niggaz that's scheming on ya safe - word!
It's the ones that sniff coke witcha, from broke to richer
Now they want to cut ya throat and come and getcha
Ya fake acapellas can't really rock a farvela crowd
Ya head is full of helium, you floating in the clouds
On stage fronting like the solo type
Cloned my hip hop chromosomes, deep down you know Shabazz ya prototype
Don't even know how to hold the mic, trippin over the cables
Mumbling and stumbling into the turntables
Tap dancing, juggling, shuffling their feet smiling
The type of niggaz I be snuffing while their freestyling
Whether you're gold or you're platinum, I'm robbing and gatting them
And slapping them with an aluminum bat and busting a cap in them
Duct taping and gagging them, make 'em deep throat the magnum
Trapping them in alleys, where we're beating stomping and dragging them
Fuck selling my soul for that mansion and a yacht
I'd rather make salat and scrape the bottom of the pot
Real soldiers survive with 3 hots and a cot
You can't take them riches in the ground when you rot
Must have forgot, ya fans bought you to that altitude
And now you left them astray, ego got you confused
Son I be browsing, they tryna trap us all in public housing
How niggaz classic albums only sell 200 thousand
Labels be running sound scams on ya cream
That makes niggaz susceptible on going mainstream, they pulling ya strings
With marketing schemes extorting the fiends
They ain't gonna never tell you how many records you sold seen
Peace to all emcees staying true to their root
Don't sell their soul for the loot
And planting seeds in the youth and fuck the
[Chorus]
[Outro]
Hip pop, hip pop, hip pop we shoot
Empires will fall when you cut the trees root
Hip pop, hip pop, hip pop we shoot
Empires will fall when you cut the trees root
The lyrics of Shabazz the Disciple's song Hip Pop shed light on the commercialization of hip-hop music in the industry. The chorus talks about the evident reality that pop stars sell a million records by tapping dancing and selling sex appeal while talented rap artists with real skills remain unsigned. The song attributes this phenomenon to an industry conspiracy that enslaves artists into selling their soul for lavish lives, the result of which is the destruction of their empires. The verses further delve into the factors that contribute to this situation, such as labels cutting off artists' roots, artists compromising on their creative integrity, managers scheming on their artists, and the industry running sound scams on fans.
Shabazz, through his lyrics, urges rappers to remember their roots and not forget who they are. He talks about how hip-hop is like a tree, and when the roots are cut, the entire empire falls. While the industry has been urging artists to sell their soul to gain fame and fortune, Shabazz believes in staying true to oneself and promoting hip-hop in its purest form. Through his powerful lyrics, he challenges the commercialization of hip-hop and stands for authenticity and integrity.
Overall, Shabazz the Disciple's Hip Pop calls for a return to the roots of hip-hop and the preservation of the genre's authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
Hip pop, they tap dance to sell a mil
Pop artists make commercial music at the cost of tapping into their artistic integrity.
While real emcees with skills don't got a deal
Talented rappers often go unsigned, as labels prioritize looks and marketability over authenticity.
It's industry conspiracy to make us savage
The music industry manipulates artists and the public to promote a violent, materialistic culture.
Take off ya clothes to go gold, sell ya soul to live lavish
Pop stars often use sex appeal to sell records and gain wealth, sacrificing their personal dignity and creative freedom in the process.
It seems every man want to be a pop star
Pop stardom has become a widespread aspiration, leading to a homogenization of the music industry and a loss of diversity.
These labels will have you wearing high heels and a bra
Labels often push artists to adopt gender-bending styles in order to create a distinct visual image and generate controversy.
Cut the roots to ya tree and watch ya empire fall
Neglecting one's artistic roots can have disastrous effects on one's career and legacy.
It's like to get a record deal, you gotta get naked and kneel
Labels often require artists to compromise their morals and standards in order to sign a contract and gain recognition.
Labels ain't checking for skills no more, they want sex appeal
Talent and artistic ability have become secondary concerns for labels, who prioritize physically attractive and sexually suggestive artists for commercial gain.
No publishing checks in the mail
Artists often do not receive the royalties and compensation they deserve for their music and creative output.
Don't you know when you become a slave to money
Pursuing wealth and commercial success can lead to a loss of personal freedom and artistic integrity.
I'm starving all y'all niggaz this year, take it personal
The artist is determined to resist the industry's manipulation and exploitation of artists, and to inspire other artists to do the same.
Ya manager's stroking you, saying shows are promotional
Managers and industry figures often pressure artists to perform at promotional shows and events without proper compensation or recognition.
Stupid, the main niggaz who helped you get on
Artists often forget their roots and the people who helped them succeed as they climb the ladder of success in the industry.
On stage fronting like the solo type
Artists often adopt an inflated ego and a sense of individual superiority on stage, even though their success is often dependent on a team of collaborators and supporters.
Fuck selling my soul for that mansion and a yacht
The artist rejects shallow materialism and the pursuit of wealth in favor of more meaningful values and spiritual fulfillment.
Real soldiers survive with 3 hots and a cot
True strength and success come from satisfying basic needs and finding inner peace and contentment, rather than from accumulating material possessions and status.
How niggaz classic albums only sell 200 thousand
Talented and critically acclaimed artists often struggle to gain commercial success in the current music industry climate, which prioritizes mass appeal and marketability over artistic merit.
Peace to all emcees staying true to their root
The artist celebrates and respects artists who remain authentic and committed to their creative roots and values, even in the face of industry pressure and negativity.
Empires will fall when you cut the trees root
Without a strong foundation and connection to artistic roots and values, an artist's career and legacy are likely to crumble and fade away over time.
Lyrics © Royalty Network Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID COLLINS, SKINNY RODRIGUEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind